Cabinet first -

[Tonks]

No: HPFGUIDX 157798

> Betsy Hp:
> Though honestly, I'm really wondering how you explain Voldemort 
> sending the keystone cops to back Draco while keeping Snape out of 
> the loop.  I mean, Dumbledore's death is a bit of luck isn't it?  
> There's no way Voldemort could have known Dumbledore was off to 
> collect a horcrux and drink some poison while he was at it, is 
there?
> 

Tonks:
I have not been follow this long discussion closely and maybe 
someone has said this already. But here is a bit of pondering...

In war one should always know their opponent.  Even if they don't 
have the same ideology they should at least be able to estimate what 
the opponent might do.  I know that LV underestimates the power of 
love and does not really understand love.  But I wonder if LV knows 
DD well enough to know that he would not try to kill Draco?  This 
theory would work as long as Draco was alone.  But it doesn't play 
as well with a band of DE with Draco.  LV would expect DD to try 
something at that point I think.  And, of course, no one could have 
predicted that DD would be weakened by the poison.  But I think that 
even weak and wandless DD could have saved himself and Harry, maybe 
even Draco.  DD allowed himself to die to save Snape from the Vow.  
DD could have take them all out even in his weakened state.

Maybe that is the plot.  Draco is the bait for Snape. Snape is the 
bait for DD.  But that leaves us with LV knowing that DD would allow 
himself to be killed to protect Snape, and I am not so sure that LV 
can understand that idea. 

On the other hand we have LV as the general and he would not come to 
kill DD himself.  He would send others.  If a boy did it this would 
show that DD was not such a great wizard after all.  If a band of 
misfits and a boy did it that would still not be a problem.  Snape 
doing it might be since he is a smart man and a possible rival for 
the King of the Hill position.  Course, all LV has to do to take 
care of that problem is just to be ready to kill Snape ASAP. 

So here is the plot:  Send a boy and a bunch of misfits to do the 
job.  Where will it be done?  Draco says he knows how to get into 
the castle.  LV gives him the job to fix the cabinets and maybe has 
Bella give him advise.  There is a backup plan for some place else 
like Hogsmead if Draco can't get the cabinets fixed.   If for some 
reason plan A (kid and keystones kill DD) fails,   Snape will be 
able to do it as plan B.  And then when Snape gets back, get what 
information you can from him and then kill him. Maybe a wand 
accident or something. A Dementor gets a bit too intimate while he 
is sleeping.  Nice clean plan.

Tonks_op