JKR site update: No Minister Arthur

[retro_eidas]

Will Arthur Weasley be the new Minister for Magic?
Alas, no.

JKR's statement hasn't changed my belief Arthur is one of the best options for Minister. It's possible JKR may be referring only to Book 6, but not necessarily Book 7 or the epilogue. Fudge could retain his title through Book 6 or someone replaces him, only for that person to be usurped by Arthur in book 7/epilogue.

Many world leaders over time have had very meager beginnings, so I never really gave much import to Arthur having a lower tier position at the MOM. There's also the whole Arthurian / Arthur parallel (Arthur - prior ascending to the throne as rightful king - had hardly been living a "kingly" lifestyle beforehand). Arthur is also - in my impression - one of the more well-known and well-liked of Ministry employees. He seemed to be on speaking/friendly terms with just about every department we encountered in OOTP (despite his various eccentricities). He's both a muggle-enthusiast and a pureblood. He can appeal to varying facets of the WW. As a muggle-enthusiast/sympathizer he could appeal to the muggleborns/mixed-bloods (Mixed/Half-bloods in the current WW far outnumber the pure). Being a pureblood from an old Wizarding family, despite the "blood traitor" moniker, also could hold weight to the more elitists/purists in the world.

However, JKR's statement could certainly apply to the rest of the series too. Arthur will never be Minister. Since I strongly believe he is one of the better candidates (despite his eccentricities and lower position at the MOM), it makes me lean more towards why Arthur wouldn't or won't be Minister, even if he's the better/best choice.

--He's offered the position, but he doesn't accept it?
--He's nominated and nearly wins the position, but before he can actually become Minister... He's hindered in some way.

"Hindered" meaning...
--He's removed from the position by force before he can start. (He's kidnapped, bullied out of running, there's a military coup, etc.)
--He's killed

I have wondered if Arthur may be sort of a Martin Luther King Jr. type in the WW. A free-thinker and potentially seen as a figure of equal/civil rights in the WW. Perhaps on an independent bill in a campaign... and I could definitely see him winning. The right-wing militants (Voldie & Death Eaters) don't like his thoughts, they feel threatened by him and this unity he could create. Hence, the threat is removed. I'd go even further and say my money would be on Lucius specifically doing him in.

Minister-candidate Arthur assassinated? I unfortunately think this is a very, very real possibility. Much thanks to my belief that Book 6 will be one of the darkest yet. The war has started and the gloves are off (for both sides). That dialogue Arthur has in GOF describing the feeling of seeing the Dark Mark over your home, knowing what you'll likely find there... that always reeked of ominous foreshadowing for the Burrow to me. The ne'er-do-wells nearly got him in OOTP. He and his family are tight with Dumbledore, the Order and most importantly, Harry. He's the patriarch of a blood traitor pureblood family (hence, his death could be used as an example, "This is what happens when you betray your race" yada yada). He's one of the most likely candidates and potentially the most viable to get the position (therein, the most dangerous, for the right due to his beliefs/connections) for Minister.

What's even more tragic is that King Arthur - Arthur W's likely namesake - was killed by his own son, Mordred. They duelled, Arthur killed Mordred but he himself was mortally wounded from the battle. K.Arthur died from the wounds. Will one of the Weasley children strike their father down? Via the Imperious Curse? Another Voldemort possession? It would be a horrifying tragedy in any angle.

Comments

[annearchy.livejournal.com]

Oh dear. What an interesting theory. I'm always worried about your theories; so many of them seem to make sense. WAAAH, especially about the possibility of one of the Weasley children *under Imperius* doing him in. Unfortunately I see 2 or 3 possibilities there. WAAAH. Arrgh. *cough*

[annearchy.livejournal.com]

^^^^^^^ I suspect this might happen. We already know R-->Hr, and we suspect (some of us) that Hr-->H but we don't know that for sure. Hr certainly doesn't know how H feels, in part because he doesn't know that himself. Over and above all the war stuff, the last two book should be interesting on this account.