Draco: Killer? (was:Re: DDM!Harry and Snape/Grey!Snape)

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 162884

> >>a_svirn:
> <snip>
> I mean, if, when he lowered his wand, he made a choice, than we 
> could have said, "Thanks Merlin, he made a choice not to kill". But 
> according to you he didn't. There wasn't ever a question of a 
> choice.
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
Not Magpie, obviously, but I don't recall her saying that Draco never 
made a choice, nor that choice wasn't ever a question.  In fact, 
choice was *the* question of that scene.  Draco felt he could not 
make a choice, that his postion was fixed on him by others (ie bad 
faith).  But Dumbledore enabled Draco to make a choice.  And, as you 
point out, we can now say, thank goodness Draco's made a choice to 
not kill.

> >> Magpie:
> > You have to kill the person yourself, not just  contribute in a   
> > roundabout way to that person dying.

> >>a_svirn:
> Oh, come now, Draco contributed to Dumbledore's death in a very 
> straightforward way! He let a bunch of murderers into the castle.  
> Or are we to assume that because Snape wasn't initially part of the 
> group, it just another instance of Draco's extraordinary luck? If   
> it was any other death eater Draco would be a murderer, but Snape's 
> swift and timely action exonerate him from this charge? 

Betsy Hp:
Since Draco made his choice before Snape arrived (IIRC) and since 
Snape didn't need Draco to bring him into the castle, I'd say that if 
Snape had not arrived, not only would Draco have not been a murderer, 
he'd have probably been murderered himself.  So, yes, Snape's swift 
and timely action did help Draco out of a tight spot, and also 
maintained Draco's innocence.  Draco has not killed; he is not a 
murderer.  (Anymore than Harry is.)

> >>a_svirn:
> But that what I said upthread. Draco simply accepted his own 
> limitations. He does not object to killing, but he accepts that    
> he's no good as a killer.

Betsy Hp:
How do you get that Draco doesn't object to killing?

> >>a_svirn:
> And he by no means regrets his murder attempts. JKR made a point of 
> that too. Throughout the scene Draco is boasting of them and shows 
> no signs of remorse.
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
That's how you choose to interpert Draco's words, but it's not actual 
fact.  The way I see it, Draco brought up his actions to protest 
Dumbledore calling him innocent.  Draco was in essence saying, I've 
done bad things.  The remorse and regret is implied by his 
considering those actions bad.  It's also reinforced by Harry's 
ability to pity Draco by story end.  At least, that's my 
interpertation. <g>  

Betsy Hp