Malfoy on the train... A 'stomp' or a bully getting what he deserved!

[uncmark]

No: HPFGUIDX 34771

I've seen about 5 posts referring to the 'Train Stomp' at the end of 
GofF. For those newbies, on the Hogwart's Express home Harry, Ron, 
and Hermione were minding their own business when Malfoy, Crabbe and 
Goyle came in and Malfoy started threatening them.

"You've picked the losing side, Potter! I warned you!..." He jerked 
his head at Ron and Hermione. "Too late now, Potter! They'll be the 
first to go, now the Dark Lord's back! Mudbloods and Muggle-lovers 
first! Well--second--Diggory was the f--"

I agree with JKLB who wrote:"This isn't an empty schoolboy threat. 
The fathers of all 3 Slytherins in that doorway are DE's and will 
undoubtedly soon be killing "Mudbloods and Muggle-lovers."

Lucius Malfoy was one of the masked gang levitating muggles at the 
World Cup, showing the muggle mothers panties to the crowd below and 
doing who knows what offscreen (I'm glad JKR writes for a PG audiaece)
At that time, Draco taunted the trio alone saying Hermione might be 
next "have her knickers shown".

Malfoy's taunts got worse through the book until in my opinion he got 
what he deserves on the train home.

Personally, I've worked several years with 'at-risk children' and 
have dealt with several anti-social types who seem to live for 
insults. Many actually enjoy cussing out those in authority knowing 
that professionals will not attack them back {there are laws against 
that.) Oe kid in particular came in from a game in the park bruised 
and covered in gaebage. After going by the book, it was discovered 
that he had trash-talked to someone much bigger than him and even 
traded ethnic slurs thinking he could get away with it.

I see a parallel to Malfoy thinjing the HRH trio would continue to 
just 'ignore it' as Hermione kept urging. He seemed to forget that 
Harry had just faced Voldemort so was probably not scared of little 
Draco.

Fred and George's part? In my opinion they were watching the back of 
their brother and his two friends against a trio that they knew to be 
the sons of Death Eaters. 

To make it more personal, Lucius Malfoy had almost killed their 
little sister in CofS with the Tom Riddle Diary and his son is 
threatening that "They'll be the 
first to go, now the Dark Lord's back! Mudbloods and Muggle-lovers..."

Sounds like much more than an idle shoolboy threat. And how did Harry 
respond? Did he 'Stupify' or any of the battle curses he knew? He 
zapped with Furnunculus while others used 'jellylegs' and similar 
curses. 

Cindy wrote about Fred,Geotge, and HRH 
> Bad guys kick their foe when they are down and helpless and 
> unconscious.  Good guys do what they have to do and move on.  They 
> do NOT curse people just for saying something they don't like, 
> stomp them, and then leave them there powerless to rescue 
> themselves.  

Excuse me, Did anyone 'kick' anyone?  As far as the 'stomp', Fred 
was "stepping onto Malfoy" as he entered the compartment and George 
was "careful to tread on Malfoy as he followed Fred inside. They then 
pushed the trio into the hall.
As I remember, those train compartments are pretty small. It would be 
difficult NOT to step on 3 people 2 of which were the size of Crabbe 
and Goyle. Noone kicked them while they were down, although I 
wouldn't have minded if F&G tried to make up by leaving the trio some 
of there ton tongue toffees or canary creams.

As far as Fred and George being 17 and by the standards of their 
culture, legal adults, I wouldn't have been surprised if they had 
been told by Molly to keep an eye on HRH. Can you imagine being a 
protective mother of that crew? Your husbands at odds with DE's, one 
son's working with dragons, and your 2 babies are being attacked by 
Voldemort!

In my opinion, Malfoy, Crabbe, & Goyle are spoiled children used to 
threatening others with impunity. They have never been in a real 
battle and all will have to choose whether to follow their fathers 
and become DE's or to stand on their own. I'd like to see Malfoy 
redeem himself (a favorite theme among group members) but I don't see 
any of them having the integrity or moral fiber to make a hard 
choice. Still i hope someone might surprise me.

uncmark