sparsely opining

1.0 Parallels

Despite Harry’s flight being on the surface compared to James, I absolutely love how much Harry’s first time flying on a broom and Lily flying unsupported off the swings parallel each other, and how Lily and Harry’s flight is constantly connected throughout the text:

Harry grabbed his broom. “No!” shouted Hermione Granger. “Madam Hooch told us not to move — you’ll get us all into trouble.” Harry ignored her. Blood was pounding in his ears. He mounted the broom and kicked hard against the ground and up, up he soared; air rushed through his hair, and his robes whipped out behind him — and in a rush of fierce joy he realized he’d found something he could do without being taught — this was easy, this was wonderful. He pulled his broomstick up a little to take it even higher, and heard screams and gasps of girls back on the ground and an admiring whoop from Ron. (PS) There was undisguised greed in his thin face as he watched the younger of the two girls swinging higher and higher than her sister. “Lily, don’t do it!” shrieked the elder of the two. But the girl had let go of the swing at the very height of its arc and flown into the air, quite literally flown, launched herself skyward with a great shout of laughter, and instead of crumpling on the playground asphalt, she soared like a trapeze artist through the air, staying up far too long, landing far too lightly. “Mummy told you not to!” Petunia stopped her swing by dragging the heels of her sandals on the ground, making a crunching, grinding sound, then leapt up, hands on hips. “Mummy said you weren’t allowed, Lily!” “But I’m fine,” said Lily, still giggling. “Tuney, look at this. Watch what I can do.” (DH)

Both of them are disobeying others who told them not to fly - Harry disobeying Hermione and Madam Hooch, Lily disobeying Petunia and her mother.

Just like Harry, Lily shows a fierce joy at flying, and just like Harry, flying is something Lily could do without being taught. The specific wording of the passages also heavily echo each other.

Harry’s Muggle background also plays a very big role leading up to and during flying lessons. Harry is nervous because unlike rich pureblood Draco who has been flying since he was a child, Harry had no experience with a broom - Lily may not have had those exact fears, given she could already fly in some form (although it’s always possible that she did, since flying on brooms is still different than her ability) but she certainly would regarding other parts of the wizarding world, even with Snape’s help.

Another parallel is how they both make fun of others in flight - Harry insulting Draco and Ron’s Quidditch skills, and Lily laughing at Snape struggling on a broomstick (which I assume was during their first flying lesson) and insulting James similarly:

“Got plenty of special features, hasn’t it?” said Malfoy, eyes glittering maliciously. “Shame it doesn’t come with a parachute — in case you get too near a dementor.” […] “Pity you can’t attach an extra arm to yours, Malfoy,” said Harry. “Then it could catch the Snitch for you.” (PoA) “You were only muttering a bit,” he mumbled apologetically. “Something about ‘just a bit farther.’” “I dreamed I was watching you lot play Quidditch,” Harry lied brutally. “I was trying to get you to stretch out a bit farther to grab the Quaffle.” Ron’s ears went red. Harry felt a kind of vindictive pleasure: He had not, of course, dreamed anything of the sort. (OoTP) suddenly Harry’s mind was teeming with memories that were not his — a hook-nosed man was shouting at a cowering woman, while a small dark-haired boy cried in a corner... A greasy-haired teenager sat alone in a dark bedroom, pointing his wand at the ceiling, shooting down flies... A girl was laughing as a scrawny boy tried to mount a bucking broomstick — (OoTP) “Messing up your hair because you think it looks cool to look like you’ve just got off your broomstick, showing off with that stupid Snitch, walking down corridors and hexing anyone who annoys you just because you can — I’m surprised your broomstick can get off the ground with that fat head on it. You make me SICK.” (OoTP)

2.0 Lily’s Letter

After the flying lesson, Mcgonagall compares Harry to James and says James would’ve been proud - but the more accurate comparison is to Lily, and in Lily’s letter we see that Lily is equally proud of Harry on a broom:

“Your father would have been proud,” she said. “He was an excellent Quidditch player himself.” (PS) One year old and already zooming along on a toy broomstick, he looked so pleased with himself, I’m enclosing a picture so you can see. You know it only rises about two feet off the ground, but he nearly killed the cat and he smashed a horrible vase Petunia sent me for Christmas (no complaints there). Of course, James thought it was so funny, says he’s going to be a great Quidditch player, but we’ve had to pack away all the ornaments and make sure we don’t take our eyes off him when he gets going. (DH)

And there’s Lily laughing at Harry on the broom in the photograph, showing a fierce joy at her son flying and being a natural at it, just like her.

