When did Draco Imperius Rosmerta? (was: Re: CHAPDISC: hbp12, Silver and Opals)

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 149724

> >>Betsy Hp:
> > <snip> ...but when does Draco Imperius her? 

> >>Sydney:
> *raises hand*  Are we sure that it was even Draco who performed the
> Imperius Curse?  JKR didn't seem to want to have Draco successfully
> kill anyone, and he was cut off before he could try the Crucio; I'm
> not sure she'd want to have him do what is literally called an
> Unforgivable successfully. 
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
We don't know.  And we even have a heads-up in the first chapter 
that Imperius is not an easy curse (I doubt any of the Unforgivables 
are) with the flubbed Imperius done on the Muggle guy.  So either 
Draco is an incredible wizard himself (and I seriously doubt JKR 
will have him be a stronger wizard than Harry) or someone else did 
the Imperius on Rosmerta.

Which would make Blaise's appearance a redherring.  Which could be 
entirely possible.  Except (and this is my problem with the entire 
mystery) no one wonders about it.  Harry never once suggests that 
maybe Blaise was really a polyjuiced Draco; Hermione and Ron are 
never given chances to shoot that idea down.  So if a mystery isn't 
discussed does it mean it never existed?  Or, will this come up in 
book 7 when the question of trusting Draco is raised?

> >>Sydney:
> Dumbledore asks how long Rosmerta has been under Imperius, and    
> Draco says "Figured it out at last?".  It would be lot safer to   
> rely on someone experienced like Bellatrix, who we know already   
> taught him Occlumency in order to help him with his mission (and  
> stymie Snape!). And Draco tells Snape that he has 'other help,     
> better help', directly after the incident, IIRC.

Betsy Hp:
I had toyed with the idea that Draco's "better help" was the hidden 
Death Eater, to be revealed in book 7.  But now that I'm not even 
sure there will be an ESE character in the end, I've gone wishy-
washy on this.  It could well be Bellatrix snuck into Hogsmead to do 
the deed.  (Very creepy image of Rosmerta waking up in the dead hour 
to find Bellatrix standing at the foot of her bed.  It'd be like 
something out of "The Ring". ::shiver::)

But you've raised another important point: Rosmerta is Imperiused 
well enough that Dumbledore, who tells Harry that he's been spending 
time at the Three Broomsticks to cover those times he actually 
leaves the area, doesn't catch it.  Again, if Draco had the 
neccessary skill (developed over a two month crash course, remember) 
it would make him a pretty formidable wizard.

Betsy Hp