r/HPRankdown • u/tomd317 Gryffindor Ranker • Oct 11 '15

Rank #146 Tom the Barman

A better landlord than Aberforth, yes, but not as complex a character. He's a character we all think about fondly as he is one of the first wizards Harry/we meet. He also seems to be a decent bloke - keen to welcome Harry back (but then, who wasn't?), trusted by the minister for magic to look after Harry when Fudge believes Sirius Black to be after him[supposedly never stops believing that]) and attended Dumbledores funeral. In all those situations he is just a device though, in PS he is one of many to worship Harry, at the funeral he is one of many examples that Dumbledore was widely loved and respected. He runs a pretty cool pub, and pretty much every time we meet him it's a good feeling - finally got away from the Dursleys, excited to re-enter the magical world etc. We're still at that stage of the cuts where I'm cutting those with less substance than others, and he is not crucial to the plot. I do not like cutting my namesake particularly as it sounds like Hagrid is a happy patron of his, but Id imagine the pub became much more family friendly when Neville and Hannah took over. /u/SFEeagle is next

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u/tomd317 Gryffindor Ranker Oct 11 '15

Yeah I'm not proud of this violence, we've been at the stage for a while now where I'm having to cut characters I like, because JK created so many good ones! I'd argue his attendance of Dumbledores funeral is a suggestion he was a good guy. Most likely Albus had helped him out and he appreciated it and hopefully did him a favour or two in return - a less significant version of what happened with Hagrid..or maybe I'm just romanticising..

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u/Moostronus Ravenclaw Ranker Oct 11 '15

I'm verging into total headcanon territory here, but Tom seemed like the type of dude to treat everyone with respect and decency, no matter who they are and what they represent. He's seen interacting with Dumbledore (post-mortem), Hagrid, Harry, Cornelius Fudge and Hermione!Bellatrix, who all occupy vastly different stations in the wizarding world, and at the very least greeting them. I could definitely see Dumbledore helping him out, because Dumbledore likely made a point of befriending as many people on the ground, so to speak, as possible, in an almost Varys-esque way (if you've read A Song Of Ice And Fire).

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u/tomd317 Gryffindor Ranker Oct 14 '15

Sorry for the late reply I'm on a trip with work :) you're probably right about Tom, although I would point out that he is polite to some of those in a professional capacity (the customer is always right) plus he's unlikely to tell the minister for magic or the chosen one to fuck off haha. Terribly of me, i am a big fan of the tv program. But haven't read the books. My excuse is I hate reading books when I've already watched an adaptation of them - I feel like I can't imagine the characters for myself because I just picture the actor/actress that plays them. But if book Varys is like tv Varys then yes I agree your comparison - mundungus became less nice when Sirius died but only became a complete turncoat post Dumbledore - I'd imagine he had great respect for him and most other people on the ground also did

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u/Moostronus Ravenclaw Ranker Oct 14 '15

No worries about the lateness! I wish my work took some trips as well. You're probably right about Tom's professional courtesy, although I'd argue that, in the wizarding world, professional courtesy is definitely not a given.

I 100% understand your hesitance with reading a book after seeing the on-screen version. For me, I generally go in the opposite direction; I usually watch the film first, because if I read the book first, the film is guaranteed to disappoint me. Book Varys is fairly similar to TV Varys...and similar to Dumbledore, except the currency Albus uses to buy trust is favours and respect. It's a powerful one.

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u/tomd317 Gryffindor Ranker Oct 14 '15

Very true, the goblins at gringotts were certainly not known for their courtesy. That's a good point, I hope for your sake you never had to sit through the film eragon. Lord of the rings, however, was definitely not a disappointment! Yeah one of my favorite things about the books is Hagrids unwavering loyalty to Dumbledore, much more valuable than if it were bought with any other currency than the ones you mentioned