Draco and Dumbledore

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 160158

> Alla:
> 
> Well, yeah, I agree about Snape, but as to Dumbledore, that's one 
> funny way to phrase a question IMO, so how about I rephrase it a 
> little bit?
> 
> Does the fact that Draco is trying to kill Dumbledore and almost 
> killed two students excuses Dumbledore from not saving him from 
> Voldemort and instead concentrating on saving other students?
> 
> Um, **Yes** in a heartbeat as far as I am concerned. But I am not 
> even asking Dumbledore to do that, I am not asking him to throw 
> Draco to Voldemort, because that would be too cruel, wound't it?
> 
> I am asking him to not mollycoddle Draco and while saving him, also 
> restrain him if necessary in order to make sure that others are safe

Carol responds:

I don't understand why you think that Dumbledore (and Snape) did
nothing to protect the other students. First, Snape persuaded Draco
(using pragmatic, DE-centric arguments, the only ones that would work)
to end the random smuggled objects that could kill other students (the
mead was smuggled before this advice). The gates were locked. There
were anti-flying spells in addition to the old Anti-Apparition spells.
Students were searched. Owls communication was prohibited. Draco was
being watched (Dumbledore says that he knows more about the matter
than Harry does, and I see no reason not to believe him).

How could he have restrained Draco without bringing about either
Draco's death or Snape's or both? No one else was in danger after the
random murder attempts were stopped. The Order was nearby and was
called to action on the night of the DE invasion.

Please explain how you think he could have "saved" Draco, who was not
yet convinced that Voldemort was wrong and Dumbledore was right, to
yield to his (DD's) mercy? Do you really think that DD would have done
something that would almost certainly result in the death of one of
his trusted teachers, one whose skills he needed to save students from
Dark magic like the cursed necklace and Sectumsempra, the only truly
effective DADA teacher they've ever had? (Yes, Lupin taught them about
Boggarts and Grindylows, but he didn't teach them duelling and
nonverbal DADA spells.) That would be like murdering Snape, whom
Dumbledore and the students need, whether Harry knows it or not, or so
Dumbledore firmly believes (and so do I). *If* that view is correct,
how could Dumbledore possibly risk activating the UV by confronting an
unready and unrepentant (but terrified) Draco?

Both Draco and Snape need to be protected. The other students are
already protected by all possible means except destroying the
Vanishing Cabinet, which Dumbledore either can't do because he doesn't
know about it or won't do because he knows the consequences would be
worse than what happens on the tower.

And can someone please answer my question about why DD *chose* to fly
to the tower in his weakened state knowing that Draco would try to
kill him and the UV would be activated unless he knew he was dying,
knew or hoped that Draco would realize that he wasn't a killer, and
knew that Snape would have to kill him? Why, Alla and those who agree
with her, didn't he just stay at the Three Broomsticks, trusting the
Order to take care of things, and summon Snape ("I need Severus!")
with his Patronus?

Note Dumbledore's increasing sense of urgency throughout the books. He
knows what's up. He knows that Harry has to hurry and get that memory
from Slughorn so they can get on with the Horcrux hunt before DD has
to confront Draco.

Carol, *still* not understanding what Alla et al. think DD ought to
have done that he didn't do or how the students were in danger with
the random murder attempts stopped, every possible protection in
place, and the Order guarding the school on the night of the Horcrux hunt