Will Draco join the good side?

If the Death Eater's hadn't come up to the tower, what would Draco have done? Would he have allowed Dumbledore to help him? And what is going to happen now?

I really pity Draco. Let’s start from the beginning. Draco is born into a family around the time Harry is born. This family is deep into the Dark Arts. Both his parents are in with Voldemort's circle. Now, think about it. You grow up with all this pure-blood rah rah from your parents, then of course you're going to think that. You don't know any other side of it. Then, you go off to school, and because you are so into the pure-blood nonsense, you are stuck into Slytherin, because that is the house that takes those who think having pure-blood is important. So you're surrounded by people that think the same way - and no one challenges that opinion. I mean, its not as if anyone ever sat down with Malfoy and explained to him about being biased and prejudice - he grew up in a family that put an emphasis on hate and anger, not love and acceptance. So his dad messes up, and Voldemort, as punishment for the family, asks him to kill Dumbledore. Malfoy is happy to step up to the plate because everyone around him for his entire life has supported Voldemort (or at least Voldemort's ideas). But in the end, he is unable to do it. I think Malfoy is finally going to question what he has grown up believing. I don't think he is going to be "good," and I certainly don't believe Harry and Draco will ever be friends. But I do think that he will begin to lose faith in Voldemort and his family, because he is not willing to kill innocent people, and he is not willing to sacrifice himself. I think Draco is finally starting to question the ** he has been fed since birth, which is dangerous and very hard for him. So I really feel bad for him.

I do have a feeling, however, that if Snape really is a good guy, then Snape could weild a great deal of influence over Draco. I do think that most of the Death Eaters are not pure evil (Bellatrix is an exception) but that they just got mixed up into the wrong crowd. Draco is not to be blamed for him position. I think now he will be able to make a decision for himself and then he can be blamed.

double post - sorry

I agree with a lot of the stuff about Draco, though quite a bit of the things he did were his choice, and some of the people who grew up in pure blood homes (Sirius for example) understood all that was wrong and tried to get out. But I suppose the fact Malfoy had Death Eater parents kind of made him closer to Voldemort's side. I was really suprised at Malfoy's behavoir at the end of book 6. I think he reminded me a lot of Quirrel, being all afraid that Voldemort would kill him if he didn't do the task and all. I was first amazed he didn't kill Dumbledore, then when they started talking it made sense. I think Malfoy will join the Order, at least he and his mom will, but Malfoy Sr and Draco will be killed. Malfoy Sr will try to remain with Voldemort. But I think Draco will be good in the end, but he'll suffer lots of distrust just like Snape did.

I don't think Draco will be in the order, not because he doesn't become good, but cos the other members probably wouldn't trust him. I probably wouldn't want to trust either. I'm sure Draco will turn out good, but it still might be a bit too late for him. Sirus was a Gryffindor from the start, but Draco, you know, is a Death Eater. He may turn out good, but, well, he's a Death Eater...

He might do something that will cause the Order and the DA to benefit. The book keeps hinting that Draco seemed to scared to do any of the deeds that Voldy had given him. He was bullied and threatened into doing Voldy's tasks. Draco might just flee out of being too scared, but I don't think he will join the order.

Harry may very well come to Draco's rescue- but he will never trust him. You cannot trust a servant that serves two masters ex: Snape and Kreacher. [B]

Harry may very well come to Draco's rescue- but he will never trust him. You cannot trust a servant that serves two masters ex: Snape and Kreacher.Good point. I don't think Draco will turn to the right side. However, I don't think he will be a Death Eater, either.

Draco's future looks dim at best. His father is not a popular guy these days, and now Draco will find himself similarly judged: he did not actually kill Dumbledore, despite his other successes, so in the eyes of LV and the other DEs present, he showed weakness or an inability to get the job done. Granted, without Draco, Hogwarts could not have been invaded by DEs...

He also showed his colors to his fellow students and to the school, who he betrayed and abandoned.

How could he redeem himself? Snape also committed a deliberate betrayal that resulted in death. And he showed to everyone that the trust that was once again given to him was misplaced. Unless Harry is willing to extend the olive branch to Draco the same way Dumbledore did to Snape, I can't see there being redemption for him.

I thought that Draco already was a death-eater. He pulled on his sleeve in Madame Malkins, I though to keep his mark hidden.

I think Draco is a very insecure person. He grew up in a home that is "cold" at best. How much love and approval did he get? especially from his father. His swaggering around school throwing out his connections and his wealth, these are examples of low self-esteem.

He has made choices based on his family-of-origin. Now he has to make choices based on knowledge. Perhaps Snape, if he's still a "good guy" (and I think he may be) can help him. Afterall, Snape himself didn't have a loving home or happy childhood, and if he turns out to be "good", then he was able to make better choices.

We *don't* know that Draco's a Death Eater, just that Voldemort's using him as a little pawn, possibly as vengeance for his father's misactions. When he pulled down his sleeve, Harry was speculating that he was trying to hide his mark, but there's no real evidence of that--he might've just been annoyed, as he tends to be.

I trust completely in Snape's allegiance to Dumbledore and the Order. If he stays alive to protect Draco, I believe that Draco will begin making decisions for himself.

He also showed his colors to his fellow students and to the school, who he betrayed and abandoned.

How could he redeem himself? Snape also committed a deliberate betrayal that resulted in death. And he showed to everyone that the trust that was once again given to him was misplaced. Unless Harry is willing to extend the olive branch to Draco the same way Dumbledore did to Snape, I can't see there being redemption for him.

This is precisely why I believe Dumbledore froze Harry. Harry knows why Draco did it all. He saw him crying in the bathroom for Merlin's sake. At the end of HBP, he says himself that he had pity for Draco. Though I'm 100% certain Draco would not like the idea of being pitied by Harry Potter :P I think that Draco will play a key role in the defeat of Voldemort.

I think Draco's character took huge leaps in this book, and it was good to see. One of the things I've disliked prior to HBP was that the Slytherins were presented as an entirely unsympathetic bunch.

But, as Harry realizes, it's hard not to feel some pity for a boy asked to murder, with the lives of his parents at stake should he refuse. Up to this point, it's all been a big game for Draco, but when he's actually put on the spot, he discovers that he has a conscience after all.

And it added a lot of meaning to Dumbledore's final moments. He chooses to spend them trying to save the soul of the boy assigned to kill him. And in the process, gives a lesson in mercy so powerful that even Harry figures it out. (Yes, I agree that DD's purpose in freezing Harry was so that he would watch the whole Draco confrontation play out).

I rather hope that Snape carried out the plan Dumbledore described - faking Draco and his mothers' deaths and hiding them securely. I don't really see him fighting for the Order, and he's still an unlikeable git, but after choosing not to become a murderer, I hope he's not forced to "resign" from the Death Eaters in similar fashion to Regulus Black.

i think that Draco will redeem himself, but not by joining the order or anything. He will still be on the dark side...but now will be more reluctant than ever to perform the tasks that Voldemort asks. Maybe he'll stall Voldemort or something to that sort for Harry in book seven... I dont think that Draco will truely go over to the good side, it's just that he'll reconsider performing an evil spell the next time he faces harry, or the order, etc.

I think that Draco will remain faithful to Voldemort for a while. I then think that he will mess up and Voldemort will be planning on killing him. In the end Harry will probably end saving his life and Malfoy will join the good side.


Im not quite sure but didn't one of the previous books mention James saving Snapes or something of the sort?

I don't think he'll join the order. I think he'll mess up with voldemort and voldemort will kill him.

I really felt terrible for Draco in this book. He was really given no choice in the mission that he was set. It was sort of a "your dad messed up, now do this or you all die" type situation. Obviously he had to attempt to kill Dumbledore. And being Draco Malfoy, he made it sound as cool as possible to all his friends.
I think the scene with Moaning Myrtle was evidence enough of how he later felt about the "mission". Draco was scared for his life. He was really in an impossible position.
Up on the tower, he totally lost his nerve. There is no way he would have gone through with killing Dumbledore. If the Death Eaters hadn't shown up, he may have even taken Dumbledore up on the whole offer of protection. Draco is a true Slytherin. He is amitious, but he isn't going to jeopardize himself. He is selfish to the bone. I don't think it makes him evil though.
I had a lot of pity for Draco in HBP. I can only imagine that he now has no way out of a life of service to Voldemort. He will probably do it unwillingly and begrudgingly at times, but that is where his choices in life have taken him.

I think he will take DumbleDores ( :upset: ) request that he could hide him.

We *don't* know that Draco's a Death Eater, just that Voldemort's using him as a little pawn, possibly as vengeance for his father's misactions. When he pulled down his sleeve, Harry was speculating that he was trying to hide his mark, but there's no real evidence of that--he might've just been annoyed, as he tends to be.

