Draco's motivation

[judyserenity]

No: HPFGUIDX 36106

Jeralyn asked:
>> why would Draco want Harry's friendship? 

Mahoney repliedL
> Well, I think that Draco is his father's son, firstly.  And my 
> impression of Malfoy Sr. is that he's a shrewd businessman, an 
> excellent 'politician' in the way he interacts with people.  I would 
> bet that if Malfoy Sr. came across an individual who was famous, had 
> the potential to be influential in the social/political sphere they 
> share, and whose moral and social alignment is thus far unknown, 
> Malfoy Sr. would immediately make a play to get said famous person 
> on his side. 

I'm with Mahoney here.  Lucius is an opportunist, and presumably Draco 
is, too.  So, of course they want this famous wizard on their side, 
especially since it appears he may be more powerful than Voldemort.  
Maybe they think they can convince him to support the pure-blood cause 
-- Harry is certainly more of a pure-blood than Voldemort was, and yet 
V was fanatically anti-mugleborn.  And, even though Lucius supported 
V, and Harry defeated V, I doubt Lucius shed many tears over 
Voldemort's sad fate -- as several people here have said, he may have 
even been glad that Voldemort was gone. In Book 1, the Malfoys have no 
reason to think Voldemort will ever be back, even if we readers know 
better.  So, why shound't they make nice with the guy who defeated 
him?

Judy