The Importance of being Draco Malfoy

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 114078

Sophierom:
> I agree that Draco is unlikely to become a "good" guy by the end of
> the series.  As others have pointed out, there is just too little 
> time left in the books to develop a convincing change of heart by 
> Draco.  
> 
> That being said, I'm not so sure about the big showdown. Oh, I
> wouldn't  be surprised if one happened, I suppose, but it seems 
> that Draco is becoming less and less a real foe to Harry as the 
> threat of Voldemort grows.  In the early books, especially in CoS 
> when the Trio suspects Draco of being the Heir of Slytherin, he 
> seemed to be a real threat.  Also, Harry's adventures in books 1,2, 
> and even most of 3 were dangerous, yes, but not emotionally 
> tramautic.  
> 
> But now, as Harry grows up and he faces serious, emotional issues
> (death, betrayal, responisbility of saving the wizarding wold, 
> etc.),  Draco seems to be more of a stupid school-yard bully with 
> his two stupid sidekicks; he's become a skinnier, magical version 
> of Dudley.


SSSusan:
One of my biggest complaints with the series is the 2-D-ness of Draco 
[likely explained, as someone noted last week, by our seeing so much  
of him through Harry's eyes only].  And probably *because* Draco 
seems just a drawling, sneering smart ass, with little depth, I can't 
see him having a major change of heart, either.  That said, though, I 
still would not go so far as to say that there isn't enough time for 
that to happen, should JKR have it planned.  She has managed to pull 
some really whammies so far, even *within* a book, and if she wants 
Draco to change, I'll bet it would be convincing. 

On the other point you raise, I would disagree a bit with the 
assessment that book 3 was more of a dangerous adventure than 
emotionally traumatic for Harry.  PS/SS and CoS, I agree, were more 
adventure story, but PoA, while also filled with adventure, was, for 
Harry, filled with emotional jerkings around, with real highs & 
lows.  Consider Harry's emotional outburst with Aunt Marge, 
culminating in his running away from Privet Drive, then his 
discovering the news that a mass murderer was on the loose & likely 
out to kill him, and subsequently learning that that mass murderer 
had been his own godfather who had essentially killed his parents.  
Just think of the swings he experienced from wanting to kill Sirius 
to wanting to live with Sirius to finding out that Sirius is going to 
be Kissed and that he won't get to live with him after all.  I think 
it was a very emotionally draining year for Harry, with many of his 
actions dictated by very strong emotions.

Siriusly Snapey Susan