Sirius' Inconsistencies?

[TaliaDawn3 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 42004

While I was re-reading GoF today, I came across something that struck me as 
odd.  Although I'm not entirely sure if it *is*, so I thought I would mention 
it here.

(Following taken from US GoF, pg.334)

"Listen, I knew Bertha Jorkins," said Sirius grimly.  "She was at Hogwarts 
when I was, a few years above your dad and me.  And she was an idiot.  Very 
nosy, but no brains, none at all.  It's not a good combination, Harry.  I'd 
say she'd be very easy to lure into a trap."

Then, later in the book (US GoF, pg.533)

"Yes, he's quoted in the article in there," said Sirius, nodding at the 
paper.  "Blustering on about how bad Bertha's memory is.  Well, maybe she's 
changed since I knew her, but the Bertha I knew wasn't forgetful at all - 
quite the reverse.  She was a bit dim, but she had an excellent memory for 
gossip.  It used to get her into trouble; she never knew when to keep her 
mouth shut.  I can see her being a big of a liability at the Ministry of 
Magic ... maybe that's why Bagman didn't bother to look for her to so long 
...."

Now, the second passage seems to contradict the first one.  In the first one, 
Sirius is saying she was a complete fool, but then he says she had an 
excellent memory (for gossip, but I think that's darn near everything, isn't 
it? *G*).  Am I just reading it wrong?  Do I not get it?  I'm fairly certain 
that I do.  
It's been bugging me for a while, that's the real reason I started re-reading 
GoF again (I *should* be reading Prisoner of Azkaban now, it's the next one 
in my re-reading order).  Because I remembered someone saying she was an 
idiot and then saying she had a good memory.

~*~*~Talia Dawn~*~*~
(Who apologizes if this has already been discussed)


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