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

[jkoney65]

No: HPFGUIDX 186785

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "horridporrid03" <horridporrid03 at ...> wrote:
>
> > >>jkoney:
> > <snip> I still don't agree with the fact that none of the Malfoy's were sent to prison for at least some punishment.
> 
> 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?

jkoney:
We were only told they didn't by JKR. Nothing in DH as far as I can remember.


> 
> > > >Betsy Hp:
> > > <snip> As someone who grew up with "Malory Towers" (a "school-days" series) Draco seemed prime to become Harry's best friend. Everything about our first scene with him screamed "learning moment to come".  So that's an example of my personal experience trumping what the author was trying to get across.
> 
> > >>jkoney:
> > Aren't you then ignoring what was written?
> 
> 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.

jkoney:
Um, wasn't my original point that people didn't intrepret what she wrote correctly? 

> 
> > >>jkoney:
> > If not at that point, which I didn't read as generously as you did, what about the train scene? Draco insults Ron and then threatens Harry about meeting the same end as his parents. I definitely think the author is trying to say that these two aren't going to be friends.
> 
> <snip>
> 
> > >>jkoney:
> > You thought he still wanted to be friends with Harry? 
> 
> 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.)

jkoney:
Draco did tell on Harry when he was caught by McGonegall. She just didn't believe him.

The "hovering" was Draco's way of trying to bully Harry and his friends or get them in trouble. Boys especially like to try and get a pecking order. Draco's attempts failed because Harry recognized him for what he was, a bully wannabe. After growing up with the Dursley's and dealing with Snape, Draco had no chance to try and dominate Harry.