[HPforGrownups] Voldemort murders in GoF

[Richelle Votaw]

No: HPFGUIDX 42658

Debbie writes:

> In the first chapter of GoF, Voldemort clearly says, "one more death
> and our path to Harry Potter is clear."  What death is he referring
> to?  Here's where I've gotten so far in my thinking on the
> possibilities:  Bertha Jorkins was already dead at this point; Mad-
> Eye Moody was not to be killed, but kept under the Imperious Curse;
> Mr. Crouch was also not killed until he tried to escape the curse.
> Cedric Diggory was not expected to come with Harry with the cup, so
> that can't be who Voldemort's referring to.  Who else is there?  I
> can't think of anyone else killed in the plot who stood between
> Voldemort and Harry.  Any ideas?

Well you know, I haven't reread GoF all the way through yet, and I'd never
thought about it.  To quote Voldemort precisely, he says "One more murder .
. . my faithful servant at Hogwarts . . . Harry Potter is as good as mine,
Wormtail."  Shortly after this he murders Frank Bryce.  Which I don't think
he knew was there, so he can't have been referring to that.  Was it
Voldemort's intention to kill Moody, not keep him locked up in his trunk?
If so, why wasn't he killed?

 Now, who was the faithful servant at Hogwarts?  Is he referring to
Moody/Crouch here?  Yet this is happening in the summer, while Harry is
still at Privet Drive.  Quite a while before term begins.  And Moody/Crouch
arrived late, so he technically wasn't at Hogwarts. He could've had the
position, I suppose, but it implies someone *already* at Hogwarts.  It is
written to sound like it's someone who's been at Hogwarts, but that could be
to make us suspect Snape again.  Or not?  Thoughts on the matter?

Richelle