The Spy Who Was Left in the Cold

[Goddlefrood]

No: HPFGUIDX 168686

Goddlefrood enters having finally got around to look at the 
strange and mystifying character of Goyle Senior, through the 
eyes of Death Eaters' and others' interactions with his son 
Gregory.

The tale that will unfold should tell you a great deal about the 
inner workings of the mind of the insane, it will also be thought
as a rather too intricate tale of terror and the audaciousness of
Goyle Snr.

All based on Canon, but with my own takes on the meaning of the 
matters to be presented.

Gregory is not a handsome lad, he's got "bristles that covered 
Goyle's forehead", this is apparently what it feels like to be
Goyle (from Harry's PoV) "before his eyes, his hands began to 
grow, the fingers thickened, the nails broadened, the knuckles 
were bulging like bolts - his shoulders stretched painfully and 
a prickling on his forehead told him that hair was creeping 
down towards his eyebrows - his robes ripped as his chest 
expanded like a barrel bursting its hoops - his feet were 
agony in shoes four sizes too small.

As suddenly as it had started, everything stopped. Harry lay 
facedown on the stone-cold floor, listening to Myrtle gurgling 
morosely in the end toilet. With difficulty, he kicked off his 
shoes and stood up. So this was what it felt like, being Goyle. 
His large hand trembling, he pulled off his old robes, which 
were hanging a foot above his ankles, pulled on the spare ones, 
and laced up Goyle's boatlike shoes. He reached up to brush his 
hair out of his eyes and met only the short growth of wiry 
bristles, low on his forehead."

Quotes from Chapter 12 - CoS

The poor lamb. He loves his Dad, though, as all boys should. 
I'll get back to this later.

Gregory follows orders, although of the two henchmen Draco 
invariably hangs around with he is the least thought meritorious
of relying on as back up:

'Malfoy looked at Crabbe and Goyle, sizing them up.

"Crabbe," he said. "Midnight all right? We'll meet you in the 
trophy room; that's always unlocked."'

Chapter 9 - PS / SS

I suspect he has other orders from his father, and we'll get to 
them.

Poor innocent Gregory also is not the brightest spark, from the
beginning of the series until now he has been noted several 
times, separately from Crabbe I might add, as having failed in
a task or assignment due to his academic laxity:

"Harry had almost forgotten that the exam results were still to 
come ... They had hoped that Goyle, who was almost as stupid as 
he was mean, might be thrown out, but he had passed, too. It was 
a shame, but as Ron said, you couldn't have everything in life."

Chapter 17 - PS / SS

Note it's particularly Goyle who is thought incapable (this in 
respect of the first year exams). There's further evidence of 
the high respect he is held in as somewhat of an intellectual 
by his fellows (or is it just Ron?):

'Harry looked at Ron, bewildered.

"That looks more like Goyle," said Ron. "That's how he looks 
every time a teacher asks him a question."'

Chapter 12 - CoS

He also failed his DADA OWL examination, and who could wonder
why?

The teachers too seem to have a high regard of Goyle's cunning
plans, this in respect of, oh, it's in there:

'"Well, let's check how yeh've done!" said Hagrid. "Count yer 
coins! An' there's no point tryin' ter steal any, Goyle," he 
added, his beetle-black eyes narrowed. "It's leprechaun gold. 
Vanishes after a few hours."

Goyle emptied his pockets, looking extremely sulky.'

Chapter 28 - PoA

Quite clearly an entrepeneur too then.

The problem is, why do the Death Eaters, at least in my opinion, 
dislike him, and why was his father not a participant in the DoM 
raid? Perhaps Goyle Snr is held in similar regard by his fellow 
Death Eaters as Goyle Jnr is by his classmates. Perhaps, but not 
necessarily. While I do think Goyle Snr might not be any great 
wizard in terms of his skill, he's certainly brave, he has set 
his own son to find out who had opened the Chamber of Secrets:

'"You must have some idea who's behind it all ......

"You know I haven't, Goyle, how many times do I have to tell 
you?" snapped Malfoy.'

