[HPforGrownups] Draco Malfoy-- The Center of the HP Universe?

[GulPlum]

No: HPFGUIDX 45152

At 02:44 09/10/02 +0000, Fyre Wood wrote:
>Have you ever just thought to yourself that perhaps Draco Malfoy has
>more of a *key* part in the Harry Potter book series? No? Oh well,
>that's why I'm here to influence you all into believing this little theory.

Of course he has a key part. He's Harry's opposite number. :-) I think you 
exaggerate his role just a little, but I do agree that he (and his dad) are 
major catalysts of some of the action, or more particularly of the way in 
which the action pans out.

>1. Ron's friendship with Harry
>If Draco hadn't insulted Ron on the train ride during Harry's first year, 
>then perhaps Ron and Harry wouldn't be such close friends. The only reason 
>why they became such good friends is because of Draco's insult toward Ron 
>and Harry sticking up for Ron. They might have *gasp* remained only 
>acquantinces if this didn't happen. Oh the horror in that thought =p

Considering Harry and Ron were already getting on extremely well, Draco's 
role was rather small in cementing their friendship. The fact that Harry 
and Ron sleep in adjoining beds is probably the single largest factor. In 
some respects, though, Malfoy's attitude draws H&R closer to *Hermione* 
rather than to each other.

>2. The Hippogriff and Sirius Black
>Draco's injury from the Hippogriff caused Buckbeak to be tied up and
>almost executed by Walden MacNair, Head of the Disposal of Magical
>Creatures. Harry and Hermione were able to save Buckbeak and Sirius
>Black because of Buckbeak. If the Hippogriff wasn't tied up, then
>Hermione and Harry couldn't have saved Sirius--due to he's too high
>off the ground to be rescued. And it's all thanks to Draco's injury.

They rescued Buckbeak because he needed rescuing; this was additional to 
rescuing Sirius. :-) If Buckbeak hadn't needed rescuing, Harry could just 
as easily have rescued Sirius on his broomstick, if not more easily.

>3. CoS Dueling Club
>If Draco and Harry hadn't dueled with each other, the Snake wouldn't
>have come out of Draco's wand-- revealing Harry was a Parseltongue.
>This means that Hermione wouldn't have been able to do her research
>and Ginny Weasley would have been murdered-- allowing Tom Riddle to
>return. (Gosh I would have loved that.. Riddle, YUM). Harry and Ron
>were able to save the day all because of Draco's dueling at Dueling
>Club.

I'm not so sure about that. Harry's revealing himself as a Parselmouth only 
served to put him forward as the prime suspect. The Trio would probably 
have discovered the Chamber, the Diary, etc., even without that.

>4. GoF Rita Skeeter.
>By having Draco talking into his hand to the illegal Animagus form of
>our "beloved" reporter Rita SKeeter, Hermione was able to figure out
>who she really was. This became essential to part of the plot because
>all of the lies she caused throughout the fourth book. (ie: Hagrid's
>past, Hermione being a Scarlet Woman, and Harry Potter's secret
>heartache).

Draco's involvement in that was only one of many clues which Hermione had 
followed. Even without that, there were enough other clues to set Hermione 
on the right track.

>5. Quidditch
>All thanks to Neville's remembrall and Draco stealing it, Harry was
>able to make the house team. Was this a ploy so that Draco would make
>the team the next year and play the same possition? In any case, if
>Draco hadn't done that, Harry wouldn't have been made the new seeker
>and won the house cup during his third year.

That's pure speculation. Without the Remembrall sequence, Madam Hooch would 
still have discovered Harry's flying ability, albeit possibly later on in 
the year. Perhaps he wouldn't have made the team in the first year, but 
certainly in the second.

>I could go on and on, however Dinner is ready and I need to eat.
>Draco is clearly the center of the HP universe. If anyone has any
>comments, do reply.

Please do go on. :-) Certainly the examples you provided so far don't 
convince me. :-)

--
GulPlum, wondering who else will be proposed as the main character of the 
story today (cf. MAGIC DISHWASHER thread). :-)