Draco won't be a DE/You so sure about that?

[serenadust]

No: HPFGUIDX 41588

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "darrin_burnett" <bard7696 at a...> wrote:

> 
> Draco wants power, just like his father does. If he believes 
> Voldemort will give him power, I think he'd kiss a few robes. He 
is a 
> bright kid -- perhaps second only to Hermione in top marks -- and 
> therefore knows what the teachers are there for. He's got the rich 
> kid's mentality toward teachers, which I'm sure you've seen.

Darrin, I agree with all your points about Malfoy in terms of the 
evidence (so far) pointing away from any redeemability.  However, I 
think that this is the second time you've mentioned that he is very 
bright.  I haven't personally seen any evidence to support that he 
is a good student, even though I've gone through the text looking 
for it.  In CoS, in Mr Borgin's shop,  Lucius Malfoy says "I hope my 
son will amount to more than a thief or a plunderer, Borgin...Though 
if his school marks don't pick up, that may indeed be all he is fit 
for." (p44, Uk paperback)  Draco replies, "It's not my fault.  The 
teachers all have favourites, that Hermione Granger..." LM 
replies, "I would have thought you'd be ashamed that a girl of no 
wizard family beat you in every exam."

Now if any teacher plays favorites, it's Snape, who shamelessly 
panders to Draco.  Still, Hermione manages to even outscore him in 
Potions and I can't see reading the above passage to indicate that 
just because she outdoes him on all the exams, that means that she 
was the *only* one who did. After all, Hermione always outscores 
everyone. I guess one could argue that LM could believe that if his 
son didn't get the absolute highest marks in all subjects, he would 
be fit only for a career as a thief or plunderer, but that really 
doesn't make much sense IMO.  I thought that he was complaining 
about Draco's (at best) mediocre grades in his first year.

Apart from Snape sucking up to him from time to time, I haven't seen 
any evidence of brilliance from Malfoy in books 2 - 4, other than a 
real talent for snide remarks and insults.  His performance with the 
Hippogriffs in PoA is downright stupid, and he was lucky he didn't 
get injured seriously (although, his acting skills were apparently 
quite impressive). So I'm really interested in knowing why he is 
thought to be a good student.


Jo S. who will bring the marshmallows to Darrin's book-burning