The Wizarding World: Questions, Theories, Speculation
Quote from Dark Angel on November 4, 2023, 4:06 amBut I'm wondering, what convinces Voldenort to mark someone? Not everyone is granted that "honor," Fenrir for example did not receive a mark, despite probably having committed enough atrocities. I don't know whether that's because he is seen as a lesser being for being a creature or he hasn't done enough to gain Voldemort's trust.
Snape is a half-blood and is marked, so being a pureblood does not seem to be a necessity. I guess utility plays a part. Snape brought Voldemort the prophecy and Peter revealed the Potter's location and later on proved himself the most loyal and useful of the Dark Lord's followers by resurrecting him.
Is it doing just anything that proves useful or is there more to it? I sometimes think that it does involve some sort of gruesome test or the like which Rowling purposefully left out because of younger audiences.
Greyback was with Voldemort because their goals aligned, he wasn't loyal to Voldemort per se and only in for himself. And he was leader of Werewolf faction aligned with Voldemort, he wasn't a Death Eater by definition nor he was Voldemort's servant.
I agree about Utility part but Dark Mark was largely unknown among common folks so it wasn't a definite proof. I don't think there was any gruesome task because Peter Pettigrew of all people got one.
I wonder if Voldemort had to re-mark his Death Eaters every time they went to their vaults and passed through the Thief’s Downfall before they figured out the cause of its disappearance.
Quote from JaySM on February 19, 2024, 8:44 amI wonder if Voldemort had to re-mark his Death Eaters every time they went to their vaults and passed through the Thief’s Downfall before they figured out the cause of its disappearance.
What? Why? I don't think Goblins had any anti-Death eater policies?
Quote from Naaga on February 19, 2024, 11:31 amQuote from JaySM on February 19, 2024, 8:44 amI wonder if Voldemort had to re-mark his Death Eaters every time they went to their vaults and passed through the Thief’s Downfall before they figured out the cause of its disappearance.
What? Why? I don't think Goblins had any anti-Death eater policies?
I think Hermione said that the Dark Mark was a protean charm branded into the skin. The Thief’s Downfall is able to remove all enchantments and concealments so I think this would qualify for removal if the skin were exposed.
Quote from JaySM on February 19, 2024, 3:32 pmQuote from Naaga on February 19, 2024, 11:31 amQuote from JaySM on February 19, 2024, 8:44 amI wonder if Voldemort had to re-mark his Death Eaters every time they went to their vaults and passed through the Thief’s Downfall before they figured out the cause of its disappearance.
What? Why? I don't think Goblins had any anti-Death eater policies?
I think Hermione said that the Dark Mark was a protean charm branded into the skin. The Thief’s Downfall is able to remove all enchantments and concealments so I think this would qualify for removal if the skin were exposed.
Hermione didn't say that, as far as I've seen. It is only theoretically suspected that dark mark has protean charm but nothing was confirmed.
And there were plenty of rich pureblood DEs like Lucius Malfoy who regularly visited Gringotts yet they had dark mark intact while Voldemort summoned them in the graveyard. Voldemort isn't someone who'd let go of his branded servants and definitely made dark mark bound till death.
If dark mark could've been removed like this, traitors and DEs who claimed imperius excuse would've removed it through Thief's Downfall long ago.
Yeah, and it's worth mentioning that what Voldemort was capable of went far beyond ordinary magic. He would've had the power (and every reason) to ensure that the DM was undetectable.
Quote from Naaga on February 20, 2024, 12:26 amQuote from JaySM on February 19, 2024, 3:32 pmQuote from Naaga on February 19, 2024, 11:31 amQuote from JaySM on February 19, 2024, 8:44 amI wonder if Voldemort had to re-mark his Death Eaters every time they went to their vaults and passed through the Thief’s Downfall before they figured out the cause of its disappearance.
What? Why? I don't think Goblins had any anti-Death eater policies?
I think Hermione said that the Dark Mark was a protean charm branded into the skin. The Thief’s Downfall is able to remove all enchantments and concealments so I think this would qualify for removal if the skin were exposed.
Hermione didn't say that, as far as I've seen. It is only theoretically suspected that dark mark has protean charm but nothing was confirmed.
And there were plenty of rich pureblood DEs like Lucius Malfoy who regularly visited Gringotts yet they had dark mark intact while Voldemort summoned them in the graveyard. Voldemort isn't someone who'd let go of his branded servants and definitely made dark mark bound till death.
If dark mark could've been removed like this, traitors and DEs who claimed imperius excuse would've removed it through Thief's Downfall long ago.
Excerpt from the book:
“There was a murmur of assent and everybody moved forward to collect one from the basket. Harry looked sideways at Hermione. “You know what these remind me of?”
“No, what’s that?”
“The Death Eaters’ scars. Voldemort touches one of them, and all their scars burn, and they know they’ve got to join him.”
“Well . . . yes,” said Hermione quietly. “That is where I got the idea . . . but you’ll notice I decided to engrave the date on bits of metal rather than on our members’ skin . . .”
“Yeah . . . I prefer your way,” said Harry, grinning, as he slipped his Galleon into his pocket. “I suppose the only danger with these is that we might accidentally spend them.””
Either way, @heatherlly might be right. It would be hilarious though if in order for the mark to be more permanent, the earlier Death Eaters had prototypes of the mark that were washed away from the skin with Thief’s Downfall. I could picture an annoyed Voldemort altering the spell to be more permanent.
Okay, here's something from canon that I don't understand:
If everyone thought Snape was a Death Eater and that he murdered Dumbledore, why would they let their kids go back to Hogwarts with him as headmaster? Was this explained at some point and I've just forgotten? If not, it makes zero sense, especially for students like Ginny Weasley. I mean, her parents were in the Order FFS, and she was the baby of the family. Why would they let her go back to Hogwarts with not just Snape in power, but the Carrows as well?
Hogwarts became compulsory for all children after Voldemort took over the Ministry. Lupin talks about it in the chapter 'The Bribe'.
Is it ever explained how the school was created?
