Defecting Draco?

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 149627

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "gwen_of_the_oaks" <GAP5685 at ...> wrote:
>
> Geoff wrote :
> > <Snipping, for brevity's sake, much of an interesting post, which 
> ends in comparing Draco on the tower to the biblical figure of Saul 
> on the road to Damascus> 
> 
> > Taking the line of parallels  between real Christian experience and 
> >the event of the Harry Potter books, I would like to 
> > see something happen to young Mr.Malfoy and would also be 
> interested to know whether 
> > there are other candidates who members of the group feel might be 
> put forward to be 
> > "turned" to the good.
> >
> 
Gwen (in post 149592):

> Thoughtful post, Geoff.  I don't know how many candidates there are 
> for redemption, because to be redeemed requires that there first be 
> some overt evil act.  The only ones who have really set themselves up 
> for redemption in that sense are Pettigrew and Snape. Snape, at least 
> according to DD, has repented and sacrificed to redeem his attachment 
> to LV.  So either he is already redeemed or he never truly repented.  
> If the latter is true, I can't see how a second, "for-real" 
> redemption is in the cards for him.  IMHO, to get a second bite at 
> the apple seems very unsatisfying.  The better candidate is Pettigrew 
> who, because of the breadth and depth of his evil acts, would require 
> an ultimate sacrifice to redeem himself.
> 
> Draco is redeemable, but it is not in the same way as Pettigrew.  I 
> see his case, as you alluded to by comparing him to Saul, as more of 
> a conversion than a redemption. There is the same potential for 
> conversion in all of the other Death-Eater offspring, because they 
> have not consciously chosen evil – they are being towed in the wake 
> of their parents' choices. They have not, on page, been forced to 
> choose a side. Draco, as we have seen, has been blinded by vengence 
> and seduced by power.  But he chose evil without understanding it.  
> Since he ultimately failed to perform he has not "sealed the deal" as 
> it were, and he could very well recant in book 7. 

a_svirn (in post 149602):
Redemption for those who sinned and conversion for those who failed to
perform? That put the whole Road to Damascus experience into the new
perspective.

Geoff:
Redemption is not just needed because of an overt evil act. 

In the Sermon on the Mount (New Testament Matthew chapter 5), Jesus draws the 
attention of his listeners to the fact that even thinking of the deed itself will draw down 
judgment on the perpetrator.

"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder', and anyone who 
murders will be subject to judgment. But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his 
brother will be subject to judgment." (verses 21-22)

"You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who 
looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (verses 
27-28)

So Jesus is saying that if you seriously think about an evil act and dwell on it in your heart 
and thoughts, it is as if you have actually done it in the eyes of God.

Draco has, up to OOTP, been largely malicious in his behaviour and a lot of his utterances 
and behaviour have been meant to bolster his status as the kingpin of the Slytherins. 

More theatre, to borrow from another thread.

But in HBP, his actions are bringing him into the area above; he is thinking about evil in his 
heart - the necklace and the potion and the intent to kill Dumbledore. Perhaps fortunately, 
we see him wavering with the last of these as he finds it is not so easy to carry out this 
task despite trying to convince himself during the year.

With regard to "conversion" and "redemption", viewing them from the standpoint of being 
an evangelical Christian, I do not see them as exclusive but inclusive. Christian teaching is 
that conversion leads to redemption. We see that we are doing wrong in the eyes of God 
and turn to him asking for forgiveness and, from that comes redemption. Draco has begun 
to turn aside from the thoughts which Dumbledore highlighted in the conversation on the 
tower. Will that turning become a move to redeem himself with the Wizarding World by 
seeing the futility of continuing to support Voldemort and giving some sort of assistance 
to the side of good?