[HPforGrownups] Nineteen years later

[Bart Lidofsky]

No: HPFGUIDX 191537

On 12/17/2011 12:40 AM, dorothy dankanyin wrote:
> I don't know if Draco Malfoy totally reformed, but from the nod at the 
> train station I'd say he's still a bit embarassed by his behavior and 
> the destruction of all he once believed in. Maybe he still believes 
> pure blood is superior, but I think he's grown past all that. Of 
> course, it's only my opinion.

Bart:
     My take is that, after the smoke had cleared, there was enough 
chaos around, and Morty HAD been in charge, after all, to only punish 
the worst of his supporters, noting that if all guilty parties were sent 
to Azkaban, there wouldn't be enough people left in the WW to keep it 
together (previous discussions left a good estimate of the total number 
of wizards/witches in Britain to only a few thousand). As Draco, 
although in the inner circle, was acting partially under duress, and 
also was never more than an accessory, I think it's reasonable to assume 
that he got off with no prison time. On the one hand, he and Harry were 
at odds for most of their youth, but, on the other hand, Harry had saved 
his life, and turned out to be right in the long run. Therefore, while 
they would never be friends, they could at least be nodding 
acquaintances, with Draco somewhat humbled by his experiences, and it 
not be in Harry's personality to lord it over him.

     Bart