The Cabinet Plan...again (was:Re: The UV (was ESE, DDM, OFH, or Grey?)

[a_svirn]

No: HPFGUIDX 162798

> Magpie:
> I see what a_svirn meant by Draco's already mentioning Greyback--
> that it's a heads-up that Draco is lying at the end, but I think
> it's there for completely other reasons. First, most practically, it
> introduces Fenrir Greyback by name for the first time and attaches
> him to these plots. More importantly, it's further illustration of
> the difference between Draco's talk and his actual feelings. He can
> brag about Fenrir when he's not there, threaten people with him and
> refer to him as a family friend, but in person he can't even look at
> him.

a_svirn:
I don't think we can dismiss that as bragging, though. Draco's 
bragging usually fails to impress his audience; in fact, the effect 
it often produces is quite the opposite one. Yet the old Ollivander 
was certainly impressed. Whatever Draco showed him, it must have been 
sufficiently convincing; and Grayback probably did indeed monitor his 
progress with the cabinet. Nor do I think that it was just to 
introduce the name. There could have been other possibilities, Lupin 
and his assignment being the most obvious one. I think it was 
mentioned in that particular context, precisely because Rowling 
wanted us to associate it with Draco and his mission. 

I concede that Draco might not have been technically lying. Probably 
he didn't know who was going to come, and who wasn't. After all, it's 
not like he was the one who gave orders. But it seems to me that he 
wasn't exactly honest either. He'd known very well that Grayback was 
likely to come. 

> Magpie:

> When Draco quasi-admits to Dumbledore he's not a killer (he doesn't
> even say it himself, just admits he doesn't think he has any options
> but to kill and starts to accept the offer) that's a huge thing for
> Draco to admit. It's his big secret that he's carried since year one
> and that much of his personality is devoted to covering up (badly).
> He's always loudest about proclaiming his love of evil deeds and
> ability to do them himself because he can't. He spends most of the
> scene on the Tower still desperately trying to keep this mask on.
> Dumbledore sees through it, of course, and just keeps saying "You're
> not a killer" to all of Draco's bragging about being a DE. That's
> Draco lying to DD--with signs that he's doing so. When Draco starts
> to lower his wand he is admitting that he would rather have his
> family protected and not have to kill Dumbledore to get it. I don't
> think he's ever in his life admitted even to himself that he would
> make that choice.

a_svirn:
Oh, yes, Dumbledore said that he's not a killer. But what does it 
mean? He didn't say, "Draco, Draco, you are not a murderer", because 
they both knew that Draco did stoop to murder. What did he actually 
say to him, then? That he was no good as a Voldemort's hit-man and 
would be much better off under the Order's protection? In that case 
Draco's lowering his wand would mean only admitting his own 
limitations. A sure sign of growing-up, but little else, I am afraid.