More on Fourth Man / Avery

[judyserenity]

No: HPFGUIDX 38364

For the benefit of our viewers who just tuned in, there has been a 
bunch of "Fourth Man" theories, which posit that Avery was the 
Fourth Man (i.e, fourth defendant) in the Pensieve scene where 
Crouch Jr. is sentenced to Azkaban.  (The other two defendants aren't 
named, but most people believe they are Mr. and Mrs. Lestrange.)

Charis Julia presented a wide variety of new Fourth Man theories to 
satisfy the cravings of a Fourth Man-starved world, including Fourth 
Man with Serious Peversion and Fourth Man With Slashy SHIP.  I propose 
that Charis Julia's eight new variants be collectively known as "Over 
the Top Fourth Man."  I thought they were great, by the way.  Also, it 
might reassure you, Charis Julia, to know that Elkins had previously 
proposed that Avery enjoyed being crucio'd. 

In a discussion that took place off of this list, I used the following 
made up example: "The tugboat was gaining on her, fast. Her precious 
barge, the SS Fourth Man with RSVP, was in danger."  I'm a bit 
disapointed that no one has yet come up with a theory that would be 
"Fourth Man with RSVP."  Could someone here oblige? 

Debbie (elfundeb) said:
> So I can accept Tough Guy Avery, Up and Coming DE Avery, Cunning 
> Avery.  But I've been having trouble with the Fourth Man part of it.
Debbie then listed various problems with the theory that Avery was the 
Fourth Man in the Pensieve scene.

Yep, I can't accept that Avery was the Fourth Man in the Pensieve 
scene, either.  In fact, I've been dying for ages to ask whether 
people *really* believe that the Fourth Man was Avery, or if the whole 
"Fourth Man is Avery" thing is just a joke.  

Why don't I think Avery is the Fourth Man?  Simple.  First of all, the 
Fourth Man, whoever he was, was sentenced to *life* in Azkaban.  That 
means he is still there, or, more likely, died there.  And, Sirius 
said that *almost* all of Snape's "gang" were Death Eaters.  The only 
one not convicted of being a Death Eater was Avery, who got off by 
pleading Imperiatus.  I take this to mean that Avery was *never* 
convicted of being a Death Eater and *never* was sent to Azkaban.  
Otherwise, Sirius would have said something like "All of Snape's 
friends were Death Eaters, although Avery eventually got out of 
Azkaban by pleading Imperiatus."  I mean, it's not like Sirius is 
going to cut Snape's friends a break. 

So, I conclude that the Fourth Man rotted away in Azkaban, and that 
Avery never went to Azkaban; therefore, Avery was *not* the Fourth Man 
in the Pensieve scene. 

However, I love all these detailed theories about Avery.  It's 
wonderful that people here can come up with a full biography, not to 
mention an in-depth psychoanalysis, on the basis of seven words of 
dialogue, a passing mention, and a few shrieks. 

Impressed!Judy

PS: Non-sequitur to Dave:  Pettigrew was born in the year of the 
Silver-Handed Rat, obviously.  (Well, it *was* the Year of the Metal 
Rat.)