Draco's bigotry and leadership

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 144637

> >>Betsy Hp:
> > So basically you're saying Blaise decided the best place to     
> > enjoy the long journey to Hogwarts was with a boy he disliked,   
> > smashed into a seat with two other large boys, so that the boy   
> > he disliked could lounge comfortably on the other seat with his 
> > girlfriend.  I don't get your logic here.  

> >>a_svirn:
> It may not have necessarily been the way you suggest. Zabiny could 
> have found a nice quiet compartment for himself, when Draco and    
> his sidekicks got in. And while he was being entertained by       
> Slughorn, Draco's girlfriend joined Draco and Co. So he found      
> himself squeezed into the seat with two large boys. Which annoyed 
> him.

Betsy Hp:
Well, I disagree (especially since Blaise chose his own seat), but 
again, your scenario means Draco is a powerful figure within 
Slytherin.  Per your scenario, Blaise is forced to stay in a 
compartment with a boy he dislikes, in an uncomfortable seat in 
order to keep Draco happy or not offend Draco or something. (I'd 
love to hear what you think is motivating Blaise's choices here.)  

> >>Betsy Hp:
> > Though if Blaise *does* dislike Draco than he *must* see Draco   
> > as a rather powerful leader.  

> a_svirn:
> ??!!

Betsy Hp:
Yeah, maybe you should go back upthread and reread the next sentence 
of my comment (the part snipped).  It explains the above and 
shouldn't leave you quite as gob-smacked, hopefully.

I can't help feeling you're trying to have it both ways.  Per you, 
Draco is one of the more pathetic members of Slythern, and Blaise 
dislikes him.  But at the same time Blaise *can't help* but hang 
with Draco on the long journey to Hogwarts, making sure Draco is 
comfortably situated, rather than sitting with his friends.  Either 
Draco is Blaise's friend, or Blaise fears offending him.

> >>Betsy Hp:
> > Can a bigot ever change? Or is it once a bigot, always a bigot?

> >>a_svirn:
> It's an interesting philosophical question. Can anyone who for 
> decades has honestly believed that Earth is flat change his or her 
> mind on the subject? I believe one can, but one rarely does. 

Betsy Hp:
Of course, Draco has held these beliefs for barely a decade, being 
only sixteen himself. <g>

The deciding factor will be how JKR would answer that particular 
question.

Betsy Hp