Borgin and Draco's supposed Dark Mark (was Ultimate and Last Bragging Rights)

[Goddlefrood]

No: HPFGUIDX 171038

> Jadon:

> Those who think Draco showed Borgin the Dark Mark burned 
> into his arm: why, particularly, do you think Borgin would 
> be so 'very frightened'? If not a death eater himself, he's 
> been supplying them for years.
<SNIP>

Goddlefrood:

I'll give you my reasoning as you asked.

First Draco is probably a Death Eater already by the beginning of 
HBP. It's a pity to think this as I'd like to see a DE induction 
ceremony and Draco would be the prime candidate for that. However, 
there will be plenty going on in DH without a chapter or part of a 
chapter being devoted to this.

In the Mugglenet / Leaky Cauldron Combined Interview of 16th July
2005 JKR said:

"But I thought of Draco as someone who is very capable of
compartmentalizing his life and his emotions, and always 
has done. So he's shut down his pity, enabling him to bully 
effectively. He's shut down compassion - how else would you 
become a Death Eater?"

That strongly suggest Draco *is* a Death Eater and so I conclude 
he is one already and no rite of intitiation will be shown. That 
is probably a good thing as it may or may not resemble either a 
satanic mass or the induction ceremony alleged against the Knights 
Templar that led to their disbanding. We will not go there, IOW.

Why then would Borgin be frightened of the Dark Mark. Not because 
he may have thought about the consequences of reporting anything 
to the MoM but more likely because of the perceived threat of LV.

LV, remember, worked at Borgin and Burke's after finishing school. 
He obtained the locket and the ring through that work by killing 
one of B&B's oldest and seemingly most lucrative sources of items 
to sell. LV is once again a dark presence on the wizarding world, 
and because he had set Draco his task it is unlikely that LV would 
be too pleased if someone came to know anything about it or 
interfere with it in any way. Borgin would probably be as scared 
of LV as anyone else and possibly with better reason than others 
having at one time employed Tom Riddle. 

I think it unlikely that Borgin himself is a Death Eater and 
there's nothing, other than the fact that he owns a shop known 
to sell dark magic items, to suggest he is even a sympathiser 
with LV. Durmstrang school teaches the dark arts and there is 
nothing of which we are aware to say that the dark arts are 
actually illegal. The Black family having been known as dark 
wizards and witches would go some way to reinforce that view.

Borgin also might know Narcissa who comes across as a very worried 
mother, one who would try any means she could to protect Draco. If 
Narcissa knew that Borgin was involved in any way with Draco's 
scheme then she might try to persuade him not to be involved at 
all. Her whole motive in making the UV could be that she wanted 
Snape rather than Draco to do the latter's task.

To summarise, business may be business for Borgin, who would then 
just want to make his living and perhaps even live as quiet a life 
as possible. So why do anything to affect that by not being 
intimidated by what was probably the Dark Mark on Draco's left 
arm?

Would that work for you, Jadon, or do you need more?

Goddlefrood