Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter/Books/Goblet of Fire/Chapter 33
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Chapter 33 of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: The Death Eaters
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[edit] Synopsis
Ignoring the weeping Wormtail, the newly-risen Lord Voldemort examines himself closely. Producing his wand from a robe pocket, he slams Wormtail into the tombstone Harry is bound to. He laughingly demands that Wormtail extend his arm. When Wormtail proffers his severed limb, Voldemort demands his other arm, and ignoring Wormtail's continued sobs, pushes back the sleeve to expose the vivid red Dark Mark. Musing that, "They will all have noticed it," Voldemort touches it with a finger. Harry's scar burns fiercely again while Wormtail howls. When Voldemort removes his finger from the mark, it is black. Voldemort appears to be waiting for something, impatiently pacing back and forth. He tells Harry he is standing on Riddle, Sr.'s grave, and the house on the hillside above them was his father's home. His father, a Muggle and a fool, abandoned his mother before he was born, leaving Voldemort to be raised in an orphanage after his mother died in childbirth. Voldemort vowed revenge upon Tom Riddle, Sr.
"But look, Harry! My true family returns." Hooded figures begin appearing. They approach Voldemort, kiss his robe hem, and retreat to form a circle around the Dark Lord, Harry, the sobbing Wormtail, and Tom Riddle's grave. Voldemort chastises them for believing him defeated and asks if they now owe their allegiance to Albus Dumbledore. One Death Eater, Avery, falls at Voldemort's feet again, pleading for forgiveness. Voldemort curses him. Ordering him to get up, Voldemort says that he does not forgive, he does not forget, and that he will want thirteen years repayment from all his Death Eaters. Wormtail has already done some repayment, and will be rewarded for his service in bringing him back to life. Voldemort then creates a magical silver hand that attaches itself to Wormtail's wrist. Wormtail stops sobbing immediately, kisses Voldemort's robe, and scurries to take his place in the circle.
Voldemort strolls around the Death Eaters, speaking first to Lucius Malfoy, who claims he was waiting for a sign from Voldemort. He would have appeared instantly if he had known his master was still alive, but Voldemort cuts him off. He accuses Lucius of running from the Dark Mark at the Quidditch World Cup. Voldemort pauses at another empty space, saying it should be occupied by the Lestranges, who were sentenced to Azkaban for supporting Voldemort's cause. They will be rewarded when Azkaban is broken and the Dementors are recruited to the Dark side. Voldemort also says he will recall the banished giants, he will have all his allies at his side. Continuing around the circle, Voldemort says a few words to the Death Eaters: Macnair, Crabbe, Goyle, Nott. He pauses at the largest gap, where he says six Death Eaters should be standing. Three dead in his service, one too cowardly to return, one may never return and needs to be killed. His most faithful servant, who is at Hogwarts, had already re-entered his service and by whose efforts Harry Potter has now joined them for Voldemort's rebirthing.
Lucius Malfoy submissively asks Voldemort how he returned. Voldemort says it is an interesting story that both starts and ends with Harry Potter. On the night he went to kill Harry, Lily Potter died attempting to save her son. Her death gave Harry an unforeseen protection: Voldemort was unable to touch him. Voldemort says that has been overcome and demonstrates by touching Harry's face. Lily's sacrifice, Voldemort continues, caused his killing curse to rebound upon him, ripping his soul from his body. Even Voldemort, who has "gone further than anyone along the path leading to immortality," did not understand what he had become. He was pure spirit, less even than a ghost, but still alive. In this less-than-ghostly state, he traveled to a far land, waiting for his trusted Death Eaters to find him, but none did. Without a body, without a wand, there was no magic he could do to save himself, except possess other bodies. He did this, taking over animals, but none suited his needs, and none lived long. Four years previous, though, a young, gullible wizard wandered across his path. This wizard, a teacher at Dumbledore's school, was nearly ideal for his needs. After traveling with him to England, Voldemort took over his body to complete his plan to steal the Philosopher's Stone, but failed, thwarted by Harry Potter. The servant died when Voldemort fled his body, and, weak as before, returned to his forest haunts.
