Voldemort's Second (was Re: DEs knowing about Pettigrew

[xp39c]

No: HPFGUIDX 42522

Darrin wrote:

> Was V-Mort so arrogant 
> that he didn't make arrangements for someone to take over in case 
> something happened to him? Even Hitler had a second-in-command 
ready 
> to step in if one of those assassination attempts had ever worked.
> 
> The obvious choice would be Lucius Malfoy, but then wouldn't V-Mort 
> be a LOT more annoyed in the graveyard scene, when he sees Malfoy 
> again. "I put YOU in charge, Lucius and then you simper back to the 
> Ministry, begging for forgiveness????"
> 
> The LeStranges could work, and it would be neat to think of Mrs. 
> LeStrange being the more powerful, trusted and loyal to V-Mort of 
the 
> two.
> 
> It would be absolutely delicious to think it would have been Snape, 
> and the choice makes some sense but then we're left with the 
problem 
> of why didn't V-Mort tell Snape about Wormtail. 
> 
> I love the idea if it can be worked out though, because it just 
makes 
> Snape's choice to walk away from V-Mort that more powerful.
> 
> Of course, V-Mort could have been so confident that he didn't make 
> such plans.

The difference between Hitler and Voldemort is that Voldemort fully 
expected to be immortal.  Anointing someone as second-in-command, to 
Voldemort, would seem like a sign of weakness, that he expected 
himself to fail at his experiments.

Alternatively, from the way he operated, he probably didn't trust 
anyone, even those in his inner circle.  He probably thought that 
most of them were spineless weasels (and they are, as evidenced by 
most of the DEs claiming Imperious to avoid Azkaban).

--Hei Lun