It really annoys me ...

[zgirnius]

No: HPFGUIDX 163841

 
> Mike:

> In OotP;
> 2) Why was the MoM devoid of people (not counting the hidden DEs) 
> when Harry and the gang show up? If it is this easy to get into the 
> Hall of Prophesies, why bother with the whole ruse? Why didn't 
> Voldemort just show up after his DEs cleared whatever path they 
> cleared (by all appearances, not much clearing was needed), to take 
> the prophesy himself and skeedaddle? It took all night for the 
> Ministry and Fudge to show up and that was just barely in time to 
> see Voldemort before he disapparates. Who was suppose to be 
guarding 
> the hen house?
>

zgirnius:
I won't argue about Sirius in the Shrieking Shack, because you could 
be right. I just don't care, becaue I love that whole sequence WAAAY 
too much.

On your second objection, I think the point of the ruse was to keep 
Voldemort out of it. If Harry had an ironclad alibi, the 
disappearance of the Prophecy would prove Voldemort's back. It would 
have lost him the advantage he gained because the Ministry refused to 
believe in his return based on Harry's word. (Stealing it from Harry 
is OK, though - just another raving of the disturbed, attantion 
seeking Harry Potter.)