Re: Draco Unredeemed and the Cabinet That Won’t Die (long)

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 159129

---  "Cheryl" <xcpublishing at ...> wrote:
>
> ...  My question is this:  Will Draco be redeemed in 
> the final book?  I hope so, because I am a hopeless 
> romantic that always seeks to find the good in people.
> I also hope not, because I am a Gemini, which means 
> that the realist in me tends to stomp the hopeless 
> romantic flat whenever she becomes annoying.
> 

bboyminn:

I have no problem with Draco being redeemed as long as 
people are clear about what 'redeemed' means in this
context. Too many people think it means that Draco 
becomes Ron-II; Harry's best buddy and all-time friend.
Sorry, but that is simply not going to happen. Draco will
always be selfish, self-centered, and self-serving. I
suspect he will realize that supporting Voldemort is not 
the wise thing to do, but again, that decision will come,
not because he wants to help the good guys, but because
he sees how hopeless it is to continue to support 
Voldemort.

Now if Draco's actions in someway help the good guys that
is fine and it will probably weigh in Draco's favor, but
short of some incredably heroic act on his part, it 
doesn't offset his greed, stupidity, or cowardice. 

Right now I'm leaning in favor of Draco working against
Voldemort, but being against Voldemort doesn't mean Draco
will ever be good or nice. His actions will always be for
purely self-serving reasons. 


I do agree with your wise comments on 'good girls and bad
boys'. 'Ladies love outlaws like babies love stray dogs,
and ladies take to outlaws like banker takes to gold.'

> Nicky Joe continues:
>
> So I  ask:  Will JKR redeem Draco, or is Draco doomed?
> 

bboyminn:

So I answer: I think both. I think Draco will do whatever
he can to quit Voldemort, but that in itself is reason
for 'doom'.

> Nicky Joe continues:
> 
> Now Draco is on the run with Snape and the DEs, and I
> fear he'll have a minimal part in the next book and 
> will be forever unredeemed because that's just the way
> it is for boys like him, even in fiction sometimes.
> 
> Nicky Joe, Draco Hater/Draco Lover
>

bboyminn:

Draco has step much to far into the front of the plot for
his fate not to be resolved in the books. I think JKR has
laid enough hints to indicate that Draco is not satisfied
with his life as a DE and with what he is being asked to
do. As I've said many times before, I hope as some point
he sees that a future world with Voldemort is a doomed 
world. For any wizard who wants prosperity and stability,
Voldemort is the last possible leader to fulfill the 
role. Voldemort may be well capable of making war and 
creating chaos, but I don't think he is even remotely
capable of creating and running a stable and productive
country, and if Draco wants to get rich and stay rich,
stability is the most critical element for long term 
success.

I think right now as the last  book (book 6) left us, the
most critical story lines needing to be resolved are Harry, 
Snape, and Draco primarily, and as secondary characters,
Neville, Ginny, Hermione, and Ron. (Of course, Voldemort
too, but he is more the McGuffin, the catalyst that makes
the other characters act.)

So, I feel that absolutely we will get more Draco in the
final book. I suspect Snape and Draco will come to some
accord where they each understand what the other wants 
and needs, and will start working to bring down Voldemort
from the inside. Somehow, in the process, Snape and Draco
are going to have to work with Harry, and that will be
the resolution of their plotlines in the seventh book.
I can't imagine how that will come about, but it seems
that somehow it must come about.

Just a few thoughts.

Steve/bboyminn