[HPforGrownups] The Dullest Redemption Subplot Ever (WAS: Evil Is...)

[HebrideanBlack66 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 51634

Elkins wrote:

"I really like redemption subplots, but I think that in order for a 
reformed Draco Malfoy to qualify as one, he really needs to *do* 
something first -- and something a heckuva lot more dire than 
mouthing vile rhetoric, saying rotten things, and bullying weaker
students by hexing them in the corridors.  I mean, really.  He's not 
a nice kid, but his crimes to date are hardly in the same category as 
rape, torture or murder, are they?"

<lots and lots of snippage of fantastic post>

Now me:

I agree with your assesment here, that Draco hasn't yet done anything for 
which he needs redemption. And while I do like the idea of Redeemed!Draco, as 
we've tended to use it here on the list, it's probably not the right thing to 
call what I expect (or hope) will happen:

If there's any hope for Draco, I believe it will come the first time he's 
required to do something to actually back-up all his talk. My favourite 
scenario goes something like this: Lucius takes Draco to meet Voldemort, who 
then asks Draco to participate in some atrocity or another - rape, torture, 
murder, take your pick. Draco will be faced with either complying with 
Voldemort's command or Certain Death. I see three possibilities here: 

1) He goes along with Voldemort and likes it. Well, that's it. Evil!Draco* 
(see note). 

2) He doesn't do it, and is killed, well that's pretty boring, really. So I 
don't like that option. 

3) (my favourite) He does the deed, and it turns his stomach, and from that 
point onward, Draco vows not to become like his father and Voldemort. 
(Obviously, he doesn't say this out loud at the time, or we are back to #2). 
Then we get to see Draco struggle with choosing the path of "light" and 
trying to be one of the "good guys," even though he's basically an unpleasant 
git. Might be similar to what Snape went through. Or, maybe Draco doesn't 
want to join the "good guys," he just doesn't want to take part in the battle 
at all - which I suspect may become difficult as things progress. Plus, 
there's the added excitement of wondering when Lucius and Voldemort are going 
to twig to Draco's new attitude, and plot evil and painful ways of killing 
him.

 * (note) Although even if #1 happens, I do see potential for it to become a 
variation on #3: Draco doesn't have any problem with doing evil stuff at 
first, but then he is faced with being asked to torture or kill someone he 
knows personally, and this is the moment when he decides Death Eating is not 
for him.

So what I'm hoping for isn't Redeemed!Draco - I think I'll call him 
Epiphany!Draco. Granted, this scenario would require a lot of "screen time" 
for a character who isn't Harry, especially since Harry provides us with the 
narrative voice. It could be done, though, considering Harry's ability to 
"see" what Voldemort is doing at times. And I think it would be interesting. 
I don't crush on Draco (thank heavens, he's young enough to be my son), but I 
do find him a compelling and interesting character. Plus, I'm hoping 
fervently that JKR does something to turn the whole "Slytherin is the Evil 
House" thing on its head by the end of the series. It also really bothers me 
to think of a 14 year old "child" as being so firmly entrenched in an "evil" 
attitude that there is no hope of him breaking free from it. Heck, it bothers 
me to think that *anyone* could be so entrenched as to have no hope of 
breaking free. 

:-)
Wendy


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