[HPforGrownups] The Mark, was Re: Snape:second chance?

[Amanda Geist]

No: HPFGUIDX 115776

Amanda Geist wrote:
> > <snip>
> > I also think that if Voldemort ever truly dies, they will, too <snip>

 Annemehr:
> > The weak point, though, is that if true, I think the Death Eaters
> > would have acted very differently when Voldemort was vaporised.
> > Wouldn't they *all* have been looking for him, then, to treat him
> > with the utmost TLC just to make sure they themselves survived?
> > After all, if LV would just have slowly faded away, then so would
> > they.
> >
> > Or am I missing something?

Amandageist:

Likely you're not; it's just one of my private theories. I thought about
your point--which has not been raised before, of all the times I've raised
this idea.  All I could think of was that maybe many of them were actually
relieved, or thought they got out easy--"Wow, looks like something went
wrong with the spell, I'm not dead! How cool is that. I felt something, what
a nasty knock that was, but I don't think he's dead. Maybe that broke the
connection. Hope so. And if his spirit is alive somewhere? As long as he's
floating around, I'm fine, and that's only *if* the connection wasn't broken
by that *whatever* that happened. I mean, damn, I just talked myself out of
Azkaban time, I'm sure not going to endanger my own ass trying to find
Voldemort if he's not the biggest baddest dude on the block."

The ones who are his strongest supporters--Bellatrix, Lucius--are more than
capable of advancing their own agendas alone. Voldemort was just a faster
avenue. I don't think they *need* him. Pettigrew, the one who *did* seek him
out, did so because all other options were closed to him, and he *is* weaker
than Voldemort (even as a vapor). Barty Crouch, Jr., had fixated on
Voldemort as a father-figure; his search for him had nothing to do with
survival and everything to do with love (albeit twisted) and loyalty.

So maybe the majority of Death Eaters were "middle of the road" or strong
enough alone, hoped the bond had been broken by the totally unforeseen
effects of Harry on the Avada Kedavra spell, did know Voldemort was
semi-alive, and chose to ignore him and go back to their lives (and their
own agendas).

That's all I can think of.

~Amanda