Draco's crime

[Amy Z]

No: HPFGUIDX 25303

I think Draco's worst crime wasn't trying to get Hagrid fired or gloating 
over Cedric.  The thing I think was worst was trying to get Buckbeak killed. 
  This isn't Amy the touchy-feely, kittycat-loving, animal-rightsist 
bleeding-heart speaking--as bad as killing a puppy or kitten, or someone's 
pet, is, I think killing Buckbeak is far worse in the eyes of the wizarding 
world.  Before I explain, I just want to say that I don't think that this 
means Draco is or isn't evil or unredeemable.  For the record, I think he is 
a really evil person, not just a slimy little twerp, and I also hold out 
hope that he'll make a substantial turn to the good before the end of Book 
7.

In the eyes of the wizarding world, Buckbeak has a status above that of an 
ordinary animal.   (1) He is sentient; one might not be able to explain to 
him that he has to go into hiding, but he understands when he's being 
insulted (very gratifying moment, that) and he understands a bow.  (2) When 
one kills a violent animal, one refers to it as "destroying" or "putting 
down" or perhaps "euthanizing" the animal.  Buckbeak's imminent death is 
referred to as an execution--not just by Hermione (14) and Lupin (17) but 
Fudge (16)--a term usually reserved for humans.  (3) There is a hearing and 
an appeal, again more on a human model of justice than along the lines of 
what is typically done for a biting dog.  (4) The Minister of Magic and a 
member of the Committee come up to witness the execution and are both quite 
grim about it--again, well beyond what one would expect if a hippogriff were 
merely an ordinary animal or pet.

Trying to get Buckbeak killed--framing him, in fact--isn't as bad as trying 
to get a human killed, but it is definitely treated as something in between 
killing an animal and killing a person.  It appears to be a very serious 
offense.

Amy Z

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Grenouille: I cannot go with you to the
   market today, Crapaud.
Crapaud:  But Grenouille, I cannot carry
   the cow alone.
             -Quidditch Through the Ages
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