Number of DEs in Graveyard (was Re: Voldemort's recruitment . ..)

[huntergreen_3]

No: HPFGUIDX 128906

a_svirn wrote:
>>>> There were about 30 DE in the Graveyard, and we've been told 
only about a dozen names. <<<<
 
Rebecca previously:
>>> Were there 30 in the graveyard? From the description in the 
book it seems like 20 at the most, though I could be mistaken. <<<

a_svirn replied:
>> That was at the beginning at the Chapter 34:
 
 "<snip> and what use would it be to deprive Voldemort of his 
 wand, even if he could, when he was surrounded by Death Eaters, 
 outnumbered by at least thirty to one?" <<

kittykataddict replied:
>> In a stressful situation, particularly when death seems imminent
and especially in the dark, I think the human mind has a habit of
exaggerating the threat. Ten people can look like fifty. <<

Rebecca:
First, thanks a_svirn for providing the quote, I missed that when I 
was skimming the chapter for a reference to the number of death-
eaters. HOWEVER, I do agree with kittykataddict that its possible 
that Harry's mind exaggerated the number of DEs. If there were really 
thirty, I'd wager that *at least* one of them is going to be 
important later, since they were explicably *not* mentioned (were 
there any that Sirius mentioned earlier in the book that Voldemort 
didn't mention? Or that were in the DoM in OotP?). It'd be easy 
enough to fill the empty DE places with your ESE! theory of choice; 
except, of course, for any of the people who were known to be at 
Hogwarts at that time (which, sadly, includes Fudge, my favorite 
ESE!...but that's another matter). 

kittykataddict continued:
>> Does it really matter how many DEs there were? Is it important to 
the plot-line? <<

Rebecca:
It was relevent to the discussion we were having about the seeming 
absense of any older generation Death Eaters. If there are a large 
number of Death Eaters not mentioned, then it greatly increases the 
chances that there are some non-imprisoned, living DEs out there who 
weren't still in school when Voldemort first rose to power.