I trust completely in Snape's allegiance to Dumbledore and the Order. If he stays alive to protect Draco, I believe that Draco will begin making decisions for himself.
I apologize but you are about as mis-guided as Dumbledore. Draco is indeed a death eater. Remember how Lupin couldn't pass the invisable barrier to the Tower- only the death eaters could get through. Draco is one of them. Now I believe that he had no clue as to how deep and truly evil his becoming a Death Eater was; but the kid is still rotten.
As for Snape if he were truly on the good side he would have sacraficed himself for Dumbledore. But like a true syltherine he was too selfish and ambitious to do so. He also had the audacity to mock Harry by telling him how dare he use his own spells against him. He is too full of himself and self-important to have ever been good.

I was really scared for Draco after Sectumsempra and thought he was dead. I think this book held amazing growth for Draco and helped to shape his views so they were better refined than the narrow minded ideas of the Draco of Book 1.

I can't believe anyone feels sorry for Draco. He has always been a death eater in the making. He did not feel forced into the job of killing DD, he gladly accepted the challenge.

Draco will be dead by the second chapter of book 7. Lucius and Narcissa too.

You guys give Draco too much pity. Draco had his choice...he made it. Draco may not have been able to pull the trigger, but he knowingly allowed for Dumbledore's death. He was then given another choice (save Dumbledore) and he turned from it. Then finally, what did he do? He ran. Harry saw he was conflicted, Harry pitied him, yet Draco ran...with Snape, he made no efforts to stop Snape or the death eaters.

He is very much like Peter Pettigrew. He was too cowardly to do what was right. His side is now chosen...and hopefully he will suffer the consequences of his choice.

When Harry and Ron saw Moaning Myrtle for the first time I knew the boy she was talking about was Draco. Then when Harry overheard him crying I really felt sorry for him because I couldn't think of any way he could get out of that situation. His mother looks like she is a good person(well only a little bit) too and I hope that she and Draco can get out of this Death Eater buisness. I think that Snape has some good in his heart and cares for Draco, so he will keep his vow to Narccisa and keep on helping Draco so that he doesn't end up killed.

Remember how Lupin couldn't pass the invisable barrier to the Tower- only the death eaters could get through.
I may be mistaken but didn't Lupin mean one of those four/three (not sure) Death Eaters who ran after Malfoy was the one who put the barrier. I think he meant them because he mentioned that they couldn't get past only after those four had gone up and because I don't think Malfoy was clever enough to make a spell like that. Anyway just wanted to mention that eventhogh I don't know if I agree with your point or not.

I always hoped for Draco's redemption, though passively and without much hope - that is, until HBP.
Finally, I saw the vulnerability of him at that time. The crying was so sad to me... I probably pity him more than I should, especially after all the damage he has caused. But I can't help think he is constantly mislead, and bullied into thinking how he does. I don't think he ever gets to think thoroughly and make his own decisions and deductions.
I don't believe that Malfoy could have killed Dumbledore. In fact, if they had only had a few more moments, I'm sure that there would have been a slightly different outcome.
I can't wait to read the book again.

I too hope for Draco to join the good side. I think that he learned a lot from his personal encounter with Dumbledore. I think he loves his family so much that he was willing to perform a dangerous task because he felt there was no other choice to save his family. Dumbledore showed him he did have a choice, and Draco took it. He didn't kill Dumbledore.

Draco is not likeable, and I think he may indeed have become a DE or one in training, but I would like to see him change sides. I think there is a good chance for this after his behavior on the tower.

I apologize but you are about as mis-guided as Dumbledore. Draco is indeed a death eater. Remember how Lupin couldn't pass the invisable barrier to the Tower- only the death eaters could get through. Draco is one of them. Now I believe that he had no clue as to how deep and truly evil his becoming a Death Eater was; but the kid is still rotten.
As for Snape if he were truly on the good side he would have sacraficed himself for Dumbledore. But like a true syltherine he was too selfish and ambitious to do so. He also had the audacity to mock Harry by telling him how dare he use his own spells against him. He is too full of himself and self-important to have ever been good.

Um..somebody already covered that thing about the invisible barrier, and your second point is null. By accepting Narcissa's plea for help and performing the Unbreakable Vow, Snape showed utter selflessness. There was no self-gain in doing that, simply a compassion that is completely unlike what someone like Voldemort would show. He killed Dumbledore to save an innocent from being asked to kill, saved Draco from Voldemort's wrath. Tell me how that is self-important. He blocked all of Harry's spells instead of using any against him, which showed self-restraint. I believe that his excuse to the other Death Eaters that Harry was to be left for Voldemort was to protect Harry--there is something untold between Dumbledore and Snape. I'm willing to guess that Dumbledore wanted Snape to follow him as Harry's mentor, that he asked Snape to provide protection for Harry. Right, Snape's a deatheater, but I believe that he still works for the Order and is willing to sacrifice himself to thwart Voldemort's followers from within.

i think draco will hold a grudge and will ultimately redeem himself.

Um..somebody already covered that thing about the invisible barrier, and your second point is null. By accepting Narcissa's plea for help and performing the Unbreakable Vow, Snape showed utter selflessness. There was no self-gain in doing that, simply a compassion that is completely unlike what someone like Voldemort would show. He killed Dumbledore to save an innocent from being asked to kill, saved Draco from Voldemort's wrath. Tell me how that is self-important. He blocked all of Harry's spells instead of using any against him, which showed self-restraint. I believe that his excuse to the other Death Eaters that Harry was to be left for Voldemort was to protect Harry--there is something untold between Dumbledore and Snape. I'm willing to guess that Dumbledore wanted Snape to follow him as Harry's mentor, that he asked Snape to provide protection for Harry. Right, Snape's a deatheater, but I believe that he still works for the Order and is willing to sacrifice himself to thwart Voldemort's followers from within.

Bellatrix's look of astonishment is clear evidence that it is behavior she would not expect of either snape or a death eater. At the same time it shows devotion much deeper than her own and I wonder if perhaps because of this she chose to keep it a secret.

I think that Snape's constant favoritism for malfoy was his attempt to keep him close so when the time came Draco would make the decision to step away from the brutal extremism of the death eaters. I don't think snape was trying to change his mind about anything, just show him that the extremism is far more dangerous than a little tolerance. I can definitely see Draco not only realizing this, but standing up and taking action in the form of assistance for Harry or Telling his dad off. I think that it was clear during (and after) his conversation's with Myrtle that he was struggling (and the fact that he was confiding in a "mudblood" is poignant as well)

You have to be pretty dang evil to kill somebody and I just dont think Malfoy qualifies. He has spent the most part of the Harry Potter books being a jerk and a bully but he's not a murderer and I think thats what DD was trying to convince him of.
Not being a murderer does not qualify someone as being good nor does it mean they deserve pity. Draco is a horrible person and if he were real I would despise him for his ignorance, hatred and blind bigotry and I would not be able to see any good in him.
Anyone would panic if their life as well as the lives of their parents were threatened and that does not show a good heart, just a typical human reaction.
I do not see any savageable good in Draco and if for some wayward reason he does join ranks with Harry it probably will be for self protection or obligation rather then a genuine change of heart.
That's my two cents anyhow;)

I can't believe anyone feels sorry for Draco. He has always been a death eater in the making. He did not feel forced into the job of killing DD, he gladly accepted the challenge.

Draco will be dead by the second chapter of book 7. Lucius and Narcissa too.

I always doubted whether Draco would actually want to be a Death Eater. Come on, would Draco want to serve Voldemort? Bow and grovel, and carry out his plans as instructed, only to be punished anyway? No. Draco likes being in charge. I don't think he truly understood what it meant to be a DE until now. Maybe he did not feel forced into the job of killing DD at first, but I'm sure it was not long before it dawned on him that this is a hugely impossible task and he and his family might actually die.

You guys give Draco too much pity. Draco had his choice...he made it. Draco may not have been able to pull the trigger, but he knowingly allowed for Dumbledore's death. He was then given another choice (save Dumbledore) and he turned from it.

You say he turned from saving Dumbledore, but I did not see that when I read that chapter. He was lowering his wand. Did you expect him to fight off 3 death eaters and a werewolf? That was never going to happen, even if Dumbledore hadn't been saying "You are not a killer" to him 30 seconds before.

Then finally, what did he do? He ran. Harry saw he was conflicted, Harry pitied him, yet Draco ran...with Snape, he made no efforts to stop Snape or the death eaters.

Of course he ran! Same arguement as before--he could not have done otherwise, being as he was surounded by Death Eaters and Snape was telling him to run. Most likely, he would have been dragged along or killed had he done otherwise.

You say he turned from saving Dumbledore, but I did not see that when I read that chapter. He was lowering his wand. Did you expect him to fight off 3 death eaters and a werewolf? That was never going to happen, even if Dumbledore hadn't been saying "You are not a killer" to him 30 seconds before.


Nice one. XD

Malfoy is indeed innocent at heart, as Dumbledore made quite clear. And he will certainly be punished by Voldemort for his failure, which, if painful enough, could give him second thoughts.

