JKR on the Harry & Draco

[lipglossusa]

No: HPFGUIDX 32004

Penny wrote:
> The exact bit that you were thinking of is:
> 
> Q: Hello, Ms. Rowling. I am a big fan of the Harry Potter books. My 
name is Katherine Emily Rose, and I am 11. Is it true that Harry and 
Draco will have to get together and fight evil?
> 
A: Don't believe everything you read on the Net! I saw that rumor 
too, but it is just a rumor.

I don't think that necessarily negates a possible Draco redemption.  
It just more or less rules out a scenario wherein Draco's 
participation with Harry is required to extinguish evil.  I don't 
think we can take these chat responses as great sweeping evidence of 
much of anything.  If the question was worded: "Will Draco remain a 
cardboard stereotype of the evil Slytherin through the entire 
series?" and JKR answered, "yes," then we might have something.  But 
with the way the questions are typically worded & the way that JKR's 
responses are almost *always* worded, it's really hard to come away 
with definite answers for future plot points or characterization 
directions.  IMO.>

Hi,
Thanks for looking up that quote for me... i love people who know 
their HP stuff.  :)
I see the point you're making about my interpretation of JKR's quote, 
but I think the only scenario that would show us (and H/R/H) that 
Draco has truly changed for the good would be one where, as you said, 
"Draco's participation w/ Harry is required to extinguish evil."  I 
think it's evident Draco and Harry truly hate each other, and that 
Draco has done and said some pretty despicable things-- he'd have to 
do something big, and make a real sacrifice, before I  believe that 
he's been redeemed.  

Marina