Why Did Malfoy Need Death Eaters?

Piper · 24-08-2005, 14:49

Was there more to Malfoy's task from Voldermort than killing Dumbledore? He worked and worked to ensure the Death Eaters could get into the castle, yet when they did get in, none of them were allowed to kill Dumbledore, the one man kept saying that it was for Draco to do, until Snape got there, and Snape just did it.
If it was only to kill Dumbledore, and the ones who came in were not to step in, why would Draco have worked so hard to get them inside at all?

Two things come to mind for me, 1 being that they took Professor Trelawny, the other is that maybe Voldermort was testing Snape.

Can anyone else think of anything else it could be?

alohabear · 24-08-2005, 15:53

Maybe it was to show the power of Voldermort. Because in the OotP, he saw Dumbledore's Army ... so he wanted to show he had an army too.

kashlie · 24-08-2005, 15:57

He needed the DE to keep the Order busy, and the other students. He could not have attacked Dumbledore without back up, especially seeing as his last two plans failed.
Also, he spent his time fixing the cabinet whilst trying to get Dumbledore, so DD was prolly supposed to be out of the way when the DE took the castle, and Voldemort probably would have followed to take over.

Sirius Potter Fan · 24-08-2005, 19:14

That is a very good question really. When you think about it, Draco hadn't planned on Dumbledore being ill, and near death to begin with, he kinda "lucked out" on that one. When you think about it . . . do we actualy know for shure, just what his "assignment" was? I suppose his thinking may have been after the first two attempts failed. . . but then. . . He was working on the vanishing cabinent idea before school started. . .hmmm. I wonder. . .Draco made two attempts to kill Dumbledore that failed, by luck really, they very likely could have worked, so why the cabinent? Extra credit?

Fortescue · 25-08-2005, 01:22

Everyone has always made such a big deal that Hogwarts was impenetrable. I think Voldemort simply wanted to prove otherwise. As for the mayhem the Death Eaters might have caused while there - I think they were pretty much given free reign to do what they wanted and could. Note the presence of Greyback - he was there for one reason and only one reason - to leave carnage in his wake. He even disgusted Draco. If they were there for a true attack on the castle, I guess I would have to ask - where was Bellatrix? I would think she would come to Draco's side if they had a true mission in the castle.

Maybe the other Death Eaters were simply a distraction to the Order for what really went on - if Trelawney is really gone from the school, it could be that was the purpose to storm the castle in that manner as Trelawney never seemed to leave the castle. Remember the darkness powder Draco used on Ginny and the others when the Death Eaters first came out of the Room of Requirements - a smoke screen possibly to cover up who was actually in the first wave of Death Eaters. If she was there, maybe that was Bellatrix's job and why we never saw her - she was sent to get Trelawney so Voldemort could finally hear the prophecy. I'll stop rambling now!

Hermione · 25-08-2005, 04:15

He needed the death eaters. They were witnesses to tell Voldemort what happened. They also ensured Malfoy's escape, if he did manage to kill Dumbledore, would he have been allowed to leave the castle?

Piper · 25-08-2005, 04:42

Quote:

Remember the darkness powder Draco used on Ginny and the others when the Death Eaters first came out of the Room of Requirements - a smoke screen possibly to cover up who was actually in the first wave of Death Eaters.

You are exactly right that we do not know who all came in that night because of the darkness powder! We cannot be sure Voldermort didn't enter, and not leave.....or leave by the vanishing cabinet.
Did he want in The Chamber of Secrets, to get something, a horcrux? Or was there something in the Castle that he used, thinking that it would never be destroyed, something important, like The House Cup?

***Alz*** · 25-08-2005, 12:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Piper

You are exactly right that we do not know who all came in that night because of the darkness powder! We cannot be sure Voldermort didn't enter, and not leave.....or leave by the vanishing cabinet.
Did he want in The Chamber of Secrets, to get something, a horcrux? Or was there something in the Castle that he used, thinking that it would never be destroyed, something important, like The House Cup?

Now that is an interesting point there ...
I think the smoke screen was just that - allowed Draco and the DE's to at least escape from the Room of Requirement before any kind of resistance could be formed.

I also like the point made about that they were there to test Snape - we know that Voldemort trusts no-one to any high degree - I don't think his trust in Snape was as iron clad as that of Dumbledore - Dumbledore had faith, Voldemort is suspicious and untrusting.

I think in essence they were there to back Draco up - but to also be there just in case he couldn't finish the job.
What I mean to say is that it was perhaps an extra bonus just in case Draco did manage to get Dumbledore in a position he could kill him - and then couldn't follow it through - in fact like the way it played out.
Draco was never going to strike at Dumbledore all the time they were alone - it required the presence of the Death Eaters just to get him semi-motivated again and even then under that pressure he still couldn't deliver - I have a feeling that will get back to Voldemort as well.

kashlie · 25-08-2005, 15:33

What if he hadn't actually made the seven yet? What if he sent someone to get Gryffindor's Sword? I know the Headmaster's office is well protected, but a student could have been spying on Harry and heard the password or something...

What if Voldemort did go into the castle? What if he made it all the way to the Chamber unseen and is still in there now, planning away with whatever else he has hidden in there?

***Alz*** · 26-08-2005, 11:17

Never thought of that!!!

Yeah you know - that would be a great diversion for Voldemort to slip in and do things in Hogwarts - most of all I like the fact he might have slipped back into the CoS!

The more I think about it the more I think you are all onto something here - I just assumed the DE's were there to assit and ensure that Draco did the job once he got into position - but I can see the opportunity there of creating a smokescreen - have all the school focused in one place while someone slipped off and did something else - even if they never did kill Dumbledore it would have been enough of a diversion to have another party do something else .. always bothered me why Bellatrix wasnt there!