Ron's strategic skills are there if you look for them
One day I'm going to write a post about all the little moments in the books in which Ron shew his strategic skills, even if I also think they could have been better displayed. This is one of those moments.
'Sturgis Podmore?' said Ron slowly. 'He's that bloke who looks like his head's been thatched, isn't he? He's one of the Ord—
'Ron, shhl' said Hermione, casting a terrified look around them.
'Six months in Azkaban!' whispered Harry, shocked. 'Just for trying to get through a door!'
'Don't be silly, it wasn't just for trying to get through a door. What on earth was he doing at the Ministry of Magic at one o'clock in the morning?' breathed Hermione.
D'you reckon he was doing something for the Order?' Ron muttered.
'Wait a moment . . .' said Harry slowly. 'Sturgis was supposed to come and see us off, remember?'
The other two looked at him.
'Yeah, he was supposed to be part of our guard going to King's Cross, remember? And Moody was all annoyed because he didn't turn up; so he couldn't have been on a job for them, could he?'
'Well, maybe they didn't expect him to get caught,' said Hermione.
'It could be a frame-up!' Ron exclaimed excitedly. 'No — listen!' he went on, dropping his voice dramatically at the threatening look on Hermione's face. The Ministry suspects he's one of Dumbledore's lot so — I dunno — they lured him to the Ministry, and he wasn't trying to get through a door at all! Maybe they've just made something up to get him!'
There was a pause while Harry and Hermione considered this. Harry thought it seemed far-fetched. Hermione, on the other hand, looked rather impressed.
This is absolutely brilliant, if you think about it. Even Hermione was impressed.
Imagine you are Cornelius Fudge. What better way to discredit Dumbledore than to catch the people he's friends with/is known to spend time with doing criminal activity, especially at the Ministry ? But you have nothing on them, so you elaborate a plan to lure one of "Dumbledore's lot" to the Ministry and frame him...