DE Identification & the Cold War

[Tom Wall]

No: HPFGUIDX 53205


Torsten wrote:
If the MoM knew about the Mark 
during VW I, I wouldn't put it 
past Crouch to have people line 
up for examination wether they 
have it. But that's just Crouch,
others might prevent such a 
disgrace to happen, especially 
when it comes to the question
whether honorable citizens like 
Lucuis Malfoy should have to 
undergo it. And while Pettigrew, 
Snape and Karkaroff all have it 
on their arms, this might not be 
the rule and the Mark might be 
in a place where it's more 
difficult to spot ("Mind if I 
shave your head, Mr Malfoy?")

I reply:
Can't you just see Voldemort petting Lucius Malfoy on the head to 
summon the Death Eaters to him? *chuckle*

I don't see how Crouch could personally make sure that everyone 
underwent a search for the Mark. IMO, it doesn't seem like they force 
prisoners to undergo any kind of physical examination. At least, 
neither Sirius, Hagrid, nor Barty Crouch Jr. mentions it, and they've 
all been in Azkaban.

As for Fudge not knowing about the mark, I'm not really surprised. I 
was under the impression that it vanished after Voldemort's 
disappearance, although I don't think that's canon.  Hmmm.

We do know that Karkaroff says "It's been getting clearer and clearer 
for months." (GoF, US hardcover, Ch.23, 426) It doesn't say that it 
ever vanished entirely, though.

In the Pensieve scene, Dumbledore's memory of Snape says "It's coming 
back... Karkaroff's too... stronger and clearer than ever..." (ibid, 
Ch.30, 598) This comes closer, implying that if it's `coming back,' 
that it probably `went away.'

Still doesn't say unambiguously that it vanished, though. Hmph.

Oh well.  One way or the other, the trials took place for the most 
part after Lord Voldemort's fall, right? So, at that point, probably 
no one would have been able to see the mark anyways. And even if it 
was faint but still there, what's the likelihood that the prisoners 
would have been examined like that? The dementors don't have eyes, so 
we're talking about Ministry officials here. I'd guess that the 
likelihood is pretty low.

And despite Sirius and Fudge, the other guy who discusses the 
mark `on-screen' is Dumbledore (I'm ignoring everyone else who's 
present in the Ch.36 scene in the hospital, since they don't get any 
reaction time or commentary that we hear of) and he doesn't seem 
puzzled it, but that makes sense, `cause we already know that Snape 
told him.

-Tom