Why redeem Draco?

[M. J. Pascual]

No: HPFGUIDX 60054

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "jenny_ravenclaw"
<meboriqua at a...> wrote:

> 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.

I'm of the opinion that Lucius' expression of disapproval is not so 
much that he believes that education is good for his son, but 
rather the sense that 'By not getting top marks, you've shamed the 
family.'  I mean, the top-of-the-class is a muggle-born witch.  For 
a family that truly believes in the supremacy of pure-bred wizards, 
this is embarassing and flying in the face of everything they 
believe.  To draw a parallel, think of Hitler watching his Master 
Race athelete beaten by Jesse Owens. That's the kind of 
disappointment I see Lucius having for Malfoy's academic performance.

--Mark