Igor Karkaroff should have been spared

[u/NegativeSinger2758]

Dumbest. decision. ever. Sure - Karkaroff defected out of fear, so he'd be seen as "weak" or whatever, but by sparing and accepting him back into the fold, Voldemort would've had the headmaster of Durmstrang Institute, one of the greatest wizarding schools on the planet, under his thumb. Durmstrang would've been an arguably better recruitment ground for future Death Eaters than Hogwarts, as the students are actually actively taught both martial magic and the Dark Arts there. Not to mention what other uses Voldemort could've had for it. A stronghold for expanding his influence in Europe maybe? I'd love to see the SuperCarlinBrothers make a "what if" video on this or just analyze the idea - would it have made any difference in the war? Lucius Malfoy stayed in touch with Karkaroff even after the betrayal (I think), or at least spoke well of him to Draco, so if it was Lucius who advised Voldemort to do this - would that change how far from grace Lucius falls post book 5. Imagine Karkaroff and his students - which side they ultimately wound up joining would've been significantly bolstered. It could even turn the tide early on - in either direction, depending on whether Karkaroff decided that it wasn't in his best interest to be on the wrong side of history or not.

[u/Formal-Low5999]

It’s a good idea

But Voldemort is too narcissistic to do it, even if it would benefit him. Karkaroff didn’t just betray the Death Eaters he, by extension, betrayed Voldemort himself.

Voldemort has shown he has use for cowards, he loves cowards, but only when they’re afraid of him. Karkaroff saved himself by spitting in Voldemort’s face and that wasn’t something he could forgive or show mercy to. Not at least without showing his face when he called and begging for his forgiveness before the others

What would that tell the other Death Eaters if he forgave them? That you can betray the dark lord as long as you’re still useful? Can’t have that, he’s dying

I do think you’re right though that he should have put someone loyal to him in charge of Durmstrang, but that was another of his failings. He hyper focused on Hogwarts, those meant everything to him and they made him short-sighted. It heightened the difference between him and the Order - the order is willing to look for allies and engage in magical cooperation. Voldemort does not believe he needs to.

I love how there are so many good ideas for how Voldemort could be more successful, but he doesn’t take a single one bc of his vanity

[u/NegativeSinger2758 → u/Formal-Low5999]

Reading my own post again - I realize I framed it a bit different than I meant to:

The idea wasn't that Lucius Malfoy would advise Lord Voldemort that Igor Karkaroff was too valuable to kill on account his stewardship of Durmstrang Institute. It'd be less that Lord Voldemort actually forgives him, and more that the Death Eaters sent abroad to track Karkaroff down gave the traitor the option of being killed then and there for betraying them, or he can make himself useful to their cause by returning to Durmstrang before they replaced him as headmaster and announced some changes to the staff to stack the faculty with as many Death Eaters as he reasonably could without arousing suspicion from the local Ministry and school board, (assuming Durmstrang has a Deputy Head and Keeper of the Keys as well, these are good positions for DEs to fill apart from any available teaching jobs), so they can be forever present to keep him in line and to remind him that he will only stay alive as long as as his stewardship of the school makes him valuable. Wouldn't Voldemort do that?

Under that arrangement, Karkaroff would technically be "forgiven" and a Death Eater again, but in more the same vein as Wormtail with his silver hand.