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We do see a small conflict here. In [[Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter/Books/Philosopher's Stone/Chapter 4|''Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'']], [[Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter/Characters/Rubeus Hagrid|Hagrid]] tells Harry that his parents were "[[Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter/Major Events/Head Boy|Head Boy and Head Girl]] in their day." We have already seen that Percy had progressed from Prefect to Head Boy, so the assumption is that, in order to become Head Boy, James Potter must have first been a Prefect. Yet, here we learn that it was Lupin who was Prefect. This anomaly is never explained, but if Lupin had resigned or been forced out as Prefect, or had elected not to complete his seventh year at Hogwarts, it is possible that James would have been made Prefect and Head Boy in his stead.
Lucius Malfoy meeting with Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge so close to Harry's hearing is highly suspicious, although there is no proof that Fudge is connected to Death Eaters. Likely he is not, but Malfoy has certainly courted his and the Ministry's favor and influence, mostly through generous monetary donations. Here, Lucius, a Death Eater, may be attempting to manipulate Fudge regarding Harry's hearing, or mayis be attemptingtrying to extract information that he can relay tofor Voldemort. A clueless Fudge is more inept than corrupt, and he is mainly concerned with cultivating his public image rather than paying attention to what is actually happening in the Wizarding world. He truly seems to believe that Voldemort is dead and that Harry is an attention-seeking liar. Fudge is also highly paranoid and is convinced that Dumbledore is plotting to overthrow the Ministry.
Another contradiction should be noted here as well. In [[Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter/Books/Prisoner of Azkaban/Chapter 10|''Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban'']], Fudge, speaking with [[Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter/Characters/Madam Rosmerta|Madam Rosmerta]], [[Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter/Characters/Rubeus Hagrid|Hagrid]], [[Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter/Characters/Filius Flitwick|Professor Flitwick]] and [[Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter/Characters/Minerva McGonagall|Professor McGonagall]], quite clearly believes that Voldemort is still alive, and that Sirius, his "most trusted lieutenant," intends to rejoin him. In this chapter, of course, he denies the possibility, as he has ever since [[Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter/Characters/Albus Dumbledore|Professor Dumbledore]] categorically stated that he had returned, in [[Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter/Books/Goblet of Fire/Chapter 36|''Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire'']]. One would suspect that this was a failing of the author's failing, except that it fits in so well with what we learn of Fudge's character. Fudge quite clearly believes in the first rule of politics: get re-elected. It was on Fudge's watch that the Wizarding administration suffered the public relations catastrophe represented by the only escape from [[Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter/Places/Azkaban|Azkaban]] in history. The [[Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter/Magic/Dementor|dementorsDementors]], as unpopular as they are, are the only route Fudge has to recover from that debacle. Voldemort, off somewhere in some distant land and ineffective, is a good bogey-man, useful in retaining public support despite the inconveniences to the Wizarding population caused by the roaming dementorsDementors. Thus, Fudge publicly and privately believes in a distant and ineffective Voldemort who must be stopped at all costs from reuniting with Sirius Black. A real, re-embodied Voldemort, active and recruiting in England, is far too close, far too dangerous, and far too destabilizing for Fudge and his regime to survive;. thusThus, he now must believe that this has not happened, that Voldemort has died. If Voldemort could exist far away and harmless, he could also exist nearby and dangerous, so he must not have been around two years before either. As a good politician, Fudge either believes privately as he does publicly, or else he chooses to mask all doubts in order to present a confident face.
Molly Weasley's deepest fears are shownon display here. A devoted and loving wife and mother, she lives in constant terror that her family will fall victim to Voldemort. She has lost her brothers, and it is unlikely she could bear to lose ArthurMr. Weasley or any of her children. From seeing herHer fears, we can tell thatshow she is convinced that the Weasley family will be unable to survive the war unscathed. Harry is deeply disturbed by witnessing this, althoughthough the Boggart turning into his image shows how deeply MollyMrs. Weasley cares for him, considering him as a son. Harry is also confronted with his own mortality and realizes that he may not get through this alivesurvive.
== Questions ==
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