Malfoy Delayed

[nymphadora]

Malfoy HBP pg 551:
I was supposed to be waiting up here when you got back, only your Phoenix lot got in the way...

How do you think things would have changed if Malfoy had been waiting for Dumbledore? Malfoy may have known someone else was with Dumbledore as they were landing because even if he couldn't see Harry, he probably would have noticed the other broom. Also Dumbledore would not have been able to freeze Harry and my bet is that Harry would have attacked Malfoy before he could have disarmed Dumbledore.

[Mc Gonagall]

Your right Harry would never pass up the chance to go after Malfoy. But I don't think things would have changed any since Dumbledore was so weak and Harry wouldn't have been able to fight all of the Death Eaters off and he might have been killed along with Dumbledore.

[Alz]

If Malfoy was waiting and saw the two come back - everything would have gone wrong for Dumbledore ...
He was going to die - no doubts on that - he had his plan and he stuck to it ... if Malfoy knew Harry was there - and Harry wasnt invisible - he would have attacked and disarmed Malfoy - Malfoy would have been either sent on his way, and killed by Voldemort - or held and his mother would have been killed ....
The plan was well executed as planned ... but one part I dont like - how did Dumbledore know Malfoy would succeed that night?
That is my only doubt in the well executed plan ...

[Padma Patil]

I think that if Malfoy had been waiting, things might have gone a bit different, but not much. Because I'm guessing Harry would have stupfied Malfoy or something to that effect. Then Harry would have gone down to get professor Snape and I'm guessing that Harry would have been killed. Dumbledore in any senario that I can come up with dies. It was meant to be.

[nymphadora]

My thoughts are a bit different. I think that yes, maybe Harry would have attacked Malfoy, but then the rest of the Death Eaters would have come and taunted Dumbledore and Harry. Then Snape would have shown up, seen that Malfoy was attacked and still had to kill Dumbledore and then they flee like before. I don't believe they would have killed Harry, because as Snape said, "he's the Dark Lord's", but there is one big difference. Snape would have known that Harry saw him kill Dumbledore and therefore his cover has been blown. As it stands now Snape thinks it was just him and the other death eaters up there on the tower and is probably thinking that he can still re-join the Order of the Phoenix and just tell them that it was one of the other Death Eaters that killed Dumbledore. But now that Harry has witnessed the death and informed the order members of what happened and will receive a large shock to find out they already know. Also, if Harry had attacked Malfoy, there would still be a chance for him to come over to the good side because he didn't run off with the DE.

[Alz]

See if Harry attacked Malfoy and stopped him leaving - it wouldnt be the same as Draco choosing not to kill Dumbledore like he did - thus able to redeem himself in my eyes ...
Dumbledore was keen to point out that Draco wasnt a killer and in fact killing isnt as easy as it sounds - he was able to appeal to Draco so he was left with no blood on his hands ...
That is how I saw it ...

[Dunky]

was it in any way possible that malfoy was delayed intentionallt until a set time.....i think the plan was well executed also.....and with this, i cant see dumbledore not thinkin of every possible eventuality, including malfoy being there when he got there.

[cagedcactus]

I agree that most of the things happened that night, seemed like pre planned in sequence. First Dumbledore finding and predicting correctly with everything in that cave and on that small island. Coming back on tower and then meeting Draco just in time, not ahead, not after, just in time. Then Snape was informed on time and showed up just in time to kill DD. Then the whole fight scenes in castle and then outdoors with Snape and Harry.
Nothing, and I mean nothing can be denied as a wild speculation for that night until JKR comes out and tells us the truth.
:D Heck, we got probably 100 threads relating to that night here at final horcrux.
go figure.....

[nymphadora]

See if Harry attacked Malfoy and stopped him leaving - it wouldnt be the same as Draco choosing not to kill Dumbledore like he did - thus able to redeem himself in my eyes ...
Dumbledore was keen to point out that Draco wasnt a killer and in fact killing isnt as easy as it sounds - he was able to appeal to Draco so he was left with no blood on his hands ...
That is how I saw it ...

Actually, you make a good point. I think Draco also redeemed himself in Harry's eyes too... Wasn't there a sentence soon after when Harry described himself as feeling pity for Malfoy? And if he had attacked him he never would have gotten that feeling. Still, I don't know if Harry will ever be able to forgive Malfoy for what he almost did.