Rufus Scrimgeour is introduced. I had not noticed that before. It is nice that he does not just show up out of nothing.

I also like how the trial allows Rowling to introduce the visitors' entrance casually, providing Harry with the means to get to the Ministry later. I wonder whether that is the whole origin of the introduction of the trial. She sews everything together so neatly it is difficult to trace (in this book, unlike in the former) what has caused a choice of plot lines. If it is introduced to provide Harry with the knowledge of the Ministry, then she has exploited it very well to demonstrate not only that Harry is being hounded by the Ministry, but also to emphasise the alienation from Dumbledore. This is good plotting.

St. Mungo's is introduced. It has been mentioned before, I think, but since it shows up for real later in this book I thought I'd mention it. The Longbottoms are also mentioned.

As is the Corridor.




Theme-wise, the fountain fits in very nicely with what we have observed before: the problematic attitude to non-wizards at the ministry. The fawning look on the house-elf's face might perhaps sometimes reflect reality (although certainly not always), but we know enough of centaurs and goblins to know that they have rather a different attitude to wizards. This image of the other species is of course reinforced by Umbridge later.

It also shows itself in the muggle-baiting motif, which also crops up in these chapters, with the regurgitating toilets. Mr Weasley's point here (that it is innocent enough as far as damages go, but the sentiment behind it is disturbing) explains his strong reaction to his sons' giving Dudley the ton-tongue toffee earlier.

Similarly the totalitarian tendency of a scared society, which I noted in one of the first book (pre-9/11) is now coming to the forefront as a theme.