GOF Chapter 10: Mayhem at the Ministry

[oryx_leucoryx]

Arthur is confident Mr Roberts will be alright, though at the moment he doesn't know which day it is, and worse. And Arthur knows that based on the extensive time he spent with Muggles, learning all about them and their culture? I doubt there is any long-term follow up on victims of Obliviation. How does Arthur know they don't develop some form of early-onset dementia later? Heck, maybe Mad Cow Disease is a front for Obliviation side-effects.

Molly is worried because of scary headlines in The Prophet. That's because she totally forgot to look at the living room clock where she could see that no family member was in mortal danger (or if any were for a while the danger was long over by the time she got the paper).

Rita Skeeter criticized the Ministry's lax security at the game. Last week she criticized Percy's cauldron project. And as we shall see later, earlier in the summer she called Dumbledore an obsolete dingbat. Does she have an agenda or is she an equal opportunity trouble-rouser? (Or perhaps she is in the process of upgrading from the latter to the former.)

Arthur keeps insisting nobody was hurt, but I can't forget those green flashes.

Molly tries to object to Arthur's going to the office to take care of the crisis when he is supposed to be on holiday. Percy doing the same is met with no reaction whatsoever.

Harry finally tells his friends about his dream, though as he expected they offer no help. Hermione disses Trelawney and her prophecy. Little does she know.

Sorry madderbrad (and other H/Hr shippers out there) but here we have evidence Hermione doesn't understand Harry all that well - not as well as Ron, at least. He does prefer playing Quidditch with the boys (Ginny? Who's that?) than going to bed early to worry.

Percy's help was in fact needed after all. (He reports no change in Crouch's behavior, though we know that by now Crouch has been placed under Imperius. Perhaps because at this point his instructions were 'act naturally'.) And kudos to Percy for catching Mundungus in his lie. This is the second mention of Mundungus before we learn he is an Order member. He gets a lot more foreshadowing than Sirius Black, though his role is significantly more minor.

Percy makes accusations against Arthur, Bill defends him citing his own run-in with Rita, but is countered by Molly who actually agrees with Rita's criticism of his hairstyle. Looks like Ms Skeeter has a talent for sowing discord that puts Voldie to shame.

Fred and George have already started their campaign to get Bagman to pay them with real money.

Bertha Jorkins' disappearance is finally serious business, once Rita found out about it (how dare she?). Now Arthur claims to have told Ludo to send someone to look for her. Hmm, he just asked him if there was any news of her and quickly shut up when Ludo said there wasn't. Can't afford to get on the bad side of the one who got you the tickets. It was Crouch who repeatedly asked for a search party.

You know, while Rita's style is annoying, she does catch instances of improper conduct at the Ministry. Maybe if she and her likes had better access to the goings-on people would be scared-straight and start doing things right. Though they'd probably only intensify the covering-up.

Hermione isn't of age yet so it is Molly who washes the socks.

Didn't Molly go shopping while the rest were at the match? So why is it that the first time either boy sets eye on the acquisitions it is the last night of vacation, 6 nights later?

I can understand Molly buying Harry more expensive robes than she bought Ron, since she was using his money for that, but that's still not a reason to buy Ron robes that were in bad taste, in a bad state, in the color he hates - and do nothing to improve them after the purchase. She did have 6 days for that. Any wonder locket-influenced!Ron believed his mother preferred Harry to him? (Now that I'm thinking about this - Molly treats Ron almost as badly or incompetently as Eileen treated Severus. Well, on the one hand, other than the dress robes Ron doesn't look visibly neglected, but on the other Severus seems to have been better informed about Hogwarts and magic than Ron. So perhaps it's a wash.)

Comments

[600ants.livejournal.com]

Haha, I know what clich you hint at, but now I can't but suspect that this really was his plan. After all, he doesn't come across nearly as proud and noble as the fanfics like to make him, and I can easily see him living off some rich missy. At any rate, his only redeeming quality (except for loving James as a brother) were his good looks, and if he ever had to make living on his own, it would probably have to do with them. :p

[karentheunicorn.livejournal.com]

Haha, I know what clich you hint at, but now I can't but suspect that this really was his plan.

Oh no, I was making fun of myself actually. June would know what I'm talking about, I was poking fun at my own fanfic. She's read my fic so she'd know what I meant.

After all, he doesn't come across nearly as proud and noble as the fanfics like to make him, and I can easily see him living off some rich missy.

Yea, I always saw him as the sort of rogue guy. He's not always nice, he says good things but his actions sometimes seem stupid or poorly planned. As, he can talk the talk but does he really walk the walk? I think Sirius was probably a good guy but he also has some major issues that make him a pretty flawed individual. His words don't always line up with his actions.

