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The wizarding world of Harry Potter is separated from the Muggle (non-magic) world, and that's the way most witches and wizards like it. In fact, they do all sorts of work within the Ministry of Magic to ensure their world remains a secret. While most wizards believe themselves superior to Muggles, Ron Weasley's father, Arthur Weasley, is one of the few who believe all people are equal, regardless of magical ability.
Arthur Weasley works for the Ministry of Magic in the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office. It's a small office with just one other employee. While Arthur and his job are often unappreciated, his role is crucial to the secrecy of the entire wizarding world. It's time to give Arthur Weasley his due credit for protecting Muggles and maintaining the integrity of the magical world.
Arthur Weasley's Job Was Integral to the Wizarding World's Secrecy
In The Chamber of Secrets, when Harry first arrives at the Weasley home, Arthur reveals he had spent all night conducting raids. Because most magic folks see Muggles as inferior, The Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office is primarily focused on maintaining the separation between the two worlds by any means necessary, rather than Arthur's niche of properly utilizing things like rubber ducks. Arthur conducts raids to make sure witches and wizards aren't bewitching non-magic objects, so nothing magical can fall into Muggle hands.
Enchanted objects can often lead to the injury or death of Muggles, as well as the exposure of the wizarding world itself. Most wizards only have concern for the latter, but Arthur's love for the Muggle world makes his position all the more interesting. He drafted the 'Muggle Protection Act,' meant to do what its title suggests. He also has to deal with the aftermath of the slip-ups, like when a Muggle family bought a deceased witch's tea set, and the pot spat boiling water on them. Arthur's tinkering with Muggle artifacts, unfortunately, got him into trouble when the Ministry learned that Arthur had enchanted his car, a Ford Anglia, to fly and become invisible. Even though his job exists to prevent things exactly like that from happening, his ingenuity and love of Muggle technology were indispensable to the Ministry's efforts to conceal themselves from the rest of the world.
Arthur Weasley Didn't Get the Respect He Deserved
The Ministry workers treated Arthur as unimportant in the best of times and criminally dimwitted in the worst of times. He was often defamed in articles by the Daily Prophet and Rita Skeeter. Despite all this, Arthur never faltered, often worked overtime, and continued to stand up for Muggle rights, even when the Ministry wouldn't. Lucius Malfoy was perhaps Arthur's arch nemesis in the Ministry and beyond, as they each represent what the other hated most about the world they live in. Arthur raided Malfoy Manor, confiscating 'dark objects from the family.' Lucius took every chance to defame and ridicule Arthur, calling for his firing and mocking his cheap seats at the Quidditch World Cup. Arthur's heroic actions, though, went far beyond his job. He stood up for Harry during his trial in The Order of The Phoenix and fought valiantly at the battle of Hogwarts. While always looked down upon for loving Muggle culture and living frugally, Arthur never let anyone get to him, holding steadfast to his duties and the pursuit of making the world more equitable for all.
Mr. Weasley's awestruck ignorance of the Muggle world comes off as charming, as it's clear that beneath his fascination lies the firm belief that all human beings are of equal worth despite their magical abilities or lack thereof. His genuine curiosity about the Muggle world made his work in the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office about more than secrecy but about common decency.