Imperio! - but who and when?

[boyd_smythe]

No: HPFGUIDX 102700

> Mandy wrote:
> It depends on where the expectation lies.  There are so many twists 
> one could take with this sub plot.  Sure it's obvious, perhaps too 
> obvious as you say, that Ron is a target for the imperio, but what 
if 
> JKR has Ron, or Hermione, acting under the imperio through-out book 
> 6, but she doesn't let us know until half way through book 7?  
> Fuelling untold amounts of website speculation during the 
intervening 
> years. Resulting in many loud 'Oh my God, not Ron!'  Or if JKR has 
> Ron behaving in such an obnoxious way that we all scream 'Imperio', 
> but in fact it turns out he just got fed up with playing 2nd fiddle 
> to Harry all the time.  Not likely, I know, but there a few 
different 
> twists that Jo can put on the tale to keep us in the dark. She's 
> managed to fool us on many other occasions. 
> 
> Cheers Mandy

boyd:
While I think that Kneasy's on to something here, I could also see 
Imperio used as a red herring throughout book 6. One character 
suspected of being imperio'd, another suspected of being the 
imperio'er, both wrong and distracting us from the *real* story as 
usual.

Example--"And Harry," Hermione ventured, "it might be best not to tell 
Ron where we're going."
"Because we're going to kiss?" blurted Harry, expectantly. "Um, 
Hermione, are you all right? You seem very flushed."
"I'm fine, you grotesquely tactless git. We're going to Gringott's to 
see your vault, remember? And what I mean is I think Snape has cast an 
Imperio on Ron! Why else would he be suddenly such a good student?"
"Does this mean we're not going to kiss? And, say, what's this trail 
of gum wrappers doing here! Thanks to you and your SPEW, Hermione, the 
house elves never clean this place anytmore."
"Speak of the devil, there's Winky! If I weren't so preoccupied with 
shipping here I'd wonder why she's eavesdropping on us and waving a 
wand at Professor McGonagall all the time."
"Yes, and I'd wonder how I'm going to kill Voldemort. But shipping is 
so fun! Can we kiss now?"

Ah, the fun and hijinx that could be had....