Draco's potion making skills WAS: Scary Teachers - Good Teachers

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 153086


> 
> Alla:
> 
> Yes, he could get an O on his test. My point is that I don't see
> signs in canon that he did. If JKR considers this to be not an
> important detail that can go in without any foreshadowing, than
> sure, he could get any grade for all I know.
> 
> If JKR thought that this needed foreshadowing, then I just don't see
> any, that is all I am saying.

Potioncat:
Based on Snape's speech... and McGonagall's comment...Snape expected 
some number of students to obtain Outstanding on Potions OWLs. It 
would be reasonable to think he expected more than just Hermione to 
make an O. We don't see how Ravenclaws or Hufflpuffs do in his class. 
We don't know how many careers require NEWT level Potions.

Having said all that, did canon give us any clues as to how "any" of 
the students were doing? I remember at the end of SS/PS we were told 
that Ron and Harry did all right. (about as vague as one can get, I 
know.) We've seen Neville, and Crabbe-or-Goyle mess up. We've been 
told some of Ron and Harry's potions didn't come out like Hermione's 
did. We haven't been told how the homework scored. Most of the rest 
of the class is hardly mentioned at all. The fact that Snape saying 
nothing to Hermione means he can find nothing to complain at, may 
mean the same for the other students he says nothing to.

We see Snape looking at students' potions and we "hear" Harry's 
description of the potions, but it isn't clear how they're doing. It 
appears that Snape's classwork is more demanding than the OWl exams.
I think Draco managed an O on his own.


As to Marchbanks:
I've copied the quote,with a little snipping, from Magpie, I think. 
 *******************************************************************
> OotP, Ch. 31:
 Now, Father's been friendly with the head of the Wizarding 
> Examinations Authority for years - old Griselda Marchbanks - we've 
had her 
> round for dinner and everything...
*****************************************************************

Lucius Malfoy, in the grand tradition of succesful individuals knows 
how to network, knows how to smooze.  He follows in the more cheerful 
but no more sincere actions of Slughorn. Draco is picking it up too, 
although he's not as good as his father appears to be.

Draco, who seems to be doing just fine in Potions, is now name-
dropping. I wouldn't be surprised if Marchbanks hasn't been to the 
Malfoy home for dinner, along with a grand number of other MoM 
ranking executives. Perhaps at some event in honor of St. Mungo's, or 
some other above board charity work the Malfoys are involved in.

I'm sure Narcissa and Lucius managed to mention that Draco would 
taking the OWLs and would she say hello for them? hint  hint. In 
fact, the more I think of it, the more the Malfoys seem like the 
Dursleys.

Lucius is successful. He's on the board of Hogwarts. There are 
probably all sorts of times that Marchbanks and Malfoy are in the 
same setting. Business associates can be friendly without being 
friends.
>