Wormtail, driven from hiding by those he thought his friends, came looking for Voldemort, helped by his ability to communicate with rats. Stopping at an inn, he ran into Bertha Jorkins, a Ministry employee. Bertha might have been an end to Voldemort's hopes at that point, but Wormtail managed to overpower her. He brought Bertha to Voldemort, who learned about the Triwizard Tournament from her and discovered that a faithful Death Eater was willing to help. When she was of no further use, Voldemort murdered her. Wormtail managed to fashion a rudimentary body, and using Nagini's venom as a potion ingredient, kept him alive. Voldemort knew that old Dark magic could restore his body. One vital ingredient, the flesh of the servant, was readily available. The "bone of the father" meant the ritual had to be performed in Little Hangleton, where Tom Riddle was buried. The "blood of the foe" is Harry's blood. This would remove the protection afforded by Lily's sacrifice, and Voldemort would be able to touch Harry without damage to himself. But how to get Harry? By turning the Cup into a Portkey and ensuring that Harry won the Triwizard Tournament, Harry could be removed from Dumbledore's protection. With help from Voldemort's faithful servant, it was done. Now Harry is here and defenceless. And to prove this, Voldemort performs the Cruciatus curse on him; Harry suddenly experiences more pain than he has ever felt before. Just as suddenly, it ends. Voldemort says it was foolish to think this boy could cause his end; but he offers him a chance. He will be allowed to fight, and the Death Eaters will see who is stronger. He orders Wormtail to untie Harry and return his wand.
[edit] Analysis
By updating his Death Eaters about his exile, Voldemort confirms much that was surmised about him earlier in the series. He considers himself superior to everyone, even believing that fate favors him more—he has overcome death itself. Voldemort also believes that Harry's repeated survival is nothing more than chance or luck, rather than any special talent. This belief, and thus underestimation of Harry's abilities, is one of Voldemort's greater flaws, and it is one reason Harry survives. Voldemort's maniacal personality is also on full display here as he lords over his cowering Death Eaters. Voldemort rules by fear and intimidation, punishing followers for any perceived mistake or disloyalty, often lashing out randomly in uncontrollable rage. And though Voldemort does reward loyalty, he does so sparingly and at a high cost; he also simultaneously punishes followers, as shown by his cruel indifference to Wormtail's suffering, even though he was instrumental in bringing about Voldemort's resurrection. Voldemort replaces his severed hand only after a prolonged agonizing period, knowing that Wormtail serves him only to protect himself, not because he is a loyal servant. It will be a long time, if ever, before Wormtail's debt to Voldemort is settled.
Voldemort also believes his supreme abilities will be proved beyond doubt by defeating Harry in a duel. It is questionable how Voldemort rationalizes to himself that defeating a young, unqualified wizard that Voldemort proclaims has no special talent will prove this, although Voldemort will likely claim otherwise after Harry's death. For the moment, Voldemort savors any opportunity to grandstand before his cowering Death Eater audience, and he intends to herald his return by slaying the famous Harry Potter, shocking the Wizarding world and undermining resistance to his takeover.
Just how Voldemort survived his first encounter with Harry thirteen years before is also hinted at here, although the full story is still unknown. Voldemort believes Harry survived the Avada Kedavra curse because old magic that was combined with Lily Potter's love for her child protected Harry. Readers have seen how new magic is constantly being invented (the Weasley Twins are a prime example), with many spells, charms, and hexes constantly falling in and out of fashion. Voldemort places great importance on it being ancient magic that protected Harry, indicating that it may grow stronger as it survives through the centuries, forgotten by many perhaps, but a powerful tool for those few wizards who know its existence. The ancient magic that saved Harry is also what ripped Voldemort's soul from his body when his Killing curse rebounded off baby Harry, striking him. Harry is privy to this explanation only because Voldemort chooses to share it, perceiving Harry as being nearly powerless, and delighting in showing off his "superior" knowledge before killing him. But if Harry can escape the cemetery, he will carry this valuable information back to Hogwarts and to Dumbledore.
