Molly & Rita (was: Ginny/brothers/not old fashioned but old predjuces)

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 152531

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Magpie" <belviso at ...> wrote:

Magpie:
> Doesn't Rita write unflattering articles that mention Arthur Weasley in the 
> beginning of GoF?  I thought Molly knew her as the author of those, which 
> she complained about, but then she turned around and believed the other 
> stuff about Hermione.

Geoff:

She doesn't actually mention him by name but he recognises the reference 
and she also obviously already has a reputation....

'...Bill handed his father the newspaper. Mr.Weasley scanned the front page 
while Percy looked over his shoulder.

"I knew it," said Mr.Weasley heavily. "Ministry blunders... culprits not 
apprehended... lax security... Dark wizards running unchecked...  national 
disgrace... Who wrote this? Ah... of course... Rita Skeeter."

"That woman's got it in for the Ministry of Magic!" said Percy furiously. "Last 
week she was saying we're wasting our time quibbling about cauldron 
thickness, when we should be stamping out vampires!..."'

(GOF "Mayhem at the Ministry" p.131 UK edition)

...interesting that Percy doesn't approve of her at this point in time...

'"I'm mentioned," said Mr.Weasley, his eyes widening behind his glasses as 
he reached the bottom of the Daily Prophet article.

"Where?" spluttered Mrs.Weasley, choking on her tea and whisky. "If I'd seen 
that, I'd have known you were alive!"

"Not by name," said Mr.Weasley. "Listen to this: 'If the terrified wizards and 
witches who waited breathlessly for news at the edge of the wood expected 
reassurance from the Ministry of Magic, they were sadly disapppointed. A 
Ministry official emerged some time after the appearance of the Dark Mark, 
alleging that no one had been hurt but refusing to give any more information..."'

(ibid. p.132)

So, Molly obviously had enough information to distrust Rita Skeeter completely 
but still chose to believe what was being said about Hermione. 

A reading equivalent of selective deafness I think.