Mr Weasley: I love, love, love the man. His collection of batteries and plugs. And his shocked reaction to the Dursleys' treatment of Harry as he leaves. Very endearing. It is very sad that Vernon interprets it as a threat. The whole point is that it is not. Mr Weasley is speaking out because he is shocked at another adult's actions, not attempting to force that adult to do something.

I suppose that speaks volumes to the difference between the two men. But it is also another reminder of the massive threat magic poses to the Dursleys. Not merely in the "oh, my, don't show the neighbours, they'll think we're freaks" sense, but in that they have no way of defending themselves against it -- if a wizard wants to make them do something they are entirely powerless.

The twins and Dudley: I always keep in the back of my mind the future Dudley v Dementor moment, and it struck me that his absolute terror and powerlessness in the face of magic could have something to do with it. The Hagrid moment in book one clearly still has a major effect (possibly not only because he got a tail out of it, but because of the unpredictablesness of magic -- he cannot predict what the retaliation to what he considers common actions will be.

And the twins' trick cannot have helped matters. I feel quite sorry for him. It is very bad of Fred and George. They are usually quite able to put themselves in someone else's position, but they fail utterly to imagine the horror of a muggle faced with a magical prank toffee. A wizard's reaction to the toffee would be very different simply in that he would know that it could be fixed -- he would have the conceptual apparatus to recognise it as an engorgement charm, for example. It would not be a life-threatening sudden and inexplicable swelling of the tongue.

I can see why Mr Weasley is angry. It also feels a little out of character for the twins. But I suppose the core of it is that they have heard so many horrible things about Dudley from Harry, and that they consider it very different to do something to someone because you have power and they do not than because he is a bully (powerful and abusing that power) and deserves a taste of his own medicine.

Percy: His unhealthy tendency to attach himself to people in authority is showing up. First Mr Crouch, later Fudge. I also like (well, maybe like is the wrong word) how he copies the language of the people above him, repeating "office talk" in entirely the wrong setting. It is rather reminiscent of how Draco acted in the first scene in the shop.

Amos Diggory: His way of acting towards his son reminds me of the Dursleys, but Cedric has still managed to become an upstanding gentleman. Perhaps his mother is more sensible?