Redeemed!Draco and the Loss of a Bully

[Draco Demoiselle]

No: HPFGUIDX 55891


Greicy writes, regarding the loss of a bully in the
Redeemed!Draco scenario:

::Hey maybe some other bully will rise from the
masses?::

We don't have any proof that there aren't already
plenty of bullies in Hogwarts. Harry is particularly
harrassed by Draco Malfoy, and therefore Draco appears
to be the biggest git around. 

I would suggest that Draco as the ultimate bully is
but a product of Harry's POV. From the beginning Harry
marks Draco as a stand in for Dudley Dursley. He
dislikes him from the start -- and therefore Draco's
actions are interpreted by the reader as just that
much worse than the actions of any other schoolyard
bullies.

In a school, there are all levels of cruelty, and
Harry experiences it several times when the entire
school community turns against him. Think of when he
loses all those points for Gryffindor in PS. Think of
when the whole school turns against him in CS when
they think he's Heir of Slytherin. 

Even Harry's friends are not exempt from being
bullies. Ron's remarks about Hermione in PS are
outright nasty. He doesn't take care to keep her from
hearing them. To Hermione, if the Troll hadn't
happened, Ron could have been as big a bully as Draco
is to Harry. And it doesn't end then. He's a total
clod to Hermione in GF at the Yule Ball -- and she's
his friend! Perhaps he has feelings for her and feels
rejected, but it doesn't make his behavior acceptable.


Ron's declarations about Slytherins and certain
families (Malfoy) are just as insulting and prejudiced
as Draco's insinuations about Muggle-borns. Perhaps he
doesn't use a word as nasty as Mudblood. But that's
just because we don't know of any equally insulting.
I'm sure Ron would use it on Malfoy if it existed! Our
heros are not beyond reproach.

In PS, on the train, Harry and Ron as a team gang up
on Draco Malfoy. Malfoy doesn't insult anyone until
after Ron laughs at Draco's name. Harry's insinuation
about Draco being the wrong kind of wizard is hurtful
in the extreme -- and public. How many other times in
his life do you suppose Draco Malfoy tried publically
to make a friend, and been humiliated in return?

I don't think Draco Malfoy, as it is, is merely a
misunderstood little boy. I think he is a mean and
angry child who strikes out at others whenever he is
made uncomfortable. He seems unable to take
responsibility for himself.

But he is not the worst of the worst. His actions are
fairly harmless . . . in fact, I'd put forth my own
belief that the worst of schoolyard bullies are not
the Talkers, like Malfoy . . . but the mass of Crabbes
and Goyles and Pansys who laugh and silently support
the bully. They are the ones who give bullies power.

I hope in future books, Harry becomes more
sophisticated in recognizing and judging others. And I
hope that readers can seperate Harry's POV from The
Truth. 

If Draco is redeemed, the Hogwarts will not be short
of bullies. Part of growing up is recognizing the gray
shades in between good and bad, kind and cruel. I
personally think Evil!Draco sells the series short,
and will stunt Harry (and the reader's) development.
Not everyone is sociopath-Tom Riddle. 

I had a Draco Malfoy when I was in school, who hated
me because I was just that much more liked than she
was (we were both social outsiders). She made my life
hell, and tried to force people to turn against me,
much as Draco did -- as if my suffering would make her
social situation better. When she turned 15, she
realized how much she made herself suffer by her
nastiness. She was a very angry young woman. But she
stopped me in the hall one day, and apologized for her
behavior during the previous four years. I forgive
her, and since we have become friends. And since she
stopped defining herself by cutting down others, her
anger has subsided, and she's a really decent young
woman now.

...End of Draco Post...

...Start of Introduction...

While I'm writing, I might as well introduce myself.
This is my first post on any Harry Potter discussion
list. I'm 23, a recent graduate of college, and I live
in New York City where I work in theatre. I'd love to
meet people through this forum. Please feel free to
drop me an email! 

Very Truly
DracoDemoiselle...



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