Voldemort's Motives

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 166489


> Carol responds:
> I completely agree with Julie's post except for one minor point:
> Voldemort doesn't have a "whole army of Death Eaters." By my count,
> he's now down to Wormtail, Bellatrix, Goyle, Amycus, Alecto, the big
> blond (if he isn't Goyle), and perhaps three Azkaban escapees who
> weren't at the MoM. (Travers, maybe?) I'm not counting Snape, of course!

<snip>

> 
> He's rid himself of a major obstacle, Albus Dumbledore, but he has not
> yet built up his strength. The giants can be used to wreak havoc and
> the Dementors to induce despair, but only human followers can be used
> to form an army subject to control through coercion and fear of his
> power.

Pippin:
One major problem with this. Voldemort is not lying low, building up
his strength or saving it for a massive assault on Hogwarts. DE attacks 
occur with increasing frequency all through HBP. Where is Voldemort 
getting the manpower? As you say, Giants and Dementors are fearsome
but can't very well be infiltrators. But  there is one group of allies
who have wizard powers, can move about undetected in wizard society,
and yet have little reason to be loyal to it. 

I suspect that Fenrir's uncouth appearance is clever misdirection,
and the werewolf members of Voldemort's new army are not
only well-fed, but carefully groomed, well-dressed, trained in 
magic by ESE!Lupin and quite capable of carrying out magical attacks 
while in human form. 

As for not making use of the vanishing cabinets,  Filch told us 
it was  valuable, worth fixing  I should think.  If the likes of Flitwick 
and McGonagall hadn't been able to repair it, why should Voldemort
think it was even remotely possible for Draco to do so?

The plan, as everyone tells us, was doomed to fail. But having it fail 
immediately would be no fun for Voldemort, and hardly a torture
for Lucius. Grieving a dead son is bad, but waking up every
morning not knowing whether this will be the day you lose him --
a thousand times worse. Believe me.

Pippin