[HPforGrownups] Re: Eye Roll

[Amanda Lewanski]

No: HPFGUIDX 24723

fourfuries at aol.com wrote:

> Voldemort, like other megalomaniacs, is less concerned with actually
> taking over the world than with being revered by it, albeit revered
> for the cruelty he is capable of dishing out.  Remember from CS, Tom
> Riddle devised the anagram  Voldemeort to be a name that "wizards
> would fear".  His primary motivation is what others think of him.

Exactly. Which brings me to an observation which I'm not sure anyone has
made in this thread yet (although I'm abundantly behind)---Voldemort
*does* have a purpose in his little show with Harry, other than Evil
Overlord Syndrome. The Death Eaters have gathered, but they're not 100%
rededicated yet; probably if he keels over they'd kite back to their
homes and jobs and be relieved not to have to deal with it. Barty Jr. is
the only person who is genuinely happy (that we know of) that Voldemort
is back.

Voldemort is doing PR. He's going to whip up the enthusiasm of the Death
Eaters, and cement their loyalty, by this little show of squashing his
supposed nemesis in front of everyone. He's about (according to my
Theory of Why The Whole Cup As Portkey Thing) to visit an attack upon
the stronghold of his enemies, probably containing the children of some
of the Death Eaters with him, and he *must* have their unquestioned
obedience and loyalty. [See, I think the Portkey-by-touch served two
purposes; to bring Harry to him in an undisturbed location to be
resurrected and revenged, and secondly, to take Voldemort and his crew
back to an unsuspecting, unprotected, stronghold, inaccessible in any
other way, to wreak havoc upon the strongest of his enemies in a
lightning surprise attack.]

But to get back on track. Voldemort is trying, with his little Harry
show, to remove any last traces of doubt in the minds of his followers
before they sally forth to conquer the world. Not to say he isn't
enjoying it, but there *is* a practical purpose. It's not made up of
whole cloth. He's not totally idiotic, just given to melodrama when
circumstances permit. And he thought they permitted.

This is why I think that Snape might just survive an attempt to return
to Voldemort; as a trusted higher-up in Hogwarts, Snape's appearance
before Voldemort and statement of renewed allegiance would be *exactly*
the sort of thing Voldemort would need right about then, an ace in the
hole in tremendously unforeseen circumstances, a way to convince the
Death Eaters that they do, still, have a plan and a chance, etc.

Okay, rambled enough, but the point is Voldemort did a dumb thing, but
not a totally idiotic one.

--Amanda


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