Snape's Treatment of Draco/Malfoys and Dursleys

[Anne]

No: HPFGUIDX 47342

Actually, Snape's treatment of Draco has bothered me
very much ever since we seem to learn that Snape is on
Dumbledore's side.  This is because I fully believe
that Snape knows that Lucius Malfoy is a Death Eater. 
Although I can't find any canon on this, I never fail
to read the books this way (and I ask for anyone's
input on this!).  At the very least, Snape must know
that Lucius is *not* a good man, and he therefore
knows that Draco is being raised by an evil father. 
And how does Snape treat Draco?  He indulges him in
every way, every time we see any interaction at all! 
He seems to treat Draco much the same way the Dursleys
treat Dudley -- he can see no fault in him.

If Snape were really on the good side, and even if he
has to keep some sort of cover, he would still have
the duty to Draco as his student to set *some* kind of
example, or at least treat him with a strict
neutrality in regard to the other students.  As it is,
he is encouraging this boy, who has had very little
moral guidance ever, down the path his father has set
him on, where who *we* are and what *we* want is of
paramount importance.  It is this which makes me the
most suspicious of Snape, and keeps me from leaping
into the Redeemed!Snape camp even though I'd like to.

  

Janet Anderson said:

>  I agree that Lucius and the Dursleys are very
>similar in many ways: they're  both bigoted,
>thoughtless, and narrow-minded. They're both capable
>of cruelty, including to the weak and >helpless. And
they both spoil their children rotten >while failing
to teach them any manners, ethics, or            
civilized behavior.
 
<snip>

> However, I disagree that Lucius doesn't *care* about
>his son. And of course the Dursleys care a great deal
>about their son also; they just don't              
>care about *Harry,* because they don't think of him
as >a human person with feelings. (Just like the
Malfoys >don't think Muggles count as humans.)

I agree with this and would just like to add a bit. 
Yes, Lucius does care about his son, but I think
mainly for how Draco reflects on Lucius himself.  He
wants Draco to be a credit to him, to feed his pride. 
Draco's purpose in life, as Lucius sees him, is to be
the Malfoy heir and to make his father proud.  As long
as Draco meets expectations, he can be indulged, but
he will feel the sting of his father's anger for every
failure to make Lucius look good.  The gift of the
Nimbus 2001's fulfills both of these: Draco gets his
racing broom and the coveted position on the Slytherin
team, and Lucius gets the prestige of having his son
on the team and making him even with Harry Potter.  On
the other hand, in Borgin and Burkes, he has harsh
words for Draco, in front of Mr. Borgin yet, about not
getting as good grades as a Muggle-born (Hermione),
even though as far as we can tell, he must be doing
just fine in school, and Hermione would be impossible
for anyone to beat!

I contrast all this with the Dursleys' treatment of
Dudley which is pure indulgence only.  They will see
nothing wrong with him, no matter what he does, and
give him everything he wants as much they possibly can
(i.e. as long as they don't *have* to give it to Harry
for fear of wizard wrath-- I am thinking of Dudley's
second bedroom here).

So many ways to abuse children here -- Draco, Dudley
and Harry -- and poor Harry coming out the best of the
lot -- who'd have thought?  Because, sadly, I think
Draco is doomed.  Dudley will probably charge through
life like a bull, as his father does, getting his way
and never being happy, or he will if the plot doesn't
scoop him up and do something drastic with him!  And
Harry, well even if... if... never mind, I don't even
want to think about it, but either way, he will choose
his way and believe in it, no regrets.

Anne
(I fear I may be getting a bit incoherent here, but
I'm getting ready to have Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow
and I'm tired!)

                      





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