Draco in DH (WAS Re: What things that you wanted did you get?)

[Zara]

No: HPFGUIDX 175633

> Potioncat:
> I thought the whole Tower scene was a set up for Draco's redemption. 
> DD's "mercy" speech made me feel guilty that I had only thought of 
> Draco as a toerag and had never given any consideration to him. I was 
> sure he would make an important change. DH left me conpletely 
> confused about him. I don't think he knew which side he was on.

zgirnius
I had similar thoughts, though I am nonetheless happy with Draco's 
character arc in DH on reread. (I did not trust my initial reading for 
this because in the most important parts of the book for Draco, so much 
else was happening that had me on the edge of my seat that I ignored 
him a bit; I paid special attention to him my second time through). It 
seems to me that Rowling had something different in mind than 
Draco 'changing sides' for his redemption.

He doesn't. He is not on Harry/ the Order's/ the Good Guys' side in DH. 
Nor, however, is he on Voldemort's anymore, in his heart. He is *with* 
Voldemort, but then Voldemort has taken over the home of Draco's 
parents as his HQ and holds them hostage, so Draco hardly has a choice 
in the matter. This does put him in a different (and worse) position 
than, say, our heroes, who know that their loved ones are in danger and 
might be killed, because for Draco this is a certainty if he steps over 
the line. 

He does try to help the Trio on one occasion ("Malfoy Manor") when he 
pretends not to recognize them. But he does show himself to be in some 
ways a good and brave person (or at least, better and braver than the 
first 5 books would have led most readers to believe) - in the Room of 
Requirement scene of "The Battle of Hogwarts". Not because he does 
anything to further the side of 'good', but because, in the face of a 
deadly danger to himself, he nonetheless tries to save his helpless 
friend, a choice which would have cost him his life had Harry and Ron 
not saved him and Goyle from the flames. 

I see two points to the Malfoy story in DH. First, that even in an epic 
confrontation of Good and Evil, the enemy has a human face. The bad 
guys love their families, their friends, etc. and are capable of brave 
and good acts even while remaining on the 'wrong' side. Narcissa's 
action at the end of DH is similar. She does it for Draco, of course, 
not for the victory of the Good Side. But that is hardly an evil 
motive. These actions make these characters stand in contrast to 
characters like the Carrows or Bellatrix Lestrange. 

The second point is Love. The Malfoys take actions out of love for one 
another that contribute to the victory of the good side. For which the 
author rewards them with survival, and a return to normalcy (Draco's 
appearance in the Epilogue, a family man like our hero).