who calls Voldie "Dark Lord"?

[corinthum]

No: HPFGUIDX 82273

HedwigsTalons wrote:

> I'm just wondering if what people and creatures call LV in 
> conversation has anything to do with their allegiance?
> 
> We've all seen that the DE's call Voldemort the "Dark Lord", right?
> So, do only followers of LV call him that, or not?
> 
> In COS Dobby calls LV the "Dark Lord" and the Prophecy bauble 
> says "The Dark Lord and (?)Harry Potter". Who wrote that on the 
> sphere?

The term "Dark Lord" seems to be used in two situations.  

First, by his supporters, as a term of respect.  I will include both
Dobby and Snape in this category although I don't believe either to
actually support Voldemort.  Dobby, however, has spent the majority of
his life in the company of the Malfoys, who most likely always refer
to Voldemort with this title.  Dobby's use of the term simply reflects
his exposure, rather than his allegiance.

I believe Snape uses the term for different reasons.  Force of habit,
to begin with.  As a DE, he would have used the term.  And now that he
has switched sides, it is safer not to break the habit.  If he were to
begin referring to Voldemort by a different term while out of DE
company, the chances of his accidentally slipping and doing so while
on active spy duty would be increased, and that would be a sure way to
blow his cover.

The second use of this term seems to be as an intermediate between the
unthinkably frightening use of "Lord Voldemort" and the colloquial use
of "You-Know-Who" or "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named".  Writing either of
the latter two on an official prophecy would be rather uninformative;
wizards nowadays may know who it refers to, but I'm sure Ministry
officials noted that prophecies may last longer than memories of such
references.  Therefore, coupling "the Dark Lord" with the date of the
prophecy is a bit more informative.

-Corinth