Draco's nature

[Kate Harding]

No: HPFGUIDX 110507

SSSusan:
I think you may have reversed 2 & 3 in your explanation here?  That
is, it's 2 that shows she's a snob and 3 that might be more
promising?  If I've got that right--well, whatever, for the "she
wants him close" item--it seems at least as fair an assumption that
it means she loves him as that she merely wants to control him.  It's
definitely not a "given" that it's evidence Draco isn't loved.


Now psyche:
You're quite right, I did indeed reverse 2 & 3! Should have proof read more 
carefully.

You're also right that the above isn't evidence that she doesn't love him. 
My point was that it's not evidence that she does. Stalemate at best on 
no.3! (it is 3 this time, isn't it?)


SSSusan:
Yes, your assumptions about life w/ the Malfoys is exactly what I
speculated originally--that Draco is frightened of his father yet
spoiled by them both.  And I may be walking a fine line here, but I
wasn't looking for whether or not Draco had been shown "healthy
parental love"; I just said I wanted to see, in canon, where we can
see that Draco's life has been "loveless."  It still seems a big
leap, to me, to say he's not been loved.


Now psyche:
Fair dos. It seems we have different definitions of love, and there's not 
much further we can go given that. However, in defence of my view I would 
like to offer this quote from Jo, which I noticed in caesian's excellent 
post about Petunia's secret:

16 November 2000 Dateline Harry Pottermania in Vancouver, with J.K.
Rowling
  `I like torturing them,` said Rowling. `You should keep an eye on
Dudley. It's probably too late for Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon. I
feel sorry for Dudley. I might joke about him, but I feel truly sorry
for him because I see him as just as abused as Harry. Though, in
possibly a less obvious way. What they are doing to him is inept,
really. I think children recognize that. Poor Dudley. He's not being
prepared for the world at all, in any reasonable or compassionate way,
so I feel sorry for him. But there's something funny about him, also.
The pig's tail was irresistible.`

I agree with Jo: that kind of doting is more abuse than love.

psyche

  ----------


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.726 / Virus Database: 481 - Release Date: 22/07/2004


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]