Peter's basic nature v Snape basic nature/ Which one is worse? Pure speculat

[sistermagpie]

No: HPFGUIDX 145014

> a_svirn:
> On the contrary, he has a very good reason NOT to kill Dumbledore. A 
> reason Dumbledore had just spelled out for him. By the end of HBP 
> Draco had realised that he and his mother were nothing but pawns for 
> Voldemort. He could not punish Lucius directly so he punished him 
> vicariously (sorry, Alla, couldn't resist). That night on the Tower 
> Dumbledore offered Draco and Narcissa freedom. And Draco was 
> tempted. He started to lower his wand, but then the prospect of 
> Voldemort's  favour started to outweigh the Dumbledore's 
> offer. "I've got that far" he said. So, I'd say, like with Peter it 
> was about "what is their to gain" vs. "what is there to loose" with 
> Draco.


Magpie:

Dumbledore makes his offer after it's clear Draco is not going to kill 
him.  Draco does not begin to lower his wand and then get tempted by 
glory but the other way around.  He says (slowly) "I've got this far, 
you're in my mercy, I'm the one with the wand," to which Dumbledore 
says it's *his* mercy that matters, and then he lowers his wand. 

Draco's stated intention in most of the scene is to kill Dumbledore--
he pretty much thinks he has to to keep his family from being 
executed, and he's got no reason to think that Dumbledore is going to 
offer him anything like protection.  But he doesn't do it.  He keeps 
talking, confessing, not doing the deed.  He never makes any actual 
move to kill Dumbledore at all, and Dumbledore correctly says that 
he's not going to do it.

I don't think Draco's line about getting farther than anyone thought 
and having Dumbledore in his power are just about being tempted by 
power--I think they're more important than that.  Draco is telling 
himself that he has power in the scene, he has done better than 
expected at Voldemort's task and has Dumbledore at his mercy--but then 
he starts to lower his wand anyway--iow, he could maybe have that 
glory; if he lowers his wand he's choosing DD instead. The position 
of "power" Draco reminds himself that he has there makes his 
consideration of mercy worth more.  He's proved something in getting 
himself to this point, but must choose what step he wants to take 
now.  I think he's being offered and is tempted by mercy (implying 
responsibility for what he's done and acknowledging this isn't 
something Dumbledore owes him) there and not just acting out of self-
protection.   That last scene--Dumbledore's last scene--seem to be all 
about exactly that to me.  The scene is, imo, not a political one but 
one connected to the more important themes of the series.

-m