[600ants.livejournal.com]

Oh right, then. I thought you were talking about all the "Sirius and his ameri-sue" stories. Forgive the assuming sporker in me. :)

His words don't always line up with his actions. Do they ever? I think he's the sort of a guy who knows what is right and what should be done, but doesn't mind making an exception for himself. As in, you should treat your inferiors with respect, Harry, but I can abuse Snape all I please. Because he's a slimy git. Or, you shouldn't let your girlfriend support you, but I can, because it suits me better than working and anyway, she wants me to. :)

[karentheunicorn.livejournal.com]

Oh right, then. I thought you were talking about all the "Sirius and his ameri-sue" stories. Forgive the assuming sporker in me. :)

Is okay, I get that if you have an American in your HP fanfic it usually gets you the marysue lable - it's sort of like if you've got that in your story you get points deducted even before people read it =)

Do they ever? I think he's the sort of a guy who knows what is right and what should be done, but doesn't mind making an exception for himself. As in, you should treat your inferiors with respect, Harry, but I can abuse Snape all I please. Because he's a slimy git. Or, you shouldn't let your girlfriend support you, but I can, because it suits me better than working and anyway, she wants me to. :)

I think Sirius had some good things about him, I just think he ended up being the other extreme to his parents. He wanted to hate anything that reminded him where he came from. That includes someone like Severus who actually choose Slytherin. Sirius never took time to judge his own behavior but he was fine telling other people how to act when he should have looked at himself more closely and what he was saying and doing.

Because his need to bully someone like Severus just shows he was no better than what he claimed to be against.

[600ants.livejournal.com]

It's just that there is so many badfic with American OCs it's hard not to be suspicious. :) Hope I didn't offend you or anything!

I think Sirius had some good things about him, I just think he ended up being the other extreme to his parents. He wanted to hate anything that reminded him where he came from. That includes someone like Severus who actually choose Slytherin.
This makes good sense and I'm sure it's how things were, to a certain extent. But I'm still getting that 'common bully' vibe, too. For example we never see the Marauders bother any other Slytherins but Snape – the one who a) James has a personal problem with because of Lily b) is an unpopular loner, and probably the easiest target available.

Sirius never took time to judge his own behavior but he was fine telling other people how to act when he should have looked at himself more closely and what he was saying and doing. Word.

[oryx_leucoryx]

Well, we have the detention files, as well as Lily's accusations at James that they hexed anyone that was on their path because they could. Severus was the only one James still hexed after he supposedly straightened out for Lily.

[600ants.livejournal.com]

That's true, and I forgot about it. But it still speaks more for 'indiscriminative bullies' than 'a group of students persecuting another selected group because of opposite political and philosophical views'. :)))

[karentheunicorn.livejournal.com]

It's just that there is so many badfic with American OCs it's hard not to be suspicious. :) Hope I didn't offend you or anything!

Oh no, I'm not offended.

But I'm still getting that 'common bully' vibe, too.

I agree that they seemed to do the bullying just for their own amusment so no argument here.

[majorjune.livejournal.com]

At any rate, his only redeeming quality...were his good looks, and if he ever had to make living on his own, it would probably have to do with them.

Sirius Black:

          GQ model, or

          Gigolo, or

          Street-hustling prostitute

Take your pick.

Maybe I should make a poll for the above... ;-)

[karentheunicorn.livejournal.com]

His personality fits the 'dog'

He's loyal but he's also a wanderer who likes a good time and doesn't want to be tied down. He's fun, friendly, but he barks a lot and makes a mess.

Yea, he's a dog.

[sunnyskywalker]

Or he could go the Lockhart route! Publish amazing stories about himself while winning Witch Weekly's Best Smile award or whatever that was for publicity.

[600ants.livejournal.com]

I bet there are fanfics out there for all three possibilities.

Maybe he'd manage to grow up into a sensible adult with a boring, normal personality and a boring, normal life, if he didn't go to Azkaban, but these theories are so much fun! :) And the poll should be made, definitely! :D

WWSD? (What Would Sirius Do?) Poll

[majorjune.livejournal.com]

And the poll should be made, definitely! :D

DTCL won't let me make a poll here, so I did it on my own blog here:

http://majorjune.livejournal.com/28816.html

Re: WWSD? (What Would Sirius Do?) Poll

[karentheunicorn.livejournal.com]

Severus would be...so proud!! (gigglesnort, wipes a tear away)

Re: WWSD? (What Would Sirius Do?) Poll

[majorjune.livejournal.com]

Severus would be...so proud!! (gigglesnort, wipes a tear away)

"Gigolo" has a slight edge over "Street-Hustling Prostitute" (the latter is my choice)...altho there's a vote for "Ladyboy"...

