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

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 186797

> > >>Montavilla47:
> > It's not like you have to chose between Ron and Draco... <snip> 
> 
> Betsy Hp:
> Exactly!  And your tying Harry-Ron-Draco with "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"'s Buffy-Willow-Cordelia is dead on, I think.  As a viewer I could never have chosen between Willow and Cordelia, and I'm glad I didn't have to. :)
> 
Pippin:
The thing is, it wasn't Harry's idea or even Ron's that Harry had to choose between Ron and Draco. Ron was clueless about the Weasley/Malfoy feud at that point (his brothers will tell him about it in Book 2). It's Draco who says  that some wizard families are the wrong sort and if Harry wants to be friends with him he'll  avoid the Weasleys, who have red hair and more children than they can afford. So he's not talking "blood traitors" either at this point. AFAWK, it's the Weasley looks and their style that Draco finds unbecoming.

 Harry and Ron will eventually learn a lesson about choosing friends who are "cool." But it's Draco who wanted to be friends with Harry Potter because that would be cool -- he wasn't so friendly to the boy he met in Madam Malkin's shop, when he  didn't sound sorry that Harry's  parents were dead and made it clear that people from Muggle families were the wrong sort. 

I agree that Draco is not just an arrogant bully. That's the lesson that Harry had to learn about him, that he, Harry, can sympathize with a bully and feel the same need to save him that he feels about people he likes better. And that every life is worth saving because to someone that life is precious.

   But Harry didn't learn anything that could stop Draco from being a bully, because that was Draco's choice, not his. Draco did discover  that if you're not the biggest bully on the playground, bullying may not pay, especially if the biggest bully isn't into sharing. And he learned that he  doesn't have what it takes to be the biggest bully. But he'd still like to have it, and that, IMO, is what makes him non-sympatico with Harry. 

I think the books make it very clear that it would be impossible to be Harry's friend and not be Ron's or Hermione's, and I can't recall even a theory that Draco has a secret desire to befriend Ron - please point me at it if it exists. At any rate, Lucius and Narcissa would not have been best pleased. 

 And once we understand how close Draco is to Lucius and Narcissa, it really doesn't make sense that he would reject their beliefs and values. So Draco too learned there were more important things than coolness. :) Draco's a loyal son, and paradoxically, that's one of the reasons Harry becomes sympathetic to him. 


> > >>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.
> 
> Betsy Hp:
> Why not tell Snape (a friendly ear as far as Draco knew) either when he saw the Trio heading down to Hagrid's cottage, or when he knew they were moving the dragon?  Why sneak out at night and try and capture them himself?  

Pippin:
I don't think he was trying to capture them himself. I think he meant for  Filch to catch them but wanted to witness Harry's downfall, and figured he had a better chance of accomplishing that without Snape involved. But my memory is hazy and I haven't got my books so I could be wrong. 

Betsy_Hp:
 Draco was *way* too vulnerable to play 'bully' well.)

Pippin:
I agree, except I think his vulnerability is intentional, and Harry eventually responds to it. Who says bullies can't be vulnerable? I don't think we're supposed to hate Draco at the end, I think we're supposed to feel a bit sorry for him, and sorry for Scorpius, and to hope that eventually there might be Malfoys who wouldn't disown their kids for marrying a Weasley or a Muggleborn. But there's nothing Harry can do to make that happen. 

In the first book we're told that facing the mountain troll together made the Trio friends, but we also hear about Snape, who could never forgive James for saving him. So it's apparent  from the beginning that not everyone's mind works the same way.

Pippin