The Deathly Hallows Part I begins with a whole bunch of double-crossing and betrayals. Snape betrays the Order of the Phoenix. A guy from the Ministry of Magic becomes a Death Eater, which is probably how the Ministry ends up falling.
And that's just the beginning of the movie.
So, yeah, the Death Eaters are definitely gaining traction from everyone's willingness to rat or turn on each other. Luckily for us, Harry and his friends are (for the most part) pretty loyal, so they manage to fight against this nasty tide in their own relationships…eventually.
Questions about Betrayal/Secrecy
- Is it possible to commit betrayal if you're a Death Eater? If people expect you to be evil and greedy, then can you ever really surprise/betray someone?
- Do you recall any examples of Death Eaters feeling betrayed?
- Does Ron betray Hermione and Harry by leaving?
- Is Ron right to worry about Hermione and Harry betraying him in the love department?
Chew on This
Ron only ends up betraying Harry and Hermione by leaving because he thinks they've betrayed him—and that's all the result of the Horcrux's powers. Voldemort's influence is all about sowing doubt and fear in others.
Ron really screws up when he thinks that Harry and Hermione could ever betray him, and even more when he leaves them. Sure, he comes back, but doubting and then abandoning his friends? That's serious betrayal.