How Many DEs Left? Was:Dark SHIPS ( was Re: Possession)

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 90894

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "sawsan_issa" <sawsan_issa at e...>
wrote:

> 
> Now Sawsan:
> I think that there are more DE's at large, but since the Dementors are
> working for Lord Thingy, I don't expect the captured ones to be in the
>  wizard "slammer" for that long. Even Draco says that he expects his
> dad to be out soon at the end of OotP and Harry, I think, replies
> something along the lines of being able to slip past him (Lucius)
again. 
> 
> Sawsan

bboy_mn:

In 'Goblet of Fire', Chapter 34 - 'Prior Incantatem'; Am Ed HB pg 660,
Harry "...was surrounded by Death Eaters, outnumbered by at least
THIRTY to one".

I think at best we could probably name a dozen DE's, so there are
substantially more than we have been formally introduced to. 

I will ammend this by saying that the number 30 in the above quote
should probably not be taken as 30.0000, I think Harry is making a
summary assessment of his situation, rather than pausing to make an
exact count. So, '...at least thirty...' probably means anywhere from
25 to 40 DE's.

That actual number isn't as critical to this discussion as it is an
indicator that there are a significant number for formal branded DE's
that we haven't been introduced to. I think of the dozen or so we know
of, a substantial portion were only introduce as DE's in OoP, of
those, a few like McNair had been introduced as characters, but not as
confirmed DE's.

As to the senior Mr. Lucius Malfoy, I think he will stay in Jail for a
while. I suspect he won't get out until near the end of book 6 or the
beginning of book 7; pure intuitive speculation, of course. 

I think part of the conflict in the next book will more strongly
feature Draco and Harry; brought on in part by the absents of dear old
dad. In book 6, Draco will probably play the role of the central
antagonist much the way Umbridge played it in book 5. He seems about
due for some character development. This fits in with my theory that
the theme of House Unity will be played out in DA Club in the next book.

Side note: does anyone think there is even a remote chance of the next
book coming out in 2004?

Just a few thoughts.

bboy_mn