[HPforGrownups] Chapter Discussion: Goblet of Fire Ch. 7: Bagman and Crouch

[Debbie Duncan]

No: HPFGUIDX 191758

> > 1. Mr Roberts asked a lot of questions about all the strange things he was
> > noticing. Did you think he was nosey, or just reasonably curious? How did 
> > you
> > feel when the Ministry wizard Obliviated him?
> 
Debbie:
Given the circumstances (weird outfits, cluelessness about money), I think he had every right to try to satisfy his curiosity.  On first reading, Obliviation seemed right and necessary, but after seeing the uses made of it by the Crouches, among others, it seemed less benign, and more like Imperious (though I don't think Imperious Curse is on a par with the other  Unforgivables). 
> > 2. Mr Weasley mentioned that Ludo Bagman has always been a bit lax about
> > security. Does this have any bearing on your opinion of whether Ludo knew
> > Rookwood was a Death Eater when he passed information to him?
> 
> 
Debbie:
Ludo gave Rookwood information in exchange for anticipated future employment at the Ministry, according to his own testimony. At a minimum this indicates a disregard for ethics.  I suspect he had a very goo idea what Rookwood was doing with the information but deliberately didn't inquire too closely.
> > 4. Barty Crouch obviously knows Arthur Weasley quite well. And yet he does 
> > not
> > know Percy as Arthur's son though he must have been introduced as such. 
> > Does
> > this show something about Crouch's character, or is "Weatherby" just a 
> > joke?
> 
 Debbie:
I think the stress of keeping Barty Jr. Under control had gotten to him and he was too distracted to remember Percy's name.  Crouch probably only knew Arthur professionally so Crouch may not have known the kids at all.  And Weatherby may have been the name of another Ministry employee adding to his confusion.
> 
> >
> > 5. Ali Bashir wants to sell flying carpets in Britain, but Arthur 
> > explained to
> > him that the Registry of Proscribed Charmable Objects lists carpets as a 
> > Muggle
> > Artefact. Given that Muggles have brooms too, do you think the carpet ban 
> > is
> > just politics? What do you think of Arthur's part in this?
> 
Debbie:
While protection of the British broom industry must have been a significant factor in the anti-carpet regulation, given the Arabian Nights carpet folklore, they could probably justify the rule as an anti-detection measure.  A flying carpet is a lot bigger than a broom.

Debbie
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