Does JKR want us to hate Draco? (was: Re: Admonishing Snape)

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 129742

>>Betsy (Horridporrid -- since I see there's another Betsy on the 
list :-): 
>Why would JKR include those scenes?<
<snip>
>These are three occasions for Draco to come off as a complete and 
total drip, and instead JKR slips in strong suggestions that Draco 
actually *wants* to be Harry's friend.<

>> Gerry:
>Does he? In the first scene we see him showing off, trying to 
impress. Not wanting to be Harry's friend, but wanting to be 
acknowledged as his superiour.<

Betsy Hp:
The thing is there's nothing in this scene (especially at first) that 
tells me Draco is trying to prove to Harry that he is superior to 
him.  He tries to talk to Harry about Quidditch and House preference 
and new racing brooms.  All fairly typical topics, I would think, for 
young wizarding boys to use as means of striking up conversation.  In 
fact it's only after Draco's attempts at conversation fail rather 
miserably that Draco starts down the "what's your blood status?" 
path.  Interestingly enough Draco asks for Harry's surname at the 
very *last*, something I think his father would have asked at the 
very outset.

>>Gerry:
>Immediately after Harry is placed nest to Draco, Harry gets
his robe slipped over his head. It is very well possible that Draco
did not get a good look at Harry's muggle clothes. So they are just
two boys in new school robes in a probably posh shop (Hagrid takes him
to the best shops.)<

Betsy Hp:
Mmm.  That's a good point.  I always pictured Draco watching as Harry 
made his way to the back of the shop, but he could well have only 
looked at Harry as he climbed onto the stool, which *would* leave 
little time to check out Harry's clothes.  And I would never argue 
that Draco *isn't* interested in blood and rank.  He is his father's 
son after all.  But I think his interest comes directly from his 
family's prompting, rather than naturally.  Again, Draco asks for 
Harry's surname at the very end of the scene, so it doesn't read like 
it's his instinctual interest.

So why does JKR include this scene?  Why does she allow Draco to 
blather ignorantly on with no idea he's offending Harry?  Well, Draco 
does a perfect job of informing the reader, and Harry, that the WW is 
much more complicated than expected.  It's not a paradise where all 
of Harry's problems will go away.  Hagrid tries to simplify the 
problem - yes there are bad wizards, but they're all in Slytherin 
(clearly marked by their black hats <g>) so no worries.  And at first 
JKR seems to be going along with this simplification.  Snape is evil, 
Draco is evil, therefore Slytherin is evil.  But by book end we 
realize that Snape is merely a redherring and evil Professor Quirrell 
is never identified as a Slytherin.  There *are* bad wizards but 
they, rather inconventiently, leave their black hats at home.  Which 
means the reader should question *everyone*.  First impressions may 
well be wrong.

>>Gerry: 
>In the second scene he does not want to be Harry's friend, he wants 
to be HARRY POTTER's friend. If Harry was just another normal half-
blood he would have looked down his nose at him.<

Betsy Hp:
This is very true.  And Draco (bless him) makes it abundantly clear.  
Not very smooth, nor all that cunning.  I feel sympathy for his 
awkwardness, but I don't blame Harry his aversion.  And Ron, even 
with his particular flaws, makes a far better friend.  (Just as the 
Weasleys make a far better adoptive family than the Malfoys would 
have.)  

But JKR *still* muddies the waters.  Yes, Draco is clearly wanting to 
get the Harry Potter legend on his side.  But Ron is just as 
interested in Harry being *that* Harry.  He's eager to hear about 
Harry's defeat of Lord Voldemort (forgetting, as children do, that 
this was when Harry lost his parents so perhaps expressing an 
eagerness is not the most tactful thing to do).  And when Harry gets 
sorted into Gryffindor the twins chant, "We got Potter! We got 
Potter!" (SS paperback p.122)

So the reader is all, "Ooh, Draco just wants to be friends with Harry 
because of his *fame*, ick!"  And then JKR turns around and shows 
that *everyone* wants to be friends with Harry because of his fame.  
Frankly, Harry was lucky to latch on to Ron who though first 
attracted by the legend sticks around for just plain Harry.

>>Gerry: 
>>As for the dragon... 
<snip>
>Malfoy keeps his mouth shot, for a couple of weeks, in which
he comes to the hospital wing to gloat at Ron and to threathen him he
will display the secret. He does not once approach Harry to tell him
he will keep his mouth, and Hagrid's secretis safe. In the end he does
betray them, when he gets captured by McGonnagal, when Harry and Ron
are under the invisibility cloak. I must really miss something here,
as I cannot find any attempt at friendship here.<

Betsy Hp:
This entire setup strikes me as strange.  Draco overhears the trio 
talking and realizes that Hagrid has a dragon [234].  He sneaks down 
to Hagrid's hut (by himself) and confirms that what he heard was true 
[235].   Ron gets bitten and ends up in the hospital wing and Draco 
comes to taunt Ron about what bit him.  He borrows a book that tells 
him exactly when Harry will be getting rid of the dragon [238].  
Draco then sneaks out to where Harry will have to pass with the 
dragon and stumbles into McGonagall.  And *finally* he starts 
babbling about Harry and a dragon [240].  It just doesn't make sense 
with what we've learned about Draco.

