Question to the phrase "Rotfang Conspiracy"...

[stesch]

Hi all,

first I should say, I'm from Germany and English is not my native language.

I have a question to you about a word in chapter 15 "The Unbreakable Vow".

There is a sentence Luna Lovegood tells us:
"The Aurors are part of the Rotfang Conspiracy, I thought everyone knew that. They're planning to bring down the Ministry of Magic from within using a combination of Dark Magic and gum disease."

What does "Rotfang Conspiracy" mean?

"Rotfang" seems not to be name, but some funny word invented by JKR. Is there anybody who could try to explain the meaning to me?

I'm looking forward to your answers
Bye
Stefan

[Dacre]

Rotfang is the name of SOMETHING, either a place, person or something - you aren't missing aything without English as first lang.
It's just a name for a conspiracy that her Dad (the editor of the mad quibbler) believes in.
Muggles might talk of the Roswell Conspiracy (USA flying saucers 60's) in the same well I think.
Unless I too missed something....

[Mrs. Luca Black]

Rotfang is kind of a funny play on words that is all too common is Quibbler type thing.

Rot = To undergo decomposition, especially organic decomposition; decay.

Fang = A long, sharp, pointed tooth, especially a canine tooth.

Works along well with their goal of domination by gum disease.[/i]

[stesch]

thanks a lot for your answers

it was also not easy to find out what gum desease means (no dictionary was helpful for that), but I think I understand now what crazy stuff Luna is talking about...