I think, however, the main catalyst of Draco's abandonment of Voldemort will be the previously predicted murder of Lucius Malfoy at the hands of the Dark Lord. This will change his and his mother's perspectives on Voldemort, and will, if anything does, cause him to turn coat.

I really pity Draco. Let’s start from the beginning. Draco is born into a family around the time Harry is born. This family is deep into the Dark Arts. Both his parents are in with Voldemort's circle. Now, think about it. You grow up with all this pure-blood rah rah from your parents, then of course you're going to think that. You don't know any other side of it. Then, you go off to school, and because you are so into the pure-blood nonsense, you are stuck into Slytherin, because that is the house that takes those who think having pure-blood is important. So you're surrounded by people that think the same way - and no one challenges that opinion. I mean, its not as if anyone ever sat down with Malfoy and explained to him about being biased and prejudice - he grew up in a family that put an emphasis on hate and anger, not love and acceptance. So his dad messes up, and Voldemort, as punishment for the family, asks him to kill Dumbledore. Malfoy is happy to step up to the plate because everyone around him for his entire life has supported Voldemort (or at least Voldemort's ideas). But in the end, he is unable to do it. I think Malfoy is finally going to question what he has grown up believing. I don't think he is going to be "good," and I certainly don't believe Harry and Draco will ever be friends. But I do think that he will begin to lose faith in Voldemort and his family, because he is not willing to kill innocent people, and he is not willing to sacrifice himself. I think Draco is finally starting to question the ** he has been fed since birth, which is dangerous and very hard for him. So I really feel bad for him.

Good points you made there - I pity Draco too. His father was always unsatisfied with his only son - he questions how a Mudblood could beat Draco in every class, he criticizes Draco when he loses to Harry in Quidditch...Draco has been forcefed his parents' pureblood doctrine his whole life, why should he question it? I was hoping that Draco could have agreed to sparing Dumbledore and gaining protection, but the Death Eaters came in...

I'm actually sort of confused. I know that towards the end of their conversation, Malfoy said that if he didn't Dumbledore, Voldemort would kill him. Now, as far as I can recall, he didn't kill DD, Snape did. Does that mean that Voldemort will kill Malfoy, and if so, doesn't that mean that Snape too will die? Or does LV not care about the means, just the ends? What do people think?

I'm actually sort of confused. I know that towards the end of their conversation, Malfoy said that if he didn't Dumbledore, Voldemort would kill him. Now, as far as I can recall, he didn't kill DD, Snape did. Does that mean that Voldemort will kill Malfoy, and if so, doesn't that mean that Snape too will die? Or does LV not care about the means, just the ends? What do people think?

I don't think Voldy will kill Draco. Even though Draco wasn't the one that cast the curse, it's thanks to him the job got done. He's the one that found the way into the school. Voldemort will realize he's useful and keep him alive.

I that Snape is not evil and that he (possibly along with Draco, but most likely alone) will play a vital role in helping Harry.

You guys give Draco too much pity. Draco had his choice...he made it. Draco may not have been able to pull the trigger, but he knowingly allowed for Dumbledore's death. He was then given another choice (save Dumbledore) and he turned from it. Then finally, what did he do? He ran. Harry saw he was conflicted, Harry pitied him, yet Draco ran...with Snape, he made no efforts to stop Snape or the death eaters. I agree. I feel no sympathy for Draco what so ever because he made his own choices. Draco had a chance to leave Voldemort's service but did he take it? No. I think that Draco is a classic example of how some people in the wizarding world are are torn betwene circumstances because of Voldemort. How many other people do you believe were probably bullied into the same situation as Draco? VOldemort threaghtened to kill his family and most importantly of all Draco himself. Draco does seem very torn but he did have a choice. Dumbledore gave him options but Draco chose Voldemort. It wasn't as if Draco had no way out. He had options, he had choices but he still ended up siding with Voldemort. Draco acted like a little punk and a wuss. He went prancing around how Voldemort would fix all his grades for him and all. The boy needed to get his bottom smacked.

I think there might be an interesting little dilemma now. How will Voldemort take to finding out that it was Snape who did Draco's job for him? Will Voldemort believe Draco committed the murder and reward Draco while pushing Snape back into the dark and out of the lime light? Or will Voldemort reward Snape immensely? I also think that we can safely assume that Draco will not be returning to school next year because one he's a wanted man now. If he is caught he'll be azkabaned before he even sets foot at platform 9 3/4. Plus if he did return to school the students would probably murder him on site.

You guys give Draco too much pity. Draco had his choice...he made it. Draco may not have been able to pull the trigger, but he knowingly allowed for Dumbledore's death. He was then given another choice (save Dumbledore) and he turned from it. Then finally, what did he do? He ran. Harry saw he was conflicted, Harry pitied him, yet Draco ran...with Snape, he made no efforts to stop Snape or the death eaters.Hmph. He could not have saved Dumbledore because there was death eaters coming up the stairs behind him. He made his choice? I don't think it was really his choice to make. Like I said, when your family tells you something since birth, and there is no reason to question it, most people won't. It's like religion. Most (not all, but a strong majority) of kids and teenagers are the same religion as their parents. They believed it, at least, until they got old enough to question it. If I had a Jewish family, and partook in Jewish customs and Jewish holidays, at 5 and 6 I wouldn't be asking why should I believe this? I'm was born in a Christian family, and for a long time that is what I believed. As kids get older, they tend to believe these things in the back of their heads, but aren't super religious either. Draco is surrounded by people, though, that are super prejudice and is of course not being questioned.

You can call it a choice, but I call it the way you grow up. There is no doubt in my mind that Draco will begin to question Voldemort, a HUGE step of maturity.

I'm actually sort of confused. I know that towards the end of their conversation, Malfoy said that if he didn't Dumbledore, Voldemort would kill him. Now, as far as I can recall, he didn't kill DD, Snape did. Does that mean that Voldemort will kill Malfoy, and if so, doesn't that mean that Snape too will die? Or does LV not care about the means, just the ends? What do people think?Personally, I'm still holding out hope for Snape to be innocent and that he will be able to protect Draco in some way.

Originally Posted by ixMattxi
He is very much like Peter Pettigrew. He was too cowardly to do what was right. His side is now chosen...and hopefully he will suffer the consequences of his choice.
So he was supposed to let his parents die for his enemy (Dumbledore)? How is he cowardly? For not killing Dumbledore? I think the fact that he hesitated at all was very brave of him, given that his parents lives were at stake. I don't think I would hesitate to kill my worst enemy to save my family!

What was he supposed to do? Refuse the task (and get killed)? Run away (and get killed)? Warn Dumbledore (and get killed)? He really didn't have a way out.... There wasn't really any choice involved (that didn't end with death for him and his family, anyway).

You can call it a choice, but I call it the way you grow up. There is no doubt in my mind that Draco will begin to question Voldemort, a HUGE step of maturity.


I agree. I'm hoping that after Draco spends a little more time among other death eaters he'll realise that he doesn't agree with all their beliefs, and that being a death eater is not as glorified as he has always imagined it to be.

His reaction to seeing Greyback on the Tower also shows his discomfort at being around people who enjoy killing so much - he was obviously repulsed and frightened by Greyback's behaviour: "He was not looking at Greyback. He did not seem to want to even glance at him." He already feels uncomfortable around some of the death eaters and people associated with Voldemort.

heres what i think- for starters Snape is evil
Now about Draco he was doing the wrong thing for the right reasons- like keeping his family alive. Which id different from LV which was doing all these evil things for greed and selfishness. Also I dont think Draco will killed(not for this nyway) but almost definetly punished because we all know LV doesnt forgive easily and althiugh DD died Draco still failed

sry about spelling bad keyboard

I agree ... Draco was romanced by the Dark Lord's ideals; he didn't quite realise what he was getting into when he agreed to assist Voldemort. He's a child who, despite his family's involvement with Voldemort, doesn't understand what is actually involved in being a Death Eater.

I think he just wanted to make his father proud, only to have it turned around on him.

If Draco hadn’t been interrupted by the Death Eaters, it’s hard to say what he might have done. On one hand, he proved himself incapable of murder, which is an encouraging thought in regards to Draco’s moral character. But on the other, it didn’t seem like he would have been willing to back down, admit defeat, and accept Dumbledore’s offer to protect he and his family in hiding. It seems like he was stalling for time a bit, unsure of what to do next. Perhaps if given enough time he would have eventually accepted Dumbledore’s offer since his desire for self-preservation would have overridden his pride.

At this point, I’m not really sure what is going to happen to Draco now that he has failed Voldemort’s assignment to him. I wonder if when they ran away, Snape was taking him to Voldemort or if he was taking him somewhere safe to protect him from Voldemort. In any case, I can’t see Voldemort being too happy that Draco failed at what he was supposed to do, though I do think he’d be happy that Snape was able to get the job done. I really hope that Voldemort doesn’t kill Draco- as much as I dislike Draco, he doesn’t deserve to die. If Voldemort doesn’t kill him though, I’m sure he would force Draco to follow his orders and serve him, which is really unfortunate since I’m sure Draco would try even harder to prove himself to Voldemort since he failed earlier.

