Draco's eventual path (Draco's Warning)

[stickbook41 <stix4141@hotmail.com>]

No: HPFGUIDX 52504

Gwen:
> Draco is a nasty, disagreeable little brat. He desperately needs both 
> a spanking and a hug. But that doesn't mean that underneath his 
> snooty and at times downright cruel demeanour, he isn't also a young 
> man (or boy) looking for acceptance and friendship.
...
> I often get the feeling from Draco that he is attempting to pull off 
> the kinds of things his father does, but isn't sophisticated or 
> skilled enough to manage it yet without bungling. Not that Lucius is 
> always as slick as he'd like to be, and certainly he can be just as 
> mean as his son when his plans go awry, but Lucius seems at least to 
> value his reputation enough to disentangle himself smoothly and save 
> face where possible.

Me:
There's that A.J. Soprano quality again.  I wouldn't be at all surprised if the time 
comes when Lucius more or less disowns his son because Draco is the 
weak link in the chain (to paraphrase Prince of Egypt).  After all, for Draco, this 
is the worst possible thing that could happen to a junior Death Eater.  Worse 
than death, even.  Draco can certainly talk the talk, but the big question is: can 
he walk the walk as a full-fledged Death Eater?  Can he do it effectively and 
correctly?  If not, I can see Lucius forcibly removing him from the equation.

> Again, I don't think he will suddenly become nice. I don't even think 
> that his choice need be entirely altruistic. It could easily be a 
> choice made for the wrong reasons, such as to avoid being arrested. 
> It could be a choice made in reaction to some other event, or a 
> choice between the lesser of two undesirable outcomes.

Me:
Righto, Gwen.  Even if Draco is redeemed, I can't imagine that it would be 
100% willingly.  If the Death Eaters do reject him for being a loose cannon, he 
will be completely alone.  Not something that Draco deals well with, I think.  He 
might then approach the only team that won't AK him on sight--Dumbledore & 
Company, the champions of second chances.  And, trying desperately to hang 
on to some semblance of his pride, he'll accept their acceptance, kicking and 
screaming.  I can see it now--Draco, wrapped up in a blanket in the front of 
the fire at Good Guy HQ, cranking and spewing venom as Hermione hands him 
a warm cup of tea...

Yes the worst thing that can happen to Draco (from Draco's POV) is that he 
desperately needs the help of those he dispises.  This is how I imagine Draco 
ending up on the path to redemption--as a last resort.

Cheers!

-stickbook