3.0 Flight From Death

Additionally, there’s a double meaning to Harry being a good flyer. Voldemort’s name means “Flight From Death” in French - as a reference to his pursuit of immortality, his desire to conquer and escape and flee death. (I assume also as a result of having the same flying ability as Lily from a young age and being able to fly unsupported by the time he came up with the name)

Well, Harry is framed as his twin brother of sorts, Flight From Death #2, who survived the Killing Curse just like Voldemort did. Harry is a natural at flight - meaning that, like Voldemort, he’s a natural at flying from death.

And who was responsible for Harry’s flight from death? Lily, via her sacrifice. (I’ve elaborated on the connections between Lily and Death and Flight in this meta. More metas to come.)

There are a number of references to this in canon. As one example, the third time Harry is saved from the Killing Curse, during the Battle of the Seven Potters, both him and Voldemort are in flight - Harry flying on his broom, Voldemort flying unsupported - because Harry is having his own flight from death, he is escaping death, he is flying from death.

Harry is also in flight the first time he hears the detailed memory of Lily’s murder saving him from the Killing Curse - in other words, hearing the memory of his own first “flight from death” in 1981 - and ironically, that's exactly the moment during the match that his flight fails him and he falls to the ground:

“Not Harry, please no, take me, kill me instead —” Numbing, swirling white mist was filling Harry’s brain… What was he doing? Why was he flying? He needed to help her... She was going to die… She was going to be murdered… He was falling, falling through the icy mist. “Not Harry! Please… have mercy… have mercy...” A shrill voice was laughing, the woman was screaming, and Harry knew no more. (PoA)

This refers to Harry's guilt over his survival as a result of Lily dying for him - "Why was he flying?" meaning, why was Harry flying from death as Lily was being murdered?

This thread is also why Harry's Quidditch skills are constantly mentioned during his battles with Voldemort - they are an oblique reference to him being skilled at “flying from death”.

Voldemort raised his wand, but this time Harry was ready; with the reflexes born of his Quidditch training, he flung himself sideways onto the ground (GoF) And Harry, with the unerring skill of the Seeker, caught the wand in his free hand as Voldemort fell backward, arms splayed, the slit pupils of the scarlet eyes rolling upward. (DH)

4.0 Conclusion

“He is his father over again —”

“In looks, perhaps, but his deepest nature is much more like his mother’s.” (DH)

thank you very much for the ask, anon!

i think the assessment of harry's character which dumbledore gives to snape in deathly hallows is more or less the correct one:

“He is his father over again -”  “In looks, perhaps, but his deepest nature is much more like his mother’s.”

which i think can be expanded upon really interestingly as an example of something which the series does really, really well - how it obscures the fact that lily is the key to the mystery right up until the last minute.

the things harry has in common with james - not only his looks, but his quidditch talent, his impulsivity, his disregard for the rules, his arrogance, his cunning, his beef with snape, his adoration of sirius, his belief that his uncle is faintly ridiculous, and his bold, flashy courage - are big and explicit and demonstrative, and the text lampshades that they're inherited from his father at every opportunity.

[and not only in how many characters mention that he looks like james. voldemort - for example - mentions james' demonstrative bravery - facing him "like a man" - every time he and harry interact; sirius and lupin never mention lily when discussing harry's personality, even when what they're talking about is how he's not like james.]

the text also goes out of its way to suggest that similarly big aspects of lily's character have not been inherited by her son - the most obvious example of which is that, in half-blood prince, the incandescent talent at potions which has slughorn raving about how like his mother harry is... is actually the result of harry cheating [and cheating from a textbook he's convinced for much of the book might have belonged to james].

the only thing the text emphasises again and again that harry has inherited from his mother are his eyes.

and - in doing this - the series is actually telling us something very clear about what it understands harry to have in common with lily.

eyes are a frequent motif throughout the text, which are almost always connected to the themes of authenticity and truth.

dumbledore's eyes give away his true feelings in goblet of fire - when the "gleam of something like triumph" comes into them after he learns that voldemort used harry's blood to resurrect himself - before serving as a metaphor for the way the information about the prophecy is being withheld from harry in order of the phoenix when he refuses to make eye contact with him.