;-)

Re: WWSD? (What Would Sirius Do?) Poll

[majorjune.livejournal.com]

Late-breaking votes just in for "GQ model" and "Underwear model"...

Re: WWSD? (What Would Sirius Do?) Poll

[karentheunicorn.livejournal.com]

Pooorrr, Sirius. OHHHhhh the life you could have had, if you were not killed by a curtain, destroyed by decorations, snuffed by fabric fluff...


Too much?

Re: WWSD? (What Would Sirius Do?) Poll

[600ants.livejournal.com]

Too much?
Nah, keep going. :)))

And for those who voted "Gigolo" - with his manners? He wish! :p

Re: WWSD? (What Would Sirius Do?) Poll

[seductivedark.livejournal.com]

Oh, I think he could pull out the Noble House of Black manners if he wanted the money/fast cars/luxury apartments badly enough. He could also take a daring job on the nearest corner. I just think his taste for luxury (you can't convince me he'd rather be a dog eating rats in a cave than a dawg eating caviar in a high-rise) would draw him to the up-scale while his looks were still going for him.

Re: WWSD? (What Would Sirius Do?) Poll

[600ants.livejournal.com]

you can't convince me he'd rather be a dog eating rats in a cave than a dawg eating caviar in a high-rise I wouldn't dream about it. :) Actually, you almost managed to convince me, because he sure is a luxurious bastard, and it just might be motivation enough...

Re: WWSD? (What Would Sirius Do?) Poll

[majorjune.livejournal.com]

Oh, I think he could pull out the Noble House of Black manners if he wanted the money/fast cars/luxury apartments badly enough.

And there are always some women who are attracted to "bad boys", even if they're treated badly by those bad boys.


(you can't convince me he'd rather be a dog eating rats in a cave than a dawg eating caviar in a high-rise)

Aw jeez! I shoulda had "Pampered Pooch Put Out For Stud" as one of the poll choices! :-P

Re: WWSD? (What Would Sirius Do?) Poll

[majorjune.livejournal.com]

And for those who voted "Gigolo" - with his manners? He wish! :p

I rewatched the old movie Laura last night, and your comment reminded me of a line that was in the movie.

The character Laura is engaged to a character by the name Shelby. Shelby is a gold-digging cad.

For those who don't know the plot of the movie, it starts out with a dead woman found in Laura's apartment, dead of a shotgun blast to the face. The body size and hair color/style looks like Laura's so it is decided that she's the one who has been killed.

The real Laura later shows up, having gone away for the weekend, unaware of the murder that occurred in her apartment. It is later found out that Shelby, her fiance, was cheating on Laura and took his girlfriend up to Laura's apartment knowing Laura was out of town. It is this girlfriend of Shelby's that was really the murder victim.

Any one of Laura's acquaintances could be the murderer, especially Shelby, who Laura had decided not to marry.

At a party to celebrate Laura's good health, a rich woman tells Laura that she herself loves Shelby, and even tho she had good reason to kill the murder victim, she didn't -- but she knows that Shelby could very well have.

She goes on to explain that she doesn't care; she knows that Shelby is a cad, is no good, and is only interested in money. She adds that she herself is no good, so she and Shelby make a good pair, and she is willing to do anything -- short of murder -- to make Shelby her own, and since she is rich she knows she's the only one who ultimately will make him happy.

I can see Sirius Black finding some sort of dame like that! LOL

Re: WWSD? (What Would Sirius Do?) Poll

[600ants.livejournal.com]

:D Quite convincing! :D And that's how the story ends? (I'm asking because I've never even heard about this movie.)

I can see Sirius Black finding some sort of dame like that! LOL But I'd still much rather see him in the streets of Soho! :p (Or in Knockturn alley?)

Re: WWSD? (What Would Sirius Do?) Poll

[majorjune.livejournal.com]

Pooorrr, Sirius. OHHHhhh the life you could have had, if you were not killed by a curtain, destroyed by decorations, snuffed by fabric fluff...

"Ladyboy" is currently tied with "Gigolo" for first place... LOL

Maybe I should do a similar poll for Snape?

Re: WWSD? (What Would Sirius Do?) Poll

[600ants.livejournal.com]

Maybe I should do a similar poll for Snape?
How similar? Because you know, people like him a lot, they might be offended... Also, with his... characteristics, he'd have it much harder to make it in this line of work than Black. :)))