Was it a back-handed compliment?

[ladyofmisrule2000 <lorischmidt1@juno.com>]

No: HPFGUIDX 50978

Lori:

I don't think Barty Crouch, Jr. was complimenting Harry and Hermione 
when he told them they should be Aurors, because as a loyal supporter 
of Voldemort, Crouch, Jr. is not likely to have met an Auror he 
really liked.

>Sarmi (whose thoughts were echoed by the wonderfully named Danger 
>Mouse):
>
>I would think that a compliment from a DE would be better than from 
>an Auror?  After I found out that Crouch Jr. was a DE I found that
>his compliment to Harry and Hermione carried more weight, because he
>would know the skills need to be a good Auror.

Lori:

So you believe the remark was made with what we could term a grudging 
respect? I like that theory.

>Sarmi: 

>Also, don't forget that he was impersonating Moody.  Crouch Jr.
>could *not* let his guard down, or slip up, those that knew Moody 
>would know something was up if he didn't act like himself.  It would
>also be in character for Moody to notice such things about his
>students, no one questioned the fact that he turned Malfoy into a 
>ferret, except McGonagall.  The real Moody is not a nice guy.

Lori:

Agreed. But one of the wonderful ironies JKR establishes is that we 
know at least part of the time, Crouch, Jr. is acting in a way that 
is consistent with his character *and* Moody's. The example you cited 
is an excellent illustration of this. Apparently, turning Draco into 
a ferret isn't out of Moody's character, or--as you have pointed out--
someone would have called Crouch, Jr. on it. But Crouch, Jr. has his 
own agenda here, too. He hates Draco's Dad for abandoning the Death 
Eaters after the original "fall" of Voldemort.

-Lori, who wouldn't mind being an Auror...part-time anyway; thwarting 
danger seems like tough work!