[dumbledore's eyes also stop "twinkling" after voldemort returns, in a sign of how serious the situation - which the ministry never appreciates the full gravity of - is becoming.]

occlumency and legilimency - the obscuring and seeking of truth - depend on eye contact. the teenage tom riddle's eyes - with their gleam of red - give away his true depravity, even when he's still outwardly charming and beautiful. the teen snape sees the reason for his obsession with the marauders "wrenched from him against his will" at the force of lily's glare [and the adult snape frequently averts his own gaze from harry when he clearly doesn't want to risk seeing anger or pain in lily's eyes]. ginny's love for harry - her "never giving up" on him, her willingness to wait and endure while he goes off on the horcrux hunt - is communicated by a "blazing look". the basilisk kills by looking - but doesn't kill anyone in chamber of secrets, since the truth about the culprit isn't known. and so on...

which is to say - the series regards the eyes as the windows to the soul [an idea which is connected to a verse in chapter six of the gospel of matthew - the verse immediately preceding which, "for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also", is inscribed upon kendra and ariana dumbledore's graves] and to the true, inner nature of a person.

in mentioning again and again that harry looks like james except for his eyes, what the narrative is doing is hinting to the reader that harry's big, obvious, showy similarities with his father mustn't let them miss that the more subtle traits of his personality - his steadfastness, his quiet courage in the face of hopelessness, his ability to love so much it changes the entire course of history - come from his mother, and that what he inherits from lily will be much more important to the resolution of the story than the things he inherits from james.

this is a clue it plays with really nicely - particularly because harry doesn't really care at any point prior to the last third of deathly hallows about what he inherits from lily more than he cares about what he inherits from james.

we - as readers - go through his experience of learning that his mother is the key to the whole mystery in real time - when we join harry in snape's memories - and we walk into the forest with a harry who now knows the whole truth: that he's more like his mother than he's previously realised, and that he'll therefore be able to do the same thing that she did, and die so that others might live.

Color me a skeptic when I come across depictions of Tom as this stoic, stone-cold ice prince of Slytherin.

That was what he tried to project himself as, but at his core, Tom Marvolo Riddle is like a ripe fruit, almost about to burst with pent-up emotions.

I fully endorse the headcanon that deep down, Tom takes after the Gaunts more than the Riddles.

He did a grand job aping their distinguished disposition and glacial aura (his aristocratic looks helped too), but scratch the surface, and he's a Gaunt, a slave to his passions.

Apathy is not his Achilles heel. Avarice and arrogance are.

He's not immune to emotions. On the contrary, he's at their mercy. He's not the type to hide his emotions for long. At the first opportunity, he will make sure the world knows about his feelings, whether it wants to or not. Have you seen him monologue his entire life story and unresolved daddy and mummy issues to his prophesied enemy?

There’s nothing measured, controlled, or austere in my Tom.

He is prone to excess. Just as his Gaunt forefathers thoughtlessly squandered their immense wealth, he too wasted his brilliance, his genius, and his remarkable talent and shredded his soul to pieces in the pursuit of immortality.

The Weasleys were Harry’s favorite family in the world.

Loves his wife openly, using adorably corny pet names and showing consistent affection

Takes visible pride in his children. They respect him deeply and look to him for moral guidance

Continues to write laws protecting Muggles even a decade after Voldemort’s defeat, proving his commitment to justice is not reactive but soemthing he honestly believes in

One of the few characters shown consistently working toward systemic reform, not just opposing Voldemort, but striving to make the wizarding world more equitable, regardless of personal or political cost.

A highly principled and motivated public servant who does meaningful work despite being undervalued by the Ministry and overlooked by many readers

Though not formally part of the Order during the First Wizarding War, it’s clear Arthur had deep ties to its members and supported their efforts. He references Mundungus Fletcher as early as Chamber of Secrets, and Moody trusts him enough that he gets called in during Goblet of Fire when Moody has the home disturbance.

Exceptionally intelligent and curious. He enchants Muggle objects on his own time and shows a love for discovery, invention, and humor and not enough people talk about how these traits are clearly reflected in Fred and George.

He doesn't hesitate to confront Lucius Malfoy in public, ready to physically defend his family without a second thought.

He and Molly create a true sanctuary for others—a home filled with food, warmth, and unconditional acceptance. Their hospitality is essential to the emotional core of the Order.