First, Draco almost *never* goes around on his own.  Usually Crabbe 
and Goyle are right behind him.  But here we have him sneaking down 
to Hagrid's hut on his own, and even more out of character, sneaking 
around Hogwarts, in the middle of the night, alone.  Why?  And why 
does he take so long to snitch on them?  Why does it take getting 
caught himself to finally let slip about the dragon?  He's cutting it 
awfully fine, IMO.  Is he expecting to overpower Harry and Hermione 
and drag them in front of Dumbledore himself?  Remember, Draco's 
already set Harry up to get caught out after curfew (the dueling 
incident) and he felt no need to actually be there himself.  So what 
*is* Draco up to?

My personal theory is that Draco *really* wants to see a dragon.  
He's an established rival of Harry's so he can't just ask to see it.  
Maybe he visited Ron in the hospital because he was hoping Ron would 
offer Draco a chance to see the dragon if he just kept his mouth 
shut.  I'm sure he enjoyed watching Ron squirm, but if that's all he 
was going for, why not out and out tell Madam Pomfrey about the 
dragon?  Of course, Ron doesn't offer the compromise but Draco does 
find out when the dragon's being moved.  So he lies in wait.  I think 
he was just as shocked to run into McGonagall as McGonagall was to 
run into him.  (I picture Draco leaping onto McGonagall with "haha, 
I've got you now, Harry!" thoughts and being horribly surprised to 
realize he's just manhandled a professor.)  Once he's caught Draco 
attempts to cover for himself by telling on Harry (completely in 
character) but I really don't think stumbling across McGonagall was 
part of his evil plot.  I don't think there ever was an evil plot.

That's why I think this was a final chance for Draco and Harry to 
become friends (bonding over the dragon like Ron and Harry bonded 
with Hermione over the troll).  And JKR gives the reader a couple of 
hints that there's more to Draco than just blood prejudice and a joy 
in seeing Harry squirm.  I think the dragon adventure, more than 
anything else, is what started me down the path of thinking there's 
more to Draco than what first meets the eye.

>>Betsy Hp:
>Do I sympathize? [Quidditch final in PoA] Heck yeah.  What has JKR 
done to discourage me?<

>>Gerry:
>Made it clear Draco has bought his place on the team. And now he has 
to compete for real, against somebody who got his place on merits 
alone.<

Betsy Hp:
We got that lesson all the way back in CoS.  Harry beats Draco by 
grabbing the snitch from right under his nose, with a broken arm no 
less.  *This* match was a perfect example of the underdog winning 
with all things going against him.  Draco has the better broom, Harry 
has a broken arm, and Harry still wins.  Draco is left getting a 
lecture from his team captain on how to play the game.  And this 
proves that JKR *knows* how to write a classic sporting tale.  So why 
does she go against all the rules in PoA, especially if she's trying 
to turn all the readers against Draco?

>>Gerry:
>I actually thought this scene a good lesson for Draco. It taught him 
money can sometimes buy you a position, but if you have it you 
yourself have to live up to it.<

Betsy Hp:
But the *only* reason Harry beats Draco in the Quidditch final in PoA 
is because he, Harry, has the better broom.  *Draco* is actually 
playing a better role of Seeker.  *Draco* is the one keeping his eyes 
peeled for the snitch while Harry is off playing the hero (assisting 
Angelina -- which *was* a nice thing to do,IMO, just not smart 
quidditch playing).  This is almost an exact reverse of what occured 
in the CoS game, where Draco is the one not looking for the snitch.  
Harry wins because his rich Godfather bought him a top of the line 
broom.  That goes totally against the rules of the classic sporting 
tale.  The hero is supposed to win on skill, not better equipment.  
And the only lesson Draco learned is those rich enough to have the 
best win.  Something I suspect his father has already taught him.  
Harry just happens to have richer relatives (or more generous ones 
anyway).  It's a strange tact for JKR to take, and not a good way to 
show off how horrible and evil Draco is. 

>>Betsy Hp:
<snip>
>...on the floor in pain and humiliation and he's *still* spitting 
defiance at the person who's so obviously way beyond his match. Does 
JKR seriously expect me to *not* admire that sort of backbone?<  

>>Gerry: 
>What backbone? He mumbles 'my father.' And running to daddy does not 
strike me as admirable. He also immediately stops when Moody calls 
his bluff.<

Betsy Hp:
But looking "malevolently" at the man who's just beaten you and 
threatening to tell on him ain't wussy, IMO.  And sure Draco shuts up 
when Fake!Moody grabs him by the arm and drags him off to Snape.  For 
one thing, he's being taken where I'm sure he wants to go; if any 
professor will protect him from this abuser it'll be Snape.  For 
another, he's in close physical proximity to an obvious threat.  
Shutting up is the smart thing to do.  It doesn't, IMO, take away the 
fact that Draco is *not* cowed by Fake!Moody.

