Well, I know I have been absent from posts for a little while. There is indeed a lot of struggling that I am going through in my life right now, as many of you are aware of in some way or another. My heart genuinely also goes out to those of you who are also going through various problems and dilemmas of your own. More so now than at any other time, I have realized how wonderful Immeritus has been and has continued to be. Though we have traveled far and wide with changes here and there, one thing remains . . . Immeritus has been a source of joy with so many warm and friendly people that many, such as myself, can call home. By now, you should now that I love and care for all of very much and will always feel privileged just being among all of you to share my thoughts, and when applicable, my life. So . . . I could think no better way of thinking about characters in the HP world to find theme songs to illustrate them, than . . . me. *laughs* Or rather, my namesake . . .
The Actual Auror, Alastor Mad-Eye Moody
Moody is a slightly hard character to cover in a way, since, technically speaking, he only actually appeared fully in one book (OoTP) and a few of pages of another book (GoF the Pensieve scene and when Dumbledore rescued him out of the locked trunk). We understand some behaviours and ideas from the great performance of Crouch Junior, but we dont fully get to see who he really is. We know from that Pensieve scene and from the Advance Guard scenes in OoTP, that Moody has always had a fighting spirit. He tends to possess a degree of brutal honesty about himself and others, in which he will tell people off right away if they are wrong or have done wrong, to him. He also is a little bit of a fussbudget about things (for example, having a slight rant on Harry about placing his wand into his back pocket), keeping all his ducks in a row. From Arthur Weasley and others, we understand that Moody has been, without much argument, the best Auror the Ministry of Magic ever had. He had the talent, the skills, the drive, and perhaps even a bit of a resourceful nature to duel and bring his suspects to justice such as something simple as disguising himself as a mere porter for the Hogwarts Express to watch over Harry and the Weasleys. But what else can we intuit a bit from what we have read on him?
One thing that seems apparent about Moody is he is a loner. We do not know why he chose this path, but he has kept his distance from most people for most of the time. He lived alone in his own house, which perhaps made his capture at the hands of Pettigrew and Crouch Junior easier. He never has any drink except from his own hip flask and from those drinks he prepares himself. One question that I wonder about regarding the Old Auror is this: Did the choice of his career make him into this lone fellow? Did he understand the full risks and hazards of what was asked of him, and because of that understanding, chose to remain distant so that others would be not be hurt or killed? Or, did something happen in his far past that significantly changed him to pursue this career so passionately?
There is also something else about Moody that I believe exists just under the surface, but is present, nonetheless. I would agree with a few peoples ideas about him that, underneath the scars, the distance, and the fierce candor . . . lays a very big heart. One person that does appear to be his long time friend is Albus Dumbledore, himself. Dumbledore even smiles remembering Moody as he takes notice how long the two of each have known each other. We do not know the exact ages of either man, but it has been mused that Dumbledore is at least 150 years old and Moody is at least 100 years old. It is also not out of the realm of possibility to say that perhaps the two of them grew up together and perhaps at least went through several trainings in the Ministry, if not Hogwarts, together. I have always had a picture in my mind of the two of them standing side by side in 19th century England in their younger days, both in Muggle clothing Dumbledore having slightly curly, but yet much shorter hair, only an auburn/light brown small goatee, and having a laughing smile on his face as he holds onto his suspenders with his hands, jacket on the bend of his left elbow. Moody, on the other hand, having a little bit of longer hair, shoulder length, a similar suit on, looking up to Dumbledore with a sideways look in his eyes, a raised eyebrow, and a rolling smile or giggle coming out of the far corner of his mouth. Even though the two sharply disagree on a few things, I suspect there is a lot of respect and closeness between them. Another little moment gave me rise to think that Moody has a big heart. It is the moment in which Moody pulls Harry aside and shows him the large preserved photo of the original Order of the Phoenix. He was trying his best to show Harry how many people cared about him, his parents, and about the Order. As Moody was reminiscing over the photo, I think I saw a slight break in his armor. Perhaps Moodys message to Harry was something like this: Dont forget all those who came before you and dont forget all those who shall come after you. There are a lot of good people out there who comprised this group and who each cared about each other, no matter what they did or what became of them. Beneath that hardened and worn exterior, I think that Moody does have a big heart for those he does care about, even though he does not show that side a lot.
