[HPforGrownups] Is there a Major Flaw in OOP?

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No: HPFGUIDX 70477


Flussbiber says:

Is it really only me who thinks it is 
very odd and doesn't make sense that 
the ministry is completely deserted when 
Harry and his friends get there? If 
the Death Eaters can clear the ministry 
so easily, never mind whether it's in 
the dead of the night or not, there is 
absolutely no reason why Voldemort 
shouldn't walk in there and just pick up 
the prophecy, no?

Me:
I too, do not know why the ministry was so deserted, apart from it being in 
the dead of the night.  I can accept that the ministry was empty, but not to 
have a member of the order on guard?  
It would of been reckless for Voldemort to try, since he had a huge advantage 
that the ministry had turned a blind eye to his return, but I have to agree, 
this reasoning is very weak considering that a dozen death eaters sneaked in 
there undetected.

Flussbiber says:

They, 
or at least Dumbledore, know that the 
prophecy is rather useless to Voldemort 
now, except that it tells him clearly 
that he has to kill Harry if he wants 
to live (ah, doesn't he now?). 

Me:
This has been discussed many times in the group before, and Voldemort would 
of been at an advantage if he learned what the prophecy had to say, for 
example, he would no longer need to fear Dumbledore, since Dumbledore is not the 
person to destroy him, his fear of Dumbledore is a good thing for the Order.  If 
Voldemort knew that only Harry could destroy him, then he just become extremely 
reckless with his ambitions and get away with it.

Question number 1:
Why is there no security in the ministry - either from officials or 
from the Order?

Me: Again, I can understand the lack of security.  Maybe for that night, 
since it is in the canon that there is normally security (The members of the order 
have to use an invisibility cloak and ... was it Podmore?  Got caught 
'trying' to get into the DoM)  But there not being the member of the order?  Very 
strange.

which leads to question number 2:
Why did Voldemort not just go there, unseen and pick up the prophecy?

Me: Again, it would be reckless for him to do so.  I can guess that Voldemort 
loved the discrediting of Dumbledore and Harry.  

Question number 3:
Why did Snape need several hours to get worried enough to alarm the 
other members of the Order? Also, didn't Sirius get suspicious when 
Snape checked on him?

Me:  First of all he needs to find out where everyone are, then he needs to 
get there, he can apparate, he can't send an owl, he cant use floo powder etc.  
Having saying that, I m not entirely sure, since I don't remember that part 
that well.  But I'm sure Sirius was a bit moved by Snape checking up on him.  
Maybe Snape told him there and then - it doesn't say.  In conclusion to that 
question though, im not sure at all.  Just some possibilities.


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