Thoughts on Draco (was Re: A relayed post from a 'would-be-should-be-can't-be-right-now' HP4GU-er

[Serena Moonsilver]

No: HPFGUIDX 55018

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Tammy Rizzo" <tammy at m...> 
wrote:
> I think Draco's MAIN focus for his hatred of Harry AND himself is 
the fact
> that Harry is a leader, and his followers love and follow him 
because of
> Harry's qualities, and character.  


True, but I think it extends even more than this.  Remember, at the 
very beginning, Harry rejected Draco's offer of "friendship".   So 
know not only is Draco smarting from that, he is also jealous/upset 
that Harry has all the things that Draco thought he had (good, loyal 
friends).  Up until this point, Draco has probably been at the top of 
the heap in his mind, always getting things his way.  Now Harry comes 
along and not only rejects, but makes him see how little he really 
has.  On top of that, Harry doesn't suffer from rejecting Draco, he's 
stronger for it.  



> him.  Draco is expected to follow in his father's footsteps of 
power, and
> HE CAN'T DO IT!  He really IS a bit of a wimp, moron, and 
incompetent
> boob, and he knows it.  The others probably know it, too, but 
follow him
> because the hierarchy has been set.  


We don't nessicarily know that Draco is incompetent and the rest, 
he's just never been truly tested (like Harry), so he doesn't know 
how to give it his all because everything has been handed to him on a 
silver platter.  When push comes to shove, Draco could surprise us 
all.  


> 
> Let's face it, for Draco to be a "rival peer" to Harry, he needs to 
be on
> an equal footing, and all the disadvantages are on Draco's side.  W


I don't if Draco is supposed to be a rival so much as a foil--Draco 
and Harry are almost complete oppisites in every sense.  So I don't 
know if all the disadvantges are on Draco's side.  Harry's advantages 
seem to be Draco's disadvantges and vice versa which tends to balance 
them out.   Harry's real advantage is given away by Dumbledore when 
he tells Harry its the choices we make.  Harry is allowed make 
choices, whereas Draco is limited mostly by himself, but in a larger 
sense by the enviroment in which he lives.


> 
> Poor Draco, due to the patriarchal society in which he lives, he 
has been
> stuck in a position of power, but has been given absolute gits as
> henchmen, and therefore, has no REAL power at all.  If his henchmen 
had
> been chosen on the basis of ability, rather than patrimony, he 
might be a
> real mover-and-shaker, as well.  As it is, he's been set up to 
fail.  His
> father should have encouraged him to seek out talent among the other
> Slytherins. There are surely some powerful, potent, intelligent, or 
wise
> students in that house.  They probably aren't "pureblood," or
> "respectable" enough for Lucius to allow Draco to play with them, 
though.
> 
You know it is possible the Draco does have role in choosing his 
friends and simply didn't inherit them.  He may keep Crabe and Goyle 
around not because he just inherited them but because them make him 
feel better about himself.  Someone more talented might simply 
intimidate him.


> As has been pointed out, Draco is not a House leader.  He's not 
popular or
> well-liked even within his own house.  He has his friends who have 
been
> arranged by his parents.  Probably even Pansy has been "arranged" 
by his
> and her parents, in one sense or another.  The rest of the house 
couldn't
> care less about him.  

But Harry is really the leader of his house either.  But he does seem 
to be the leader in his year (numerous time in cannon, Draco isn't 
with just C&G but his entire class leading them in tormenting Harry.  
The Potter Sucks buttons come mind but I'm sure there are other 
instances).  Draco probably understands that the older students 
wouldn't respect the authority of someone younger than them, as he 
gets older we may see him taking more and more of leader role in his 
house, just as Harry, Hermione, and Ron will do in Gryffindor.


As for Snape's seeming love of Draco, is it possible
> that he's been cozying up to Draco all this time in order to 
preserve his
> position with Lucius Malfoy, in the event of Voldemort's return to 
power?


Maybe he also sees something of himself in Draco and is hoping by 
forming a close relationship with him, he can keep from joining the 
dark side or recruit him as spy to take his place since he may be no 
longer welcomed in DE circles.


> 
> As for the redeemable aspect, I can see it.  Draco knows his 
weakness, and
> knows that he'll have to ally with the stronger side, in order to 
survive.


Possibly--but remember Draco hates Harry and Voldemort is that master 
of using people emotions to control.   Not only is he going to have 
realize that he is his own person but he is going to have to master 
his emotions and overcome his hatred.

"Serena"