[HPforGrownups] Draco and Intent: Re: Snape and Harry's Sadism (was: Lack of re-examination)

[k12listmomma]

No: HPFGUIDX 186822

> Shelley:
> <SNIP>
> I think this series shows us that Harry is mature enough to offer that
> branch- he saves Draco's life, willingly, and without regard to Draco's
> ideologies. We don't know how much they interact as adults, but it's not 
> an
> inconceivable idea in my mind of a friendship that might grow based on
> Harry's maturity and not demanding that Draco first change his views 
> before
> Harry offers to Draco kindness and respect. All that would be required for 
> a
> friendship is that Draco return the same.
>
>
> Alla:
>
> See, I disagree somewhat, or should I say more disagree than agree. I have 
> no problem with the arguments that people who hold the values opposing to 
> yours could and should be respected. As long as those values do not lead 
> to murders and tortures I should clarify I suppose.


Shelley:
But this is where I separate Draco from the Death Eaters who did such 
things. They were in the recruiting stages with Draco. His heart was not yet 
hardened, not yet tainted by murder, as Dumbledore so clearly pointed out. 
As we see him, he's terrified at the thought of killing Dumbledore, 
terrified at the body that floats above the table, white as a sheet and 
can't even look Voldemort in the eye. He's not a murderer and one who enjoys 
torture- and in that tenderness, he gets to see up close the kind of people 
who are and decides it's not for him. I can see Harry respecting that, even 
if Draco doesn't come a full 180 immediately to champion for the rights of 
the Muggle-born.

> Alla:
So I have no problem with Harry respecting Draco who has the  ideas that 
purebloods are the superior bread of humans, simply because Draco is fellow 
human being. As long as Draco does not want to become new Voldemort.

Shelley:
I don't see evidence in cannon that Draco even attempted to go that 
direction.

Alla:
>But for the life of me I cannot imagine how Harry who fought a war against 
>such thing to come true would respect this value and thus would want to be 
>Draco's friend.

Shelley:
Because forgiveness must come from somewhere, must start somewhere. We see 
in the epilogue that Harry doesn't hold the grudges Snape did, doesn't hold 
the bitterness and jaded view that was displayed in Mad-Eye Moody. We see 
his path is gentler, forgiving, bridging new territory of reconcilation 
forward. Harry doesn't scowl at Draco, even though he had every right to. I 
think part of the forgiveness started the moment he chose to save Draco's 
life from the firefriend, proving what he thought was right.


Alla:
> Of course I am sure I am projecting my own ideas of what friendship is 
> here. I mean, I do not need my friends to have values that are hundred 
> percent identical to me and believe me sometimes I can have a heated 
> debate with my friends on some things. However, I am still convinced that 
> friends should have enough in common if that makes sense for the 
> friendship to be real, you know?
>
> To me, I need to **like** my friends, not just respect them if that makes 
> sense. And why would I like somebody who thinks that some humans are 
> better than others?

Shelley:
As am I projecting my idea of what it is to be a friend. I can be considered 
to be a Born-Again Christian (and we all know how snobby and stuck up some 
of those people can be, shunning themselves from friendships with any 
"sinners"), but yet I have a good friend and his wife who are Neo-Pagan in 
faith. The guy is a Druid. The ideologies can't be any further apart, yet 
that is not what defines our friendship. It's lasted longer than any 
friendship with my "Christian" friends, and this couple is very near and 
dear to my heart. It's about caring for the person, not caring for what they 
believe on an individual topic. I do see Draco and Harry having a lot in 
common- they went through the same school, the same war, the same terrors of 
Voldemort. Yes, I think Draco was terrorized by Voldemort, and I think Harry 
could forgive this young man whom once thought it might be "cool" to do 
something for Voldemort, not knowing what would be the real cost. Draco 
found out that it wasn't all that cool after all, and I think Harry could 
forgive him of that, and already did the moment he saved his life. They 
actually share a lot of history, having been to Hogwarts together.