Chapter 37 Comments : Draco Redeemable/Irredeemable?

[Indigo]

No: HPFGUIDX 16290

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., Magda Grantwich <mgrantwich at y...> wrote:
> > 1. In all of PoA and GoF, when Draco comes into their compartment
> > on the train, Crookshanks never reacts badly to him. Now, if
> > Crookshanks...is...in posession of "an uncanny ability to 
> > detect unsavoury or suspicious characters..." then the lack of 
> > reaction to Draco means he is neither unsavoury or suspicious. 
> 
> Or it could mean that he's so obvious and open about it that it
> hardly counts as something that needs detecting.
> 

Actually, what I said in this regard earlier, is that Ron, Hermione 
and Harry _already know_ what a polecat Draco is, so it'd be 
redundant to warn Hermione (them).  Kneazles also are supposed to be 
possessed of uncanny intelligence! By their reactions, Crookshanks 
could tell they already distrusted Malfoy, so no need to raise an 
alarm.

Of course this too is irrelevant if he's just a cat. But I think he's 
part kneazle also because he knew how to turn off the Whomping Willow.

> 
> > 2. It is *arguable* that when he saw Hermione in the woods at the 
> > World Cup, he was actually trying to warn her to get out of the 
way
> > of the Death Eaters. It's about as arguable and as supported by
> > canon evidence as any conclusion that Hermione likes Ron is. 
> 
> I can buy this.  We should perhaps be careful not to lump Harry, Ron
> and Hermione into one group regarding Draco.  It's entirely possible
> that Draco reluctantly (perhaps unconsciously at this point) likes
> Hermione and is trying to impress her Draco-style.  Which
> unfortunately means being his own less-than-wonderful self to get 
her
> attention and then lashing out hurtfully when it doesn't work.  In
> Draco's universe, a girl should be thrilled to be singled out for
> attention.  Pansy Parkinson gets it; Hermione doesn't.

I am not sure I buy that.  Draco was saying that he pretty much 
_hoped_ that 'Granger' would be one of the Slytherin Heir's victims 
during CoS.  Wishing death on someone doesn't sound like ['I really 
like her but can't admit it even to myself'] to me. 

Besides: Imagine Draco coming home and his father finding out he's 
got a young man's fancy-type-thoughs of a MUDBLOOD.  Draco may be a 
sniveling, hateful, malicious, nasty, backbiting, deceitful, brown-
nosing, jealous and devious little creep, but he's not self-
destructive, and he's not stupid (though such can be said for his 
flunkies).  

There would have to have been a significant turnaround reason for 
Draco to have repented between CoS and GoF. I don't see much, since 
he was obnoxious enough as trying to get Hagrid sacked because of 
Malfoy non-wizard prejudice.

THOUGHT/QUERY: is it not common knowledge that since CoS and Harry's 
defeat of Riddle -- that Hagrid's name is cleared?  You'd think 
Dumbledore would make a polite point of getting this particular bit 
of info circulated.  I would say, at a guess, that it *is,* else the 
Governors and MoM would have had something to say about Dumbledore 
giving him a teaching job.

 
> > 3. On the train on the way home in GoF, when he says some things
> > that are clearly, on the surface, very nasty, with regard to
> > Muggle-borns, he actually uses the sentence, "I warned you!" JKR 
> > could have just as easily had him say, "I told you!" or "I said 
it,
> > didn't I?" - but she chose the word "warned..." Could that be 
> > foreshadowing? 

Possible, but I'm inclined to doubt it.  Malfoy's still acting all 
smug and superior.  To me, anyway, Draco's words had the tone of "I 
warned you, but you were too stupid to look out." 

Besides, if the warning was sincere, why be nasty about it? A warning 
given by someone untrustworthy is less likely to be believed. A 
warning given by someone who seems repentant is more likely to be 
believed.   

In fairness, though,  Draco could've been nasty on the way home 
because he was upset nobody trusted his warning for what it was.

> Since the context of the phrase is clearly meant to be menacing to 
H,
> H & R, I don't think a milder interpretation is appropriate. 
> Especially with Crabbe & Goyle present.
> 
> 
> > 4. Professor Snape seems to trust him. In book 4, Snape accepts 
> > Malfoy's statement about what happened when he & harry were trying
> > to curse each other. *IF* you believe that Snape has Dumbledore 
and
> > the Old Crowd's best interests at heart, it is possible that he 
> > would support a completely evil and unredeemable Draco, in the 
> > interest of getting Draco to change his ways and be on Snape's 
> > side, but it is equally probable that Snape does not see Draco as 
> > being completely evil and unredeemable *at this point*. If he's 
> > not unredeemable, then it is possible that redemption and a 
turning 
> > away from Lucius and the  Death Eaters (tm) will happen in the 
> > future. 
> 
> JKR mentions a few times that Draco isn't dumb enough to pull
> something when a teacher's around to see him.  (His assault on Harry
> that preceded the Great Ferret Incident was atypical in this regard
> but I think we can put it down to emotional upheaval because Harry
> had just dissed his mother.)  He never lets Snape see what he's
> doing: the "Potter Stinks" badges appear when Snape's back is turned
> and during the ricochet cursing incident he accuses Harry of
> attacking him with no mention of attacking Harry back.  Snape did 
not
> see the attack; he only saw the consequences.  
> 
> I don't redemption is on Snape's mind regarding Draco: he's part of
> Snape's house (which matters a lot to Snape), he's anti-Potter
> (ditto) and he's probably a little suck in private (an assumption, I
> know but I think a valid one.)

Snape is a major favorer of the Slytherin students.  JKR goes to 
pains to mention that Severus is particularly light-handed and kind-
tempered to the Slytherins (not merely Draco), and particularly 
bullying to the Gryffindors (because of Harry).  I don't think he's 
even considered whether Draco's going to grow up to be a good little 
wizard or a Death Eater just like Dear old Dad.

And let's not forget -- Draco is, in addition to being sneaky behind 
Snape's back when he takes shots at Harry -- also a major suck-up.

[without the book] "Professor Snape, sir, I'll tell father to tell 
the Governors of Hogwarts to make you Headmaster when Dumbledore's 
gone!"  and other such cloying ego strokes have come from Draco's 
lips, earning him kind smiles (inasmuch as Severus is capable of 
them).

> 
> And another prediction: Snape never had a crush on Lily Evans 
Potter;
> rather, he had the adolescent burn for Narcissa Malfoy and goes easy
> on her kid as a result.
> 
No, I'm sorry but I don't buy that, even though it is very sweet.  

If Snape loved Narcissa,  and she married Lucius,  I believe his 
inclination would be resentment.  "Draco is the son that should have 
been MINE!"  rather than "Ah, Draco, the son I would've had if 
only..." 

Severus isn't really given to displays of romantic fancy, after all.  

And as I recall, when Gilderoy mentioned love potions, he reacted 
very poorly. I can't phrase from work without the book but it was 
along the order of:  'woe betide the student coming to Severus Snape 
to ask his help in making a love potion.' 

Indigo