In the way of Draco’s possible redemption, I don’t believe he’ll ever join the Order of the Phoenix or anything (I doubt they’d let him anyway) and I doubt he’ll be friendly with those loyal to Dumbledore, but if his inability to kill Dumbledore is any indication, I don’t believe he will end up becoming completely evil like his father is. Though was Draco did during the school year was extremely terrible: he committed three counts of attempted murder and if he was being tried in a muggle law system, I think he’d have several serious charges to answer to. But nevertheless, he was unable to kill Dumbledore, so perhaps this is a small glimmer of hope for Draco’s redemption in some manner.

I really have to say that I don’t like Draco very much and that he made many bad choices, some of which may have been influenced by his upbringing. But I do feel sorry for him because he was essentially sucked into Voldemort’s trap designed to punish him for the sins of his father. It doesn’t make what he was doing right though, but he did have limited options.

I really pity Draco. Let’s start from the beginning. Draco is born into a family around the time Harry is born. This family is deep into the Dark Arts. Both his parents are in with Voldemort's circle. Now, think about it. You grow up with all this pure-blood rah rah from your parents, then of course you're going to think that. You don't know any other side of it. Then, you go off to school, and because you are so into the pure-blood nonsense, you are stuck into Slytherin, because that is the house that takes those who think having pure-blood is important. So you're surrounded by people that think the same way - and no one challenges that opinion. I mean, its not as if anyone ever sat down with Malfoy and explained to him about being biased and prejudice - he grew up in a family that put an emphasis on hate and anger, not love and acceptance.

I admit I did feel a hint of pity for Draco in HBP, but he made his own choices. Remember what DD said: It's not who we are but the choices we make that matters. That is the exact same reason why I don't pity Snape either. I don't care if his childhood was sad. He knows how it feels to be bullied, so why does he, a grown man, bully kids? It's pathetic. Harry has had an awful childhood aswell. He has been abused, bullied and neglected. Still he is a nice guy. He is kind, loyal and capeable of giving love.
Draco knew very well what he was doing. He made his bed, now he has to lie in it.

In my opinion Draco is to be pitied. Ok, he may not be the most amiable person in the books, but that was also how he was raised.

If there's something wrong with the mother (not allowed to say the actual quote word on the forum, I saw) ,then there's something wrong with the pup

And as for the choice to take Voldemort's assignment to kill Dumbledore, his father and mother were under the Dark lord's control.If he rejects, they die. The fact that he loves his parents and therefore takes this assignment is quite admirable if you ask me.

This show of love also could make it believable that Draco is not really a bad person. I don't think he will join the Order because paranoia will be paramount in those circles after Snape's betrayal ( real or not is not the point) and he's not really a team-player. I think he will be a person like those eccentric people in movies. They are good, but do not want to be affiliated with anyone. Grumpy but with a good heart you know?

I reckon he could point Harry out a thing or two about the Dark Arts and the Dark Lord. Harry alread pities him so the animosity he felt before has changed, giving way to a possible cooperation or something

And as for the choice to take Voldemort's assignment to kill Dumbledore, his father and mother were under the Dark lord's control.If he rejects, they die. The fact that he loves his parents and therefore takes this assignment is quite admirable if you ask me.


And that is why I felt a hint of pity for him in the HBP as I said. But he had made his choices long before the HBP. He's been a wannabe Death Eater from the start if you ask me. He could have chosen a different path when he arrived at Hogwarts, -but he chose to be a bully. However, judging from what happened when he was supposed to kill DD, I will say that I have hopes for him. He might be mean, arrogant and lack empathy, but he's not truly evil.

If Draco wants to redeem himself, it's gonna have to be good...

I have felt sorry for Draco for a long time. Draco's hesitation at killing Dumbledore says a lot, and I believe that he might have taken Dumbledore's protection if the other Death Eaters hadn't shown up. I would love to see redemption for him. Regulus Black, if he is R.A.B, destroyed the Horcrux as a final act of good before he was killed. Something would have to happen for Draco to turn to the good side; if Voldemort killed Narcissa or Lucius (or both) as punishment for Draco's failing to complete the task given him, I could see Draco turning to the side of good for revenge. I am sure he will be killed, but perhaps as a final act of contrition, he will offer Harry help or give some information about remaining Horcruxes. (It's a long shot, but you never know..) These books have many religious themes in them and the redemptive sinner is definitely a very religious/Christian idea. If Draco sees his mother and/or father killed and knows it's only a matter of time until he is killed too, he could join the good side as a way to clear his soul before he dies. But then again, I'm not sure if I see this happening. I would like to see Draco's redemption, but I sincerely doubt it will happen. He'll be killed before he ever has a chance to decide which side he wants to be on. And if he does decide to join the good side, he will definitely be killed. As Sirius said, "You don't just hand in your resignation to Voldemort. It's a lifetime of service or death."

ARGH!

STOP trying to make Draco seem all noble and brave. He's a coward. He should have fought for his Master. Would Harry have betrayed his side to save his own life, or even that of a friend? NO! Malfoy is a traitorous little slime and I am sick to death of people disregarding his true nature and the attitude he has had for the past 5 and a half books. Yes, he cried in the bathroom. No, this was not demonstrative of future redemption. He was crying for himself. Its his own fault he can't do his job right. His cowardice annoys me to no end... I mean, he's even scared of Fenrir. Perhaps if he wasn't a Death Eater I might be able to comprehend this fear... But Fenrir's on his side and he's frightened. Now THAT is tragic. THAT is what I call sad.

Shaniquoi- You're saying that the fact that Draco wasn't able to "pull the trigger" an kill DD makes him a coward? I think not..
Does The fact that he was trying to save his and his parents lives make him a coward? NO!
Does the fact that he was worried that Fernir might attack and kill one of his friends make him a coward? NO!!

Everyone says he had a choice.. yet I can't see this choice, I really can't imagine Draco telling Voldy that he doesn't feel like doing his task. Voldemort expects everyone to obey him.. Draco included

Everyone says he had a choice.. yet I can't see this choice, I really can't imagine Draco telling Voldy that he doesn't feel like doing his task. Voldemort expects everyone to obey him.. Draco included
wat I meant was that he had a choice from the start not to become like his father. He chose to take the "dark road" . Like DD said: "It's not who you are but the choices you make that matteres" But either Draco was too weak to change, or he didn't want to. Still, after what happened in the HBP he may now see his error and realise that he was never cut out to be a Death Eater.

Its either:

he gets killed by voldy
he gets killed by Harry
he and harry become friends in the end
Snape dies defending him
he becomes voldys greatest death eaters
..and so on

wat I meant was that he had a choice from the start not to become like his father. He chose to take the "dark road" . Like DD said: "It's not who you are but the choices you make that matteres" But either Draco was too weak to change, or he didn't want to. Still, after what happened in the HBP he may now see his error and realise that he was never cut out to be a Death Eater.

He didn't choose to take the dark road, Voldemort made him take the dark road to punish Lucius, and handed him the assignment of killing DD or else him and his family would be killed... he had no choice but to obey. I doubt Draco ran up to Voldy and asked him if he could join him and kill Dumbledore as a DE.

He didn't choose to take the dark road, Voldemort made him take the dark road to punish Lucius, and handed him the assignment of killing DD or else him and his family would be killed... he had no choice but to obey. I doubt Draco ran up to Voldy and asked him if he could join him and kill Dumbledore as a DE.Draco's choice to take the dark path happened long before Voldemort influenced him to kill Dumbledore. It's not the child's choce to become his parents, but it his his choice to make an effort to define himself in a different manner. Draco, however, was content to be a bad person and took no effort in rectifying his ways.

Did Draco have the option to refuse Voldemort's orders? Probably not. He did, however, have the option to go to Dumbledore and ask for his help. Instead he chose to act, and almost killed Katie Bell and Ron in the process. These are his choices, he alone made the decision to carry out Voldemort's request. Draco understands how powerful Dumbledore is and he chose the easy route.

Did Draco have the option to refuse Voldemort's orders? Probably not. He did, however, have the option to go to Dumbledore and ask for his help. Instead he chose to act, and almost killed Katie Bell and Ron in the process. These are his choices, he alone made the decision to carry out Voldemort's request. Draco understands how powerful Dumbledore is and he chose the easy route.
Thank you! And it's not even as though Draco was just scared and caught up in the heat of the moment -- he had all year to think this through and either go to Dumbledore for help, or else try to hide his mother on his own. Instead, he hung around all year, poisoning innocent students!

Even if you believe that Draco had no choice about killing Dumbledore, why didn't he try to find a quiet, sneaky way to do it? His plan -- letting Death Eaters into Hogwarts -- pretty much guaranteed that more people than DD would suffer.

