Draco as Victim in GoF (was: Re: The Huge overreactions...)

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 150273

> Amiable Dorsai:
> I don't understand.  Draco and the Drakettes clearly tried to provoke
> a reaction.
> 
> How does success beyond their wildest dreams make them victims?

Pippin:
Compare Harry and Co's reaction to Dumbledore's
in a similar situation and look at the results.


Harry and his friends reacted to offensive language and the threat 
of violence with violence.

Result: Draco became more embittered and violent.
 
OTOH, Dumbledore instructed Draco not to use offensive language in 
front of him, and mildly pointed out that if Draco truly wished to kill 
him, he would have done so already. 

Result: Draco realized he was not a killer.

I think canon shows that while it's perfectly understandable that Harry
and his friends reacted the way they did, their choice was less beneficial
than Dumbledore's and they were unwise to make Draco the victim of their
aggression. If they had truly understood Draco, they would not have
felt threatened by him, still less by Crabbe and Goyle.

Pippin