Voldemort's "servant" who died after Voldemort failed to steal the Philosopher's Stone is obviously Professor Quirrell; this is our first complete confirmation that he died after Voldemort fled his body.
[edit] Questions
[edit] Review
- Which servant that died when Voldemort fled is he referring to?
- Why does Voldemort tell Harry what happened to him (Voldemort) after he was disembodied, why Harry survived the Avada Kedavra curse, how Lily's love protected her son, and so on?
[edit] Further Study
- Voldemort had a body – an infantile one – when he is first seen. Where might it have come from?
- Why would Voldemort challenge Harry to a duel, rather than kill him outright?
- Why does Voldemort place such importance on it being "old magic" that protected Harry?
- Why does Voldemort consider the Death Eaters his "true family"? Are they? Explain.
- Voldemort says his Death Eaters knew he was still alive. How did he know this? Why wouldn't they have searched for him if they suspected he still lived?
- Why does Voldemort wait so long to replace Wormtail's hand and relieve his suffering? What does this say about how he treats his followers?
- Who might Voldemort's faithful servant at Hogwarts be? Snape, or someone else?
[edit] Greater Picture
As Voldemort struts around his Death Eaters, commenting on the gaps in the circle, he comes to the largest gap of all... "And here we have six missing Death Eaters ... three dead in my service. One, too cowardly to return ... he will pay. One, who I believe has left me for ever ... he will be killed, of course ... and one, who remains my most faithful servant, and who has already re-entered my service. ... He is at Hogwarts, that faithful servant, and it was through his efforts that our young friend arrived tonight..." By withholding these Death Eaters' names, and by not completing the circle, the author leaves in doubt as to who is being referred to here. We are led to believe, correctly, that it is Karkaroff who has run, but it is unclear whether he is the cowardly one, or the one who has left Voldemort's service forever. Being unaware of Barty Crouch at this point, we are misled into believing that the faithful servant who has already re-entered Voldemort's service is Severus Snape. And despite the revelation of Barty's role in the events preceding this chapter, the casual reader may well retain this mistaken belief even after that revelation, and may see this particular scene as confirming Snape's continuing loyalty to the Dark Lord. In fact, the faithful servant is Barty, Karkaroff is the cowardly one, and it is Snape who Voldemort feels has left. Snape has been working at Dumbledore's side for the thirteen years since Voldemort vanished, and he did prevent Voldemort from retrieving the Philosopher's Stone in the first book. Snape does explain, later, that he was unaware that it was Voldemort seeking the stone, believing instead that Quirrell wanted the Stone for his own benefit alone, and says that Voldemort had accepted this explanation and also his reason for not immediately responding to Voldemort's summons.
By sparing Wormtail's life (in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban), Harry can claim a "life debt" from him. Wormtail repays this debt in the final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, when he momentarily hesitates to kill Harry on Voldemort's command. Wormtail's actions result in his being fatally strangled by the silver hand Voldemort has just given him; Voldemort, who may have known that Wormtail owes Harry this debt, and certainly knew the weakness of Wormtail's character, must have charmed the hand to kill Wormtail should he exhibit any disloyalty or fail to carry out any order.
Voldemort here tells his gathered followers that he "has gone further than anyone along the path leading to immortality." Dumbledore has also theorized this about Voldemort, although he has yet to reveal his suspicions. Dumbledore has come to the correct conclusion by this point that the "path to immortality" of which Voldemort speaks here involves the creation and concealment of Horcruxes, soul shards that anchor the soul of a dead person to the earth, and has recognized that Tom Riddle's diary, which we saw in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, is one such. In two years, he will tell Harry that he was worried, however, because ordinarily Horcruxes are considered extremely valuable and are carefully concealed; yet the diary was crafted to be a weapon and was used as one. This is not how one deals with one's only shot at immortality. Thus, Dumbledore suspects the existence of at least one more Horcrux, and this is largely confirmed by Voldemort's statement. Much of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is involved with determining the number of Horcruxes, and trying to determine where they might be found.
