Quidditch World Cup

[annelilucas]

No: HPFGUIDX 96488

Could somebody possibly point me in the direction of any theories
about how Bagman managed to get so many tickets for Arthur Weasley in
the top box?  Arthur says something about getting his brother off the
hook with some minor offence, but I don't really buy that.  I don't
have my book here for page refs, but I remember that:

Arthur isn't on duty when many others are (and you'd have thought he
could've done with the extra cash), and they get to the stadium just
before the match when many have been there for weeks (which, granted,
is linked to the good tickets).

The stadium seated 100,000 and there were around 20 seats in the top
box.  The Weasleys, Harry + Hermione take up 10 seats, that leaves 10
for Winky, 3 Malfoys, Bagman, Fudge, Bulgarian MoM and presumably the
Irish MoM (although s/he isn't mentioned).  That comes to 18
altogether.  I think some unnamed important wizards are also mentioned.

Fudge says that Lucius gave a very generous donation and is there as
Fudge's guest.  So if Lucius has to donate so much to get 3 tickets,
how come Arthur gets 10?  Surely there are loads of incredibly
important/rich, etc. witches/wizards that would qualify before him,
even the families of the players would seem to have more right to be
there than Arthur's lot.

Also, on another subject Winky tells Harry that she knows Dobby and
spoke to him.  If house elves are tied to their family for life, how
does she know him?  Some house elf social function?  And I can't
really see Crouch and the Malfoys moving in the same circles for them
to meet that way.

Oh yes, and one more thing (don't worry, only one!) where does the
idea that Arthur Weasley is looked down on come from (apart from by
the Malfoys)?  The wizards he talks to at the World Cup seem to think
highly of him and the way Bagman and Crouch talk to him made me think
that he has quite a lot of influence in the MoM (more than is made out
anyway).

I'm not completely sure that that all made sense, but I'll be happy to
clarify (if anyone actually made it to the end!).

Anneli