[HPforGrownups] Re: Death Eaters

[charme]

No: HPFGUIDX 120560


From: "justcarol67"

Neri wrote:
<snip>
There seems to be a connection between Death Eaters, the Dark Mark and
fear. Here is what Arthur had to say about this:
>
> *****************************
> GoF, Ch. 9:
> "Ron, You-Know-Who and his followers sent the Dark Mark into the air
> whenever they killed," said Mr. Weasley. "The terror it inspired.you
> have no idea, you're too young. Just picture coming home and finding
> the Dark Mark hovering over your house, and knowing what you're
about to find inside.." Mr. Weasley winced. "Everyone's worst fear.the
very worst."
> *****************************
>
> Everyone's worst fear, a boggart maybe? <big snip>
> So: the Dark Mark, eating Death, eating emotions, saying or not
saying Voldemort's name, and fear. How exactly are all these connected?


Carol responds:
Forgive me for saying this so bluntly, but a boggart *in itself* isn't
"everyone's worst fear." If it were, everyone's boggart would be a
boggart, which is impossible, since the boggart takes the shape of
each person's individual worst fear. It isn't the boggart itself but
whatever it embodies that's terrifying to the particular wizard it's
reacting to. Ron isn't afraid of Hermione's boggart and she probably
isn't afraid of his.

<snip>

charme:

I don't believe I had such a literal interpretation of Neri's boggart 
comment, Carol. I think Neri meant that it could be a form of a boggart for 
some individuals:  it's not inconcievable that when the Dark Mark appeared 
at some regularity it could have been some wizards' worst fears.  Speak of 
which, it's possible that as wizards grow and mature, I can readily accept 
that their "worst fears" change too over time; what Ron and Hermoine 
individually have as their worst fears now may not be the same as they 
mature (although Ron is pretty stuck on spiders.)