[HPforGrownups] Re: Draco's alleged dark mark/Harry and Draco

[Magpie]

No: HPFGUIDX 162605

quigoniginger:
> With regards to Draco- perhaps it was still new when he was at
> Malkin's shop, and that it was either not yet set fully and was still
> tender, or that he was still focused on it, like when you get a tooth
> pulled and you can't help but stick your tongue in the empty socket
> until you get used to it.

Magpie:
Or it was just what Draco claimed it was--Malkin stuck him with a pin while 
pinning his sleeve. Remember Harry's interpretation was that he didn't want 
Malkin to see it--I don't think he even remembered the pain issue. He just 
said Draco "jumped a mile" when Malkin went near his arm.

Alla:
Could you bring me couple of examples where Harry judges Malfoy based on 
something **else** besides him holding his bigoted views, something 
independent from that?

Magpie:
Harry doesn't like Draco before his bigoted views come out. Draco reminds 
him of Dudley when he says he'll bully his father into buying him a broom 
(which isn't actually true), likes him less and less as he talks about 
school houses, and what he's heard about Hagrid and how he's good at 
Quidditch.  It's only *after* Harry coldly says "I think he's brilliant" 
(not liking Malfoy's unflattering report of what he's heard about Hagrid) 
that Malfoy brings up Purebloods. He thinks he struts in the Sorting, feels 
he doesn't show Harry interest in their first meeting.  His hatred of this 
kid has nothing to do with a philosophical opposition to Pureblood elitism. 
If Ron had revealed he'd been raised with Muggleborn prejudice I don't think 
Harry would have hated Ron--even if he would have objected to that 
particular prejudice because of his mother. Just as Harry doesn't hate 
Slughorn when he picks up on his Muggleborn prejudice. He doesn't like the 
prejudice, but he doesn't hate Slughorn because Slughorn's personality 
doesn't  get under his skin. Nor does Ernie Macmillan, whom he finds pompous 
but likes anyway, even though Ernie brags about his family being Pureblood 
back 9 generations. Draco's personality does bug Harry.

> Magpie:
> He's misinterpreting that Draco is just as insecure and wanting to
make
> friends as Harry is.

Alla:

How would he see it? Why would he see it? All that he sees is the bigot who 
let Harry knows what he thinks and feels on Muggleborns, etc?

Magpie:
It doesn't matter how or why he would see it.  He doesn't. In the chapter 
that begins "Harry never thought he'd ever hate any boy more than Dudley, 
but that was before he met DM" there's not a word about Draco's views on 
Muggleborns. Harry's not an anti-Muggleborn prejudice activist, he's a boy 
who can't stand that Malfoy kid--and wouldn't be able to stand him if Malfoy 
were Muggleborn himself (especially if he were a Muggleborn somehow raised 
in the WW so he could have that advantage over Harry). Malfoy is brought up 
far more in connection to Harry's own insecurities than prejudice.

Alla:

I know I did not see that ;) I see precisely that - the son of the rich 
former Death Eater, somebody who thinks that thanks to his father's 
connections he can have all that - be on the team, have good broom ( who Is 
dissapointed when Harry gets on the team, etc)

Magpie:
When Harry meets him he knows nothing of Death Eaters, and I think that 
rather than seeing someone who thinks he can be on the team and have a good 
broom, he sees someone who can get on the team and have a good broom.

Alla:
Sure, Draco is insecure in HBP, daddy is in prison and he eventually does 
learn that Voldie dear is blackmailing him, but I see Draco in books 1-5 as 
supremely secure and confident in himself.


Magpie:
Which is what Draco wants us to see--and especially wants Harry to see since 
Harry humiliated him and rejected him. Just as Hermione isn't supremely 
secure and confident despite also projecting that image in PS. When Harry 
sees signs that Draco might have his own problems and insecurities, he just 
chalks it up under a wonderful, isolated moment where Draco gets put down 
that will have no affect on his confidence.  He's the face of Harry's own 
insecurity far more, imo, than the face of prejudice that Harry is fighting. 
Prejudice is not a huge hot button for Harry.

-m