Comments | canon_evidence: Worst Kept Secret Ever?

phate_phoenix in canon_evidence

Worst Kept Secret Ever?

Jan 10, 2009 17:46

Hey everyone, me again with another lovely inquiry for you all. In the very first book, Dumbledore calls the incident between Harry and Quirrel a 'complete secret, so, naturally, the whole school knows.' Would such knowledge go beyond the school to, like, the Ministry of Magic? I'm referring to the part in the fifth book where Delores Umbridge ( Read more... )

char: quirinus quirrell, user: phate_phoenix, ministry of magic

Comments 2

coendou January 11 2009, 00:05:02 UTC

Given that that would violate Umbridge's complete, 100% denial that Voldemort is anything but completely and totally dead, I doubt it mattered much what anyone else in the Ministry did or didn't know about the incident. The way things were going, I'd guess that the Ministry heard about it, but the information was considered differently by different Ministry members - some believed it, some didn't.

I don't think we ever find out their "official" position, but I'd guess that during Book 5 it was that Harry made it up, while after that it would have considered it the truth.

midnitemaraud_r January 11 2009, 00:54:14 UTC

Well, considering that Quirrel died, the ministry was definitely informed, and probably conducted some kind of inquiry. And when you consider that Dumbledore was not the kind of person to keep that kind of information to himself, I would imagine the Ministry was told that Quirrel wasn't acting alone when he tried to steal the stone, but as to whether or not he was believed... After all, we don't even know that the students believed that Harry faced Voldemort - we see later how sceptical many of them are when they start the DA.

So as to your question, I'm sure the ministry was told, yes, but as to whether or not they believed it, that's anyone's guess. Fudge and co.? No. Scrimgeour and Amelia Bones, possibly. Moody and Kingsley and Arthur? Yes, I would think so.