Good point. And of course it has the advantage of giving us an idea of just how hard Voldemort is going at it now that his secrecy has ended - by showing how much even the Muggles are noticing, it's stronger than it would've been with just Prophet reporting. He really has come out guns blazing now, I never really fully appreciated the contrast before - iirc one of the final chapters of book four is called "The Second Wizard War Starts" or some such, but it's only here that it has really started, almost from one day to the next.

True, there are less detective elements in the final books, though obviously we still have the big plot involving Draco and Snape that we'll get clues about in the usual style. But it's not Harry's main concern.

Yes, it is interesting. I find it interesting for all three of them, really, though it gives us little new insight into Bellatrix. But Narcissa - I commented on her above in my reply to Seriana, but I skimmed the chapter again now and it really goes even further than what I said. It's not just that the Malfoys are opportunists, I am beginning to think they are actually afraid and not happy at all with Voldemort's return. Certainly Narcissa, but perhaps Lucius as well. And why should they be - they have little to gain, but much to lose.

Which makes it really kind of shocking how easily Voldemort can gain power during this book and the next one. When even a crucial ally like Malfoy is serving more because of fear than any real enthusiasm, the conclusion is Voldemort really has little more than a handful of outcasts and breakout convicts plus those he intimidates into supporting him, and that's enough to take over wizarding Britain. I'm now kind of reminded of the Catiline Conspiracy (yes, an odd connection, I know, but I'm reading a biography of Caesar, soon to be reviewed), only with an obviously more exceptional leader and with actual success. Or, I suppose, the inevitable Nazism comparisons, but you know, they started out a similar way perhaps (charismatic leader with a handful of lieutenants and a bunch of outcast losers) but only got real power after getting a massive popular following.

And to think his best people are actually in jail while he's doing all those things, so he's left with really close to nothing besides Bellatrix.

Yeah, which kind of proves the Prophet is quite good when they want to be, and they just didn't want to be earlier...

Indeed.