Draco's bigotry and leadership

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 144694

> >>a_svirn:
> Not at all. Blaise spent the entire journey in a much more 
> interesting company than Draco and his sidekicks. He only had to 
> endure their company for the last half an hour or so before 
> Hogsmead, so why fuss about it? There are more subtle ways to even 
> the score. I would even go so far as to say more Slytherin ways. 

Betsy Hp:
I'm confused by your timeline here.  Draco and Pansy would have 
started off in the Prefects Compartment, normally.  So then Blaise 
chose the "interesting company" of Crabbe and Goyle?

There's also a question of how long the Prefects' meeting is.  Ron 
and Hermione tell Harry that Draco is blowing off his prefect 
duties.  So does that mean he actually didn't go to meeting, or does 
that mean that the prefects have to sort of patrol the train for a 
bit?  Either way, Draco doesn't spend as much time on his prefect 
duties as Ron and Hermione, so he gets to his compartment before 
they do. We do know he was there when Blaise gets his invitation to 
the luncheon, because he knows to ask about it when Blaise returns.

So I'm not sure how that translates to barely half an hour in 
Draco's company.  

> >>a_svirn:
> Incidentally, I didn't call Draco pathetic. I said his             
> childishness was pathetic for a sixteen year old. Which it was.

Betsy Hp:
Uh huh.  Okay.  Noted: Draco is not pathetic; his actions are. (I'm 
confused as to the relevance, but am almost afraid to ask <g>)

> >>a_svirn:
> Certainly Blaise seems more mature.

Betsy Hp:
Blaise does give good face.  He's the very model of disinterested.

> >>a_svirn: 
> And I don't try to have anything both ways. Rather I feel you are 
> the one who tries to overdramatize situation with your 
> favourite "either-or" type of argument. In reality there are acres 
> and hectares of middle ground to be had. It is virtually           
> impossible NOT to hang out with housemates in a boarding school,   
> especially if they are your peers.
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
Which is why Harry often enjoys the long journey to Hogwarts with 
Dean and Seamus.  Wait, erm... Lavander and Parvati?  You were 
saying... <g>  

Sorry, I don't think I'm being all that "overdramatic" to suggest 
that Blaise must not think too badly of Draco since he chooses 
Draco's compartment, filled with Draco's friends, to sit in.  I also 
think it's a bit silly to ignore the seating arrangement.  
Especially when JKR went through so much trouble to highlight it.

I've said it before, literature is not anthropology.  If an author 
chooses to show us something, the very fact she took the time to 
write it suggests a certain significance.  While, yes, Draco must 
bump into his fellow Slytherins all the time, JKR *chose* to have 
the mab show him with Pansy and Blaise.  

Middle ground is all very good, but I'm not suggesting Draco and 
Blaise are blood brothers, best of best friends, ready to die for 
each other.  I'm just saying they get along. 

What *is* dramatic to my mind (unnecessarily so, I think) is the 
idea that Blaise dislikes Draco and is in the midst of a subtle 
Slytherin plot to even the score.

Betsy Hp (I'd have changed the subject line but the HPfGU's page is 
acting really weird and I'm not even sure this will post ::crosses 
fingers::)