I'm not sure if Draco will stay faithful to Voldemort. I think if given the opperutnity Voldemort will kill Draco. Draco didn't complete his orders. Therefore I don't think Voldemort wants him alive. Considering we don't know where Draco is I think Draco may have fled. I don't think Draco will fully redeem himself and join the Order. The Order may follow up on Dumbledore's offer and protect Draco, but that is of course only if Harry speaks up. Harry being the type of person he is I think would take up for Draco if it comes down to it.

i think draco will be forced to join the Order or at least leave the Death Eaters. Dumbledore wanted draco to leave the death eaters, and because snape, under dumbledore's orders, killed dumbledore for draco, voldemort will be mad at draco and his family and this will force draco to leave

i think draco will be forced to join the Order or at least leave the Death Eaters. Dumbledore wanted draco to leave the death eaters, and because snape, under dumbledore's orders, killed dumbledore for draco, voldemort will be mad at draco and his family and this will force draco to leave

See I don't think the Order will allow him to join. Especially after Snape's betrayal. But I could see Harry defending Draco due to what he saw between Dumbledore and Draco before Dumbledore was killed. So I think under Harry's and Dumbledore's wishes they would take Draco in and protect him possibly. But I don't think they would be willing to let him be a member of the Order and share information about the war with Draco.

I don't think that it is so much a question of Draco's character. We saw that he was incapable of killing Dumbledore. We even saw him lower his wand before the other Death Eaters arrived at the Astronomy Tower. But now he is being protected by the Death Eaters. Sure the Dark Lord may be disappointed that Draco didn't kill Dumbledore himself, but he will no doubt be pleased that Dumbledore is dead, and I doubt there will be any punishment.

Draco was raised in the type of environment where racism was encouraged. He got his morals from his father. As long as Draco depends on his parents or the Dark Lord for protection, he has to uphold those morals whether he likes it or not, at the risk of being killed if he goes against them. This might be why the prospect of being protected by the Order under the pretense of death sounded good to him, enough for him to lower his wand. It was his way out, finally.

The real question is what will Harry do? Harry witnessed this scene, and perhaps Snape has worked this out, perhaps not, but whether or not Draco is aware that Harry knows what happened, Draco cannot expect to seek out protection from the Order without fearing for his life. If Draco is to be salvaged, it will have to come from an active effort on Harry's part to save him. I think in Book 7 we will see Harry reaching out to Draco, even though he may not like doing it. If Harry has any moral fibre, he will speak for Draco.

I'm not sure if Draco will stay faithful to Voldemort. I think if given the opperutnity Voldemort will kill Draco. Draco didn't complete his orders. Therefore I don't think Voldemort wants him alive. Considering we don't know where Draco is I think Draco may have fled. I don't think Draco will fully redeem himself and join the Order. The Order may follow up on Dumbledore's offer and protect Draco, but that is of course only if Harry speaks up. Harry being the type of person he is I think would take up for Draco if it comes down to it.

If Lord Voldemort does decide to dispose of Draco, I doubt he will do it himself. After all, the books have stated that Voldemort only murders very important people in person (like Amelia Bones), and the Dark Lord hardly considers Draco important. If anything, Voldemort would more than likely order one of the Death Eaters to do it if he does want the Malfoy boy killed.

Also, if Draco forsakes the Dark Lord and tries to flee, he will not get very far. The Death Eaters will chase him down and kill him. I find it unlikely that fanatical followers of Lord Voldemort like Bellatrix Lestrange would take to such utter betrayal. After all, once you enter into the service of the Dark Lord, there is no turning back.

So where do I see Draco in the future? Probably dead before his nineteenth birthday, if he continues down the path he's on, which is likely.

A couple of thoughts:

1. One of the most important themes of the series has been love and its raw power. Throughout the series, we have seen that Draco and his mother love one another. She's always sending him packages and treats; he grew visibly angry [flushing, et.al.] when Harry insults her in GoF; we also learn in that book that Narcissa intervened when Lucius considered sending Draco to Durmstrang because she didn't want Darco to be so far away. As a mother myself, I felt great pity for her in the Unbreakable Vow scene. (I would plead like that for my son in a New York minute, no questions asked. But I digress.) This doesn't mean he is all warm and fuzzy and good; it does, however, mean he is capable of love, which Voldemort is not. That love may lead to Draco's redemption at the end of the series. I don't think this means he'll join the "good guys" outright, though; there's too much enmity there (think James and Snape. Yes, Snape's a member of the Order, but he doesn't hang out with them, and I don't think any of them would call him friend, even Lupin, who tries to be fair).

2. The genre in which Jo is writing nearly always has a "bad guy" who redeems himself in some fashion or another. In Lord of the Rings, one could argue that this was Gollum, who--however unwittingly--destroyed the ring in the end. In the Star Wars series, it was Vader. Note, though, that both of these characters die. If Draco is the redeemed character of this series (and two other possibilities--Snape and Wormtail--exist), and the formula is followed, he may not live to tell the tale.

I don't think Draco was ever bad enough to have to pay The Ultimate Price for redemption. Honestly, he just has a terrible personality.

Okay, so he let some death eaters into the castle. If I were him, and Voldemort was threatening to kill me and my parents, I might have done the same thing.

Also, other characters have done some nasty things too. Up until HBP, Hermione was scarier than Draco. Look what she did to Rita Skeeter! Also, how many times has Harry used/fantasized about using the cruciatis curse?

Also, punishments for Draco's very awful personality have been disproportionaly severe throughout the series:

He tried (in his bratty way) to be nice to Harry when they first met, and Harry embarassed him in front of his friends (I would have too, though, for Ron :love: )

He had to put up with his dad hassling him all summer about not getting Hermione's exam grades, only to be called out by her in front of 2 quidditch teams for buying his way in, which he did, but let's face it, he *can* play, can't he?

He takes a cheap shot at Harry's mom, and then gets the snot beat out of him by Fred(?) and Harry, who by the way still has the snitch in his hand (ouch!)

I don't even remember what he was doing when Moody/Crouch Jr. turned him into a ferret, but that wasn't justified.

And then he acts on his nasty, death eater impulses, only to have Voldemort trick him into going on a suicide mission.

I saw a sig that said "Draco Malfoy, stop being evil, you're REALLY BAD AT IT" :tu: :tu:

Anyway, Draco will be protected by the Order.

I really felt terrible for Draco in this book. He was really given no choice in the mission that he was set. It was sort of a "your dad messed up, now do this or you all die" type situation. Obviously he had to attempt to kill Dumbledore. And being Draco Malfoy, he made it sound as cool as possible to all his friends.
I think the scene with Moaning Myrtle was evidence enough of how he later felt about the "mission". Draco was scared for his life. He was really in an impossible position.
Up on the tower, he totally lost his nerve. There is no way he would have gone through with killing Dumbledore. If the Death Eaters hadn't shown up, he may have even taken Dumbledore up on the whole offer of protection. Draco is a true Slytherin. He is amitious, but he isn't going to jeopardize himself. He is selfish to the bone. I don't think it makes him evil though.
I had a lot of pity for Draco in HBP. I can only imagine that he now has no way out of a life of service to Voldemort. He will probably do it unwillingly and begrudgingly at times, but that is where his choices in life have taken him.

After seeing his character evolve throughout the book, push comes to shove even if Draco had pointed his wand and said out loud the curse, I don't think anything would have happened just because he didn't mean it. Maybe DD knew that and wanted him to decide before anyone else got there so that they didn't know his true feelings behind it all. If the DE had seen him try the curse and fail they would know he didn't mean it. If he never tried it they might just think that he was scared, intimidated, or what have you but not that he didn't want to do it.

Let's face it Draco is not a nice persona dnhe gets what he deserves. When he was turned into a ferrett he tried to hit harry in the back with a curse, he was being rude and nasty to harry when ehrmione called him out and then he said a nasty thing to her, he is just plan nasty but i do not think he is evil. I think he is someone who liked the lure of the dark arts (probably got that from his parents and looking up to snape who was into the dark arts) but soon realized he had gotten in to far. When it came down to it he could not do what he ahd to for vold. It just was not in him. It was too much for him. I think this is one case where the person can have a nasty pesonality and be really mean and a bit of a bully but not be evil. I am thinking in the end he will not continue on his current path, into the depths of the DE culture, and will try to find a way to get out of it. After all he has had something vold has not...love. He loves his mother and is loved by her and i suspect the same for pansy as well. He will comeout of this as a nasty person but not an evil person. Hope that makes sense.

While I do believe Draco will decide to leave Voldemort's side, I don't think he will end up fighting for the white hats either. Here's my theory: Draco will culminate his redemptive pattern by performing a single heroic deed, perhaps saving one of the trio's lives (Hermione's would serve as nice poetic justice). But ultimately, I think that he'll decide to go neutral, pack up his things, and leave the war-breached Wizarding World for good. He's not vindictive enough to side with the bad guys, but he's not courageous enough to fight with the good guys either. I think that decision will come to ultimately represent the character of Draco Malfoy.

Ok, I have not read all the posts so sorry if I'm repeating what anyone has said...which I most likely am.