Chapter 12 - CoS

Tetchy, Draco, now, now, but suggestive to this reader that 
young Gregory had been asking before (I know it's Harry 
Polyjuiced, by the by), why might he do this? Because Dad 
asked him to, that's why. Goyle Snr has done something in his 
time to upset other Death Eaters, Peter and Severus to name 
but two (and do note for the purposes of this piece that 
Snape's loyalties are really not relevant).

'Goyle reached towards the Chocolate Frogs next to Ron - Ron 
leapt forward, but before he'd so much as touched Goyle, Goyle 
let out a horrible yell.

Scabbers the rat was hanging off his finger, sharp little 
teeth sunk deep into Goyle's knuckle - Crabbe and Malfoy 
backed away as Goyle swung Scabbers round and round, howling, 
and when Scabbets finally flew off and hit the window, all 
three of them disappeared at once. Perhaps they thought there 
were more rats lurking among the sweets, or perhaps they'd 
heard footsteps, because a second later, Hermione Granger had 
come in.'

Chapter 6 - PS / SS

Why oh why, Peter did you bite the goon? What had his father 
ever done to you? Or did you suspect him, as I do, of being
less than loyal like yourself, oh brave, brave Peter? Bite 
back at the traitor, let him feel your wrath, says I!

A fond reminiscence was held regarding the late and lamented
Scabbers:

'"All he did was eat and sleep, Ron, you said it yourself," 
said George.

"He bit Goyle for us once!" Ron said miserably. "Remember, 
Harry?"

"Yeah, that's true," said Harry.

"His finest hour," said Fred, unable to keep a straight face. 
"Let the scar on Goyle's finger stand as a lasting tribute to 
his memory. Oh, come on, Ron, get yourself down to Hogsmeade 
and buy a new rat, what's the point of moaning?"'

The second mention in the series, a well remembered moment, 
Peter the champion of the Death Eaters smiting his foes on 
behalf of all that is rotten. And what's this, another scar,
curious.

Severus too makes an exception against Goyle in not punishing 
anyone for the FFF incident:

'Harry ducked swiftly down behind his cauldron, pulled one of 
Fred's Filibuster fireworks out of his pocket, and gave it a 
quick prod with his wand. The firework began to fizz and 
sputter. Knowing he had only seconds, Harry straightened up, 
took aim, and lobbed it into the air; it landed right on target 
in Goyle's cauldron.

Goyle's potion exploded, showering the whole class. People 
shrieked as splashes of the Swelling Solution hit them. Malfoy 
got a faceful and his nose began to swell like a balloon; Goyle 
blundered around, his hands over his eyes, which had expanded 
to the size of a dinner plate - Snape was trying to restore 
calm and find out what had happened. Through the confusion, 
Harry saw Hermione slip quietly into Snape's office.'

...

'When everyone had taken a swig of antidote and the various 
swellings had subsided, Snape swept over to Goyle's cauldron 
and scooped out the twisted black remains of the firework. 
There was a sudden hush.'

Both from Chapter 11 - CoS

Not favouring the Gryffindors, surely, there MUST be more to 
it, Snape and Papa quite clearly have issues. No punishments
were forthcoming.

Could it be that Goyle Snr is the superior spy?

If so then this behaviour is uncalled for children:

'"Funnunculus!" Harry yelled.

"Densaugeo!" screamed Malfoy.

Jets of light shot from both wands, hit each other in midair, 
and ricocheted off at angles -- Harry's hit Goyle in the face, 
and Malfoy's hit Hermione. Goyle bellowed and put his hands to 
his nose, where great ugly boils were springing up - Hermione, 
whimpering in panic, was clutching her mouth.'

...

'"Potter attacked me, sir -"

"We attacked each other at the same time!" Harry shouted.

"- and he hit Goyle - look -"

Snape examined Goyle, whose face now resembled something that 
would have been at home in a book on poisonous fungi.

"Hospital wing, Goyle," Snape said calmly.

Both from Chapter 18 - GoF

Again no punishment from Severus.

Other incidents too were uncalled for, IMO. Gregory has been
left bereft enough as it is and Dad's a possible hero, one of
the unrevealed spies, perhaps, or do I read far too much into 
things?

Goddlefrood