The Three Death Eaters

< >This is simply a different theory on a passage in one of the last chapters of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, where Lord Voldemort talks about three Death Eaters missing from his circle on 24 June. (That said, there may be spoilers for those - perish the thought - who have not read the fourth book. Beware.) Most people think Barty Crouch is the 'faithful servant.' There is usually a toss up between Igor Karkaroff and Severus Snape concerning who is the coward and the one who will die.

< >I am of the opinion that Igor Karkaroff is the one who has left Voldemort forever - and who would want him back in the Death Eater posse anyway? Barty Crouch is the faithful servant who ultimately can't return (oddly, Voldemort did not say if he would return or not return). Severus Snape is the one who is supposedly 'too cowardly to return.' Voldemort probably thinks Severus believes he would not be accepted or that it is quite bad-looking to have Albus Dumbledore clear your name when the older wizard is the one whom Voldemort hates most in the world. He will pay for this, but could return as a spy. Nowhere does it say Dumbledore and Snape actually let on to the Ministry that Severus was acting as a spy. In fact, Fudge seemed surprised to see that Severus had the Dark Mark.

< >However, I have come up with a new theory.

< >Severus is the so-called (because I still believe Severus Snape is on the side of the Light) faithful servant to Voldemort. He has been at Hogwarts for lord knows how long, Lucius does not appear in the canon to have any anger/love for Severus nor does he appear to mind Snape's favouritism of his son, no one seems to think Snape is a big deal, and the kids parents would have to remember him, or at least Arthur Weasley, especially if he was a spy or if there was proof he was a Death Eater. This gives very good reason as to why it's quite possible Voldemort could consider Snape his faithful servant.

< >Karkaroff could be the character too cowardly to return and he will pay a great price. Whatever that price is is still to be determined. He's definitely a caitiff, he's running away from Voldemort, and this cowardly figure could end up, once he is caught, as an example to other Death Eaters: deny the Dark Lord and you will pay the ultimate price. Humiliation, pain, perhaps even death.

< >Next, comes Barty Crouch. The former Tom Riddle says, "One [Death Eater] I believe has left me forever . . . he will be killed, of course" (651). Most people would instantly say that this could not be Barty Crouch, Jr., but hold on one moment and let me explain. Little Barty was very enamoured by the idea of being Lord Voldemort's right hand man. He would do anything to do it and it's obvious he did when he spelled the cup into a Portkey to take Harry to the cemetery. But this presents a problem - he vies so much to get to the top of the Dark Lord's ranks that what would stop him, in his mind, from going higher than that? This idea in mind, he could create a new faction of dark followers and try to take down Lord Voldemort himself.

< >To be quite honest, this presents quite a problem to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.

< >Voldemort would not want something like this happening and it is feasible Barty Crouch, Jr. would want to take control. He was still a young man and has cocky assurance which dominates youth that would propel him to fight his master for control. While Voldemort might have been able to defeat Barty Jr. easily, an insurgent within his dark congregation of Death Eaters is very damaging. A situation such as the one described might encourage other Death Eaters to plan a mutiny. He would certainly not want that.

< >Pointing out the quote "He is at Hogwarts, that faithful servant, and it was through his efforts that our young friend arrived here tonight" (652) again with my arguments about the Potions professor, someone might point out that Severus did not make an effort to send Harry to the Dark Lord. True. At least, perhaps not directly. He kept very secure wards on his potions which drove Barty Jr. (in the guise of Mad Eye Moody) to get the ingredients he needed for the Polyjuice Potion, and test out his 'skills' of thievery and deceit.

< >Taking this in stride, Severus' efforts to keep people out of his stores indirectly helped Barty Jr. and Voldemort capture Harry Potter at the end of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. This gave way to increasing Barty Jr.'s megalomania and his thoughts on perhaps becoming his own man, while also giving him a nice stash of ingredients with which to make his potion and keeping his disguise. Thus, it is a play on words when Lord Voldemort speaks of the three Death Eaters. He would have killed the young Barty Crouch - secretly so no one will turn against him - to stop an uprising before it could even take place, Karkaroff would be an example to the Death Eaters not to challenge him and Severus, whom he has no idea is truly on the side of the Light, would be accepted easily back into his Inner Circle.

< >How lucky - not only for the Light, but for Severus Snape.

Rowling, J. K. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. New York, NY: Scholastic, Incorporated, July 2000.