Chapter One: The Other Minister

[sillydawn]

Chapter One:The Other Minister

In this chapter, the muggle Prime Minister remembers his encounters with Cornelius Fudge, and a summary of past books is briefly given. Fudge visits him again, explaining the most recent events and saying there is now a war as Voldemort and his followers terrorize Muggles, killing many, including Amelia Bones and Emmeline Vance; the dementors and giants have joined Voldemort and there is a new Minister of Magic, Rufus Scrimgeour.

All page references are US Edition

1. This is one of very few chapters in the entire series which is not from Harry's POV (Point of View). Was the purpose of this chapter merely to introduce the new MoM (Minister of Magic), recap the past five books, and bring us up to date with a few events since the ending of OotP (Order of the Phoenix)?


2. Problems in the muggle world are the Brockdale Bridge collapsing, two very publicized murders (Bones and Vance), a "hurricane" in the West Country, and the Junior Minister Herbert Chortley acting like a duck (a poorly performed Imperius Curse - by whom, a random Death Eater?). We see later in the chapter that the incidents are due to Death Eaters and Voldemort - Fudge says (p.12) that Voldemort threatened Fudge with mass muggle killings unless Fudge stood aside. Here we see the two worlds are connected, no matter how much they try to ignore the other's existence. It's an interesting parallel to the real world, the interconnection of countries, and terrorism.


3. The deaths of Emmeline Vance and Amelia Bones are somewhat revealing - what says you?
   From the HP Lexicon:
   Emmeline Vance: Member of the Order of the Phoenix, both in the 1970s and in the 1990s. She was part of the Advance Guard that escorted Harry from Privet Drive to 12 Grimmauld Place (OP3, 9). She is described as a stately-looking witch with an emerald green shawl. Betrayed by Severus Snape (HBP5) and "nastily" murdered by Death Eaters in the first weeks of the Second Wizarding War (late June or early July 1996 [Y16]) (HBP1). Murder occurred near 10 Downing Street, London (HBP1). Emmeline = Medieval pet form of Emma. This is the name of the central character in Jane Austen's novel Emma, which is JKR's favorite novel.
   Amelia Susan Bones: Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement until her death, Madam Bones presided over Harry's disciplinary hearing on Aug 12, 1995; she later told her niece Susan some of the details. A broad, square-jawed witch with very short gray hair and thick eyebrows, Madam Bones wears a monocle. According to Tonks, Amelia was fair and honest. Murdered "nastily" by Death Eaters in the first weeks of the Second Wizarding War (late June or early July 1996 [Y16]) (HBP1). Muggle newspapers reported the crime and described her as a "middle-aged woman who lived alone." Fudge believes that the murder was carried out by Voldemort himself (HBP1).



4. The MoM uses a portrait, which cannot be removed (reminiscent of Mrs. Black), as a means of communication with the Prime Minister. The Wizards are almost dictator-like in their treatment of the Prime Minister (or am I the only one who got that feeling?), brushing aside his duties and schedule, and several other examples littered throughout the chapter. They seem to only bother with communication as a gesture of good will. Fugdges visits are described as almost always bad and then it's reiterated when Fudge says he will only contact the Prime Minister if it is serious.


5. The setting is in London in the Prime Minister's office; there is an unseasonable chill and a thin mist outside, which we later learn is due to the Dementors who have left Azkaban to join Voldemort and are breeding. If Dementors breeding doesn't give you chills.... ;P


6. Fudge says, "[...]is a man alive if he can't be killed? I don't really understand it, and Dumbledore won't explain properly -- [...]" Knowing what we now know about Horcruxes, this appears to be something along those lines, but the part about if he can't be killed is intriguing to say the least. Is Fudge speaking of the past, or is he saying Voldemort can't be killed? Considering the source, should we ignore this?


7. We find out that the Ministry does recognize Sirius Black as innocent, and dead. We do not hear about the Veil. :-/


8. We hear that the new MoM is writing a letter to Dumbledore and Fudge looks bitter, saying, "I wish him luck" and further explains "[Dumbledore] won't budge. If he'd just been prepared to persuade the boy, I might still be... Well, maybe Scrimgeour will have more success." I would be so bold as to say the boy is Harry, but the persuading bit - is it simply what we see Scrimgeour trying to do later, get Harry to publicly support the Ministry, or is there more to this? (p.15)


9. Rufus Scrimgeour is introduced on page 16 (he was briefly mentioned in OotP, chapter seven - he was the former Head of the Auror Office of the Ministry of Magic where he was asking "funny questions" of both Arthur Weasley and Kingsley Schacklebolt). He is Fudge's successor as Miniser of Magic. In chapter 4 of HBP, Dumbledore says, "Rufus is a man of action and, having fought Dark wizards for most of his working life, does not under-estimate Lord Voldemort."
   From The HP Lexicon
   Description
   "[He] looked rather like an old lion. There were streaks of grey in his mane of tawny hair and his bushy eyebrows; he had keen yellowish eyes behind a pair of wire-rimmed spectacles and a certain rangy, loping grace even though he walked with a slight limp".
   
   Name meanings
   'Scrimgeour'=a Scottish clan name. It probably originated from a nickname meaning "skirmisher" (a version of "escrimeur," French for "swordsman").
   
   'Rufus'=Latin for "red-haired."
   
   There was a lot of speculation over who would be the next MoM, and it's doubtful anyone got it right. *grins* What are your feelings regarding Rufus? What's been the point of Fudge in the past books, and this position? Motivation on JKR's part, anyone?


10. Kingsley Shacklebolt is guarding the Prime Minister.


11. Fudge is still employed by the Ministry in an advisory capacity.


12. Memorable quote by Fudge, "The trouble is, the other side can do magic too, Prime Minister."

Go forth and discuss! :D