Draco's Redemption

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 149744

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

a_svirn: 
> My dictionary says: "boast 1) speak proudly about possessions and 
> accomplishments; transitive and intransitive verb, to praise 
> yourself, or speak arrogantly about things you possessed or have 
> achieved." That's exactly what Draco's doing. So what if he fails to 
> impress Dumbledore when he speaks about things he's accomplished? He 
> failed to impress Harry when he spoke about things he possessed too. 

Magpie:
> >Draco's on 
> > the defensive.  The best he can come up with is, "Yeah, well, you 
> > didn't figure out it was me, did you?"  (Which, of course, DD 
> did.)  
> > Draco's in no shape to boast in this scene.  

Geoff:
My interpretation of the scene on the tower is probably diametrically opposed to yours – 
which seems to be our traditional stance(!)

I see two things about Draco to underline his lack of confidence and feelings of 
uncertainty about the development of events.

Firstly, his boasting is a façade; he is indulging in bravado, he is whistling in the dark, 
Secondly, there is the evidence of his nervousness, his feeling of being ill at ease, his 
general body language, So often, when he says something boastful, it is belies by other 
factors.

Let's look at some canon: 

`"I came on ahead. I – I've got a job to do."
"Well, then, you must get on and do it, my dear boy,@ said Dumbledore softly.
There was silence


Draco Malfoy did nothing but stare at Albus Dumbledore
'

`Somewhere in the depths of the castle below Harry, heard a muffled yell. Malfoy stiffened 
and glanced over his shoulder. "Somebody is putting up a good fight," said Dumbledore 
conversationally. "But you were saying
 yes, you have managed to introduce Death Eaters 
into my school which, I admit, I thought impossible
 how did you do it?"
But Malfoy said nothing: he was still listening to whatever was happening below and 
seemed almost as paralysed as Harry was.'

`"Perhaps you should get on with the job alone," suggested Dumbledore. "
 I have no 
wand at the moment
 I cannot defend myself."
Malfoy merely stared at him.'

`Malfoy looked as though he was fighting down the urge to shout, or to vomit. He gulped 
and took several deep breaths, glaring at Dumbledore, his wand pointing directly at the 
latter's heart.'

`There was another yell from below, rather louder than the last. Malfoy looked nervously 
over his shoulder again
'

`"Enchanted coins," said Malfoy, as though he was compelled to keep talking, though his 
wand hand was shaking badly.'

`Malfoy gave a harsh laugh.
"You care about me saying `Mudblood' when I'm about to kill you?"
"Yes, I do," said Dumbledore and Harry saw his feet slide a little on the floor as he 
struggled to remain upright. "But as for being about to kill me, Draco, you have had 
several long minutes now. We are quite alone. I am more defenceless than you can 
dreamed of finding me and still you have not acted
"'

`Malfoy did not speak. His mouth was open, his wan hand still trembling. Harry thought he 
saw it drop by a fraction.'

`"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
'

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

(HBP "The Lightning-Struck Tower"  sections from pp.546-555 UK edition)

Right. Now imagine that, like Harry, you are an invisible observer to this action, maybe not 
party to all that has gone on in the past involving Draco. Does this boy strike you as a 
hardened amoral killer, prepared to stop at nothing to gain his goal of killing Dumbledore? 
Someone basking in the golden light of being praised by all Voldemort's evil supporters 
for carrying out possibly the second biggest blow for the Dark side short of Harry's death?

I suspect that our unseen and impartial observer would see someone for whom the 
imagined glow and satisfaction of carrying out a deed for Voldemort has been replaced by 
a douche of cold water in the face as the enormity of the step he has been planning strikes 
home. Truth, with its face of agony, stands face to face with him. Can he kill in cold blood? 
Does he so much want to be a Death Eater that he can mortgage his conscience?

Has he, like Lady Macbeth, got the bottle to say:
"We fail? 
But screw your courage to the sticking-place,
And we'll not fail"

Judging by his reactions here, I have my doubts. Perhaps it is for his own good and the 
good of his soul that the choice was taken from his hands,