Some canon related WOMBAT wonderings/ some questions from the test

[hickengruendler]

No: HPFGUIDX 170262

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "dumbledore11214" 
<dumbledore11214 at ...> wrote:
>
> Soooo, I was fascinated by some of WOMBAT questions and their 
> relation to canon, if they are true and would love to discuss it 
here.
> 
> I am copying those few questions from what Chancie so graciously 
> typed up on OTC list. Thank you so much for doing it.
> 
> 
> just in case some SPOILER space 
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> 
> 
> Okay, questions 3 and 4 ask us to figure out which ones of those 
> decisions by Ministry of Magic had the best and worst effect on 
> everyday wisarding life.
> 
> Here they are:
> 
> 3. Chose the ministry of magic decision that, in your estimation,
> had
> the MOST DAMAGING effect on present day wizarding life.
> a) the creation of the international statute of Wizarding secrecy in
> 1692.
> b) The defeat of the Appeal Against House- Elf Slavery in 1973
> c) The drive into hiding of the surviving giants in the early 1980's
> d) the 1865 decision to leave full control of Gringotts in the 
Goblin
> hands
> e)the Wand band of 1631, which forbade non-human magical beings to
> carry wands
> ________________
> 
> 4. Chose the ministry of magic decision that, in your estimation,
> had
> the BEST effect on present day warding life.
> a) the Creation of the international statute of Wizarding secrecy in
> 1692.
> b) The defeat of the Appeal Against House- Elf Slavery in 1973
> c) The drive into hiding of the surviving giants in the early 1980's
> d) the 1865 decision to leave full control of Gringotts in the 
Goblin
> hands
> e)The Wand band of 1631, which forbade non-human magical beings to
> carry wands
> 
> 
> Alla:
> 
> First of all I must say I was blinking when I saw the question that 
> even suggests that some decision of Ministry can have good effect 
on 
> everyday WW life, I was thinking - maybe it is one of those 
questions 
> that will lose me points no matter what I answer, but then I 
figured, 
> oh well, let's pretend that sometimes Ministry does something good.
> 
> I answered (d) as something that had the best effect on WW life. I 
> mean, it could be statute of secrecy, but I figured that decision 
to 
> leave money in goblins control, in other words leave something so 
> significant for WW existance in control of non-human race, may have 
> done a lot towards making goblins if not super friendly, but at 
least 
> not hostile towards human wizards these days and no more rebellions 
> or something.
> 
> 
> Another thing, when I was looking at those questions, I was 
> fascinated to see that there was an appeal against House elf 
slavery 
> so recently and it was defeated. I thought that was the worst 
> decision and marked it as such. I also think that this is another 
> support towards JKR intent to portray House elves situation as 
pretty 
> comparable to slavery.
> 
> 
> Thoughts?
> 
> Alla.
>

Hickengruendler:

Most damaging: I was torn between c and e, but I ultimately went for 
the one with the wands. Out of all the possibilities, this one most 
of all seemed to put the creatures down as secondary beings compared 
to the wizards, and I suppose most of the non-humans aren't happy 
about this. I suspect it will further complicate the Trio's quest in 
HBP, and *if* the creatures are helpful, than probably only because 
of Dumbledore, not because of the ministry. I chose the one with the 
Statute of Secrecy as the best one, but it could have been the Goblin 
one as well. Should maybe have chosen this, because it gives the 
Goblins some worth. Otherwise, they might still rebel all of the time.

By the way, do you think the rumour about Slytherin returning to 
Hogwarts is true? I guess not, sicne I suppose the Sorting Hat would 
have known and told us, but it would have been nice, particularly 
sinc ehous eunity probably is a theme in book 7.