Re: Early plotting. - Edit 1
Before modification by Mossman at 17/08/2010 01:36:13 AM
And the reference to "my faithful servant at Hogwarts" is of course meant to throw us at Snape again.
I don't think this works as a reference to Crouch. At the time Voldy makes this comment, Crouch Jr. is still under his father's imperious curse. He doesn't escape until the Quiddich World Cup, and IIRC, Barty Jr. doesn't contact Voldy until after Winky is dismissed. I don't think Crouch was on Voldy's radar at the time he makes this statement. Also, even if this comment referenced a plan for Crouch to take Moody's place at Hogwarts, Voldy was taking a great deal for granted. There was no guarantee that Crouch Jr. could surprise and overcome Moody.
The first chapter as Harry's dream is a little problematic. Later on when he has contact with Voldemort's mind, it is always seeing through Voldemort's eyes (I think) or the eyes of someone Voldemort is possessing. But here he appears to have alternately seen through the eyes of the caretaker and Voldemort.
Is the reader supposed to be experiencing Harry's dream, or is the reader seeing a scene from the caretaker's point-of-view, while Harry just happens to be dreaming about the same scene?