The Madness of Barty Crouch, Jr???

[caliburncy at yahoo.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 30157

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., Marina Javor <lipglossusa at y...> wrote:
[Some very extensive questions and thoughts regarding Crouch, Jr.'s 
role as Moody and his loyalties to Voldemort]

If you are looking to see some of the formerly-discussed takes on 
this, check out our HP for GrownUps Mysteries and Inconsistencies 
FAQ, which contains message numbers at the end of each mystery so 
that you can look up almost all the various theories that people here 
have espoused over time:
http://www.i2k.com/~svderark/lexicon/faq/mysteries.html

Personally, I tend to think (in general accordance with canon) that 
Crouch, Jr. *was* a Death Eater before he was sent to Azkaban.  
Otherwise, Voldemort has no real reason to consider him the 
particularly "faithful servant" without that past history.  He would 
simply be a new and very good recruit.  The reason Crouch, Jr. does 
not consider his pleading for mercy to be the same as the betrayal of 
the other DEs (aside from the constant human failing of hypocrisy) is 
that his 'betrayal' is simply verbal.  He is telling the court that 
he is innocent, but is actively seeking out Voldemort to bring him 
back to power.  So, yes, this isn't the same as the fervent and 
unabashed support of Voldemort that the other DE woman at the trial 
proclaims, but it's not the same as the "Death Eaters that walked 
free" that Crouch, Jr. condemns either.  The other DEs (aside from 
Crouch, Jr.'s collaborators) are doing nothing whatever to seek out 
and restore Voldemort--most likely because they are secretly relieved 
he is gone.

As for all the questions about why he is so inexplicable helpful: on 
almost all accounts I consider this to be simply part of the role.  
Did he have you fooled?  Then maybe that's the reason he could fool 
Dumbledore and everyone else as well.  Crouch, Jr. acts with apparent 
consistency.  It has been said that the most important thing for a 
spy is to continue to act in your role even when you *know* you 
aren't being watched.  I tend to suspect Crouch, Jr. basically 
*lived* as Moody for that entire school year and therefore made many 
of his decisions based on what Moody might do in the same 
circumstances, unless there was a very good reason to deviate 
from 'The Moody Handbook'.  Also, if you go on a case by case basis, 
the ulterior motive of just about all his actions does shine through.

The only exception, as many have pointed out, where an ulterior 
motive is less clear is his special attention to Harry regarding the 
Imperius Curse.  Even here, various reasons may be present, although 
none is conclusively stated:

*He may have been testing Harry's resistance to report back to 
Voldemort (in which case Voldemort underestimated the report, I guess-
-which wouldn't be the first time Voldemort was too confident in his 
own abilities)

*Dumbledore may have mandated it and Crouch, Jr. did not wish to 
arouse suspicion by not complying (in which case no ulterior motive 
is absolutely necessary)

*Quite frankly, he may have been having fun--like I expect he did 
with the Cruciatus Curse on the spider

There are several other better theories that have fled my memory, but 
perhaps another long-standing member can add them.  In any case, I'm 
sure searching the messages referenced in that Mysteries and 
Inconsistencies FAQ I mentioned would turn them up.

***

It is also quite possible that his logic behind not bothering to 
really sabotage any of the students' DADA training is that he simply 
doesn't hold in high estimation their potential as a threat.  
Therefore, why risk detection by deviating from 'The Moody Handbook' 
when the reward of detriment it could cause to the students is so 
decidedly inconsequential?

I think a more personally appealing theory to explain any lapses (if 
there really are any) is that in addition to Crouch, Jr.'s fanatical 
devotion to Voldemort, perhaps there really was the smallest budding 
of respect for Harry.  Not strong, mind you, but present--and 
therefore gnawing.  Or maybe that's the lover of conflicting 
motivations coming out in me.

-Luke