Draco and Intent: Re: Snape and Harry’s Sadism (was: Lack of re-examination)

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 186763

 
> Betsy Hp:
> Are we ever told they weren't? *is curious*  But yes, we're not told that they were.  I think we're supposed to pretty much forget about the Malfoys in the end. Maybe as failed also-rans to the more effective Death Eaters?
> 

Pippin:
If JKR wanted us to forget the Malfoys, she wouldn't have put them in the epilogue. People who think they were unredeemed seem to be unhappy that they weren't explicitly punished, so I don't think they had a more satisfying read. 


> 
> Betsy Hp:
> No, because what was written fit the trope so well. I do agree that my personal experience led me in a different direction than JKR was meaning to direct me, but I wasn't completely ignoring the text.  I just interpreted it differently.
> 

Pippin:
It only fits the trope if you ignore the existence of Ron. I think a lot of people would like to do that, because while he works very well as a character in a book, he's not so much fun in a fantasy based on the book. I mean, when we used to play LOTR, nobody wanted to be Sam, and I think Ron has the same problem. Harry's the Chosen One, Hermione's the smartest witch ever, and Ron's just...Ron. He's not, y'know, cool. Shabby clothes, dumpy mom, weirdo dad, same old issues all the time, and when he does save the day, nobody's looking.  


Whereas redeemed characters get all the snide sarcastic lines, and  every knows that if  they  don't die they're bound to become the hero's blood-brother. Edmund is not supposed to be saved from the White Witch and go on being a pill. Except...why couldn't that happen?

> 
> Betsy Hp:
> Yes. :)  Otherwise, why not spill the beans?  (That's actually a lingering question: why didn't Draco tell? The "he wanted to capture them himself," response is only reasonable if we totally ignore Draco's character. Really, Draco's constant hovering around Harry over the years is hard to explain.)
> 

Pippin:
Telling on Hagrid wouldn't get Harry in trouble. Draco had to catch Harry without any adults to take the blame instead. But he was a little too late, and McGonagall didn't believe there was a dragon at all.

In HBP,  Harry leads Draco's life for him, following Draco around, trying to get him in trouble, casting minor hexes on his friends and even siccing the Malfoy's old house-elf on him for a while. And why is Harry doing all this? To get Draco to like him? Hardly. Harry wants attention all right, but he wants it from the guy who's been ignoring him and manipulating him by turns, who has implied that he has great expectations for him but won't tell him what's going on, who is in fact is treating him not that much differently than Lucius treats Draco.  

Pippin