Snape Reduced LONG(was: Re: Villain!Dumbledore...

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 177912

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Mike" <mcrudele78 at ...> wrote:

> We've all noted his convoluted GoF plan. Side note: did anyone else 
> notice the the Tri-Wizard Cup was the only portkey that didn't 
> activate at a certain time? DD set up two in OotP that he set off 
> himself, counted down the departure time. But Barty Jr. couldn't have 
> done the same for the TWC, he couldn't see that far into the maze, he 
> told us so. Also, I'm pretty sure Voldemort didn't activate the cup 
> for Harry's return trip. ;) 

Geoff:
We had a discussion on the Triwizard Cup as a Portkey a long time ago. 
We know that Crouch!Moody placed it in the maze and made it into a 
Portkey:

'"I offered to carry the Triwizard Cup into the maze before dinner," 
whispered Barty Crouch. "Turned it into a Portkey. My master's plan 
worked. He is returned to power and I will be honoured by him beyond 
the dreams of wizards."'
(GOF "Veritaserum" p.600 UK edition)

Now, it couldn't be preset for time because no one knew how long the 
Task would take.

Why have a return time set on to the stadium built in? Our thinking at 
the time was that Voldemort would return Harry's dead body to full 
view of the spectators so that they would know that he had defeated 
Harry.

Mike:
> I would add LV's ridiculous thinking in OotP to the list of tactical 
> blunders. First off, he could get 12 DEs into the DoM unnoticed, but 
> he couldn't go himself to retrieve the prophesy? Second, if his plan 
> was to lure in Harry so he would get blamed - fine, just sit next to 
> the shelf and when you hear the boy come into the Hall of Prophesies, 
> snatch up the orb and skeedaddle. There are several ways in and out 
> of that room, and I'd imagine Voldemort could figure out how to 
> become invisible to effect his escape if he needed to do that.

Geoff:
With reference to the Department of Mysteries, I'm not sure that 
Voldemort's thinking is a ridiculous as you suggest. He got his Death 
Eaters in to capture the orb from Harry and his friends because Harry 
had to be the one to take the prophecy:

'"He thought natural curiosity would make you want to hear the exact 
wording..."
"Did he?" said Harry....
..."So he wanted me to come and get it, did he? Why?"
"Why?" Malfoy sounded incredulously delighted. "Because the only 
people who are permitted to retrieve a prophecy from the Department 
of Mysteries, Potter, are those about whom it was made, as the Dark 
Lord discovered when he attempted to use others to steal it for him."'
(OOTP "Beyond the Veil" p.693 UK edition)

He didn't come himself initially because he wanted the Ministry to 
continue holding to their view that he had not returned and keep up 
their smear campaign against Harry and Dumbledore. I don't think 
there was any aim to get Harry 'blamed'. He was already being 
rubbished enough by the Prophet. The aim was to get the prophecy, 
period.