(2) is actually counter-productive. Your policy of countering anti-polyjuice spells is associated with your appearance. If you are known to counter such spells, then an adversary polyjuiced as you will have an easier time of getting away with it. But if you act like a normal person, then someone with your appearance countering such a spell would seem suspicious indeed.
In Quirrell’s case, however, Scrimgeour is already fairly certain that Quirrell is actually someone else. Polyjuice is the easiest explanation, and if it were rejected then Scrimgeour would simply try alternatives (e.g. check if Quirrell is a Metamorphmagus). Also, the paragraph above assumes the existence of allies. Quirrell would rather minimize the information anyone has about him, as a matter of course.
Regarding polyjuice. Keep in mind that Quirrell had to spend a while in the hospital wing in bed. He probably would not have had access to his juice. In HP4 you see how often someone polyjuiced has to refill—it is basically all the time.
Well. But he is not supposed to give in. He has to get the next level of interrogators who can deal with this. Imagine a real police person in a similar situation.
Imagine a real police officer dealing with someone who cannot be disarmed.
Perhaps the magical world has a “cannot put Superman in jail” threshold. Under it, they tread lightly. Over it, they pull out all the stops and doing whatever they’re doing to Grindelwald.
(2) is actually counter-productive. Your policy of countering anti-polyjuice spells is associated with your appearance. If you are known to counter such spells, then an adversary polyjuiced as you will have an easier time of getting away with it. But if you act like a normal person, then someone with your appearance countering such a spell would seem suspicious indeed.
In Quirrell’s case, however, Scrimgeour is already fairly certain that Quirrell is actually someone else. Polyjuice is the easiest explanation, and if it were rejected then Scrimgeour would simply try alternatives (e.g. check if Quirrell is a Metamorphmagus). Also, the paragraph above assumes the existence of allies. Quirrell would rather minimize the information anyone has about him, as a matter of course.
Regarding polyjuice. Keep in mind that Quirrell had to spend a while in the hospital wing in bed. He probably would not have had access to his juice. In HP4 you see how often someone polyjuiced has to refill—it is basically all the time.
Right. We, the readers, know that Quirrell is not polyjuiced. But Scrimgeour doesn’t.
I found it weird that he only tried once, and basically ignored Qs counter to the test.
He is afraid to escalate.
Is he not the interrogator in a ministry holding cell? Oh boy.
And Quirrelmort seems to have wandlessly and effortlessly blocked his spell. That’s pretty scary.
Well. But he is not supposed to give in. He has to get the next level of interrogators who can deal with this. Imagine a real police person in a similar situation.
Imagine a real police officer dealing with someone who cannot be disarmed.
Perhaps the magical world has a “cannot put Superman in jail” threshold. Under it, they tread lightly. Over it, they pull out all the stops and doing whatever they’re doing to Grindelwald.
That was more than twenty-four hours ago, you know.