Draco *does* have a chance!

[jenny_ravenclaw]

No: HPFGUIDX 38005

David wrote:
> 
> There is another Draco issue: the more we can excuse his canon 
> behaviour, the less redemption he needs.>

Okay, I must jump in here.  I have not personally been making excuses 
for Draco, nor do I think his behavior to this point has been 
excusable.  However, I do think he definitely has it in him to shed at 
least some of his nasty ways.  Maybe I can convince some of you by 
using my own students as an example.

As many of you know, I teach in a high school for kids who weren't 
successful in other high schools.  My school is located in the South 
Bronx and most of my students have major problems.  Many of them have 
been to jail for gang-related offenses or even for beating up teachers 
at previous schools.  These are the very kids society loves to write 
off as hopeless.  How do they do at my school?  Some of them do very 
well.  One of my best students was a gang member who did time in jail; 
today he is getting ready to graduate in June and attend college 
upstate in September, as he has already been accepted.  He is a sweet, 
funny kid who writes love poems in his spare time.  There are quite a 
few examples just like this one I could list.  

Most of my students are 18 years old.  At this point in the series, 
Draco is only 14.  Do we really believe that Draco's path is set in 
stone at that age?  I cannot accept that.  I've seen too many of my 
own students get themselves together, get jobs and graduate after 
coming to school high, talking back constantly and not earning credit 
when they first arrived at our school.  I don't think Draco has even 
one iota of the nerve my students have out in the street and frankly, 
I can't see him getting involved with some of the things I know the 
DEs have to do.  Draco to me is more the kind of person who wants to 
let others do the work for him, hence his connection with Crabbe and 
Goyle.  When the day comes for Draco to get his hands dirty or for him 
to see before him the possible consequences of his actions, I believe 
he will think twice.  If the Bloods came to Hogwarts, Draco would 
*not* be someone they'd recruit; the DEs, IMO, would only want him 
because his father has been an active member.  They would not be 
pleased with his performance.

I also have a student who, much like Draco, has a big mouth.  He is an 
adorable looking, usually charming kid who can't sit still and seems 
to take any opportunity to start problems with kids he perceives as 
weak.  Just a few weeks ago, another boy got up out of his seat with 
his hands up, ready to fight the boy with the big mouth.  The big 
mouth boy laughed, not knowing what to do.  That situation reminded me 
of Draco and Hermione, when she slapped him and then drew out her wand 
in PoA.  When push came to shove, Hermione was stronger, Draco knew 
that, and he backed down.  This convinces me even more that he will 
not be able to handle the dirty deeds expected of him if he follows in 
his father's footsteps.

We have discussed many times that Draco may also change his mind about 
the way he was raised when he sees his father in a more unfavorable 
light (perhaps bowing to Voldemort or *gasp* apologizing).  Draco was 
terrified in SS when he was in the Forbidden Forest; can you imagine 
how he'd react to a visit to Azkaban (ah, what a class trip that would 
be)?  Draco may not lay down his wand and say "I'll be a good boy from 
now on and I sure love Muggles!", but I have a clear image of him 
somehow turning away from some of the things he thought were true.  
Redemption does not mean his heart will suddenly grow in size like the 
Grinch, but it might mean he'll want to save his own tuches when push 
comes to shove.

--jenny from ravenc