OoP Draco's warnings

[rlharalson]

No: HPFGUIDX 62187

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "kiricat2001" <Zarleycat at a...> 
wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Kia" <kiatrier at y...> wrote:
> > As someone will remember Draco warned the Trio during the 
> > QWC:
> 
> <snip>  
> > 
> > And now in the train  Draco says: "Well, just watch yourself, 
> > Potter, because I'll be *dogging* your footsteps in case you step 
> > out of line."
> > 
> > As Harry nearly immediately realizes Malfoy talks about Sirius 
> > here. But why? I mean except for being a nasty kid who wants to 
> > show off his secret knowledge? I mean it is exactly like the QWC, 
> > where Draco is a nasty brat, but in the same moment *warns* 
> > Harry of the danger his friend is in. If Malfoy hadn't warned 
Harry 
> > here unnecessarily, Sirius would have met him in Hogsmeade 
> > and would have probably been arrested. On the other hand, for 
> > the rest of the book Draco is simply worthy of a few selected 
> > cuss words and his behaviour, especially in the office... well, 
> it's 
> > not really redemption material.
> > 
> > So is Draco showing off his knowledge here or is really giving 
> > Harry a warning?
> >
> 
> I'd vote for showing off.  It seems to be a pattern for Draco to 
toss 
> these comments Harry's way.  In PoA there is this exchange:
> 
> ...Malfoy's eyes were shining malevolently, and they were fixed on 
> Harry.  He leaned across the table.
> "Thinking of trying to catch Black single-handed, Potter?"
> "Yeah, that's right," said Harry offhandedly.
> Malfoy's mouth was curving in a mean smile.
> "Of course, if it was me," he said quietly, "I'd have done 
something 
> before now.  I wouldn't be staying in school like a good boy, I'd be
> out there looking for him."
> 
> ..."Don't you *know* Potter?" breathed Malfoy, his pale eyes 
narrowed.
> 
> And a few lines later Malfoy says," ..if it was me, I'd want 
revenge. 
> I'd hunt him down myself."
> 
> Harry has no idea what Draco is talking about, because he doesn't 
yet 
> know that Sirius is his godfather.  Now that we know more of the 
> Black family tree, it seems reasonable that Draco learned about 
this 
> from his parents, and it was a precious, little nugget of 
information 
> he could dangle enticingly in front of Harry. 
> 
> I see these instances as Draco puffing himself up with the bits and 
> scraps of things he hears from his father.  
> 
> Marianne, firmly in the non-redeemable Draco camp

I think perhaps Draco's redemption may be part of the last two books, 
but it would take something extreme, live Voldermort killing his 
father or even both his parents for him to realize the error of his 
ways. I think he'll always be kinda nasty, you know Snape-like. But 
Snape was redeemed and we still don't know why. I think the new song 
of the Shorting Hat is a clue to Draco's future. The houses will have 
to come together. This sorta starts with the DA's, every house but 
Slytherin was represented. I don't think Slytherin will be co-
operative until someone like Draco comes around. It may not happen, 
but JKR has set it up a possibility especially with the precedent of 
Voldemort killing his followers.

Renee