In defence(?!) of Draco

[Scott]

No: HPFGUIDX 18237

Someone wrote:
"Can anyone think of *anything* redeemable that Draco has done within 
the four books? It seems to me that Draco is emphatically in the Dark 
Lord camp and quite happy to be there. Anyone have any views on this?"

Magda wrote:
"Draco Malfoy is a stupid, snotty little git who's too dumb to really
understand what the Dark Side is."

--No, no, no!! I readily agree that Draco is snotty, and a git, and a 
bigot, among other things, but he IS NOT dumb or stupid (IMO). He's 
too ignorant about the Dark Side to understand what it is, not too 
dumb. I also happen to think Draco is quite intelligent and would be 
real academic competition for Hermione if he applied himself, but 
that's beside the point I'm trying to make here. Draco knows what the 
Dark Side is, but he doesn't *know* about the Dark Side (DS). (Does 
that make sense?) As you said:

"I think he sees it as some kind of weekend country party where 
everyone swoops around in ultra-cool black robes and his father is in 
charge of everything.  If he had seen Lucius cringing in front of the 
returned Lord V. in GoF, he would have been genuinely shocked."

--Right. Draco's veiw of the DS is far removed from its reality. He 
does condone the violence of Cedric's death, the torturing of muggles 
etc., but he's yet to actually participate. He talks big but is it 
really anything more than talk? I just don't think he's irredemable, 
yet. (That doesn't mean I think he will definitely turn good though.)

"He enjoys inflicting pain without opening himself to the risk of
retaliation, hence the ever-present Goyle and Crabbe.  When Hermoine
lays a five-finger salute on him in class, he is helpless because you
can't smack a girl.  Maybe that's why he starts hanging out with
Pansy Parkinson.  She can hit Hermione for him."

--Exactly. He doesn't do much more than talk, and he lets other 
people do the dirty work. BTW, he *could* hit Hermione, but he 
didn't. Does this show moral fiber? Not really but at least he 
doesn't hit girls...

"I agree that he's getting almost boring in his hatefulness but I
don't think there's a lot of ambition or get-up-and-go in Draco.  He
expects to be handed things on a platter."

--So Draco doesn't have much ambition, eh? I agree but then why on 
Earth is he in Syltherin? Besides the fact that he wanted to be.   

"And the problem with Draco repenting and turning good is that
SOMEBODY has to be on the Dark Side and if everyone reforms it just
won't be much fun when the retribution is handed out."

--What a horrible thing to say about Draco. Seriously though I'm sure 
he'll get his comeuppence either way, but he can still make a 
decision for good or evil. There are plenty of people of evil people 
without Draco.

*looks back over post*
 
I can't believe that I'm (sort of) taking up for Draco! (Canon no 
less!!!) I think I may've been exposed to WAY too many leather 
trousers.

Scott

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