Sale of Peruvian Darkness Powder

[Lyn J. Mangiameli]

I'm almost embarrassed to bring up such a minor point after such a recent run of 
insightful and penetrating posts (I particularly love Neri's wand theory). Nonetheless, I'm a 
bit curious about the Peruvian Darkness Powder. 

On its own, it doesn't seem to be necessary to drive the plot forward. Lots of other 
contrivances could have existed at the necessary points in the story line, nor would JKR 
have needed to be make them so prominent.  IIRC, there is a moment where Ron 
specifically states that F&G need to be more careful who they sell such tools too. 

Which brings me to consider several points.

One, I question if F&G would even consider selling such a thing to Draco, indeed did they 
even intend it to be available for sale to "minors." 

Two, OOTP began to show that F&G's "joke" materials can be used as weapons as well as 
for harmless pranks. HBP seems to take us a step farther in suggesting mechanisms for 
"humor" can have a dark side. Hermione getting hurt, though accidentally, by F&G's 
mechanisms for humor may have been foreshadowing of something more serious later.  

Three. A new person has entered the picture in the form of F&G's assistant. Might she have 
been the one to sell Draco the powder (even inform him specifically of it), and might she 
not be a future means to have F&G's magical inventions become available for abuse. It 
seems to me that there was little need to introduce this new character in such a seemingly 
minor role, unless that person will play a bigger role later. 

I don't like the looks of this for F&G's future well being.