Well, for starters, some people are saying that Draco had a choice not too become a Death Eater like his fatther...how is this right?

He HAD to become a Death Eater otherwise Voldemort WOULD OF KILLED HIM AND HIS PARENTS! He didn't exactly have a big choice, sure hes always loved the idea of becoming a Death Eater...but did he really know any better?

He had too run at the end of HBP otherwise him and his family would STILL be killed whether or not he got tHE death eaters in hogwarts cause he would of betrayed voldemort by joining the other side!

He was CRYING in the bathroom...he was UPSET! This shows he can feel! And is was opening his heart too a MUGGLE BORN ghost! Even HARRY is surprised!

If someone told me that I had too kill someone I hate (Draco doesn't exactly love dumbledore does he?), to save my FAMILY then, im sorry, but I think that I would.

Blood is Blood and you can't just sit back and watch the people you love die knowing that the same fate awaits you right after.

Draco certainly isn't that brave...but compared too harry, who is?

Harry has no choice but too be brave, he has to save the wizarding world!
Draco...will NEVER be as brave as harry...I don't think that ANYONE will.

Also, I think there is a chance that the malfoys may switch sides in Book 7, after everything that Voldemort done too them this year.
I don't see Draco and Harry ever being best mates, but I can see them sharing and understanding....same with Draco and Hermione. However, I think him and Ron will always be sworn enemies...:p

"I don't see Draco and Harry ever being best mates, but I can see them sharing and understanding....same with Draco and Hermione. However, I think him and Ron will always be sworn enemies..."

I think you're right about this. Especially Ron, whom Draco did almost kill by accident.

I agree with a lot of what you said. It doesn't hurt to empathize with people, even if they are jerks... One thing on this thread (or some similar one??) is the scenario where Voldemort wouldn't have bothered with Draco, but Draco decides to stand up for his dad and asks Voldemort to let him prove the family deserves to be on his "people not to have killed(for now)" list. I like this idea, but since Draco isn't as brave as Harry,or as mouthy :), I'm not sure if he could get up in Voldemort's face like that.

shadowdogs- Yep, Draco and Ron...they'll never get on will they? Rons not going too be forgetting that poison anytime soon!

Much as I don't want it too happen, I just can't see Draco making it throught the seventh book...if he speaks back to Voldemort...most likely he'll be killed....along with his family...I do feel sorry for him...when it comes down to it, hes just a little boy!

So, at the end of HBP, DD said that he could protect Malfoy. Will Malfoy come back to the good side, if he does, will Voldemort kill him. I personally think that he comes back, but still he will not like Harry. Either that or he dies. Snape will not be able to stop Voldemort from destroying him.




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"It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities."

You DO know Dumbledore is dead...... right?

yes. but he might have told the order to protect him if things went wrong. they might have known that he was being blackmailked by voldemort. In bk. 5, they said that they know more than voldemort thinks they know.



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"It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities."

I think that malfoy will be too afraid to reture to the good side because if he does he know that voldemort will try to kill him

That's a good question. I suppose it depends on whether Draco lets go of that stubborn pride. He's learned that he isn't a killer, and it's kind of hard to be a follower of Voldemort if you're not willing and able to kill for him; but he's got this determination to keep up the pride of his family, which sadly seems to rest with Dark magic. Personally,
I think he will make the turnaround to the anti-Voldemort side sometime in Book 7, maybe near the end. And whether he survives... I don't know, I'd guess no. Mind you, I have absolutely nothing to base this on - it's just my guess.

It's a bit of a shame though... I really liked malfoy.

It's a bit of a shame though... I really liked malfoy.
You don't have to take my word for it; my guesses are only worth abou two cents. :blush:

Something tells me that he will be there at the final "duel" or whatever with Harry, Hermione, Ron, Ginny, and Neville, but he wont be on voldy's side. I think voldy will try and kill malfoy at that point, but thats when Harry will put everything behind him and stand up for what is right and start the duel or whatever. Im just making speculation, and like mouseinthehouse, my speculations and guesses are worth about 2 cents.

There are a lot of factors here. For one thing, what will Voldemort's attitude towards Draco and Snape be now? One failed at the task V set (and if Harry noticed Draco's wand fall I'm sure Amycus and Alecto did too) and the other, by killing Dumbledore, could be seen as more powerful than Voldemort and therefore a rival. We don't even know where Draco and Snape are. Will Voldemort kill Lucius and/or Narcissa as punishment for Draco's failure? (I think Narcissa's probably more vulnerable here.) That would surely make Draco turn against him.

I do think that, one way or another, Draco will be instrumental in integrating the rest of Slytherin into the school--either because he'll tell them about the awful pressure V. used on him and how different the attitude of his intended victim was, or because V. will kill him and that will scare the Slyths straight.

I don't think Draco and Harry will become buddies, but they may recognize that in V. they have a common enemy. It may be that Draco will both join the good side and die.

i think there wil be some kind of showdown between harry and Malfoy and maybe Malfoy will have to swallow his pride and admit that he is in over his head with LV and ask for help. i agree with shewoman who said......

I don't think Draco and Harry will become buddies, but they may recognize that in V. they have a common enemy. It may be that Draco will both join the good side and die.

but hey, as with every other post in this thread, its just a guess!

I dont think he will.. Not with his mother still being on the dark side, and who would want him back, he caused DDs death

So, at the end of HBP, DD said that he could protect Malfoy. Will Malfoy come back to the good side, if he does, will Voldemort kill him. I personally think that he comes back, but still he will not like Harry. Either that or he dies. Snape will not be able to stop Voldemort from destroying him.

Why would Draco comes back when he was never there in the first place? Draco has always been vocal on what and whom he supports and it's not the good side. Didn't he take pleasure on taunting Harry and friends how Voldemort may someday kills Harry?

yes. but he might have told the order to protect him if things went wrong. they might have known that he was being blackmailked by voldemort. In bk. 5, they said that they know more than voldemort thinks they know.

Why would the Order protect Draco? He was one of the major players that led to Dumbledore's death. He made his choice and he must learned to learned the consequences of his choices. Harry had to learned the consequences of his actions and paid some heavy priced because of it and I don't see how Draco should be cossetted by the Order for something that he did willingly. He was never blackmailed by Voldemort...he went with the scheme with an open mind, but when he was confronted with the reality, he changed his mind, but that doesn't altered the fact that he's NOT in a good side nor will have a change of mind.

I don't think that Malfoy really HAD a choice and i felt sorry for him for the first time in book six. He really believed that his family would be killed if he did not carry out Voldermort's orders. I think that the fact that he cried in Moaning Mrytle's bathroom and then lowered his wand on the top of the lightening struck tower without attacking Dumbledore indicates that Dumbledore was right about him .. he is not a killer. If the Death Eater's hadn't turned up at that particular moment Malfoy might even have accepted Dumbledore's offer of protection... hey! I just had a thought but it doesn't relate to this thread so I will put it somewhere else :)

Why would Draco comes back when he was never there in the first place? Draco has always been vocal on what and whom he supports and it's not the good side. Didn't he take pleasure on taunting Harry and friends how Voldemort may someday kills Harry?


This is where i think we're all misunderstood about malfoy. Even though he may have been saying all this, he was obviously a victim of propaganda in his own household so he did not technically get to make his OWN decision about what he was brought up to believe. Its quite the same in some American households with racism, abortion, homosexuality, religion and things of that sort, certain kids are brought up to hate or lean heavily towards one thing or the other, not by choice, but by upbringing. It also happened in Germany in the 1930s-1940s when Adolf Hitler was dictator there. He "brought" his country up to believe that many other different races/ethnic groups, etc (jews, gypsies, etc) were inferior to the Germans. Keep that in mind as we continue to talk about draco malfoy here.

Frankly, I have more sympathy for Snape than for Malfoy.

Snape apparently had real talent, and seems to have turned bad under the stress of a social situation he simply couldn't master. Malfoy started out as a jerk, and has never shown talent for anything other than riding on his father's name and pushing people around because he's got Crabbe and Goyle behind him. I see his hesitation at the tower as being a sign of his cowardice, and not some hidden goodness. Where was his hidden goodness when he was sending cursed necklaces and poisoned mead to people?

I don't hope to see Malfoy die in Book 7, but I hope his family is ruined and he has to wait tables at the Leaky Cauldron or take Stan Shuppike's job or something. He needs a good few years without gold, family position, or goon buddies on his side.

This is where i think we're all misunderstood about malfoy. Even though he may have been saying all this, he was obviously a victim of propaganda in his own household so he did not technically get to make his OWN decision about what he was brought up to believe.

I don't see him as a victim actually. He always has a choice. That's one thing that no one can ever take away from him. He made a choice like every character in the series and perhaps he'll be man enough to face the consequences. As Dumbledore said (and it's one of the main theme of the series), "It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.".

I dont think he will.. Not with his mother still being on the dark side, and who would want him back, he caused DDs death

I don't think Narcissa is on the dark side...per se. I think she just won't go against her husband. Have we ever heard of Narcissa actually doing evil things?