>>Betsy Hp: 
>And isn't it interesting that it's by having Fake!Moody abuse Draco 
that JKR drops the first hint that this particular DADA professor 
ain't right.

>>Gerry: 
>It is also the first hint as why he hates Death Eaters who have gone 
free.<

Betsy Hp:
I missed that one.  What does this scene tell us about Fake!Moody's 
hatred towards Death Eaters who've walked free? 
  
>>Gerry
>James and Sirius certainly were bullies, but only against Snape, and 
the feeling was mutual. Draco loves the misery of everybody he does 
not like.<

Betsy Hp:
I quote Lily regarding James' (and most likely Sirius') behavior 
towards those they don't like:

"...walking down corridors and hexing anyone who annoys you just 
because you can..."  (OotP scholastic ed p.648)

So apparently James was just as bad, if not worse (we don't often 
hear about Draco throwing random hexes), towards those he disliked.  
I don't condone anyone's behavior here.  But because James and Sirius 
grow up and become good men, I have hope that Draco is still open 
towards that sort of change.  Because JKR saw fit to paint James and 
Sirius in this particular light and made very clear that fifteen year-
olds *do* grow up I think she is still leaving a door open for Draco. 
 
>>Betsy Hp:
>Draco is not a paragon of virtue.  He is a nasty little boy with a 
lot of anger issues and a messed up value system, but so far he's not 
done anything, IMO, that can't easily be forgiven (as per rules of 
forgiveness within the Potterverse as set out by JKR) *if* he finally 
joins the side of Light.< 

>>Gerry:
>That I agree with, but I would want to see some very good reasons as 
why he would change.<

Betsy Hp:
I agree.  JKR can't just have Draco suddenly side with the Light.  
He'd have to go against his father for one thing and JKR has done too 
good a job setting up Draco's love and admiration for his father for 
Draco to easily oppose him.  I have no idea *how* JKR will set Draco 
down the right path (if she even does), though I suspect Snape may 
have something to do with it.  Mainly I'm just trying to say that at 
this point JKR has left many doors open to Draco. 

>>Gerry: 
>In one of the essays you posted somebody excuses Draco joining the 
Inquisitorial Squad as him choosing the force of law and order. Not a 
bad point. But how do we see Draco use his power? We see him abusing 
it. Also, Draco knows LV is back, he knows Harry is right and 
Umbridge and the Ministry are wrong and misleading the pubic and the 
students. With his joinig of Umbridge he deliberately helps her 
against spreading the truth. Now I do not say he needed to go against 
his father, but he could have stayed neutral. I do not think it is a 
coincidence that half the squad we know by name are children of Death 
Eaters, who have an interest in having the truth stay covered.<

Betsy Hp:
I don't think it's a coincidence either.  Draco could well be taking 
marching orders from his father (who appears to be in contact with 
Umbridge).  And he does gleefully misuse the power given him by 
Umbridge.  I agree that Draco isn't really on the side of law and 
order here.  (Or at least not order.  Draco seems to really enjoy the 
chaos Umbridge is spreading, especially since it's hurting those he 
dislikes.)  No, Draco certainly does nothing in OotP to suggest he's 
turning away from Voldemort.  I think if you asked him, at this point 
he'd be eager to follow in his father's footsteps and become a Death 
Eater.

What I question is if Draco a) fully understands what it is to be a 
Death Eater, and b) if he *really* has the personality to truly enjoy 
killing and torturing people.  Does Draco, as we've seen him, seem 
the type who'd relish turning a Crucio on someone until they 
literally went mad from the pain? I think JKR has left that question 
open, and so I do think it's still possible for Draco to move away 
from his father and make the right choice. 

>>Betsy Hp:
<snip>
>And I don't see how removing such an obviously strong influence in 
Draco's life and thereby possibly prepping him to be open to other 
influences would constitute a half-assed redemption.  It seems fairly 
realistic to me.  (Think of all those kids who start rethinking their 
family philosophy when they go away to college.)<

>>Gerry:
>What removing? He in Azkaban without the dementors.<

Betsy Hp:
Yes, but if Lucius breaks out (a very real possibility) I doubt he'll 
be able to just hang around Malfoy Manor giving Draco advice.

>>Gerry:
>Besides, the boy is at boarding school, removed from parental 
authority for most of the year. Not much of a difference here.< 

Betsy Hp:
But his family *is* in constant contact.  How else does Draco get 
those little tid-bits of information he passes on to Harry all the 
time?  Even if Lucius breaks out of Azkaban he'll be on the run, I 
imagine, so he'll have little time to stay in contact with Draco.  
And without his father around to offer advice and montor his choices 
Draco may turn to the other father-figure in his life, Snape.  And 
that might be a turning point for him.  (I cannot see Snape 
encouraging Draco to become a Death Eater, not after he's struggled 
so long to make up for that mistake.)

Betsy Hp