Why redeem Draco?

[darrin_burnett]

No: HPFGUIDX 60047

Jenny wrote:

 
> I didn't say Draco was being abused by his father.  In fact, I don't 
> think he is.  Lucius Malfoy may not be the warmest man out there, but 
> I don't see him abusing his son.  Of course, anyone could argue that 
> my very examples are proof that Draco is most definitely a victim of 
> his father's, but I'll try to explain my position anyway.

This should be good. ;)


> 
> Unfortunately, Draco is learning some terrible things at home, but 
> that doesn't mean that he is being neglected, insulted, belittled or 
> beaten.  The Malfoys are a disgusting family who truly believe they 
> and other pure-blood wizards are superior.  Draco's father teaches 
> this to his son because he thinks he is doing the right thing.  It's 
> terrible, but it does not make a victim out of Draco.


I agree wholeheartedly.  Look no further than Harry, who has gone through a 
childhood many times worse than Draco and see how Harry turned out.

At some point, you have the option of rejecting your parents' teachings. 
Perhaps Draco is too young, so far, to expect that right now, but I don't think 
the age of reckoning is far off. 

We have no evidence of physical abuse. We have no evidence of neglect 
(quite the opposite, actually) and no evidence that  there are problems 
between Lucius and Narcissa that could affect Draco.

In fact, Lucius actually tries to instill a touch of responsibility, believe it or not, 
in Draco in CoS. Draco is whining about how the teachers don't like him and 
favor Hermione and Lucius essentially says, "You STILL should have beaten 
her, because you're pureblood."

Loathsome and vile sentiments, but it's also telling Draco to stop being such a 
whiny git. 



> Lucius's disapproval of Draco's grades in the beginning of CoS is not 
> a sign of abuse, either.  It is a sign, actually, of a parent who has 
> expectations and shows disappointment when his son doesn't do as well 
> as his father believes he can.  I like that Lucius expected better 
> grades of his son, much as I despise Lucius.  When I have kids, I'll 
> expect good grades of them, too.

Oh, I guess I should have read further. See above for my "ditto" on this matter. 


> It is a shame that Draco is learning to harbor such hate, but his 
> parents seem to love him, encourage him and pay plenty of attention to 
> him.  Imagine the day when he sees weakness in one of them.  Now 
> *that* would be devastating.

I've long believed that Narcissa is the weak link in the Malfoy family as far as 
evil and hatred (which makes her the strongest link in terms of actual 
decency.) 

My feeling is that , if Redeemed Draco must be, then something will happen to 
Narcissa, which will cause Draco to reevaluate.

 I still, though, would rather see Draco take whatever disagreement with his 
father is lurking ahead and try to become MORE evil.

"What, Lord Voldemort? You want me to kill my own father because you feel 
he is weak? And then I get to take his spot? OK, you want Avada Kevara or 
just a knife to the heart?"

THAT'S the Draco I want to see.

> --jenny from ravenclaw, wondering if Darrin will smear her for this 

Not at all, I agree totally. You know I always take the "sympathy for Draco" stuff 
with a grain of salt the size of a boulder. 

Darrin 
-- Still plotting that book-burning if the Hermione-Draco relationship ever 
comes about.