Cabinet FIRST!

[ornadv]

No: HPFGUIDX 157985

Carol responds:

> Exactly. If Draco volunteered his services, his story
> parallels those of Regulus and Young!Snape and brings the
> theme of "Slytherin kid joins the DEs and finds it's not
> what he thought it was" into the new generation. If
> Voldemort went after him (and when have we seen that
> happen?), there's no parallel.

Orna:
Thanks. I forgot Young!Snape
If Harry is to find a way to understand 
Snape (if he is DDM!) there must be parallels in persons he will be 
able to feel closer too, to help him on the path. Because I can't 
imagine that Snape just "telling" Harry something will bring about 
change. Draco and perhaps Regulus– serve this purpose. Harry feeding 
Dumbledore poison on Dumbledore's orders serves this purpose. 
IIRC We have never seen Voldemort go after anybody begging him to 
join the DE. It is unimaginable. He can force people to do things, 
possess them to do things, he can punish his followers, but he 
never "asks" anybody to join, to be part of. It is completely out of 
character for him. He might lure somebody in, challenge him in a way 
difficult to resist – that's all power moves, he is capable to do, 
and enjoys doing them.

>Magpie:
>But Voldemort approaching Draco IS mentioned. It's implied in
>Narcissa's telling us how he's assigned a task to Draco she thinks
>is supposed to kill him, and Bellatrix saying it's an honor to be
>asked and Snape saying Voldemort wants Draco to try first.

Orna:
I understood it meant this particular mission was chosen for Draco 
by Voldemort. I didn't understand it as meaning Voldemort approached 
Draco and invited him to join forces. Bellatrix says "
I will say 
this for Draco: He isn't shrinking away from his duty, he seems glad 
of a chance to prove himself
" Narcissa says he has chosen Draco. It 
could be read as Voldemort choosing Draco, as you say. But I find it 
very unlikely that Voldemort just sends a message to Draco – "I have 
a mission for you", without Draco sending any initiative of his own 
to join the Des, or something like this. 

But he did send invitations to the giants. And Dumbledore is 
surprised the Des haven't approached Slughorn yet. 

>Magpie:
>But this is exactly the change in the story the book doesn't
>support. You're wanting the extra bitterness and importance of it
>being just that much more of a personal comeuppance--ha ha, you
>tried to suck up to Voldemort and it bit you on the butt.
<snip>
>Yes, but how he begins to follow this path is important. He's
>wanted this life and gets his chance when he's offered a mission.

Orna:
I don't want extra bitterness because of the comeuppance theme – I 
want it because it is important if Draco got where he got because of 
his active choice. You could see it also as his choice because the 
mission was his chance to fulfill a dream, but I like it more, if he 
did make some active step towards having this mission. (Not that my 
personal tastes matter much). But I think that if Voldemort 
initiated the mission – it is a bit more difficult to put 
responsibility on Draco. Because even if he was happy about it – did 
he really have a choice? Does Voldemort offer missions, and accept 
refusals? Would Voldemort entrust him with such a secret mission 
without having Draco swear loyalty to DE? You might argue for 
Voldemort telling him I have a mission for you, are you willing to 
join? Possible, but not very refusable, so how could Draco get the 
full moral responsibility for this choice?

Orna