The Order of the Phoenix Re-Read: Chapter 7

[slowfox]

Y'know, it's only on this read through that I realised what the significance of the telephone number:

"No, no, I'm sure it's fine," said Mr Weasley, holding the receiver above his head and peering at the dial. "Let's see... six..." he dialled the number, "two ... four ... and another four ... and another two ..."

I know this is more prevalent in the States than here, but veteran texters will recognise 'magic' from that sequence. I'm ashamed to say that it's taken me this long to spot it. D'oh!

I do wonder what Muggles see as the telephone box does its Journey to the Centre of the Earth impression. I mean, they must notice, surely? Or maybe there are some of those Muggle-repelling charms they had at the World Cup spread about the place?

One of the things I've noticed about the series is that the whimsical humour with which the first book opened gets toned down and down as the books progress. Still something of a disappointment, then, to see that the Ministry have both an Official Gobstones Club and a Ludicrous Patents Office.

"Ah," he said, grinning, as he extracted a copy of a magazine called The Quibbler from its midst...

First name-check for The Quibbler, and a short while later, Bode gets name-checked, too.

One can't help but wonder what arrangements would've been made for Harry had he remained (as initially instructed) at the Dursleys? Presumably the Ministry knows that Harry's with the Weasleys, but if Grimmauld Place is Unplottable, do they actually know where that is? And given that this is Harry, wouldn't they want to?

Feels like a short chapter, this one, heavy on background info, perhaps a little light on progession?

Comments

[cesy]

I hadn't spotted the phone number thing.

Harry wearing jeans and a t-shirt for a trial does seem silly.

Why doesn't he say goodbye to Ron and Hermione in the morning? You would have thought at least Hermione would think it was important to wish him luck.

Arthur's incompetence with Muggle stuff just doesn't make sense. Some wizards somewhere must be competent with Muggle things in order to stay as well hidden as they are. And what about all the Muggle-borns before Hermione? We know they exist.