Narcissa actually said that there was nothing that she wouldn't do anymore [to protect Draco]. Having seen the way she was with Snape and Bella I think that she would be prepared to go along with pretty much anything in order to save Draco, including accepting protection from the Order. I can't be sure of that though and maybe it's a moot point anyway .. perhaps the Malfoys have burned their bridges too far for there to be any alliance with the Order.

It is VERY important that he didn't kill Dumbledore. He has not yet committed that supreme act against nature, and his soul is still pure (even if he's a lousy git). I have had a hunch ever since reading Half Blood Prince that he's going to wind up on the good side in the end (much like Snape, I daresay?)

Nope - Voldemort's going to snuff him for failing to complete his mission and causing Snape to blow his cover. This will make us pity Malfoy even more (he is ultimately a tragic character) and hate Voldemort that much more.

malfoy lowered his wand. he believed dumbledore, he was willing to get away from voldemort safe from harm. he and harry will never be busom buddies, but they could stop having a go at each other and cooperate when the final battle comes. a battle malfoy may not survive, because either voldemort or his father may kill him for treason and treachery to the dark lord.

i hated malfoy...until the sixth book.

he and harry will never be busom buddies, but they could stop having a go at each other and cooperate when the final battle comes. a battle malfoy may not survive, because either voldemort or his father may kill him for treason and treachery to the dark lord.

i hated malfoy...until the sixth book.



It's interesting you say that since after reading Book 6, I started to compare the ongoing malcontent between Malfoy and Harry to the loathing between Sirius and Snape.

Though Sirius and Snape were on the same side, they would always but heads. This is something I could definately see happening with Harry and Malfoy were to be on the same team. I think Malfoy will play a role in Book 6 that helps Harry. Something he does or does not do, ends up being to Harry's advantage. Understand the Malfoy, on principle, would never voluntarily help Harry, but he might do it inadvertently.

Does anyone remember, did JK ever say if the Malfoy's...Lucious in particular, ever killed anyone when Voldemort was first in power.?

I don't think that Malfoy really HAD a choice and i felt sorry for him for the first time in book six. He really believed that his family would be killed if he did not carry out Voldermort's orders. I think that the fact that he cried in Moaning Mrytle's bathroom and then lowered his wand on the top of the lightening struck tower without attacking Dumbledore indicates that Dumbledore was right about him .. he is not a killer. If the Death Eater's hadn't turned up at that particular moment Malfoy might even have accepted Dumbledore's offer of protection... hey! I just had a thought but it doesn't relate to this thread so I will put it somewhere else :)I agree. Maybe there is still hope for Malfoy.

Out of curiosity, what was the thought?

If Malfoy doesn't die (I don't think he will anyway) I believe that although he'll technically be on the good side because he showed he cannot kill, he will still keep his pure blood supremacist attitudes.

Also, I highly doubt he'll ever be friendly with the trio. Civil possibly, but not friendly.

I would hope Draco suffers from the Avada Kedavra, it seems like the thing Voldemort would do, Draco didn't succede in his task. Unless he makes up for it in a BIG way like Wormtail did. I think that Draco will live and escape to the good side. It just seems like the thing that would happen? I don't know, but I think Draco is going to live.

there is the 'darth vader' theory, which itself is an oft-used plot device, in which a villain of one sort or another redeems themself (usually at the last minute) to save the hero and is usually killed in the effort, but i'm not sure jk would utilize such a well-used technique.
i feel that what dumbledore said to draco atop the tower is crucial, and went something like 'it is my mercy and not yours which is important here'. i wonder if it was dumbledore's intent to preserve what little 'good' remains in draco so he can LATER make the 'right choice'. it need not be something particularly dramatic, but i doubt draco will remain on voldemorts side throughout book seven although i also doubt he will live to see the end of it.

Out of curiosity, what was the thought?

LOL I can't remember now, though I know I did write it down in another thread :).Oh yeah! it was that DD wouldn't have offered to protect Malfoy if he had known he was going to be dead in 20 minutes, which effectively scuppers for me the 'it was all as set up and Snape is still good' theory. But anyway I think I posted it in the Snape is still good thread as well :)

Re Draco dying .. I hope he doesn't but it's certainly a possibility :(. It's interesting that Harry was starting to feel a twinge of pity for him towards the end of book six though. I think there will certainly be a meeting between them before the end.

I really hope J.K. won't kill Draco ... :upset: I mean, I felt soooooo sorry for him in the 6th book and I still hope he'll turn to the good side! I really hope he does!!!

Even if Draco did I can't see any chance whatsoever that Lucius would. Narcissa.. yes, maybe. I have the feeling that if it came down to it, she would choose her son over her husband.

I wonder if Lucius is going to feature in book 7? I really would like to see him get his comeuppance but I don't really see how he is going to get out of Azkaban to do that. Unless Voldermort leads some sort of mass break in and then break out again of Azkaban.

And hey! if Draco dies at least he doesn't have to spend the rest of his life with Pansy Parkinson, right? ;)

I do think that, one way or another, Draco will be instrumental in integrating the rest of Slytherin into the school--either because he'll tell them about the awful pressure V. used on him and how different the attitude of his intended victim was, or because V. will kill him and that will scare the Slyths straight. It sounds like you think Hogwats will be open again and I agree. But do you think that Malfoy will be allowed to come back? He didn't kill Dumbledore, but he's still an accomplice. He's going to have to prove that he really is on the good side. If he is able to convince the right people that he's changed I don't like his chances of surviving. Look at Karkaroff- it took a while but Voldemort got him for his lack of loyalty in the end.

both

I think that Draco is going to come to the good side, but be killed in the end by Voldemort or one of the Death Eaters.

You can't just agree to do something for Voldemort and not carry out his plans, or go into hiding, without there being some sort of punishment.

I'm tired but I'll try to type...
I think Draco is going to play a pretty big part in the 'Final Battle' of Harry vs. Voldemort/ Good vs. Evil. Either he will remain with Voldemort and try to redeem himself (but if Voldemort kills him that'll just ruin my 'theory') after failing to kill Dumbledore by bringing him Harry or trying to kill Harry. If he does this it is my opinion that'll he'll be killed. Or he can leave Voldemort, with his mother and seek refuge from the order. Dumbledore did say that he would have protected him and the Order should do what Dumbledore thought was right. He and Harry, if he comes to the good side, will still have a grudge but you can see at the end of HBP that Harry feels sorry for Draco and most likely won't be 'mean' or whatever to him. Draco might still be though, he still has alot of pride and Potter is his sworn enemy...;)
Goodnight!:D

he will come back to the good side, but Snape'll die for him.

Well if he just goes to the good side of course Voldemort would kill him. He isent exaclty very forgiving. But ne ways. Draco book 7 should be interesting to see what happens with him. We see him fail a task that Voldemort assigned to him. Yes ** ends up dead but still he fails ** he dosent complete his task. But I do think that Dracos eyes were opened to the true horrors of being a death eaters. We do see he is incapable of killing. He cant and he is also in a slightly remember you dont just quit the death eaters. He could very well betray Voldemort but It wont be for Harry sake. THings between them will never be good. Draco I believe will do whats on his agenda and no one elses. But I wouldnt be suprised if he was killed. Next time he meets Harry it could be interesting. I wonder how they would react to one another. Draco is def going to be interesting to see in book 7 what will become of him?

I cannot help thinking that there will be a final showdown between Harry and Draco. Since book 1, Draco and Harry have been pitted against each other. Draco is Harry's most important opponent, because he is at the same level as Harry. Think the following:
Draco and Harry both prodigies coming from important wizarding families.
Harry cannot be said mudblood, because he inherits strong wizarding trait from his father's side.
Both Draco and Harry have 2 loyal followers: Crabbe/Goyle vs. Ron/Hermione
Each has an adoring woman: Pansy Parkinson vs. Ginny Weasley.
Almost in every book, they are up for duels. Book 1 was a trick, but Book 2 Book 4 and Book 6 are deathly serious.
At the end there can be only one (Highlanders are Scottish!).

I personally feel that only a very evil deed on the part of Voldemort would bring Draco back to the good side. He will probably only return to the good side if his father is killed by Voldemort for not obtaining the prophesy. I have a feeling that this will happen and it will hopefully drive Draco back to the good side. However, if his father dies it could just bring him even farther into the evil side. It's hard to say right now what Draco will end up doing in the end.

I say the whole of the malfoy family will die.

I say the whole of the malfoy family will die.

One can only hope for such a thing...

I really think Malfoy should get what is comeing to him.... he has always picked evil ways and the offering from Dumbledore was only a thought to him because he is a person that would rather tuck tale and run then do what is needed...

