Is Draco Redeemable? (was Re: The Death of Cedric)

[harry_potter00 at yahoo.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 11481

Ebony wrote:
I repeat:  Draco Malfoy is a 14 year old kid.  I hated his guts too 
at the end of GoF.  
<snip> 
Canon Draco is the wizarding world's equivalent of a young, rich 
racist. He's petty, he's spoiled, and he likes having things his own 
way. Canon Draco is also highly intelligent.  I'd say that reading 
between the lines, his wit is indicative of a brain that could 
outpace both Harry's and  Ron's.  He is a leader of men.  I'm sure 
he'd like real friends... 

--Draco doesn't really have any friends does he? For that matter does 
Draco even have anyone to care about him?  His relationship with 
Crabbe and Goyle is more henchmen-boss (or something like that). He 
went with Pansy Parkinson to the Yule Ball but there is no indication 
of whether they date (and to digress from topic just what DOES one do 
on a date at Hogwarts?) or have any feelings for each other. His 
relationship with his parents seems on the surface be more of a piece 
of clay which shall be moulded according to his father's whim. In 
other words I doubt Lucius really cares for Draco that much.  

Is Draco loved at all? He has no real peer friendships or 
relationships with caring adults. In a way his childhood must of been 
a lot like Harry's. Except Draco hasn't been rescued from it, and may 
no longer want to be. 

Ebony wrote:
"re-reading the beginning of SS, he sought out Harry's friendship, 
eventhough I'd daresay that he knew Harry was not really the follower-
type."

--It stuck me that I while I didn't DISLIKE Draco when Harry met him 
in Mamdam Malkim's for the first time I didn't like him either. It 
was clear that he wanted to impress Harry, but did he REALLY want to 
be Harry's friend? More likely he only wanted Harry on his side (or 
something like that).

Ebony wrote:
"The worldview of most 14 year olds is relatively tiny and much more 
strongly parent/guardian-influenced than the kid would like to admit.
At 14, I saw the world through race-colored glasses.  Parental 
influence. 
At 19, I saw the world through religion-colored glasses.  Peer group 
influence.
At 23, I see the world through neither.  I realize that my worldview 
is still changing and will perhaps always change.  I'm not so sure 
about my absolute categories any more."

--This is true. At sixteen I can see my own worldviews changing 
everyday. I'm thinking independently, and doing so more than I ever 
had. I love it! I know that my parents and family have affected the 
way I view the world, but I no longer accept what someone says as 
fact. My parents may disagree with me on a lot of things, but that's 
ok. IMO, that shows that they're doing their job...helping me become 
my own person. (Do Draco's parents want him to become his own person 
or simply follow in daddy Malfoy's footsteps?)

I see many people who look through absolute glasses, and I have a 
real problem with it since nothing is absolute. Our own glasses are 
couloured by our experiences. My views may be different b/c I've had 
different experiences that doesn't make them wrong. (Draco doesn't 
think that HIS racist views are wrong. Are they (IMO, yes) or are 
they simply his views? Does Draco have the right to be a bigot if he 
wishes?)

Ebony wrote:
"Think Draco can't change?  I'd be more surprised if he did not."

In the end I'm with you he is likely to change, but AT THIS POINT IN 
THE CANON he hasn't shown any qualities that would point in that 
direction.

Scott