Cabinet FIRST!

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 157915

> >>Mike:
> <snip>
> My analysis of the whole debate, in simple terms: The "suicide    
> mission only" crowd were arguing that you can't put the cart      
> before the horse. The "cabinet firsters" argued that they were    
> putting the horse in front but they just wanted to know how many  
> horses were pulling this cart. So, sorry Sydney, but the Cabinet   
> firsters never had a problem with the direction your cart took,    
> they (and that includes me) said they were going in that direction 
> too, just getting there with more horsepower.

Betsy Hp:
I strongly disagree with that, Mike.  The Cabinet First folks are 
attempting to change the entire thrust of Draco's story.  They're 
trying to make him that much more responsible for the mess he landed 
in.  They're trying to make his first adult move to be approaching 
Voldemort.  And that is somthing I just can't let stand. (I, uh, 
feel a bit strongly about it. <g>)

For that reason I do find your theory that Draco had been thinking 
of the cabinets before the meeting, but it was still Voldemort who 
did the approaching, a bit more palatable.  But the canon just isn't 
there.  If JKR had in mind that Draco had latched onto the cabinet 
idea *before* "Spinner's End" then she would have foreshadowed in 
back in OotP.  And she doesn't.

She even had the perfect spot to slip a hint in when Draco confronts 
Harry after Lucius is thrown in Azkaban.  And she doesn't take it.  
Draco's threats are Harry-centric and very non-specific.  Draco 
doesn't talk like a boy with a devious plan up his sleeve.  He talks 
like a boy caught up in emotion.

> >>Mike:
> <snip>
> Let's try this with role playing. You are Voldemort with your     
> premise, that is, this is simply, specifically and ONLY a 'suicide 
> mission' for Draco. You summon Draco in and give him the "kill    
> Dumbledore" mission and tell him to do it any way he wants, you   
> don't care. Why do you give him any DE support, now or ever?
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
Either, Voldemort is setting Draco up for failure so he hands the 
kid a bone. "So and So will train you."  That way Draco isn't made 
instantly aware that his task is completely hopeless.

Or, Bellatrix volunteers to give Draco a bit of training and 
Voldemort is like, "Eh, whatever.  Just see it doesn't distract you 
from xyz."

So there's Draco's Death Eater link to Voldemort: his trainer.  We 
know Draco received some sort of training.  I suspect it was 
Bellatrix.  Voldemort *does* build Draco up.  We know he starts off 
feeling honored and excited by his assignment.  So it makes sense 
that the training is at least okayed by Voldemort.

It makes total sense that Draco tell his trainer about his grand 
cabinet idea.  And at first Draco may have either seen the cabinets 
as an escape route (thank you AnneNeville <g>), or a way to slip his 
adult trainer in to stand as backup, if allowed. 

We know Draco was surprised by at least one of the Death Eater's 
chosen to come through, so I don't think Draco was handling the 
logistics.  I'm betting it was his trainer (probably Bellatrix).

Betsy Hp