Did voldemort mean to allow the DEs to be captured?

[ghinghapuss]

No: HPFGUIDX 86884

> justcarol67 wrote:
> In any case, I don't think Voldemort intended for the DEs to be
> captured. He clearly wanted the prophecy and had made at least two
> previous attempts to snatch it <snip>

> Silmariel wrote:
> If he didn't, he is more pathetic than I could have imagine. I can 
> think far better strategies to take care of a group of kids, <snip?


Mandy here:
I flip back and forth on this one a lot.  I agree with Carol in that 
LV desperately wanted the Prophecy and would have don't anything and 
sacrificed anything to get it. 

But.... a couple of things keep nagging at me. 

First why in the world would Lucius Malfoy take such a huge risk in 
being involved in the raid?  Think about it.  You have this very 
powerful, highly politically connected, wealthy man who, imo has his 
own designs on controlling the WW.  Be it from the inside or out.  
Why the hell would he risk being exposed by participating in the raid 
at all????  He has so much to lose it's ridiculous. If he is even 
suspected of being connected with the Dark Lord he looses all 
credibility with in the Ministry.  Fudge and others would sever all 
contact with him to protect their interests. Those Lucius has under 
the Imperious would become suspect for continuing to support him.  
Lucius would fall into powerlessness. Something he would never 
willingly accept.

Of course the DE's expected to be successful and pull of a quick get 
in, make Harry lift off the orb, deliver both orb and boy to the Dark 
Lord and get out.  But we're talking about the Ministry of Magic!  
Even if they were successful don't you think there would be way of 
tracing who was inside?  Some sort of magical eye/camera? OK maybe 
not.  The Ministry seems to have a lack of security, even the Order 
can run around inside guarding doors and spying on every one else 
unnoticed.

So why was Lucius there at all?  LV had plenty of other capable DE 
there to take care of it. Or did he?  Perhapes LV doubted the 
capabilities of the DEs who had been in Azkaban. Was Lucius being 
forced into it by LV to prove his loyalty after avoiding capture by 
turning his back on LV 15 years ago?  Or was Lucius looking to prove 
his loyality and assume Alpha status amounst the DEs now they were 
all out of Azkaban and crawling back to LV? Was LV setting Lucius 
up?  If so why?  Lucius, as disgusting as he, is very useful to LV 
and LV doesn't yet sit in a position to get rid of his powerful 
friends yet, does he?

Second, there are advantages to purging one's army if you're a Evil 
Overlord but only after you've assumed control.  You get rid on any 
doubt and potential enemies. You put the fear of God in to your 
remaining faithful few, who become more loyally dedicated to the 
cause out of sheer terror that no one is safe.   It's all over 
history. (Except the Evil Overlords are often disguised as Kings and 
rulers of England and Europe.)  One example is Hitler. He massacred 
his army of Brown Shirts before establishing the SS.  Another example 
is Henry IV.  He massacred most of his army and government to secure 
his place at the top. But they both did this after they gained the 
power they needed to rein supreme. Voldemort isn't there yet, so what 
is his advantage to his spring-cleaning? Why set up the DE's?  Surly 
they are still essential to him. Does he have another army waiting in 
the wings?  Perhaps a younger, hungrier army not wasted by years in 
Azkaban, or years of self-promotion and greed?

I imagine we will see when book 6 comes out.  I seriously don't see 
Lucius in prison for long but what kind of power will he have when he 
is out?  Is he capable of whitewashing the whole incident so he comes 
out a hero, or at least smelling like roses?  I can see it 
happening.  Just how many witnesses were there at the Ministry? How 
many saw Lucius arrest and LV return? Two different incidents that 
took place in two different places remember?  Can Lucius spin it?  

I have to say I hope so.

Mandy