[HPforGrownups] The Draco and Harry saga (was Re: Draco's need to be)

[Carol Bainbridge]

No: HPFGUIDX 44315

Bugaloo 37:
 > I consider Draco to exemplify the absolutely worst aspects of human
 > nature. He is a reflection, of course, of his father. He assesses
 > people on their heritage and financial status. Harry, of course, does
 > the exact opposite. This is shown by who has chosen to be his two
 > best friends: Ron Weasley (impoverished) and Hermione Granger
 > (a "mudblood").

Melody:
 > I think that is a bit harsh on Draco. While he is not one of my
 > favorite characters, to say the least, I don't think his motives for
 > hating Hermione and Ron are based solely on thier stations in life.
 > I always felt Draco was more jealous of Ron and Hermione. If Draco
 > had his way, he would be Harry's best friend and bask in the
 > deflected glory that is the Harry juggernaut.

I have to agree with Bugaloo37.  I don't deny that Draco is also jealous, 
but I don't think that's his motivation.  Even if it were, it wouldn't 
excuse his obnoxious behavior.  How one handles the less pleasurable 
emotions in life is, IMO, a way to measure one's character.  Draco 
definitely comes up short here.  Learning from his father, being jealous, 
whatever his reason, he is still an example of the worst aspects of human 
nature.

Risti:
>I think that the biggest crime Harry ever committed against Draco was
>to bruise his pride. "I think I can tell the wrong sort for myself,
>thank you."  Picture Draco in the robe shop.  Other then putting down
>everyone else, he is generally nice towards Harry.

I wouldn't classify his behavior as nice necessarily.  It looked more to me 
like he was bragging and showing off.  He's so good at Quidditch, he comes 
from a good wizard family, etc., etc.  He barely gives Harry a chance to 
talk.  How nice is that?  His prejudices come out at Madam Malkin's shop as 
well.  He clearly doesn't think much of Hagrid.  Then he wants to know 
Harry's surname.  He is not interested in befriending Harry as a new kid 
going to Hogwarts and I have to wonder how he would have reacted had he 
been standing next to Ron at that shop.  I doubt that he would have been 
any different toward Ron then than he is later.  Harry's friendship, IMO, 
has little to do with his ill-manners and prejudice.

Risti again:
>Then, when he finds out who Harry is, he offers friendship.

I wouldn't call it friendship that he offered either.  It's more in line 
with his bragging nature.  He's showing off more.  He's so important he 
knows all the "right" wizard families.  I don't recall that he went around 
offering this advice to anyone else, so clearly he's motivated to do so for 
Harry because ... well, because he's Harry.  What a feather in his cap it 
would be to have Harry Potter under his "tutelage."  The great Malfoy 
helping out the great Harry Potter.  Who comes out looking better?  Harry 
already had a taste of Malfoy at Madam Malkin's shop and was already 
disinclined to be friends with him.  After all, Malfoy insulted Hagrid, the 
first adult to show any concern for Harry.  Why on earth would Harry want 
to befriend Malfoy or think Malfoy had any sense about which wizards were 
good and which not?

Risti:
>Draco has a pretty big
>ego, and it got deflated rather quickly when Harry dismissed him
>cooly and without another thought...for someone who basically
>personifies everything he can't stand.

That's part of Draco's problem.  Personally, I don't care why someone's ego 
is so big he feels he can be rude to other people.  It's the rudeness I pay 
attention to.  I think it all comes back down to choice.  Draco is not a 
baby anymore.  He's out on his own and free to begin making choices of his 
own.  So far, I see him making all the wrong ones, in terms of development 
of good character.  Regardless of his upbringing, he is an individual who 
is ultimately responsible for his own behavior.

Risti:
><snip> As the series progresses, he does get
>a little eviler, and my chance of holding out for a reform do seem to
>be getting slimmer, but hey, I'm an optimist!

Anything is possible, but since Draco isn't making any effort at all to 
change his attitudes, my guess is that he's going to keep on becoming a 
bigger and bigger rat.  The only chance I see for his redemption is if 
Voldemort ends up killing one or both of his parents and even then I think 
it's slim.  I would hate to see JKR turn to a Dickensian ploy of a 
miraculous change of character overnight.

Risti:
>I've always wondered, what if, at that moment when Harry was standing
>outside platform 9 3/4, he'd simply observed the Weasley's, and then
>walked in on his own.  Would Draco's have been the friendly face that
>welcomed him into a compartment and showed him the ropes?  Draco was
>obviously eager for friendship, and would Harry, with no other
>option, choose it if presented in that scenario?

Anything is possible, but I think Harry would have to be pretty darn 
desperate to accept Draco as a friend.  For one thing, I don't think Draco 
has shown a friendly face. For another, being the little Slytherin he is, 
he does only what is good for him.  So his invitation to Harry would be 
selfishly motivated.  Finally, and more importantly, Harry already didn't 
like Draco after his encounter at Madam Malkin's.

Coincidentally, that's when I started to dislike the little weasel.


Carol Bainbridge
(kaityf at jorsm.com)

http://www.lcag.org