Talented DEs and Power Boosts

[cindysphynx]

No: HPFGUIDX 39868

Grey Wolf mused:
 
> And now, for a possible explanation which I'm not sure I believe: 
> could Voldemort have GIVEN them powers, like on loan, in exchange 
> for their help? That would explain why people with the 
> constitutions of stones (Crabbe and Goyle) and nearly as 
> intelligent, can cast those difficult spells.
 
Elkins added:

> There is some suggestion in the books that either Voldemort 
>himself or allegiance to Dark forces in general might indeed have 
>the ability to imbue wizards with magical powers previously beyond 
>their capabilities.

<snip impressive evidence> 


Oh, these DEs might get more than a power boost from Voldemort.  I 
mean, a power boost is nice and all, but maybe even Voldemort 
doesn't have enough power to give every DE an overall power boost to 
make them all Super!DEs.

Maybe, just maybe (boy, you know some speculation is coming your way 
when you see "maybe" *twice* at the beginning of a sentence), 
Voldemort gives DEs power boosts in *particular areas* only:

"Mulciber -- he specialized in the Imperius Curse, forced countless 
people to do horrific things!"

Yup.  Voldemort is *efficient."  He's rather forgetful, but he runs 
a tight ship.  He decides who in his organization will fulfill 
certain functions, and gives out those power boosts on an as-needed 
basis.  

So, then.  We have Mulciber, the Imperius Specialist.
We have Wormtail, who received a shot of dueling prowess.
We have Crouch Jr., who got a helping of Transfiguration talent.

Now, these power boosts are only that -- power *boosts.*  They won't 
make the DEs invincible.  That's why it takes Crouch Jr. a whole 
*year* to figure out how to confund that Cup.  But Voldemort sure 
knew that the whole plan depended on whether Crouch Jr. could 
confund the cup.  So Voldemort used a big hunk of his slimy baby 
power and sent it Crouch Jr.'s way.

Elkins (on Peter's talents):

>The Pettigrew that *we* know can pull off a perfectly-timed 
> explosive spell that kills a dozen people in a single blast.  He 
>can not only cast such a spell; he can also cast it with no 
>invocation, with one hand quite literally behind his *back,* and 
>timed to coincide perfectly with an animagus transformation.  He 
>can take advantage of a split-second opportunity to seize a fallen 
>wand and then -- *with somebody else's wand!* -- cast not one but 
>*two* spells (one on Ron and one on Crookshanks), all before Harry 
>can even manage to snap out an "Expelliarmus!"  

Ah, this is exactly what I mean.  Peter's power boost was in the 
specialty of, well, banging.  Of making things go "Bang!" that is.  
Each of these things is an example of Peter showing tremendous 
aptitude for . . .  well, for blowing things up.

Elkins again:

<snip utterly persuasive argument that Peter *had* to frame Sirius>

OK, OK, OK.  I give.  Uncle!  You're probably right there.  Maybe 
Peter could have tried to claim that it was really Sirius who was 
the Secretkeeper.  Maybe.  But Peter also has the little problem of 
Veritaserum.  If it comes down to a Veritaserum interrogation 
between Sirius and Peter (or even just Peter if Peter blasts 
Sirius), Peter is going *down.*  

Yeah, Peter was completely out of decent options there.  Twelve 
years as a rat was the best outcome here.

OK, I'm with you there.

But I'm not so sure about this next bit:

Elkins:

 
> You think those Death Eaters were really *trying* to hit Harry in 
>the graveyard?

Yup, I sure do.

You know why?  These DEs are there for a *reason.*  They signed up 
hoping to receive *something.*  And the only way they can get that 
*something* is if Voldemort prevails.  I mean, they've been on the 
losing team once already, and that was No Fun At All.  They ought to 
have some vested interest in Voldemort actually winning control of 
the wizarding world.  And for that to happen, Harry has to be 
eliminated.

Now maybe, just maybe, the DEs were a little jumpy about cursing 
Harry.  But Voldemort didn't ask them to AK Harry or anything.  They 
were supposed to shoot a simple stunning spell at him.  So what if 
it rebounds?  And the DEs definitely *wanted* to help Voldemort 
there.  They were "asking Voldemort for instructions," and without 
Voldemort saying a word, "some of them were drawing their wands."

You know, I'm still tempted to go with Stunning!Harry -- the idea 
that Harry has some sort of wicked protection around him to protect 
against certain DE spells.  Remember that Shield Charm that Harry 
couldn't work.  I just can't figure out why else that Shield Charm 
is even in GoF if not to indicate that Harry has a natural shield 
against certain minor curses.  Harry ran, and the DEs really did try 
to stun him, but they couldn't because Harry's natural shield.

Cindy