CHAPDISC: DH7 - Scrimgeour, Another Wish

[Mike]

No: HPFGUIDX 179150

> KJ:
> > 17.	Does anyone feel that the antagonism between Scrimgeour 
> > and Harry is too contrived? Is it necessary to the plot?
> 
> Prep0strus:
> I'd like to build on that and ask what people think of the 
> character of Scrimgeour and his purpose in the series at large.  
> He's a bit of a mystery to me.  His entrance and presentation in 
> the story led me to believe he would have a much more important 
> role to play in the story at large.

Mike:
His introduction as the chief of the Auror office (in OotP) that 
was "asking ... funny questions" about Sirius was foretelling. He 
was a company man. He couldn't be trusted in on the secret of where 
Sirius was. He wasn't Order material.


> Prep0strus:
> I guess in the end it comes down to the view of the ministry - new
> face, same old crap.  But I was disappointed to find out there 
> wasn't more, and was wondering how others felt about it.

Mike:
I view the Aurors as the Military branch in the WW. More times than 
not, advancing in rank in the military during peacetime is a result 
of political saavy and having advocates in higher places, in my 
experience. This is the impression I got from Scrimgeour. He didn't 
rock the boat on the way up, and look where it got him. Why should he 
rock the boat now? Stick to what got you there.


> Prep0strus:
> JKR is good at giving a quick image of a character, but I felt like
> her description was even more powerful than usual with Scrimgeour. 
> And his comparison to a 'lion' surely must have instigated 
> Gryffindor thoughts in readers other than myself - these are not 
> things that JKR is usually subtle about.  The image of a lion, the 
> image of a snake... these are rote symbols in the WW.

Mike:
I've no doubt that Scrimgeour was a good Auror as a beginning and 
intermediate trooper. He was probably quite competent in the job, 
and most likely sought out the type of assignments that would get 
him noticed (and also injured if he wasn't the best in the business. 
In fact, getting injured on the job probably helped him get exposure 
that he wouldn't have gotten otherwise.)  I'd be willing to bet that 
the "lion" look was a purposeful facade, complimenting his natural 
features with a particular hairstyle to inspire the comparison. (I 
wonder if he always limped on the same leg? Did anyone check? <eg>).


> Prep0strus:
> And his personality, so different from Fudge's... I got the feeling
> something was really going to happen with the ministry. I even got
> the feeling that old Rufus might have knowledge of secrets we had 
> not been told yet... he certainly is reminiscent of Mad-Eye - 
> scarred and brusque, and there's probably a lot below the surface.
  <snip>

Mike:
I never trust a character that harbors an injury, if we don't know 
why he got it. For all we know, Scrimmy splinched himself running 
from a fight and chose to keep the injury as proof that he had fought 
the bad guys. Sort of like shooting yourself in the foot. Mad-Eye,  
we knew where he got some of his injuries, and Dumbledore vouched for 
him. 

OTOH, although Dumbledore admits Scrimmy is "A more decisive and 
forceful personality than Cornelius" (big deal, who isn't?) and "a 
man of action ... and does not underestimate Lord Voldemort." <HBP 
Ch. 4; pg. 61, US Ed.), those are hardly ringing endorsements given 
who we have to compare him to. Which was purposeful on Dumbledore's 
part, imo. Since it didn't take long to discover what kind 
of "actions" this "man of action" would take. 


> Prep0strus:
> I was disappointed, because I felt that his introduction was so 
> strong that surely he would matter more to the story. When he was 
> simply killed off-stage, I was befuddled. I just didn't understand 
> why such a big deal had been made of him for him to not do anything
> worthwhile or unique. <snip>

Mike:
I too was disappointed in Scrimgeour, but not in JKR. I admit I had 
higher hopes for him in the beginning of HBP, but for the reasons I 
gave above I understand why those hopes didn't pan out. For me, this 
mirrors your feelings on Slytherins. It would have been fine if they 
(both Slyths and Scrimmy) would have had a better showing than they 
did, but I wasn't expecting it and it wasn't a deal breaker when it 
didn't happen.


****************
I forgot a wish that I didn't get, and this discussion of Scrimgeour 
reminded me.

Aurors. It was Harry's aspiration to become one. There was such a 
build up for Mad-Eye, the first one we were introduced to. And Mad-
Eye's exploits were legendary (though in the past). Harry was truly 
impressed that Tonks was one. And then... nothing! We never hear of 
anything that any Auror does fighting the Dark side in Harry's time, 
unless that Auror was an Order member and doing Order business. :(