[HPforGrownups] Re: OoP: Has Anyone Seen Redeemable Draco???

[Alexandra Y. Kwan]

No: HPFGUIDX 70144

Hello,

Sommers:
> Not stupid, but quite full of himself.  I doubt that he would 
> view Potter, or anyone else, as his equal.

It took Lockhart's level of ego-centricism to think that he is the 
equal of Harry Potter. Draco might be full of himself, but not quite 
*that* much. Again, one would be a fool to underestimate Harry Potter, 
even only as a symbol. Draco is no fool. In fact, he does view a number 
people as at least his equals (e.g. while he's a Seeker on his 
Quidditch team, which implies a certain sense of autonomy, he does 
trust his fellow team members to protect him from Bludgers, etc.), if 
not also superior (e.g. Voldemort, Lucius Malfoy, probably Snape), 
though probably very few people outside of his house.

Draco has been talking to Harry like an equal from the moment they met -
- he asked for Harry's opinions on things, etc., clearly expecting 
Harry to respond. And while Draco probably isn't expecting a negative 
response from Harry, I doubt Draco is asking those questions because he 
was some ego-centric villain who asks questions of their yes-men just 
to receive ego-boosts. Draco very clearly treats Harry differently from 
the way he treats Crabbe and Goyle -- hence, equal alliance.  Most 
importantly, you don't view someone not your equal as your arch 
nemisis, as Draco is clearly viewing Harry. You don't even see them as 
your enemy -- enemy implies consideration, i.e. you don't view 
mosquitoes, for example, as full-blown enemies.

And in addition to Harry, Draco probably realizes by now that Hermione 
Granger is as intelligent as he is (well, as good as getting top marks, 
at least). He probably doesn't maltreat his fellow Slytherins too much, 
if he doesn't want elaborate revenges on his person -- in fact, I'd say 
he played the game very well, if he got to be prefect (you might get 
into the Quidditch team with your father's buying everyone on the team 
a new broom, but you don't buy a prefect position).

You'd have to be in that same mindset to know what's going on in 
Draco's mind and I guarantee you right now that you don't have the type 
of mentality that would know Draco's mind almost as easily as you'd 
know your own (not that having that type of mentality is much of a 
prize, of course...)

little Alex