Draco in the Bathroom -What Next for Draco/Snape?

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 147506

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "justcarol67" <justcarol67 at ...>
wrote:
>
> Quick_Silver wrote:
> > <snip> The bathroom scene was not really about Harry or Snape
> (who go though their usual motions) but Draco. It forced Draco to
> look within himself and it brought death and violence home to him. 
> 

bboyminn:

Brilliant observation on Quick_Silver's part with respect to Draco.
Despite numerous other thoughts about Draco, I was blinded by Harry's
POV in this case. But once Quick_Silver mentioned it, Draco's point of
view hit me like a ton of bricks.


> Carol responds (to Quick_Silver):
> I would amend your statement to read that the bathroom scene was not
> *just* about Harry or Snape but also about Draco. As you say, this
> first-hand taste of violence and near-death must have given him a
> clearer idea of what Dark magic and death are all about. ...
> 

bboyminn:

Poor Draco, he is already overwhelmed to the point of tears on more
than one occassion. Things aren't going right, and he fears for his
own life as well as the lives of his family. Yet, typical Death Eater,
he is bound and determined NOT to share glory with anyone. 

I think this reflects that way in which Voldemort is a master
manipulator. He has pitted all the Death Eaters against each other.
Each determined to be 'honored above all others'. Rather brilliant on
Voldemort's part as long as the DE are plotting against each other,
they are not plotting against him. Even though Draco fears death, he
is still determined to be 'honored above all others'. He would rather
die than lose his chance at 'favored' status.

I have always imagined Draco's Death Eater fantasies going something
like this. He and his father are standing on a high balcony with
Voldemort, waving triumphantly as the wizard world bows and cowers at
their feet. Draco see himself standing as a near equal to Voldemort.
He fancies himself the Crown Prince to the Emperor. Next in line to
the throne (after his father, of course). 

Reality not living up to your dreams Draco? I should say not; no
glory, no power, no status, no admiring crowds, near collapse, near
death. The one thing that was excluded from Draco's fanciful dreams
was the bowing and scraping, the punishment, manipulation, and
backstabbing that goes on. Now Draco is on the verge of collapes.
Crushed by his new reality. Given a task that he neither wanted nor is
capable of doing. And to top it all off, in his most vulnerable
moment, who should walk in but Harry. 

The ensuing duel nearly kills him, and in that moment, when Draco is
lying on the floor bleeding, I can't help wonder whether he feared
death or embraced it? Given the mood he was in, it's difficult to tell. 


> Carol continues:
> ...edited...
> 
> The bathroom scene also enables us to glimpse again the 
> relationship between Draco and Snape, ...
> At any rate, the bathroom scene is crucial on a number of 
> levels, forthe individual characters and for their relationships:
> not only Draco/Harry but Snape/Harry and Draco/Snape. ...
> 
> Carol,...

bboyminn:

I admit I never considered Draco's reaction to the bathroom scene. Now
that it has been brought up, it must have been devastating; very, very
close to the straw that broke the camel's back for Draco.

My thoughts immediately went to 'what next' in the Draco/Snape
relationship. Snape is still clearly protecting Draco. In the scenario
I foresee; Draco and his family are not killed. Snape intercedes with
Voldemort, explaining that Draco never had what it took to kill
Dumbledore, and to think so, was expecting too much. On the other
hand, Draco was instrumental in getting the DE's into the castle, and
in utterly and completely defeating Dumbledore, so he should be given
credit for that. Snape then offers to take Draco under his wing and
whip him into first class Death Eaters.

Now we have Snape and Draco living together. Each very strongly
suspects the other has or wants to turn against Voldemort, but how to
broach the subject? If either are wrong, then the other will turn them
in to Voldemort and that will surely be death. But still, what hope is
there? How can Draco get out without trusting Snape? How can he even
hint at a subject, in which if he is wrong, he is dead? 

I don't know how JKR will work it into the story, but I find this
'what next' aspect of Snape and Draco's relationship fascinating, and
it is one of the more eagerly awaited parts of the next book. Will
they save each other? Will they betray each other? Who will be the
first to dare to speak? Enquiring minds want to know.

Just a few thoughts.

STeve/bboyminn