[HPforGrownups] Re: Draco

[Kelly Grosskreutz]

No: HPFGUIDX 60044

> I, Leah, must wonder...
> I don't know how bright you have to be to become the Dark Lord, but I
> just don't think that Draco's got it.  If he were half as intelligent
> as Riddle was, we would have heard about it by now.  Actually, we
> hear him complaining about Hermione in Borgin & Burkes (CoS); and
> <kind> Lucius berates him for not beating a girl and a Muggle.  We
> don't have any specific canon for his grades, but I suspect that they
> are not phenomenal.
>
Kelly replies:
I wouldn't judge Draco's grades solely on the scene in Borgin and Burkes.
Lucius seems like a perfectionist.  Draco can never do anything good enough
for Lucius.  For all we know, Draco's grades could be second only to
Hermione's, but that wouldn't be good enough for Lucius because he wasn't
number one and especially because a Muggle-born beat him.  I'm not saying
he's anywhere near as intelligent as Tom Riddle was, but I don't believe
Draco to be dumb, either.

Leah again:
> On a second note, I don't think Draco is evil enough to be the Dark
> Lord.  He just seems to be a petty, malicious brat who has no
> consideration for others (on the other hand, Tom probably didn't
> appear evil either...).

Kelly:
I actually feel somewhat sorry for Draco.  Others have already discussed the
abusive aspect of the father/son relationship.  I see Draco as a boy who
would do anything for his father's approval (and perhaps love).  His grades
aren't good enough, so he tries even harder.  Lucius thinks something is
cool, therefore Draco thinks it's cool, too.  That's why I'm afraid that if
Lucius wants Draco to be a DE, Draco will be one.  He will feel honored that
his father finally trusts him enough to give him more responsibility and
share with him his secret.  I do see Draco realizing once he's been taken in
that maybe he personally doesn't want to be a DE.  So far, everything for
Draco has been all talk.  Even killing Mudbloods is all talk.  He thinks it
makes him sound tough, and he knows his father would approve of such talk.
Talking about doing something and actually doing something are two different
things, though.  Could Draco go through with it, or could this be the point
at which Draco will rebel against his father, and therefore against the
DE's?

Kelly Grosskreutz, who is  hoping Draco will rebel sooner and not join the
DE's at all.
http://www.idcnet.com/~ivanova