Does JKR want us to hate Draco?

[Michelle Crowe]

No: HPFGUIDX 129722

I'm going to toss my two knuts worth in here. I have been listening to 
GoF in the car and my attention was drawn to the wood, where HRH come 
across Malfoy. While he is certainly snotty toward them, he *does* help 
them in a very important way, and in a way that feels deliberate to me. 
I don't think Harry or even Ron realizes that Hermione would be in 
danger from the mob. Malfoy uses ugly language in informing them, but it 
is clearly a warning. Not exactly what I'd expect from someone who 
actually wants to see it happen.

To follow on with what others have put forth, I do see that much of his 
behavior is childish schoolboy taunting and bullying. He tries to get 
Harry in trouble, baits Ron and insults Hermione. I see much of that as 
a response to being humiliated by Harry in front of Ron. Malfoy sees 
Harry as someone with *status* (based on his notoriety) and we already 
know he thinks Ron is lower than the gunk on the bottom of his shoe. 
Harry sides with Ron, and Malfoy is angry and embarrassed. In public.

When Malfoy and his "bookends" (thank you SO much to whomever gets 
credit for that hysterical description of Crabbe and Goyle!) jump Harry 
at the end of OotP, Harry has actually *done wrong* to Malfoy. He has 
participated in events that sent his father to prison, and opened him up 
to ridicule or at least loss of social standing. Here's a kid who looks 
up to his father, and appears to emulate him, or at least idolize him. 
His nemesis was instrumental in sending him off to the pokey. He sees a 
chance to attempt to attack the *cause* of his latest humiliation (well, 
we all know that Lucius is responsible, but child who worships father 
won't see it that way) and takes it. Does that make him irredemably 
evil? Or just human? Not to mention young and impulsive. (yes, he's 
spoiled and used to having things his way, too)

I think if we recast these characters as being from the US South in the 
50's, we'd see this in a similar way as white/black relations were. Ron 
thinks black kids are ok; Harry has never given it any thought (I won't 
present him as of mixed race since he would not then be a  socially 
desirable contact for Malfoy), and Hermione (for the purpose of this 
analogy) is either black or of mixed parentage. Having lived in the 
South myself, I can say that these attitudes still exist, and that those 
who hold them (the prejudice against blacks, that is) consider it normal 
and acceptable. They do not consider that they are being ugly or 
bullying. They are simply stating the truth as they have been taught it. 
Historically, some did participate in lynchings, but most did not. That 
didn't mean they thought white kids and black kids should play together, 
though.

Now, do I think Jo's going to redeem him? I honestly don't know. But I 
do think there's wiggle room, despite his Inquisitorial Squad 
participation. He is a Slytherin, after all, ambitious and all. He saw 
DD driven from the school (a DD his father has taught him is the worst 
thing ever to happen to the school) and Umbridge now in a position of 
power. He likes the way things have developed and takes the opportunity 
to throw his lot in with the new regime. He has no idea she's been 
torturing students, probably is glad Harry, Fred and George were banned 
from Quidditch (they did beat the snot out of him, not to mention that 
their departure increases the odds of his house winning the cup - very 
Slytherin, yes?) and is thrilled that she somehow got rid of DD. I 
suspect he has no real idea of what being a DE would entail. I concur 
with the idea that he won't like groveling to LV; he wants others to 
grovel to him. And a 12 year old wishing someone dead is a lot different 
from a 17 year old killing someone outright.

Cheers all, and please let me know if you think any of this holds water!
Michelle