How good a student is Draco?

[bbennett320178]

No: HPFGUIDX 47314

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Heidi Tandy" <heidit at n...> wrote:
> Actually, a number of people consider that scene in Borgin and 
Burkes, combined with the way Snape praises Draco's preparation of 
potions ingredients as evidence that he's towards the top of the 
class, although of course below Hermione, even in Potions. 
> 
> He's not mentioned as stupid along with Crabbe and Goyle when Harry 
notes that they didn't flunk out, and it's unlikely that Snape would 
praise a Slytherin student as a good example if there were other 
Slytherins who were doing better. >

I agree with Heidi <waves at Heidi>. Draco might not be the best 
Slytherin in his class (I think it's possible that some of Snape's 
praise is due to family influence; it's even possible that a bit is 
because he knows his least favorite student and Malfoy don't get 
along, and he enjoys rubbing Harry's nose in it), but I don't believe 
Snape would continue to favor Draco if he were not at least in the 
top couple of Slytherins. I assume Draco makes better marks than 
Harry/Ron, and, as Lucius notes, worse marks than Hermione.

> His quips are sometimes quite witty (pets that sting, bite and 
burn) and he's a nosy little schemer, which you can't be if you're 
totally thick. >

Definitely. He's a bright little bugger.

B Bennett