There is one other thing that I noticed about Moody, and that was how his body has been decayed by battle. We see in the Pensieve that, for the most part, he still has most of his health with him. When we see him in the present, we see that most of that health, even his limbs, have deteriorated or been completely blown off altogether. Furthermore, from the attack in his house as well as the attack in the Department of Mysteries, we see that, rather unfortunately, that perhaps Moody has lost a step in his dueling. It may have been the reason he recently retired from the Ministry, because, like stellar ballplayers in sports, he realized his body cannot endure the same beating it has taken over the years. In that way, he did not people to see him without going out on top to a degree, without looking as though he stayed too long. Then again, one also has to remember the great respect his enemies has for him, since, in both cases, the Death Eaters had to gang up on him to bring him down. So, perhaps he has lost a step, but he has not lost all of his skills.
With all that in mind, I now present the first song that brings out Moody a little bit. It may seem the first choice to be a little humorous (which, I agree, it is), but I think it also illustrates the place that Moody is in his life. That is, I dont think he cares as much now how people view him. He has lost a little bit on his skills and certainly lost parts of his body, but . . . by now he also realizes that no one can take away all of the things he did and all of things that he meant to the Ministry and to the world of magic at large. So, in a slight way, perhaps Moody can now relax knowing that he does not have to do anything more in his life, except the things that his old friend, Dumbledore, asks him to do. In that light, I give you a song from my childhood and it is obvious how this song applies so well. This song a few of you may remember from so long ago with a little, thin man and his guitar. It is from one of his more famous albums, Teaser and the Firecat. I give you one of his signature songs . . . . Moonshadow. *smiles*
Cat Stevens Moonshadow
Yes, I'm bein' followed by a moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow
Leapin and hoppin' on a moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow
And if I ever lose my hands, lose my plough, lose my land,
Oh if I ever lose my hands, Oh well.... I won't have to work no more.
And if I ever lose my eyes, if my colours all run dry,
Yes if I ever lose my eyes, Oh well.... I won't have to cry no more.
Yes, I'm bein' followed by a moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow
Leapin and hoppin' on a moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow
And if I ever lose my legs, I won't moan, and I won't beg,
Yes if I ever lose my legs, Oh well.... I won't have to walk no more.
And if I ever lose my mouth, all my teeth, north and south,
Yes if I ever lose my mouth, Oh well.... I won't have to talk...
Did it take long to find me? I asked the faithful light.
Did it take long to find me? And are you gonna stay the night?
Yes, I'm bein' followed by a moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow
Leapin and hoppin' on a moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow
The other song that I give you for Moody is another song for a while ago. I believe it illustrates well the day that Moody left the Ministry. I think it was a little bittersweet, but I might also think that he was comfortable with his decision. Perhaps, as the song may suggest, he may have had some concerns over the direction that the Ministry was going in and realized there were more important things in his life than to listen to others who prattled on about nothing. One other thing that I can see with Moody is his death. I think there is a better than average chance he will die in the series, although not necessarily in Book 6. His death, to me, would seem to be the way he lived heroic. Maybe it was a bit of foreshadowing going on when he presented Harry the photo. Perhaps the Old Auror will die in similar manners to those that died in the original Order with many folks having to bring him, not just one. At the end, I can picture him having a big smile on his face, looking at Dumbledore and/or at Harry, and being surrounded by several Death Eaters. He tells Dumbledore that his time has come and that he provided the way for Dumbledore to get out of the room, out of the situation, without being harmed. Dumbledore wants him to go with them, but he tells him in return: No! This is not your time! I got you a way . . . now go! He smiles again, looks at the Death Eaters, and I imagine him giving a similar retort that was said at the end of the movie, Troy, when Troy was invaded and burned. That is, I can picture Moody saying those lines of: Today, the boatman comes for us. Lets make him wait for us a little longer! For yes, Moody dies in this scene . . . but not without taking a few Death Eaters with him. So, I give you . . . Solsbury Hill. Start the guitars and the drums!
Peter Gabriel Solsbury Hill
"The essential things are seen with the heart, not with the eyes"-- said the Fox to the Little Prince[/color]
Main Menu 
Site Features
Home
Forums
Latest: susanlancy
New Today: 0
New Yesterday: 3
Overall: 11331
People Online:
Members: 0
Visitors: 53
Total: 53
Visitors:
Forum FAQ
Search
Ranks
Acronyms
Moderators
/rupiconic045.png "biowerewolf")
