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

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 149733

> >>Betsy Hp:
> <snip>
> > Again, if Draco had the neccessary skill (developed over a two   
> > month crash course, remember) it would make him a pretty        
> > formidable wizard.

> >>Sydney: 
> <snip>
> It just seemed to jar with the structural stuff of Draco as a     
> wannabe, that, oh, he can't kill anyone properly but he can       
> preform this immensely subtle advanced Dark curse over a          
> protracted period and at a distance, like Barty Crouch Jr.or      
> something.  

Betsy Hp:
Oh, I doubt Draco's inability to kill was based on lack of skill; it 
was more lack of desire.  But, IMO, killing requires less skill than 
long term, undetectable mind control.  As you say, Draco would 
suddenly be displaying the skills of a Barty Crouch, Jr.  And that 
would be strange.  Especially when you consider the limited study 
time and the fact that Bellatrix was probably concentrating on his 
killing skills.

> >>Sydney: 
> <snip>
> I mean, what did Draco's murder attempts consist of?  Sending      
> someone jewerly, poisoning fine wine, and, uh, repairing          
> furniture. What is he, Martha Stewart?
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
Ooh, I'd be careful about dissing Martha Stewart's assassin skills.  
You don't want to see her angry. <g>  But yes, Draco does not behave 
like a boy relishing the life of killing for the Dark Lord.  Not 
when the game becomes real.

> >>Sydney:
> 'Focused' is about the last word I would use for Draco throughout 
> HBP.

Betsy Hp:
Really?  "Focused" is *exactly* the word I'd used to describe Draco 
in HBP.  I've never seen the boy so focused.  He gave up everything 
important to him (quidditch, being Prefect, his friends, his 
studies, his grooming, getting Harry Potter) to fix a cabinet the 
expert wasn't sure he could fix.  I was quite impressed with Draco's 
focus. 

> -- Sydney, apologizing to Magpie for disrespecting Draco..

Betsy Hp:
So what am I, chopped liver? <g>  ::snuggles Draco::

> >>PJ:
> Draco tells Snape at Slughorn's party that he has someone *much*   
> better than Crabbe and Goyle working with him on his task and, at 
> least to me, he makes it sound as though it's an adult who knows   
> what she/he is doing.  Could this person be Draco's helper in     
> Hogsmead as well?
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
For the sake of simplicity, I think it's safe to assume (hee!) that 
Draco is referring to one person when he mentions a helper.  The 
reason Bellatrix springs to mind is the way he turns on Snape and 
her belief that he could possibly acheieve his task in Spinner's 
End.  I suspect she was hoping to get a good chunk of the glory 
success would bring.  And we know Bellatrix does not like to share.

> >>PJ:
> It would have to be someone who wouldn't raise eyebrows being seen 
> in Hogwarts any time, night or day, as well as someone with the    
> freedom to leave the grounds as they pleased without anyone asking 
> too many uncomfortable questions...

Betsy Hp:
Hmm, why does this person need to have access to Hogwarts?  Is there 
anything in the text to suggest Draco receives help while on school 
grounds?  In many ways Draco is trapped within the school, so I 
wonder if outside assistance might be of more worth?  Especially 
with his magic coins giving him an easy communication line. 

> >>PJ:
> So, I see 3 options.  There's either a mole inside of Hogwarts    
> itself. Kreacher was faking in "Will or Won't" and really answers 
> to someone other than Harry or it's Peter in rat form sneaking in 
> and out of the building through the tunnels.

Betsy Hp:
I doubt it's Kreacher.  I can't see house elves being able to 
Imperius wizards or witches.  Plus, there's Draco's prejudice.  I 
don't think he'd refer to Kreacher so positively.  

Peter is interesting....  I'd be really shocked if there weren't 
some wards preventing animagus slipping onto the grounds though.  
And a watch kept on the Marauder's old entry ways.  Lupin has 
nothing to be conflicted about now.

The inside mole goes back to a "To Be Revealed" ESE!character, which 
I'm wishy-washy on.  This was my original thought too, but now I'm 
not so sure.  But it'd probably be embarrasingly easy to win me 
over. <g>

> >>kchuplis:
> Just a thought; it might be akin to Harry learning the patronus.
> Perhaps someone gave Draco a crash course, and it's something he   
> pretty desperately needed to carry out *his* mission. I don't     
> think it necessarily means he is a wizard of outstanding power,   
> but if you concentrate on learning one thing well, if you are any 
> good at all, I imagine you can do it.

Betsy Hp:
Well, far be it for me to argue that Draco doesn't have the ability 
to show us some mad skills. <g>  However, JKR does make the point 
that the Imperius curse isn't easy.  And it was an incredibly subtle 
job.  Again, *Dumbledore* missed it.  I suppose Draco could have 
spent his summer working and working on his Imperius curse.  But I 
feel like Bellatrix would have worked more on his killing 
abilities.  

Remember, Draco decided that he was going to kill Dumbledore by 
using his furniture repair skills.  The necklace and the poisoned 
mead were panicked attempts made without much thought.  So I don't 
know if he would have considered the Imperius curse an important 
skill to work on.  Though of course, he may have. I'm still bugged 
by the fact that this particular mystery was never discussed in the 
text.

Betsy Hp (fourth post, sorry!)