Let the cat out of the Bag(man)

[annemehr]

No: HPFGUIDX 91553

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Berit Jakobsen" <belijako at o...>
wrote:

> I'd also like to comment on Catlady and annemehr's posts (#91445 and 
> #91461) that I don't believe Bagman was in on Voldemort and Barty 
> Crouch Jr's plan for the Triwizard Tournament. There is no evidence 
> to suggest anyone else was in on the secret; just Voldie, Barty Jr 
> and Wormtail. Remember, not even "faithful" DE's like Malfoy knew 
> anything about what was going on till the mark burned on their arms, 
> summoning them to Voldie's side. When Barty is under the influence of 
> veritaserum, he doesn't mention Bagman with one word.
<snip>

Annemehr:
Good points, except that I think it would be possible for Bagman to
have been involved without Crouch Jr.'s knowledge.

The main weakness of the idea that Bagman was involved is that
Voldemort would have sense enough to let as few people as possible
know of his return.  Wormtail was a given, as he was the one who came
to him, and Crouch Jr. was ideal as being believed dead, extremely
loyal, and intelligent.  Bagman has apparently been pretty dim all his
life (so it's not an act), so it would be risky for Voldemort to
reveal himself to him at this stage.

I did think the idea that Bagman helped set up the third task to
involve the portkey would help solve a few difficulties, but on
further reflection I think this role could have been accomplished by
Barty Jr.  Dumbledore hired Alastor Moody primarily to help with
security during the tournament, agreed?  So it would make sense that
he would arrange for Moody to be in close contact with Crouch Sr. and
Bagman to assess what the security risks might be.  This would give
Crouch!Moody the opportunity he needed both to learn of and report the
details of the tasks to Voldemort and also to suggest the use of a
portkey to Bagman and Crouch Sr.

I just wish we knew more about the use of portkeys at Hogwarts.  Is it
safe to deduce there must be some method of preventing their use into
and out of the grounds?  I think we can deduce that the Atrium is the
only place to apparate, floo, and maybe portkey into and out of the
MoM, but the information we have for Hogwarts is much less clear.  If
there is a magical block to Portkeys at Hogwarts, then Dumbledore
would have had to have lifted it to ennable Crouch!Moody to turn the
Cup into a Portkey (and add the extra graveyard stop while he was at
it).  However, if Hogwarts relies on magical detection and subsequent
punishment to deter illegal portkey users, all this is moot, although
it's only closing the barn door after the horse has escaped.

I think it is logical to believe that Portkeying in and out of
Hogwarts is prevented to all but the headmaster (which beautifully
explains Voldemort's need for a portkey to be part of the third task
and why Crouch Jr. couldn't just turn anything else into one). 
However, without JKR specifically saying so, or at least clearly
implying it to a careful reader, we will always have at least some
nagging doubts about this explanation.  I know people for whom this
idea has always seemed very contrived.

That gives me the question I'd most love to see asked at the March 4
Chat!  "We know you can't apparate into or out of Hogwarts.  Is the
same true for Portkeys and the Floo?"

Annemehr
not normally awake at 5:00 am EST US