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

[nikkalmati]

No: HPFGUIDX 191761


Nikkalmati
> GOBLET OF FIRE CH. 7: Bagman and Crouch
> 
> 
> 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?
> Nikkalmati

I thought he was just normally curious and that the wizards and witches were not being as carful as possible, because they were all so excited.  When he was Obliviated I felt uneasy, but we did not know much about Obliviation and I assumed they would not do it if it had any ill effects.  I am not so sure now. 

Nikkalmati

> 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?
> 
Nikkalmati

By lax about security I took it to mean Ludo was carelss.  That would mean he did not intend any harm in passing information to Rookwood, but he just didn't give the implications any thought.  I think Ludo feels he always has a free pass and he was very alarmed when he was accused of a serious offense.

Nikkalmati

> 3. Archie, who likes a healthy breeze, apparently never wears trousers. Do you
> think he is typical of wizards or not?

Nikkalmati

Well I am not much of an expert in this regard. :>).  I would think many wizards do not wear trousers for whatever reasons.

Nikkalmati
> 
> 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?
> 
Nikkalmati

Just an author's joke or a joke by Crouch?  He does not seem the joking type.  I think he knows Arthur from work only and has never met the family.  They probably do not move in the same circles.  Mr. Crouch hardly notices Percy despite Percy's hero worship and he probably considers he has too much on his mind to learn much about his staff.

Nikkalmati

> 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?

Nikkalmati

Interesting question.  I get the impression that although Crouch's grandfather owned a flying carpet, they were banned shortly after that  which would mean modern politics was not involved  Of course, the English in novels are often portrayed as not liking foreign customs or manners.  Still, there might be good reasons to keep people from using flying carpets - they would be more dificult to conceal than brooms, for example.  I think it is just here as an interesting contrast between wizarding populations.
  Apparently, Arthur has some kind of authority to deal with Ali Bashir or Ali thinks Arthur can lift the ban. He went to Arthur's boss to complain, but it does not seem Crouch is trying to get Arthur to approve the sale, or is he?

Nikkalmati 
> 
> 6. When you first read about the exciting event to take place at Hogwarts, did
> you think of any possibilities? What were they?

Nikkalmati

No, I tried, but I could not come up with anything.  I knew we would find out soon anyway.

Nikkalmati
> 
> 7. Please add any other questions to the list.
> 

Do you think gallions are really "great gold coins the size of hubcaps"? p. 77 US hardback edition.

Is the tent with the peacocks out front the one belonging to the Malfoys? p. 79 US Hardback edition.


> thank you, Annemehr
> 
>Nikkalmati