OoP - Ron's Sense of Humor and Predictions

[jsmithqwert]

No: HPFGUIDX 67402

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "jsmithqwert" 
<jsmithqwert at h...> wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Susan Smith" 
> <atroposgryffin at y...> wrote:
> > SPOILERS
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > 
> > Nina wrote:
> > I love Ron's off-hand predictions that end up coming very true (no
> > one ever refers back to these though).
> > 
> > <Atropos G.>  Lots of people do-over and over
> > 
> > <Nina>  I think I spotted a really good one, which fits in with 
> what 
> > I wish for Book 6. I need to reread to locate but I know Ron is 
> > joking around and does say `
..about as much chance as Dad
> > becoming 
> > Minister of Magic'. That elicited a big `ooooooh' from me when I 
> read 
> > that. It's now my No.1 prediction for Book 6!
> > 
> > <Liz wrote> I can't find the quote either, but Ron did indeed say 
> > something along the lines of, "We've got about as good a chance 
as 
> > winning the Quidditch Cup as dad does of becoming the Minister of 
> > Magic."  
 
I just want to add a few thoughts about the Arthur Weasley, MoM 
prediction.  At first, it seemed as terribly far-fetched to me as it 
did to Ron, but upon further examination I changed my mind.  In the 
realm of politics, and I believe this to be as true in the WW as it 
is here in muggleland, _big_ scandals usually don't just drag down 
the top dog but insteand his/her entire administration.  Overlooking 
Voldemort's return is, to say the least, a _big_ scandal.  I reason, 
therefore, that not only will Fudge lose his job, but most of the 
other executive-level people (i.e. everybody but the bureaucrats) 
will probably also be sacked.  That said, who could fill such a 
void.  Obviously, in such trying times, we will need someone with 
lots of MoM experience, preferably in the Department of Magical Law 
Enforcement as we're facing a big law-breaker.  Politically, we could 
also smoothe things over a bit with the public if we choose someone 
who believed in Voldemort's return from the very beginning.  Finally, 
because there is a lot of work to be done and a lot of vacancies to 
fill, we need someone who is well-connected.
 
Why, who better than Arthur Weasley.  He's been at the ministry for 
years and (seemingly) knows everyone there.  He sided with and is 
good friends with Dumbledore, who people are going to start seeing in 
a much better light.  He's likable and doesn't have any murky past 
dealings that could drage him down.  And, I don't think he's too keen 
for the job, which what with the social-climber Fudge who managed to 
ingratiate himself with a DE, would probably be a major turnoff.
I see something like the whole top level of the ministry instantly 
discredited.  The Wizengamot will start holding special proceedings 
to identify what intelligence the minister and his cronies had and 
what actions they did/did not take.  To save a little face and fill 
what will be a much needed gap, they will turn to Dumbledore, who of 
course will decline the position.  But perhaps he has a few 
suggestions?  Kingsley Shaklebolt, who has experience administering a 
squad of Aurors.  Well no he won't do, the MoM needs all the Aurors 
it can get its hands on.  Someone from the Department of Mysteries.  
Well, they had a huge security breech and have always been a bit too 
aloof, so I don't think so.  Ahh, but Arthur Weasley, well he's 
everything we need in more, but still a Minister from the Misuse of 
Muggle Artifacts Office.  After much deliberation, I don't think they 
will find anyone better and I'm sure that Arthur, although stunned 
and dumfounded, will take the job, albeit with a little trepidation.  
 
In closing, I want to note that Arthur as MoM would also allow for a 
neat Weasley-Percy makeup.  Percy would return to the family, 
embarraced and ashamed, but properly so, and ready to admit that he 
was wrong because his father of course, is now (to Percy anyway) the 
most powerful wizzard in Britain.  Arthur, being the accepting father 
that he is, will take Percy under his wing and put him right back 
where he belongs as a recent Hogwarts graduate and relatively new 
hire - in the windowless Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office, which 
incidentally, just so happens to have an opening.
 
-- jsmithqwert, who between his Weasleys-get-the-Black-family-fortune 
theory and this Arthur-as-Minister-of-Magic theory really thinks that 
the Weasleys deserve what they've earned and is sure that JK Rowling 
will greatly disappoint him when she condemns them to another year of 
unrecognized goodness in Book 6.