Finds ways to support his children's interests and autonomy even if he doesn't fully agree with their methods (cough Fred and George)

Values compassion even when people are assholes - stuck around to help the terrified Dursleys, who were being very rude and nasty to him, because they can't deal with magic by themselves.

Still has hard moral limits. One of the first people to stand up for Harry against the Dursleys - and has no patience for Lucius Malfoy's bullshit.

Despite being overworked and undervalued - has made meaningful connections with other people and makes time, space and money to spend doing special things with his family.

Immensely brave. Tackles danger head-on, even if he isn't known to be the strongest Wizard in the world.

Genuine interest in Muggle culture and things. Fandom and the Movies give him shit, portraying him as eccentric and daft, but he shows deeper knowledge and keener understanding of Muggle things no other Pureblood shares. Having a plug collection is so real of him, me too dude He gets words he only occasionally gets to hear spoken wrong (fellytone) but he knows how its used (makes successful phonecalls - and knows you don't need to yell into it) Can DRIVE A CAR on Muggle roads.

Has a Weasel as a patronus. A WEASEL. THAT'S SO CUTE!!!

Burrow-making animal that fights monsters far bigger than itself...

1. He Went to School with Snape

2. Got taught by Snape

3. Became part of the Staff like Snape

And the Fact that he's acting like he knew shit about potions is hilarious cause you just got Snape in the corner like

Snape is 31

Hagrid is 63

Professor Mcgonagall is 56

Lupin and Sirius and Peter (3rd movie/book) 33

Dumbledore is 112

We know that Harry was a victim of the bystander effect throughout his entire early life, which ingrained in him a desire to never, ever be a bystander when someone else is in trouble (his “saving people thing”). And we see this in action throughout the entire series. There aren’t really any times I can think of when Harry doesn’t at least have a desire to help someone in danger — he even saves Draco Malfoy in the Battle of Hogwarts (twice!), right after Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle almost got him killed in the Room of Requirement.

So when Harry is put in a position when he is not only a bystander, but he is forced to inflict suffering on someone he cares about...that really affects him. There wasn’t much else he could do in that situation. He could refuse to do it, but Dumbledore only agreed to bring him along on the condition that he obey every order Dumbledore gave him. If he refused, that would be breaking his word to Dumbledore. And there was no other way to get to the horcrux anyway. Harry knew Dumbledore would just find a way to do it without him. So whichever way it went, Harry was forced to be a bystander while someone he cared about suffered. And not only was he a bystander, he was the one inflicting the suffering.

When we are first introduced to the stories around Sirius, we get this:

Anyway, they cornered Black in the middle of a street full of Muggles an' Black took out 'is wand and 'e blasted 'alf the street apart, an' a wizard got it, an' so did a dozen Muggles what got in the way. 'Orrible, eh? An' you know what Black did then?" Stan continued in a dramatic whisper.

"What?" said Harry.

"Laughed," said Stan. "Jus' stood there an' laughed. An' when reinforcements from the Ministry of Magic got there, 'e went wiv em quiet as anyfink, still laughing 'is 'ead off. 'Cos 'e's mad, inee, Ern? Inee mad?"

And this laughter gets contextualised in the ending chapters of POA:

"He's got dark powers the rest of us can only dream of!" Pettigrew shouted shrilly. "How else did he get out of there? I suppose He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named taught him a few tricks!"

Black started to laugh, a horrible, mirthless laugh that filled the whole room.

In the second scene, he is laughing at the sheer gall of Peter to accuse him after everything.

I have interpreted this contrarian impulse as a habit from his home life - designed to piss people off when they accuse him of something, most likely unjust. And it is the same response that happens in his breakdown over James and Lily's death on the street - it is the mirthless laughter that begins because of audacity of Peter, the situation he found himself in, and it goes into breakdown over James's death.

But you know who else carries these impulses? Harry! There are many small moments in Dursley chapters where Harry has to fight the desire to laugh in a highly tense situation. Sample:

The Dursleys rounded on Harry like a pair of angry wolverines.

What is this?” growled Uncle Vernon. “What’s going on?”

