Cabinet FIRST! - Hogwarts Attacked!

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 157911

---  "Clifford Vander Yacht" <CliffVDY at ...> wrote:
>
> --- "julie" <juli17@> wrote:
> >
> <BIG snip for those who can't remember>
> > 
> > Julie, who figures the biggest question left out of 
> > this debate is still why Voldemort didn't take over 
> > Hogwarts when he had a golden opportunity?
> >

> Cliff:
> 
> LV has lost most of his supporters of value in the MoM
> battle. ... That's not enough to take over Hogwarts as
> a school. You can't teach with the likes of Fenrir, ...
>  Of course, the school would have far fewer
> students, ...
> 
> Then, of course, he didn't expect success. ... LV
> should believe a kid of 16 can pull it off? No way!
> 
> Cliff, not licking his lips like Fenrir at the thought.
>

bboyminn:

This is a very interesting aspect, the best I can do is
speculate, but then I do that very well.

We really don't know what the grander plan was since it 
was mucked up from the first second. I speculate that
the DE's expected to enter the castle by stealth, and 
that they would be able to move freely around the school
undetected, and to easily overcome any solitary 
resistance they might stumble across on the way.

As it was, the instant the stepped out of the door they
met a force of resistance. They managed to overcome it 
and ran for the tower to try and spring their trap and 
salvage their plan. Then another muck-up, as the ran for
the tower they met the Order members, again, a monkey 
wrench in their plan. 

Still forge ahead and at least try to achieve their 
primary objective. They set off the Dark Mark as a lure 
to draw Dumbledore into the trap. Dumbledore arrives, 
Draco arrive, DE's arrive, and while one primary 
objective is right there in front of them, it's clear 
the rest of the plan is a bust. Then Snape arrives, 
kills Dumbledore and give the rest up as a bad job, and 
gets everyone out.

So, given that the DE's expected to enter by stealth, 
and have unfettered access to the castle, I can't really
say that taking over Hogwarts wasn't part of the plan. 

So, /if/ they planned to take over Hogwarts, here is how
and why the plan would have gone. 

First, the enter the castle and set the trap for 
Dumbledore, meanwhile a few other DE's sneak off and 
catch the teachers unaware in their sleep. The teachers
are disarmed and taken to a holding area. The trap is
sprung on Dumbledore and Dumbledore is killed.

Now when morning comes, and the unsuspecting students 
wake from their quite sweet-dreamy sleep, the DE's are
in control of the castle. I suspect Draco and the
Inquisitor's Squad would be helping them by acting as
re-enforcements to control the students. The students
wouldn't have had time to gather their forces and mount
an effective counter-attack. First order of business, 
completely disarm the school.

So, now Voldemort is essentially holding the entire 
school as a hostage. Every young wizard and witch in the
world would be under his thumb. If you hold the children 
of the wizard world, you hold the wizard world. 

Sadly, or thankfully, things did not go according to 
plan, so they scaled back, accomplished what they could,
and got the he11 out. 

I'm pretty sure something like this will happen in the 
next book. With Dumbledore gone, Hogarts will not seem 
so well protected, and it is a target of the most 
extreme strategic value. Remember it was primarily 
because of Dumbledore that Voldemort didn't attack 
Hogwarts the first time. 

Because I feel an attack on Hogwarts is imminent, I 
think it is important that Harry not be at Hogwarts, so
he can come and rescue everyone. Though if  Harry is 
there at Hogwarts when it is captured, then that would 
open the door for Snape to redeem himself by helping 
Harry, others, and perhaps Draco get out. Huge plot  
potential here. It also opens the door for Voldemort
to brag and expound the way evil overlords are inclined 
to do when they think they have the upper hand, and give 
away secrets that Harry needs to solve the final /Riddle/.

Just one man's opinion.

Steve/bboyminn