Nagini's attack on Arthur in OotP

[terri-testing.livejournal.com]

We know that Arthur was an Order member, guarding the door to the DoM (and asleep on the job under an invisibility cloak which didn't hide him from a creature that hunted by heat and scent), when Voldemort's snake attacked him.

What did the Ministry think, and the average Prophet reader?


If Fudge had realized Arthur was there on Dumbledore's orders, surely he'd have sacked him?

In fact, why wasn't Arthur sacked anyway? What business had he to be in the Ministry at all in the middle of the night? Much less loitering suspiciously outside the DoM with an invisibility cloak?

And just what kind of security does the Ministry have, that Order members, Voldemort's slaves and pets, and schoolkids, can come and go after hours as they please? I've never worked anywhere that didn't lock up when everyone left.

In fact, aren't the Aurors based in the building? Shouldn't they have a night shift (what, Dark wizards never operate at night, you tell me?), and therefore a night shift on reception to check people in who have business there?

Finally, if Fudge didn't think the snake was Tom's pet, whose did he think it was and how did he think it got in and escaped?

Thoughts?

Comments

[charlottehywd.livejournal.com]

Hmm, sounds like we had very similar experiences in going from huge fans to... uh, to so much. Did you change your mind right at the last book? It took me several years to figure it out, sadly.

[oryx_leucoryx]

Myself, I finished DH with such an empty feeling. In part because we were shown no essential change in wizarding society, in part because of the shockingly immoral behavior of the supposed 'good guys'. But on top of that I wasn't quite sure how everything fit together - especially Dumbly's part - how much was his plan, how much dumb luck or bad luck. I stayed around fandom to pick things apart, and the longer I stayed the less flattering my view of the 'good guys' became.

[the-bitter-word.livejournal.com]

I actually hated the sixth book -- all the "training" of Harry -- passive, the depiction of the Gaunts -- offensive, turning Draco's confederates into young girls -- sexist, Hermione Confunding McLaggen to "help" Ron and abusing Ron -- creepy, the chest monster -- clumsy, Tonks turning into a wan phantom because of love then cornering Remus at someone else's sickbed -- weak, Remus "spying" on the werewolves -- pointless, Dumbledore telling Draco that it was his mercy that was important -- jerky, the whole Severus/Draco set-up -- unbelievable, Slughorn the "good" Slytherin -- no. I was so let down by the travesties of that book, the romances and Voldemort's backstory and the overall feeling of treading water.

ETA: I forgot Harry cheating the whole year and nearly killing Draco but only worrying about missing Quidditch afterwards -- sheesh, what a hero.

But, I got caught up in the whole "is Snape evil" debate. (I became an active fan after OOTP because of the turn in Snape's story in that book, so I had a horse in the race, so to speak.) Ridiculously, I carried a kernel of hope that Rowling would turn the story around in the seventh book and come out with something sophisticated and truly remarkable. I was quickly disabused of that hope.

[oryx_leucoryx]

Remus "spying" on the werewolves -- pointless

Hey, Albus knew about Fenrir's recruitment early on (according to The Prince's Tale, but in HBP he was supposed to be an old timer, so????). Also - that no werewolf other than Fenrir helped the DEs (as far as we know) means Remus was successful doesn't it? (Or just that Rowling forgot about any werewolves other than those two.)

[sunnyskywalker]

Maybe his brand of reasoned argument wasn't so ineffective, then? Or maybe the other werewolves just didn't want to get involved. Running around with Fenrir on full moons is one thing, but joining a (gang) war? In which they might be called to fight while not transformed? Sounds like dangerous work, and would the general public - even werewolves - really trust Voldemort to keep his promises?

[charlottehywd.livejournal.com]

That pretty much sums it up.

What was the whole chest monster thing again, though?

[the-bitter-word.livejournal.com]

The chest monster is the profound expression of Harry's true love for Ginny. *Swipes at a tear -- stop it! Crying is for babies and Slytherins.*

I found this essay (http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/features/essays/whyharrypickedginny), which sums up the references to the monster (see "The Monster Unleashed"), and paints quite an optimistic portrait of the H/G relationship. For me, the chest monster was hackneyed. I cringed each time it appeared. Not to beat a dead horse, but it did indicate the compatibility of G and H, as the wish for violent revenge towards third parties seemed to be a hallmark of both characters. Soul mates. (Then again, Hermione... violent revenge... hmm.)

I appreciate where others don't see it, and it was very poorly done, but much as Harry was the hero just because that was his designated role, it was pretty obvious to me from the first book that Ginny was the designated love interest. I mean, why have her in the book at all, especially as a fainting fan, if true love wasn't where the story was going?