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

[P J]

No: HPFGUIDX 149739

Betsy Hp:

>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.

PJ:
I thought she'd been concentrating on his occlumency skills.  Isn't that 
what Snape and Draco discussed at the party?

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.

PJ:
I'd have to agree with you.  I wish Harry would focus even half as much on 
some of his tasks!

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:
All very true but how could Bellatrix be in the RoR to help Draco fix the 
cabinet?  I may very well be *wrong* (it happens....often) but there was 
something in the way he worded it that made me read "help" as meaning 
*physical* assistance.  His frustration was with the cabinet so it would 
make sense imo to have someone with him who was somewhat familiar with how 
the cabinet worked and could help him repair it.  It's not just a matter of 
putting a few screws into it.  Anyone can do that.  But I think the magic 
would have to be realligned with the other piece or they wouldn't work as a 
set.

As you said, Draco was unable to leave the grounds before Hogsmead weekend 
and was in detention during it. I'm not sure that coin alone could do it 
all... not for an underage wizard. And that, at least to my understanding, 
is why he'd need someone who could move around Hogwarts without being seen 
as out of place. The outside communication,imperiusing Rosmerta, etc. could 
also be done by this individual

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.

PJ:
We have Winky and Barty Crouch Jr.  Again, I may be all wet but didn't you 
see it as part of her duties to make sure he stayed under the imperius?  If 
not, why would Crouch Sr. be upset enough to dismiss her when Jr breaks free 
of the spell?  It seemed to me that she was to use any means at her disposal 
to keep him out of trouble which, considering the size difference, wouldn't 
mean tackling him to the ground. <g> So  I really dont' see it as a major 
stretch to have a house elf follow *any* directive it's Master gives it, 
including imperius if necessary, and Kreacher thinks the sun rises and sets 
on both Bellatrix and Draco.

And there *was* all that confusion about who the house really belonged to.  
Dumbledore assumes it belongs to Harry when he tells Kreacher to shut up and 
he obeys, but what if it was planned to look that way?  All Bellatrix would 
have to do is tell Kreacher to follow any directive Harry gave him.  He 
wouldn't like it, but he'd do it in a heartbeat for her.

As for Draco, he's used to servants at his disposal.  If Kreacher was useful 
to his task  I think he'd jump at the chance to have him assist. After all, 
House Elves can apparate around Hogwarts without being noticed, we don't 
hear that they're under any rules to stay inside Hogwarts (huge amounts of 
groceries need to be purchased, etc), he's absolutely loyal to the family 
and was instrumental in getting Harry to the MoM by lying about Sirius' 
whereabouts.

Draco may not consider Kreacher good enough to take to a ballgame but I'm 
sure he'd gladly take any help he could give him.  :-)

Betsy Hp:
>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.

Perhaps Dumbledore knows all about the different tunnels leading into 
Hogwarts now but that still doesn't mean Peter couldn't be the helper.  
Someone could easily have brought him onto the grounds in a pocket.  We've 
seen Filch with a detecting device but would it pick up Animagus?  I doubt 
it. PP knows he could live very comfortably as a rat in Hogwarts because 
he's already done it.

Betsy Hp:
>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>

PJ:
I don't much care for the idea either because I like most of the teachers 
that are left at Hogwarts.  If not a teacher then it would have to be 
someone from the MoM, which means Aurors since they're the only people seen 
wandering around Hogwarts besides staff and students.

I suppose this is where all the ESE!McG, Tonks and Slughorn theories get to 
pop up again, huh?  :-)

PJ (just throwing out ideas)