Draco as Darcy? (Was: Re: FF: Speculation - a matter of perspective)

[marinafrants]

No: HPFGUIDX 38791

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., heidit at n... <heidit at n...> wrote:
> fanfic in my original post when I suggested that in a manner that 
parallels
> Pride & Prejudice, Draco might find it in him to overcome the 
elements of his
> attitude and behaviour that would preclude a relationship with 
Hermione (see
> various Draco Redemption threads). 

I know this wasn't the main focus of Heidi's post, but it just 
jumped out at me and made me curious.  While I don't expect any 
Draco redemption in later books, I'm not going to flatly rule out 
the possibility, either.  But I don't see how it would parallel 
Pride and Prejudice.

Darcy liked Elizabeth very early on, almost immediately after 
meeting her, and even before he liked her the sum total of his 
hostility amounted to not wishing to dance with her.  Draco has 
known Hermione for four years, and still thinks of her as a filthy 
Mudblood who deserves to be killed for her inferior birth.  Darcy is 
presented as scrupulously honorable. Draco lies and cheats.  When 
Darcy finds himself moving in the same cirles as someone he despises
(Wickham), he makes no move to harm him by either word or deed.  
Draco continually schemes to get people he dislikes into trouble.  
The misunderstandings that arise between Darcy and Elizabeth are as 
much her fault as his.  There *are* no misunderstandings between 
Hermione and Draco, and the conflict between them is not Hermione's 
fault at all.

Now that I think of it, I'm not sure what the literary precedent for 
a Draco/Hermione romance would be.  I know that *villain redeemed by 
love* is a classic trope, but the only examples I can think of off 
the top of my head come from soap operas and cheap romance novels.  
I'm sure there are more "respectable" sources out there, I'm just 
blanking on them.  I really don't think Pride and Prejudice is it, 
though.