[HPforGrownups] Re: Moody!Crouch and defence against Imperius

[Scott Santangelo]

No: HPFGUIDX 95992


Owlery2003 comments:
> 
> I find it hard to imagine that DD would not have picked-up on the *very* unusual lessons being taught by moody!crouch. They were being talked about all over the school, and DD has his ears out (not to mention the portraits). It seems obvious that as much as a madman as
barty jr. turns out to be, he's certainly a calculating and clever madman, who completely fools everyone to the very end. I don't see him going down this instructional course absent the tacit (at least)approval of DD. It seems equally obvious that DD recruits his old ex-auror friend at the very beginning for the very purpose of better preparing the students for the reality of a future conflict with Voldy and his followers, ergo, another seemingly eccentric (but shrewdly calculated) deviation from the Ministry-approved curriculums to follow
in OOP.


Carol:
I think Moody was recruited to keep an eye on Karkaroff, whom the real Moody regarded as dangerous "filth." Dumbledore was trying to unite the three Wizarding schools through the Tri-Wizard Tournament, but doing so involved the very great risk of having a most untrustworthy "reformed" Death Eater in their midst. IMO, DD wanted Moody to keep his magical eye on Karkaroff to make sure he didn't harm the champions from the other schools or do any other DE-style mischief. (To me it's
significant that Snape required no such supervision.)

As for DD approving the use of Unforgiveable Curses on the students, tacitly or otherwise, I can't see it. I think he must have started to suspect that something was not quite right at that point. We have to remember that use of those spells on human beings is supposed to
result in a life sentence to Azkaban. Both "Moody" and DD would have been in serious trouble if even one student had complained. (IMO, the only reason DD didn't get in trouble after the MoM found out about it, as we know they did, is that Fudge knew that Crouch!Moody was an imposter and a madman for whose behavior DD could not be held
accountable.) Think about Molly Weasley's reaction if she knew that four of her children had been Imperio'd. Order member or not, she'd have been furious.

Owlery2003 responds:

Have seen the several subsequent posts, but wanted to counter you on this particular one (politely!). Still don't buy it. No canon I know of to suggest that DD started to suspect Moody!Crouch earlier on, and despite his skills as a legilimens, no apparent reason to look beyond the disfigured profile that stumped into the great hall at the beginning (great acting, Barty!). We know from OOP that the headmaster of Hogwarts has discretion independent of the Ministry's involvement (Hagrid, Lupin, Snape, etc.). Moody's the latest in a controversial line (to be continued with a Centaur instructor!). It's inconceivable that DD would not learn from some source that the curses were being taught, and entirely plausible that in the course of instruction he would want Harry (+ students in general) prepared to deal with curses like the unforgiveables in preparation for the conflict he knows is coming. Fortunately, Molly is not the headmaster, and even she would likely defer to DD in such matters.
 And apparently, not a single student complains. Also note that the unforgivables come up in class one, with a demonstration on spiders. In class 2, the "practical" part comes up, and Hermione calls Moody!Crouch on it. He claims that "DD wants you taught what it feels like." The class proceeds, and Ron & Harry grin about how Hermione would rather eat bubotuber pus rather than miss such an important lesson. Harry gets put through his paces until he can throw off the curse. Moody!Crouch may be a madman, but he's got an agenda and he sticks to his cover. Is it likely he'll risk DD's ire by going so far outside of the lines by doing all of this? Don't think so. In fact, he continues to play the ex-auror part to the hilt.


		
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