“They — they’ve tried to get here by Floo powder,” said Harry, fighting a mad desire to laugh. “They can travel by fire — only you’ve blocked the fireplace — hang on — ”

But there are more. Here is after Sirius' death, quite a parallel to Sirius' own response, isn't it? Go after who is responsible and then laugh in a hopeless situation:

"Well, you’re going to have to kill me, because it’s gone!” Harry roared — and as he shouted it, pain seared across his forehead. His scar was on fire again, and he felt a surge of fury that was quite unconnected with his own rage. “And he knows!” said Harry with a mad laugh to match Bellatrix ’s own.

(....)

"LIAR!” she shrieked, but he could hear the terror behind the anger now. “YOU’VE GOT IT, POTTER, AND YOU WILL GIVE IT TO ME — Accio Prophecy ! Harry laughed again because he knew it would incense her, the pain building in his head so badly he thought his skull might burst.

And we see it here too. Boy has morbid streak like his godfather:

For the first time, Harry imagined Mad—Eye’s body, broken as Dumbledore’s had been, yet with that one eye still whizzing in its socket. He felt a stab of revulsion mixed with a bizarre desire to laugh.

somewhere among the seven sisters in east sussex:

why?

because the cave is the location in which he hides the only horcux which connects him to his mother.

"the seven sisters" is a term used to refer not only to these cliffs, but to the pleiades star formation.

and one of the stars of the pleiades...

With some help of @tedwardremus and @siriuslychessi, I've been geeking out again.

In short, I think there were about 50-100 dark mark bearing Death Eaters at the height of the war. So let's get into it:

Those we know escaped punishment: c30 DEs

…and what use would it be to deprive Voldemort of his wand, even if he could, when he was surrounded by Death Eaters, outnumbering at least thirty to one?

In the graveyard in GOF, there were about 30 DEs (if we take Harry’s 30 to 1 statement literally). Of those, we know the following seven were present: Lucius Malfoy, Walden Macnair, Avery, Crabbe, Goyle, Nott, and Peter Pettigrew.

Additionally, in ‘Spinner’s End’ (HBP) we learn from Snape that he was among the many Death Eaters who did not go to Azkaban for their crimes. The three(/four) examples given were: Lucius Malfoy, the Carrows, and Yaxley. Apart from Lucius, that adds three more Death Eaters that, since they weren’t in Azkaban, would likely have Apparated to Voldemort's side in the graveyard; the Carrow siblings, Alecto and Amycus, and Corban Yaxley.

Those we know got killed: c 3 DEs

“Rosier and Wilkes — they were both killed by Aurors the year before Voldemort fell.”

“[Evan] Rosier is dead,” said Crouch. “He was caught shortly after you were too. He preferred to fight rather than come quietly and was killed in the struggle.”

Evan Rosier is a separate Rosier from "Rosier and Wilkes" because Evan Rosier was killed after the McKinnon's and the Prewetts were murdered.

Those we know got imprisoned and escaped Azkaban in OOTP: 10

…she spread the newspaper on the table in front of them and pointed at ten black-and-white photographs that filled the whole of the front page, nine showing wizards’ faces and the tenth, a witch’s.

Of those, seven are referenced/seen in ‘The Pensieve’ (GOF) being sent to Azkaban: Antonin Dolohov, Augustus Rookwood, Mulciber, and Travers; as well as the three Lestranges, Bellatrix, Rodolphus and Rabastan.

Defectors: 3

Igor Karkaroff—was a Death Eater during the first war, but chose to make a deal with the ministry and ran for it when Voldemort returned.

Severus Snape—was a Death Eater during the first war, turned spy for Dumbledore

Regulus Black—was a Death Eater during the first war, died trying to destroy a horcrux

Death Eaters we don’t know the origin of

We also know the name of some Death Eaters that either might have gone to Azkaban, or might have been present at the re-birth of Voldemort or might have joined in the second war.

If the four were part of the first wizarding war, they would have either been in the graveyard or they would have been imprisoned, and therefore does nothing to the total count of Death Eaters we know operated during the first war. I've merely added them for completeness:

Jugson—Jugson was definitely either at the rebirth or in Azkaban because he’s mentioned in passing when Lucius yells out every Death Eater’s name when chasing Harry and the group in the DOM. At this point, Voldemort is operating in secret, and there’s no way he will have recruited new DEs yet.

Gibbon—Remus recognises him during the Battle of the Astronomy Tower, which some take to believe means he was likely on a wanted poster of the Azkaban escapees more than a year previous, and I am inclined to agree this is probable. In any case, I suspect he must have been part of the first wizarding war for Remus to recognise him so easily (unless Remus ran into him at school or something).

