Not a Dark Mark ?

[Ceridwen]

No: HPFGUIDX 140819

Ceridwen:
Okay, I'm not wholly convinced of the werewolf bite v. the Dark Mark, 
though it's an alternative since I don't think Draco has the DM yet.  
I think he may have been promised it once he completed his mission, 
but no canon to back that up.  Just a feeling.

But, reading this:

> Jaja:
> 
> I don't know for sure, as Valky said Bill's wounds were the closest 
> description we could ever get so far... but what if Draco was just 
> freshly bitten by Greyback? mentioning that werewolf's name would 
> give it away right?

What if Draco was bitten by a non-transformed Greyback, like Bill 
was?  Show bite, mention Greyback in a manner suggestive of 
retribution as he did, and that might frighten a man who fears for 
more than his life, or for the lives and futures of children or 
grandchildren.  Since the wounds don't seem to heal as readily as 
other wounds, a fresh bite not on a full moon might mimick a bite 
from the most recent full moon.  Draco doesn't change, he perhaps 
gets a taste for more red meat but that's about it, and permanent 
scarring.

A fresh bite would explain the sensitivity at Madam Malkin's toward 
his arm.  Not a fear that she'll reveal or find a DM, but pain or at 
least discomfort when the area is touched, even by fabric dragging 
over it.

And, I'm not sure, if this is the case, that Draco would tell 
Narcissa.  Maybe he would, this is the tail end of his childhood.  He 
may still have one running to Mama episode left in him.  Or, maybe 
not.  He obviously slipped away from her to visit Borgin and Burke's.

Or, she knows, and is relieved that it was a non-moon night bite.  
Voldemort apparently wanted to punish the Malfoys, this could have 
been a warning shot across the bow before the cannon-fire commenced 
with the mission.  Here, let the werewolf bite your son.  No, wait, 
now that he's bitten, let's drag him in deeper...

I don't think Draco automatically warranted the 'award' of a DM since 
his father was in disfavor.  I think he was told he would earn it by 
successfully accomplishing the mission LV set.  I do think he showed 
something.  Given the nature of the shop, I don't think there's much 
that would startle its proprietor.  But, knowing Fenrir Greyback's 
malicious attacks on children and the way he sets himself up to 
almost guarantee that he'll get the child in question, just might.

I'm not wedded to this theory.  I'm not even going steady with it.  I 
think the idea of the DM was another red herring being strung along 
the trail, and I'm at a loss as to what could have impressed Borgin 
(it was him and not Burke, wasn't it?  Having a brain cramp just now) 
otherwise.  The addition of the word 'fresh' does make me think about 
it all again.

Was this near the full moon?  That's a snag, IMO, on the fake bite 
issue.  If it was completely fresh and the full moon was the night or 
two before, then Draco is a werewolf.  But, it was interesting that 
the wounds, even from a non-transformed werewolf are difficult to 
heal, as revealed much later in the book.  I don't think, after re-
reading certain parts and mulling over Harry's obsession with Draco - 
Harry would have noticed a pattern of full-moon disappearances, 
wouldn't he? - that Draco is a werewolf.  But a bite from an 
untransformed werewolf might appear similar if not identical, coupled 
with the close reference to Greyback being a family 'friend' (he's in 
with the DEs), could carry it off.  I do expect Borgin to be able to 
tell the difference between a dog bite and its aftermath and a 
werewolf bite, given his trade.

Ceridwen.