Draco - his task, redeemable? (Re: The GoF Train Scene (was:Re: Humanity, Kant, Caricatures, and Draco))

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 146843

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "fuzz876i" <fuzz876i at y...> 
wrote:

> > Geoff:
> > <snip> Snape - for whatever motive - completed Draco's task as
> > he had promised Narcissa at Spinner's End.
> >
> > I have on more than one occasion said that I do not believe 
> > that Draco is irredeemable. That, by the way, does not mean 
> > that I necessarily think he /will/ be redeemed because if a 
> > person refuses to hear or see what is to be done for redemption, 
> > then ultimately they reach a point of being unable to see or 
> > hear anything. <snip>
> > 
> > Anyone, however wicked, has an opportunity to be redeemed. 

Fuzz876i
> When Malfoy had Dumbledore at his mercy on the astronomy tower 
> the death eaters that were there cheered for Malfoy to end it. 
>  Before their arrival on the tower roof Dumbledore tried to 
> persuade Malfoy to turn to the right side and no one would have 
> to die he offered the OOP help in protecting him and his parents 
> which Malfoy declined.  Malfoy had made up his mind to continue 
> with the evil plan and let Snape kill Dumbledore; he chose the 
> evil over the good and is not redeemable.

Geoff:
I fear I must disagree with you here, My interpretation of canon is 
that we are /not/ shown a Draco who "had made up his mind to continue 
with he evil plan."

I am not sure either that he knew about Snape taking the Unbreakable 
Vow to protect him.

Let's consider some canon evidence (or lack of it):

`"I haven't got any options!" said Malfoy and he was suddenly as 
white as Dumbledore. "I've got to do it! He'll kill me! He'll kill my 
whole family!"
"I appreciate the difficulty of your position," said Dumbledore. "Why 
else do you think I have not confronted you before now? Because I 
knew that you would have been murdered if Lord Voldemort realised 
that I suspected you."'

(HBP "the Lightning-Struck Tower" p.553 UK edition)

`"
I can help you Draco."
"No, you can't," said Malfoy, his wand hand shaking very badly 
indeed. "Nobody can. He told me to do it or he'll kill me. I've got 
no choice."
"Come over to the right side, Draco...

...come over to the right side, Draco
 you are not a killer..."
Malfoy stared at Dumbledore.
"But I got this far didn't I?" he said slowly. "They thought I'd die 
in the attempt, but I'm here... and you're in my power... I'm the one 
with the wand... you're at my mercy..."
"No, Draco," said Dumbledore quietly. "It is my mercy, and not yours, 
that matters now."
Malfoy did not speak. His mouth was open, his wand hand still 
trembling.'
(ibid. pp.552-53)

This is not the boastful, swaggering Draco we saw when he first 
appeared on the rooftop (p.546). His confidence has been gradually 
ebbing away as the realisation of his own fragile personal position 
has been underlined during his conversation with Dumbledore. And the 
decline continues....

`"Well, I cannot pretend it does not disgust me a little," said 
Dumbledore. "And, yes, I am a little shocked that Draco here invited 
you, of all people, into the school where his friends live
"
"I didn't," breathed Malfoy. He was not even looking at Greyback; he 
did not seem to want to even glance at him. "I didn't know he was 
going to come –"'
(ibid. p.554)

`"No," said the fourth Death eater sharply. He has a heavy brutal-
looking face. "We've got orders. Draco's got to do it. Now, Draco and 
quickly."
Malfoy was showing less resolution than ever. He looked terrified as 
he stared into Dumbledore's face
.'
(ibid. pp.554-55)

`"Now, Draco, quickly!"  said the brutal-faced man angrily.
But Malfoy's hand was shaking so badly that he could barely aim.'
(ibid. p.555)

Here we have got an idealistic teenager (idealistic for the wrong 
cause obviously) who has been buoyed up on the high of doing 
something for Voldemort who suddenly finds the light of the real 
world breaking in through the window and that light revealing a much 
darker and dangerous place that he was hoping to enter. Draco is now 
a badly frightened and disorientated youth and certainly still far 
form irredeemable. The influences on him now will be crucial.