Ludo Bagman: missing DE?

[Laura]

No: HPFGUIDX 47745


Carol says:
>>>
Again, people think this refers to Barty Jr. because we know he is 
working for Voldemort at this point and he is definitely considered 
by Voldie to be *a* faithful servant.  We also know that it is 
through Barty Jr. that Harry's name is entered in the Tri-Wizard 
Tournament.  However, Bagman is the Head of the Department of Games 
and Sports at the Ministry of Magic and it was here that the idea to 
bring the tournament back that year originated.  I would say that 
Ludo had certainly already re-entered Voldie's service by the time of 
the graveyard scene and most likely had re-entered long before that.  
It is also for Bagman that Bertha Jorkins worked.  And he steadfastly 
refused to send someone out to look for her.
>>>
I don't see much of a connection here.  Yes, Bagman worked to get the 
Triwizard Tournament back, but he did this for LV?  Seems highly 
unlikely.  Ludo doesn't seem to be the brightest of the bunch, and I 
really can't see him coming up with this whole elaborate scheme to 
deliver Harry to LV when much, much simpler ideas could have worked.  
Even if LV had the idea and Ludo acted on it, then LV would have no 
need for Bertha.  I really can't see Ludo, or anyone else for that 
matter, coming up with something so far-fetched and off-the-wall just 
to get Harry to LV.  It seems as if the Triwaizard Tournament was 
simply something that was there and could be taken advantage of, not 
something that was *planned*.  

I do, however, believe that Carol has a good point here:
>>>
There is one other passage, which, I think, has rather ambiguous 
references.  Voldemort is explaining to his gathered DEs his plan for 
getting Harry away from Dumbledore.  He says:"How could I take 
him? "Why...by using Bertha Jorkins's information, of course.  Use my 
*one* faithful Death Eater, stationed at Hogwarts, to ensure that the 
boy's name was entered into the Goblet of Fire.  Use my Death Eater 
to ensure the boy won the tournament ..."
>>> 
When I first read this, I interpreted it as "LV has *only one* 
faithful DE."  However, it can also be interpreted as saying *a* 
faithful DE....i.e. "I used my *one* DE for this, and my *other one* 
for that."  Just a thought.

I think some great points have been raised about Ludo here, but the 
thought that he is responsible for the Triwizard cup scheme seems 
very farfetched to me.  I'm not totally convinced that he was/is a 
DE, but it's definitely possible.  (of course, this is JKR, she could 
finish the books and tell us that Ron and Hermione were really on 
LV's side the whole time, who knows...)

-Laura