Being a DE (Was:Re: Peter and Gollum)

[annemehr]

No: HPFGUIDX 82723

susanbones2003 (Jennifer) wrote:

> 1) What the heck is the draw of serving Lord Voldemort? He's a 
> horrible leader, and as you say pay and benefits are lousy. One way 
> or the other, most of his followers end up on the wrong end of things 
> or dead. What's his attraction?

Annemehr:
Right now Voldemort is struggling back after a really major hitch. 
But I think we have enough to go on to imagine how things were fifteen
years before.  

In "The Woes of Mrs. Weasley" (OoP), Lupin tells her, "last time we
were outnumbered twenty to one by the Death Eaters and they were
picking us off one by one...."

On the train ride home in GoF, Draco tells Harry, "You've picked the
losing side, Potter!"

I think we can be confident that in the first war, Voldemort's side
had the upper hand.  Dumbledore's very best people, the Order of the
Phoenix, were being steadily killed, you didn't know who to trust
because they may have been under the Imperius Curse, the DEs had time
to indulge in Mugggle killings just for fun, and finally I think the
DEs had the same mindset that's illustrated by Draco's comment:
Voldemort's side was the winning side.  Back then, being a DE meant
you had a share of Voldemort's power over others, and your side's
successes meant that there was probably very little "punishment" being
doled out.

The DEs now are in a different position.  The ones who were broken out
of Azkaban are of course going to stick with V.  I think they are a
bit safer from punishments since they had gone to prison as loyal DEs.
 I do think that the DEs who were in the Graveyard are very scared,
but they are more frightened of trying to leave Voldemort (which can
earn you an Avada Kedavra) than they are of the possibility of messing
up like Avery (Crucio is at least not normally fatal).

It is likely that a small number of DEs may try to defect, but will
they be succussful like Snape, or, more likely, end up like Regulus?

Still, I believe you are on to something.  Having a great many of your
followers bound to you only by fear is a great weakness.  Voldemort's
hold on those DEs will only improve if his side once again gains the
upper hand and Death Eating becomes fun and games and the illusion of
power again.



Jennifer:
> 2)This is a total non-sequitor, but I do not think that Barty Crouch 
> Jr. was the "faithful servant" at Hogwarts. That's a trick I beleive. 
> Look at Bella, she's convinced she's his most faithful servant. LV is 
> such a lying, conniving con artist, who knows how many Death Eaters 
> think they are his "most faithful servant." This has been roaming 
> around in my brain for a while. Someone show me where I am going off 
> the path with this and I'll be glad to put this snarky little thought 
> to rest.
> Jennifer

Another good point!  Voldemort binds his followers to him by deception
as well as fear, perhaps.  Another weakness, I would judge.

Hmm, this invites comparing and contrasting with Dumbledore, via the
various DD theories.  I will leave that to those more certain of what
exactly he is doing, however!  ;)

Annemehr
who thinks *both* sides are on very shaky ground just now; anything
could happen!