Did Draco Fail in His Attempt to Kill Dumbledore Before Snape Intervened

Did Draco completely fail in his attempt before Snape shoved him out of the way and did his thing?

My thought is that if Snape had waited for Draco to completely lose it he would have had to actually kill Dumbledore because of the vow he took. Draco was still standing in front of Dumbledore with his wand in his hand even though his hand was shaking a bit. And Dumbledore was still defenseless. I do not think that Draco had lost his chance to kill Dumbledore before Snape intervened. Snape was therefore not bound by the vow then to kill the Headmaster. I think the Avada Kedavra curse was masked.

This is a continuation of a debate in the thread,
"A New Idea for Snape" (Deathly Hallows forum).
I guess we were getting a little off-topic.

(You should have added a third choice to this poll: "Other."
I don't know what, but I'm sure someone could come up with a third alternative.)

The idea that Draco might have succeeded if given enough time is interesting.
I hadn't thought of that or heard it before.
But no, I would still say that Draco failed.
It was obvious to everyone there, including Draco.

page 591, Dumbledore --"My dear boy, let us have no more pretense about that. If you were going to kill me, you would have done it when you first disarmed me, and you would not have stopped for this peasant chat about ways and means."

Malfoy -- "But I got this far, didn't I? They thought I'd die in the attempt, but I'm here... You're at my mercy..."
"No, Draco," said Dumbledore quietly. "It is my mercy, and not yours, that matters now."
Draco did not speak. His mouth was open, his wand hand still trembling. Harry thought he saw it drop by a fraction --

Is the glass half empty or half full?
It doesn't matter, because he needed a full glass to do the job.

page 585, Malfoy --"I've got a job to do."
"Well, then, you must get on and do it, my dear boy," said Dumbledore softly.
There was silence...Draco Malfoy did nothing but stare at Albus Dumbledore, who, incredibly, smiled.
"Draco, you are not a killer."

Draco's resolve had been "feeble" and half-hearted all year. His will became weaker and weaker as the conversation went on.
He simply couldn't do it, even though his life depended on it.

"Killing is not nearly as easy as the innocent believe."

Snape knew at a glance that Draco had failed. Everyone knew.

…the door to the remparts burst open once more and there stood Snape, his wand clutched in his hand as his black eyes swept the scene, from Dumbledore sluped against the wall, to the four Death Eaters, including the enraged werewold, and Malfoy.
“We’ve got a problem, Snape,” said the lumpy Amycus, whose eyes and wand were fixed alike upon Dumbledore, “the boy doesn’t seem able –“
But somebody else had spoken Snape’s name, quite softly.
“Severus…”

I quoting my last response to your 'boldness' from the thread A New Idea For Snape before I proceed. I can't believe I'm I'm quoting myself lol..I'm turning into you

What other choice would you have me give friend Psyduck - Dumbledore jumped of the tower willingly.

Sometimes I wish you could see through the obvious and look at the misdirection. She has very subtly convinced everyone that Draco had failed to kill Dumbledore. But nowhere has she stated that for a fact. Draco never turned his back on Dumbledore.

"You" say that 'Snape knew at a glance that Draco had failed'. I will ask you myself this time to be 'bold' and show me a quote to back this please.

'Is the glass half empty or half full?' Lol..as long as there is water in the glass, it quenches the thirst. He was still standing over a helpless Dumbledore..he hadn't turned back..or even asked for assistance.

I've held on to a piece of 'boldness' you provided from the book. I will requote his second comment in that string. “the boy doesn’t seem able –“ The word to look at there is 'seem'. Notice how he doesn't say 'the boy has failed' or the 'boy is unable'.

Yes, Snape I believe knew something at a glance..what do you think he saw? A Dumbledore helpless..weak; a confusd and agitated Draco who may have gone this way or that; one side greatly outnumbered by the other as the Death Eaters poured out into the arena; any one of the Death Eaters aside from Draco had a clear shot at a near-crippled old man....he was swift in making sure it was he who fired and no other.

All the quotes from the book you have provided so far have been very helpful for me to prove my cause. I thank you for searching them out for me.

Just "other." I would not presume that I've heard it all.

In context, it's obvious that everyone there believed that Draco had failed. They expected him "to die in the attempt," and were proved to be correct.
Voldemort will not be impressed by your subtle argument. Even if Draco protests that he only needed more time, everyone else will say that he failed. Even Harry --With Voldemort's connection, he could probably add Harry's opinion if he wanted.

A half-empty glass would not quench this kind of thirst. And the longer he waited, the weaker his resolve became. It was a glass with a hole in the bottom.

Quote:

Originally Posted by alohamora ...

On that, we agree. The "murder" was a fraud.

Sorry lol. Maybe I should have consulted you before making the poll..we were discussing it together.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psyduck In context, it's obvious that everyone there believed that Draco had failed. They expected him "to die in the attempt," and were proved to be correct.

It is not their belief that matters. What matters is, did Draco actually fail to kill Dumbledore before Snape took charge. What matters is, was Snape bound by his vow because Draco failed, when he fired at Dumbledore - if so Dumbledore is dead. Draco had not left the presence of Dumbledore..and he still had the upper hand. All hope was not lost for Draco to finish the job. JKR has pushed it really hard and the misdirection is well placed..but the facts don't add up if you look closely. Snape intervened before he would be forced by the vow to kill Dumbledore or before anybody else there could ..including Draco.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psyduck Voldemort will not be impressed by your subtle argument. Even if Draco protests that he only needed more time, everyone else will say that he failed. Even Harry --With Voldemort's connection, he could probably add Harry's opinion if he wanted..

I do not care about impressing Voldemort. And it matters little. You stray from the topic with this. Of course Voldemort will think Draco had failed..why else would he think that Snape killed Dumbledore while Draco still had a chance. And I don't think Draco will protest. Only when Snape cursed Dumbledore did it strike Draco that he had failed completely thus invoking Snape's vow. Remember, Snape did have to push Draco out of the way to get to Dumbledore. Voldemort will now only see the death of Dumbledore and be happy. All else, including Draco's failure to all eyes will be inconsequential.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psyduck A half-empty glass would not quench this kind of thirst. And the longer he waited, the weaker his resolve became. It was a glass with a hole in the bottom.

Thank you again for substantiating my cause friend Psyduck. You always know how to say just the right thing..lol. 'And the longer he waited, the weaker his resolve became.' Thank you for agreeing that Draco was still waiting, and his resolve growing weaker - but not yet gone. Its a good thing that Snape acted when he did.

Psyduck i am sad to say that i agree with my neighbour here...and it looks like Snape pulled a fast one on Narcissa, Malfoy and Maybe even..Vol..Voldermot.


Maybe in the end we will find that Dumbledore had been in it too....

And you quoted that Dumbledore said-

Severus Please.....

Now maybe he was pleading severus to go with the plan....And do his thing...lol

Whatever it is i still believe that dumbledore is not dead.

Now i would like to quote not exactly but yes quote-

I trust severus.

We all know dumbledore said this a million times.....And there is one more thing we know.....DUMBLEDORE HAS NEVER BEEN WRONG TILL DATE.


So maybe Snape is in the good side after all.