Throfinn Rowle—”That’s Dolohov. I recognize him from the old wanted posters. I think the big one’s Thorfinn Rowle.” (Ron, DH) The fact that Ron recognises Dolohov from the wanted poster, and not Rowle, suggests he wasn’t amongst the ten escapees, but I’ve heard the counter argument that there’s no other way for Ron to have recognised Rowle but the wanted posters. 

Selwyn—”Behind him came another scream, ‘Your wand, Selwyn, give me your wand!’” (Battle of the seven potters, DH) We know Selwyn was an active DE in the second war even before the Ministry fell, but we have no idea if he was part of the first wizarding war.

Total bottom-up count:

We know there are at least 40 Death Eaters in the second war, who were active during the first war, plus 3 defected (Karkaroff, Snape, Regulus) plus 3 Death Eaters that got killed (Rosier, Rosier and Wilkes).

There is also the case of the potentially missing Mulciber. We know there’s at least one Mulciber active during the second war, but there were two in the first war—Muliciber Snape’s friend and Mulciber Sr who went to the Hogs Head with a group of Death Eaters back when Voldemort cursed the DADA position.

“Then if I were to stop in the Hog’s Head this evening, I wouldn’t find Nott, Rosier, Mulciber and Dolohov waiting for your return?”

It’s possible one of the Mulcibers got killed or arrested (if so I’d bet on it being before Karkaroff’s trial, as Crouch never asks him to specify which Mulciber), and subsequently died in prison. 

In any case, we’re looking at about 46-47 Death Eaters.

Total top-down count:

However, we also have this number from Remus:

“... you weren’t in the Order then, you don’t understand, last time we were outnumbered twenty to one by the Death Eaters and they were picking us off one by one...”

Which begs the question: How many members were there in the Order of the Phoenix?

In the Order Photograph: 20

Alastor Moody; Dedalus Diggle; Marlene McKinnon, Frank and Alice Longbottom; Emmeline Vance; Remus Lupin; Benjy Fenwick; Edgar Bones; Sturgis Podmore; Caradoc Dearborn; Rubeus Hagrid; Elphias Doge; Gideon Prewett; Aberforth Dumbledore; Dorcas Meadows; Lily and James Potter, Peter Pettigrew and Sirius Black

The old crowd: +2

“You are to alert Remus Lupin, Arabella Figg, Mundungus Fletcher — the old crowd. Lie low at Lupins for a while; I will contact you there.”

In addition to the Order photo, we know Figg and Fletcher were part of the Order

Others: +2

And let us not forget Albus Dumbledore. Plus, I think we all assume Fabian Prewett was part of the Order, but just not available for the picture.

Meaning there are about 24 Order members in the original order.

If we take Remus’ statement literally there should be c480 Death Eaters. Given about 30 escape punishment, and 10 survives Azkaban long enough to escape it in OOTP, that would mean 440 Death Eaters got caught and either killed or died in Azkaban. The maths isn’t mathing. But it doesn’t have to.

Now, given Death Eaters are often described as Voldemort’s inner circle:

“And when You-Know-Who disappeared,” said Fred, craning around to look at Harry, “Lucius Malfoy came back saying he’d never meant any of it. Load of dung — Dad reckons he was right in You-Know- Who’s inner circle.”

“Malfoy’s dad must have told him,” said Harry, ignoring Ron. “He was right in Voldemort’s inner circle — ”

Harry thought he knew why Greyback was not calling Voldemort. The werewolf might be allowed to wear Death Eater robes when they wanted to use him, but only Voldemort’s inner circle were branded with the Dark Mark: Greyback had not been granted this highest honor.

I don’t think we can assume Remus is being entirely literal when he says they were outnumbered 20-1 with Death Eaters. It’s more likely he is referring to the broader group of Voldemort’s supporters: Werewolves, giants, snatchers and those allowed to wear Death Eater robes (like Fenrir) without bearing the mark.  That does probably amount to about 500, given:

By the time the four friends [Remus, Peter, Sirius and James] left school, Lord Voldemort’s ascendancy was almost complete. True resistance to him was concentrated in the underground organisation called the Order of the Phoenix, which all four young men joined.

If we can't take Remus' number literally, we're going to have to rely on logic. My guess is that we’re looking at about 50-100 Dark Mark bearing/inner circle Death Eaters.