Well, I suppose anything's possible. It could be that he wants to further things along faster than he thinks can be achieved through so-called 'legitimate' legislation. For example, if he created this crisis, it might convince people to ostracise halfbloods much more readily than they already do, or even force them to adopt some new restrictions. I wonder if there are any matters of law before the Wizengamot that might tip in the Death Eaters' favour if panic about the Chamber were to spread?

Or this could well be a distraction from what's going on in the camps, I suppose, as you say. A ghastly one, I'll grant you, but if everyone's fixed on what's happening at Hogwarts, then no one's paying much attention to all the prisoners ailing and dying, are they?

But then ... how is he causing it? Even Voldemort can't penetrate Hogwarts without Minerva knowing he's there.

Can he?