Plot holes filled?

[koinonia02 at yahoo.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 16868

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., Amanda Lewanski <editor at t...> wrote:
But Voldemort is given to grand gestures (such as
> dueling with Harry), which can backfire. 

Yes he is.  You would think he would learn by now.  He just has such 
a high opinion of himself.  


> Voldemort strikes me as distinctly being the type to demand loyalty 
to
> himself above all others, family included.


Now that I don't see.  I can't see Lucius Malfoy putting Voldemort 
above Draco.  I know some people see it that way but I don't. 


I still think that the bond
> between Death Eater and Voldemort, the visible sign of which is the 
dark
> mark, is more than a signaling device; I think it tied their lives 
to
> his forever. Those who thought to return to "normal life" were 
kidding
> themselves.


Sure their lives are tied to him.  Are they willing to serve him even 
if it means they lose their families in the process?  Maybe some of 
the DE's are willing to sacrifice their loved ones but surely not all.
I still can't see the DE's willing to attack Hogwarts when their 
children are there. As far as returning to "normal life", that is why 
I so fear for Snape.  Surely he doesn't believe he could ever have a 
normal life after all he has done (spy, etc).  
  
 
> ....? It sounds perfect to me, from a Death Eater point of view. 
Sure, there'll be some casualties. So what?
> 
> And besides that, who *ever* said that what the Death Eaters thought
> made any difference at all to Voldemort? *He's* the leader, not 
them. If
> they don't like his plan, tough. Do it anyway.


I don't know.  I can't see Voldemort telling his circle of DE's that 
they will now be attacking Hogwarts and 'tough if your kid gets in 
the way and dies.'  Actually, I can see Voldemort saying that. He is 
pure evil.  What I mean is I can't picture all the DE's saying, "Oh 
sure.  Whatever it takes."  Even evil, worthless people can love 
their families.
 
 
> That's the whole point. It would be possible to take every single 
one of
> them by surprise, at once. Surprise is a one-time shot. The chance 
for
> that level of surprise is seldom seen. 

I will admit that the element of surprise is very important in these 
situations.

 
> Dumbledore may well have been making some plans, but there's no 
evidence
> that having a reanimated Voldemort in his front yard was a foreseen
> contingency. It seems that chaos and disorder were the results of 
the
> disappearance of Harry and Cedric, rather than any sort of ordered
> mobilization.


I don't believe Dumbledore ever expected Voldy to show up in his 
front yard. Horror!  It's just that D. knew Voldemort was getting 
stronger.  I just have so much faith in Dumbledore that I don't think 
he could be totally blindsided by anything Voldemort would do.

I also hope your theory of the DE's dying (being connected by the 
Mark) if V. dies is wrong. It's just my hoping that Snape will 
survive but I seriously doubt he will.

Koinonia