Lifespans?... Molly and Hagrid

[madorganization]

No: HPFGUIDX 131665

> phoenixgod2000:
> 
> Seemed more like it was work related than school boy related. I 
> think the hostility can simply be explained by the fact that 
Lucius 
> Malfoy just isn't the type of wizard that Arthur Weasley likes.
> 

Alisha:
This theory seems to be based on a common misconception about Lucius 
Malfoy.  He doesn't actually /work/ at the ministry.  He spends a 
lot of time there, throwing his money around, but all indications 
are that he doesn't have a job.  He's wealthy.  Work is beneath him.

I agree that Malfoy isn't the type of wizard that Arthur likes, but 
there is something more personal between them than simply Arthur's 
principles.  I mean, George W. Bush isn't the sort of person that I 
like, but if I met him in, say, a bookstore, I doubt we'd end up in 
a fist fight.  

What we need to ask ourselves is, "How do these two men know each 
other?"  It has to be something where they would spend enough time 
together to know at least trivial details about each other (Malfoy's 
interest in the dark arts, Arthur's poverty and large family).  
Malfoy does spend a lot of time at the ministry, but Arthur (for all 
that we love him) isn't really important enough to be on speaking 
terms with the Minister's personal friends.

Obviously the animosity between them is strong and personal enough 
that they talk about it at home.  Both Ron and Draco have heard of 
the other's father.  It seems only logical that Arthur and Lucius 
have known each other for quite some time and that they have never 
gotten along.  The only place where a Malfoy and a Weasley are 
likely to spend enough time together to learn to dislike each other 
that much and that personally is at school.

I think it's likely that Arthur and Molly are a bit older than 
Lucius (otherwise Molly started her family at an extremely young 
age), but I think they are close enough to have spent at least a few 
years at school together.

-Alisha