Who is the "faithful servant" (was Barty Jr as the "one" faithful servant)

[wynnde1 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 48427

Carol wrote:

"There has been some speculation that Barty Jr. is the "one faithful servant" 
that Voldemort refers to in the graveyard scene in GoF. (I think it's Bagman 
myself). I just can't see Barty Jr. as the person Voldemort is relying on.  
He is too unstable, IMO." <snip examples of instability>

"I think Voldemort is simply using Barty Jr. to get what he wants. <snip> So 
while I'll admit there is a possibility that someone other than Bagman could 
be the missing faithful servant, I'd say it most definitely is not Barty Jr.  
I think JKR has Barty 
Jr. saying those things about Voldemort seeing him as such to plant the 
idea in our heads that it is Barty.  Typical misdirection.  The only thing 
we know about the missing DE is that this person has always been faithful 
and is at Hogwarts."

Now me:

I agree with you, Carol, about Barty *not* being the "faithful" servant at 
Hogwarts, and I like your reasoning about why it's not Barty. I don't think 
it's Bagman, though, because he wasn't really *at* Hogwarts. Yes, he 
travelled there from time to time for Triwizard events, but he isn't really 
part of the Hogwarts staff or a permanent fixture there. I do think it's very 
likely that he is evil - maybe not a full-fledged Death Eater, but I think 
all that stuff about gambling debts to the Goblins was misdirection on JKR's 
part to make us *stop* suspecting him by the end of GoF. I don't trust the 
man, and think he is *very* bad news. And for those who say he's too stupid 
to cause any real trouble, well, pretending to be stupid could be a really 
good way of getting people to underestimate him, couldn't it?

So, who do *I* think is the faithful servant? Well, on the days when I 
believe that Minerva McGonagall is Ever So Evil, of course it's her. She is 
perfectly positioned to be of great service to Voldemort, and has access to 
Dumbledore and to Harry due to her position as Head of Gryffindor House. And 
there's LOTS of canon to show that she's evil. *Really* there is! (See posts 
39470, 38783, and 39495 for starters).

Another option, is that the "faithful" servant is Snape. No, I don't believe 
that Snape has really been faithful to Voldemort, but I think there it *is* 
possible that Voldemort believes he has been. Voldemort may think Severus has 
been *his* (Voldie's) double-agent, and I don't think the events in Harry's 
first year (with Quirrellmort) would have necessarily given Voldemort cause 
to doubt Snape. (This has been argued admirably on the list by others, so I 
won't repeat it all here). And, if I'm right, and Voldemort still does 
believe Snape is faithful, this opens the door to Snape's return as a spy. 
Which I think would make for some very interesting reading, and possibly lots 
of pain and more angst, and maybe even a moment or two of temptation for our 
poor darling Severus! <G>

:-)
Wendy
(Who would like to apply for membership in the Order of the Flying Hedgehogs, 
after realising that she loves suspecting *lots* of characters as Ever So 
Evil, and would actually be pretty happy if most of them turn out to really 
*be* evil. Bagman, Fudge, McGonagall and Ron, for sure. Evil!Sirius would be 
fine, although unlikely and somewhat redundant, after the "prank" <GGGGG>. 
She also is really impressed with the Evil!Lupin canons, but does hope that 
he's not evil, as *that* might just break her heart.)



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