The Timing of Lupin WAS - 'That Night'- Fudge After the Fact

[arrowsmithbt]

No: HPFGUIDX 109254

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Steve" <asian_lovr2 at y...> wrote:
> 
> Asian_lovr2:
> 
> Let's take a closer look at that quote-
> 
> ---- Quote - Am Ed HB pg 65-66 ----
> [Molly:] "But no one's really sure that Black's after Harry"
> 
> There was a thud on wood, and Harry was sure Mr. Weasley had
> banged his fist on the table.
> 
> [Arthur:]"Molly, how many times do I have to tell you? They didn't 
> report in the press because Fudge wanted it kept quiet, but Fudge 
> went out to Azkaban THE NIGHT Black escaped. The guards told Fudge 
> that Blacks been talking in his sleep for a while now. Always the 
> same words: 'He's at Hogwarts... he's at Hogwarts.' Black is deranged,
> Molly, and he wants Harry dead. ..."
> - - - End Quote - - -
> 
> Sirius didn't escape because Fudge went to Azkaban, Fudge went to
> Azkanban /the night/ Sirius escaped BECAUSE Sirius escape. That night
> was after the fact.
> 

Back to  semantics and grammatical construction, I'm afraid.

"Black's been talking.." is the key I think.
I would read this as "Black has been talking" the implication being that
it is a continuing activity.

If Black were no longer in residence then I'd expect it to be written
"Black had been talking".

"Has" is the present indicative; "had" is the past subjunctive -  or so
I believe, though it's been one hell of a long time since I did grammar and
I'll defer to anyone who who has a Fowlers that says differently.

Kneasy