Draco - the Death Eaters and Volunteer

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 139721

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "horridporrid03"
<horridporrid03 at y...> wrote: Betsy HP:

bboyminn:

* Is Draco a Death Eater? *
Maybe... probably.

* Is Draco a volunteer? *
Yes... and No.

Death Eater-

Draco is working for Voldemort, and as A_Svirn points out, he is able
to get through the enchanted barrier that is blocking the entrance to
he high tower, and he is very sensitive about his arm in the Robe
Shop. All good signs. Futher as you point out, he does seem to refer
to Voldemort as his 'Master'. Obviously the author left it ambiguous,
but she also left some pretty strong clues. 

So, I'm incline to think he is, and when I explain about him also
being or not being a Volunteer, you will see why.

Volunteer-

Let's us look at what Draco himself says about the circumstance -

--- HBP, Am Ed, HB, pg 386-387---

Then, as thought he could not help himself, he [Draco] said, "I had to
mend that broken Vanishing Cabinet that no  one's used for years. The
one Montague got lost in last year."

"In Borgin and Burkes," said Malfoy, "and they make a kind of passage
between them [the Vanishing Cabinets]. Montague ... wsa trapped in
limbo but sometimes he could hear what was going on at the school, and
sometimes what was going on at the Shop. **...but I was the only one
who realized what it meant ... I was the one who realized there could
be a way into Hogwarts through the cabinets if I fixed the broken one.**"

- - - end quote - - -

Ok, I'm extending this a bit beyond what is actually said, but I think
the implication is that, probably through intermediaries, Draco told
Voldemort that he has a way to get Death Eaters into Hogwarts with out
detection. Then explained about the cabinets. 

Again, I assume the initial contact was through go-betweens, but at
some point Draco was brought before Voldemort who indicated he liked
the plan, and set Draco to the task. At this time, it is likely that
Voldemort inducted Draco into the Death Eaters as a great honor, and
I'm sure Draco readily accepted the honor without truly comprehending
that he was binding himself to a lifetime of service and blind
obedience, or death. 

Once in the DE's, Voldemort fully explained the task and gave Draco
the further task, and very great honor, of being the one who got to
kill Dumbledore. I don't think Draco counted on that, he simply wanted
to assist the DE in getting into the castle, and from that point on
let them do all the dirty work. Just one small problem, once you're IN
- you're IN, and no one refuses an order from Voldemort. Draco's life
has no gotten more complicated than he ever expected. 

I have always said that Draco's turn around, if one ever came, would
come because he got into the DE's and when he saw what it really meant
he would balk. But sadly at that point, it would be too late, or it
would at least /seem/ too late.

So, did he volunteer? Yes, I think he did, but he was given a much
greater task than he anticipated. Did he volunteer to kill Dumbledore?
No, I don't think so, I think that task was thrust on him by the
deranged twisted vindictive mind of Voldemort. I suspect, Voldemort
thought it very likely that Draco would fail and took great delight in
tormenting him and his family about the task. 

However, if Draco did succeed in the basic task of getting DE's in the
castle, whether Draco could kill Dumbledore or not became irrelevant.
Of course, that doesn't mean Draco is not in for some serious torture
for his failure. Remember, Voldemort himself really has very little
invested in the operation. He and his crew are creating havoc in the
muggle and magical world. He has both worlds running scared. So, Draco
failure cost him nothing, and Draco's sucesss is to his advantage.
It's an all win, no lose situation.

So, Draco volunteered the Cabinets, but had the responsibility of
Dumbledore's death thrust upon him.

In the meantime, I'm sure Voldemort took great delight in bullying,
tormenting, and threatening Draco and his family, and I'm sure part of
that delight was because of Lucius's failures. Like I said, for
Voldemort, even the worst outcome is still good.

I realize that much of what I've concluded is speculation and a great
extension of available information, but at the same time, I think it
is consistent with the clues that have been laid down by JKR. The
Vanishing Cabinets were Draco's idea. There are several clues and
hints that Draco is indeed a /branded/ DE. I don't think Draco
volunteered to kill Dumbledore; I think that was a task that was
forced on him, one he never intended to even consider, yet one that he
 had no choice but to accept.

Overal, it seems like reasonable speculation all around. At least, to me.

Steve/bboyminn