CHAPDISC: HBP1, The Other Minister

[M. Thitathan]

No: HPFGUIDX 141808

CHAPTER DISCUSSIONS: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 1, The Other Minister
Q.1:The Opening Chapter of Book Six
Does this scene work?  If so, what made it work here in contrast to 
the other potential locations in the series?  Is it simply that 
Fudge has more information to disseminate or are there thematic or 
stylistic reasons to include this scene now?

 
CH3ed: 
I think it works well. Tho, like others, I was hoping for more background info (after such a long wait). I like the change of scenery into opening the book from the Muggle World. JKR did separate the WW and the RW in her previous books when LV and his gang were laying low. Now that the DEs are actively causing troubles indiscriminately (both muggles and wizards are getting it) the two worlds that have been existing along side each other in blissful mutual ignorance can no longer stay artificially separated. It is like the real world when the terrorists struck at 9/11 or at Madrid, Bali, Russia and London. The nations who weren't on the friendliest terms before become more united when they see that they share serious problems and none of them is immune to terrorist strikes. I think the cooperation between the good wizards and the muggles is called for in book 7 (tho I don't quite know if the muggles would be able to help much). And also the wizards and the other magical
 populations (centaurs, goblins, house-elves? ) should somehow find a way to unite in the fight against LV, his DEs and the giants and inferi. Perhaps Harry will become the uniting force (without being Scrimgeor's puppet, of course). That may help with the finding and the destroying of 4 horcruxes.