Dobby Shoe Cleaning Paragraph Elimination (WAS: Changes in UK Edition of CoS)

[erisedstraeh2002]

No: HPFGUIDX 43700

I (Phyllis/erisedstraeh2002) wrote (regarding differences between my 
recently purchased UK adult paperback edition of CoS and the US 
paperback edition):
 
> In Chapter 18 of the original edition, when Lucius Malfoy and 
> Dobby appear in Professor McGonagall's office, it reads:  "The elf 
> was carrying a stained rag with which he was attempting to finish 
> cleaning Mr. Malfoy's shoes.  Apparently Mr. Malfoy had set out in 
> a great hurry, for not only were his shoes half-polished, but his 
> usually sleek hair was disheveled.  Ignoring the elf bobbing 
> apologetically around his ankles, he fixed his cold eyes upon 
> Dumbledore.
> 
> 'So!' he said 'You've come back.  The governors suspended you, but 
> you still saw fit to return to Hogwarts.'"
> 
> The newer edition completely eliminates the paragraph about Dobby 
> polishing Mr. Malfoy's shoes and when Mr. Malfoy speaks, it 
> reads: "'So!' said Lucius Malfoy, his cold eyes fixed on 
> Dumbledore.  'You've come back.  The governors suspended you, but 
> you still saw fit to return to Hogwarts.'"

Me again:

This change is *not* noted on the page in the Lexicon which displays 
differences between the US and UK editions.  I'm sure it's possible 
that it could have been missed, but given the attention to detail on 
this page and the fact that even extremely small changes were noted, 
I'm doubtful that the Lexicon is in error here.  Which leaves (IMO) 
two other possible explanations of what happened:

(1) *Neither* the original US nor the original UK hardback editions 
included this scene, and it was subsequently added into the US 
paperback edition but not into the UK paperback edition; or

(2) *Both* the original US and original UK hardback editions included 
this scene, and it was subsequently deleted from the UK paperback 
edition but kept in the US paperback edition.

Since I have neither the US or UK original hardback editions, I can't 
offer a resolution - is there anyone out there who has these editions 
who can help?

Marcus suggested that it could have been dropped out as a mistake, 
and I know from painful experience that it's indeed possible to drop 
entire sections from a document!  However, I don't think that's the 
case here, given the way Lucius' words are rewritten (to include a 
reference to his name, and to reference his cold eyes).

~Phyllis
who gives Eloise a hug back across cyberspace, and wants to let her 
know that I greatly enjoy hearing her British perspective on the 
Potterverse :-)