Let the cat out of the Bag(man)

[arrowsmithbt]

No: HPFGUIDX 91473

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Berit Jakobsen" <belijako at o...> wrote:
> The subject of whether Ludo Bagman is/was a Death Eater has no doubt 
> been discussed a number of times. I don't know if this is a correct 
> observation, but I get the impression most posters believe Ludo isn't 
> and never was a DE. I've reread GoF, specifically looking for 
> information on Ludo Bagman and would like to present my thoughts.
> 
Kneasy:
Certainly Bagman is not to be trusted, but  whether or not he is (was)
a DE is a moot point.

There is a danger that we may fall into the habit of thinking that anyone
who supports Voldy must be a DE. Yet  Hagrid tells Harry that Voldy had
plenty willing to become 'followers', some through fear, some through
enthusiasm. That being the case he could pick and choose who was
accepted into his inner circle - the DEs. And I don't doubt that before
being fully accepted some proof of loyalty, in the form of evil action or
initiation test was necessary. It was probably at this stage that Regulus
Black came unstuck.

But  there would be many more  who, like Sirius' parents, gave support
and perhaps help to Voldemort, without formally joining his happy little
band. What Lenin called "Useful idiots." Bagman could well have fallen
into this category, and maybe he still could. Remember that at TQWC
it is stated that there was "a crowd" of wizards that were torturing
Muggles and that "more joined them". This would indicate that there
were more than the scant double-handful who responded to Voldy's
call to the graveyard. And where was Ludo while all this was going on?
In the forest. And who else was in the forest? Barty Crouch Jr. that's who.
Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear.

Note that at his trial Bagman does not deny passing information, only 
that he was misled as to which side it was going to. Tripe. Utter tripe. 
He knew damn well which side it was going to -  the  'good' side would 
have no difficulty in obtaining information from the Ministry. For it to be
otherwise the MoM would have to be packed from top to bottom with 
Voldy fans which, given the number of Aurors based there is unlikely. 
Sure, there would have been some bad eggs (like Bagman) but if there 
had been significant numbers of them then Voldy would have won in a 
walk.

Bagman also states that "...old  Rookwood was a friend of my  dad's."
Now that's interesting. For a start it defies credibility that Ludo hadn't
at some time heard Rookwood sounding off with his views on Voldy,
mudbloods and the like. It also makes me suspect that the  Bagman
clan was pureblood (would Rookwood have dealings with them other-
wise?) and because  of their association with Rookwood probably
Voldy supporters too. Seems suspiciously like the Blacks. In which
case Ludo would be ideal as an agent in place, keeping them up-to-
date  with Ministry activities.
 
The mealy-mouthed way DD refers to Bagman's innocence may be
instructive. "Not been accused since" is not a ringing endorsement. It's
a statement of fact with no opinion attached. Very different to his 
comprehensive defense of Snape.


Berit:
> The innocence of three people are being asked here. We know now that 
> Crouch Jr was indeed a "real" DE. We know for sure that Snape has 
> been a DE (but don't yet know for sure if he still is), and Ludo? We 
> don't know for sure whether he really was a DE, and we don't know if 
> he is now. He is a bigger puzzle than Snape is!

Kneasy:
I may be nit-picking here, but I don't think that Barty Jr actually admits
to being a DE. Certainly he *implies* it very strongly and DD and the rest
seem to accept that he is, but when he is describing the events at TQWC
he talks of "the DEs" not 'the other DEs'. A very minor point and it probably
is of no consequence, but when JKR might be in deception mode it's just 
the sort of thing I watch out for.

I  trust  you were  joking when you consider him a greater puzzle than
Snape? That's going a bit far IMO. But he's been ignored for far too long.
I did have a pop at him back in the summer (73901) and there is a  good
post by, I think Talisman (though I may be mis-remembering -  it's about
time somebody sorted out these files, the search function is rubbish!) even
earlier than that,  but generally he's escaped close scrutiny, which is very
strange - he's a memorable character and a prime candidate for making
a re-appearance in a later volume.

Take it from me -  he's a bad 'un. DE? Maybe - we'll have to see.

Kneasy