[HPforGrownups] Re: Borgin and Draco's supposed Dark Mark (was Ultimate and Last Bragging Rights)

[dracojadon at yahoo.co.uk]

No: HPFGUIDX 171043

> Goddlefrood:
> <snip>
> Durmstrang school teaches the dark arts and there is
> nothing of which we are aware to say that the dark arts are
> actually illegal.

Jadon:
The more dangerous ones (e.g. Unforgivables) are. Spells to kill, to  
take away freedom or autonomy - the use of these is illegal because  
killing, etc., is [presumably in the WW] illegal. There's no great  
divide between 'good' spells and 'bad' spells that we know of, so I  
agree that most minor spells which can be used with malicious intent  
are not illegal. I think what we call the 'dark arts' are those  
magics which are only, or almost only used for evil - in the case of  
Durmstrang perhaps even taught with the intent of doing evil (though  
Durmstrang wouldn't consider it evil, just as Molly, Ginny, and  
Hermione don't see anything wrong with love potions). The effects of  
those spells are illegal, hence so is their use - there doesn't have  
to be a specific law saying 'you may not torture people into insanity  
with the cruciatus curse' if there's already a law saying 'you may  
not torture.' Very dark magics (horcruxes) are probably technically  
legal, but those who use them tend to beyond submitting to the law  
whatever it said.

> Goddlefrood:
>
> 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?

Jadon:

Do you mean deliberately making a show of being intimidated?

Draco might be a fully-fledged death eater with a dark mark on his  
arm, but I don't think that showing that dark mark would be enough to  
frighten Borgin. He must be better acquainted with the dark mark, and  
other dark symbols from previously dark regimes than anyone else not  
a death eater/auror/Order member. If he was shown something  
deliberately and personally threatening ('Borgin - you were a useless  
master. Draco is now my trusted minion. Prepare to die') he would be  
frightened, but an undifferentiated dark mark on Draco's arm? I think  
he'd be more scared of Lucius (pre-Azkaban) backing Draco than LV.

*thinks and comes up with another scenario* It could be that if  
Borgin had some specific reason to fear LV (connected to Tom leaving  
his shop - a point I had, uh, completely forgotten about till you  
pointed it out :o ), the fact that the dark mark was _new_  
(signalling: LV is back and actively employing whiny teenage boys)  
could have been enough to frighten him.

But really, do we know that Draco showed Borgin _anything_?

""No?" said Malfoy, and Harry knew, just by his tone, that Malfoy was
sneering. "Perhaps this will make you more confident."

"He moved toward Borgin and was blocked from view by the cabinet.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione shuffled sideways to try and keep him in sight,
but all they could see was Borgin, looking very frightened."

He could have demonstrated his ability at dark magic, making Draco  
the threat, not the shadow of LV.

Jadon