He is a Coward and I hope he gets what he has coming to him....(not Death) Azkaban next to his father....

giddieon that was seriously harsh!:huh:

voldemort will be furious with draco , i bet he gets a taste of a certin unfogivable curse used for torture that is if he doesnt murder him on the spot :agree: but knowing voldemort he would hurt malfoy by hurting those he loves the most in this case his mother and his dad too if they manage to get him out of azkaben any time soon and i belive voldemort will kill lucius when he gets his hands on him (made too many mistakes if you ask me :shrug: ) seeing his parents tortured or killed might be the catalist to push draco over the edge , you ask me why the order would help draco i think he might give them some valuable information hes been a deatheater for a year now he must know something , i dont think that he will die snape was our symbole 4 redemtion and now ......we..need a new one

I dunno if Voldermort will be furious with Draco .. it seemed to be implied that he didn't expect Draco to complete the task in any case and was expecting Snape to be the one to perform the Aveda Kedavra. I would guess he was just trying to punish Lucius and Narcissa a little by making them worry about what might potentially happen to their son.

I know this is evil but I hope he DIES! He was always such a braggart and I think that he was keen to make himself feel all important and got himself in over his head and caused more pain to more people.....but I hope that Voldemort doesn't do it - I hope it's one of the good guys that gets him.

I don't think Malfoy is good at being bad.

I know this is evil but I hope he DIES! He was always such a braggart and I think that he was keen to make himself feel all important and got himself in over his head and caused more pain to more people.....but I hope that Voldemort doesn't do it - I hope it's one of the good guys that gets him.

I don't know .. that would be a tremendous burden on the conscience of whoever it was that did it .. especially if it was someone who had known Malfoy personally even if they didn't like him. And really, Malfoy has as yet killed noone and is in some ways simply a victim of circumstance; I think we saw a rather different side of him in book 6 when we learned that he had been crying in Moaning Mrytle's bathroom. He deserves an opportunity to choose his side as an adult I think, away from the influence of his father and able to see for himself what Voldermort means to do to the wizarding world.

Of course, if he's prepared to kill others then he makes himself a potential target. But he hasn't done that yet and Dumbledore did not believe that he was capable of it.

I think that Malfoy will come back to the good side, but get killed by LV. He might tell Harry something important first and the trio will probably try to protect him. That's what I think anyway. We should have a bet!

I think that Malfoy will come back to the good side, but get killed by LV. He might tell Harry something important first and the trio will probably try to protect him. That's what I think anyway. We should have a bet!

I like your thought - especially the little mention of a bet, yeah, why not -
I´d say yor right ;o) - hopefully though he won´t get killed...

Maybe there will be some strange twist of events and Malfoy will have a revelation and become a saint or something and sacrifice himself for Harry...probably not the most likely thing, but its a possibility. Or he could just stay on the bad side and be too scared because honestly, Voldemort, not to mention Malfoy's parents would be pretty ticked if he decided to go buddy up with Harry

but voldemort would most likely kill him if he stayed on the bad side, if Snape tries to cover for him, it will be very suspicious and (if snape is good) he will lose his cover.

I feel certain that he'll return to the good side. If you look, you'll see similarities between Harry and Draco's situation and James and Snape's.

I believe Harry will live and that Snape is still good so, while I may think this way, others who disagree with one or both points will obviously disagree...but just follow me on this for now.:p

James and Snape are going at it but James saves Snape's life. Nevermind why he did it, all that's important is that he did it. That leaves a small opening for reconciliation that, sadly, is slammed shut when James dies. Snape is then left to hate James without having proper closure.

Draco and Harry are going at it but, several times throughout Half-Blood Prince, he makes it quite clear that he'd rather not be in the situation he's in. If he or Harry dies, we'll just have another James-Snape case.

Draco has no business being a Death Eater either. He may be just like his father but I think he has enough of his mother in him to keep him from being a full blown murderer.

I agree with those who ask "what do you mean come BACK to the good side?? He was never on it in the first place!

JKR has been trying to warn us for quite some time now about Draco, just short of giving away the plot of the final book. She's extremely puzzled at the "capacity of some people who manage to find good in Draco." Draco was not good. He isn't good, and he won't BECOME good. If he were to attempt to change sides, it would be nothing more than an attempt to save his own worthless hide.

It would be well too remember that Tom Felton is not Draco, any more than Alan Rickman is Snape.

I don't think JK was trying to foreshadow him being evil...

She said he's like Regulus in that he "was attracted to it, but the reality of what it meant was way too much to handle." She also said that "Draco would not have killed Dumbledore". That says, to me, that he's not particularly evil. He just doesn't have what it takes to be a murderer.

I'm holding onto him being nothing more than an unpleasant bully.

I predict Narcissa will go back to the good side, and convince Draco to also go to the good side. I don't see him dying, but I think the trio will always think he is untrustworthy.

I dont think dumbledore is dead, nor do i think that Draco's mission was to kill dumbledore so i believe that Draco and Narcissa will be protected by dumbledore. I think he will help fight Voldemort...

I dont think dumbledore is dead, nor do i think that Draco's mission was to kill dumbledore so i believe that Draco and Narcissa will be protected by dumbledore. I think he will help fight Voldemort...

Where did you take that from?

I do think that Draco will be a pivitol character in book 7. I do believe he's a bit shovanistic, pig-headed and proud, but not evil.

I think, mind you this is just speculation, that he will pull a Snape and make slight ammends with the Order and particularly Harry. When he does come crawling back on his hands, and is begging on his knees, and the order is growling in the background for the guy to be smited from the face of the Earth, I think Harry will show a little compassion playing a Dumbledore role. It will be in this point in the book, the Order will find they must put their trust in Harry, who isn't telling them about the Horcruxes, just as they did Dumbledore.

I also think that both Draco and Snape will survive at the end, and will be the ones who will help Harry kill LV. Try not to rant on me. I'm just going off of years of reading experience. These to characters are just too good to be offed.

The thing that gets me is that a lot of people think Draco is not evil but I think he is... why

What in all the books at anytime did he show kindness, compassion or understanding of others... not once... but we have seen him as a theif, trying to kill people and hurting innocent students.... He has also public called people mudbloods and wish them for dead... He enjoys seeing others suffer....

Now if this is not evil than what else is???

I don't think Draco was on the goods side to begin with, However what he was made to do was Voldy's pay back on the malfoys' I think that give the chance Draco will try to get away now he knows it is no longer a game he might go in to hide with his mum but I don't think he will play a major role in defeating Voldy!

The thing that gets me is that a lot of people think Draco is not evil but I think he is... why

What in all the books at anytime did he show kindness, compassion or understanding of others... not once... but we have seen him as a theif, trying to kill people and hurting innocent students.... He has also public called people mudbloods and wish them for dead... He enjoys seeing others suffer....

Now if this is not evil than what else is???
In answer to your question SNAPE

In answer to your question SNAPE

That is ture but that does not erase the actions of Malfoy... he is still an evil person...

I agree with those who ask "what do you mean come BACK to the good side?? He was never on it in the first place!
Oh, but I think he was. In book six he was tempted or, rather he was forced, to experiment with the dark arts. So he wasn't necessarily evil before that. I mean what did he really do that would classify him to the 'Dark Side'? Some bothersome remarks and jokes doesn't automatically make you evil.

I think that if Draco continues on the path of the Death Eaters, he will become evil. I mean Death Eaters seriously torture and kill people for a living. But I really don't think he's evil right now. I think he'll take into consideration what Dumbledore told him before he died. Remember, Draco didn't kill him. I find this very significant. The poisoned mead and the cursed neclace were measley attempts to harm Dumbledore. And that was what his motive was. But like Dumbledore said, he had to know that those wouldn'tve worked. Draco was practically forced to do what he did all year. So what I'm saying is that LOVE was the root of Draco's 'evilness'. He tried harmful things out of the intention of protecting his family. Does this make him evil?

I think that Draco is the epitome of choosing your own destiny. Just because he's forced to be 'evil' or expected to, perhaps he can over come this hurdle. I hope he can, at least.

The thing that gets me is that a lot of people think Draco is not evil but I think he is... why

What in all the books at anytime did he show kindness, compassion or understanding of others... not once... but we have seen him as a theif, trying to kill people and hurting innocent students.... He has also public called people mudbloods and wish them for dead... He enjoys seeing others suffer....

Now if this is not evil than what else is???

Evil is a fairly strong word ;). I think that Malfoy has been very unpleasant but then, as other people have said, he really didn't have the best start in life. Remember too that we tend to only see him in the books when he is interacting with Harry and his friends, whom he hates.. maybe he has a nice, compassionate side that we just don't get to see. Plus, Harry has been involved in a fair amount of things that, on the surface, seem pretty unsavoury .. among other things he is guilty of rule breaking, trespassing, impersonation... none of that looks good on paper :).

Yes, technically, Malfoy wasn't ever really on the 'good' side. He was in a sort of limbo of following what his parents taught him, and wanting to be superior as a natural quality. I don't think he will help the trio very much....or anyone anyway, for that matter, except himself as much as possible. He's in very deep right now, and unless Snape reveals to him that he is on the good side, and can hide Draco (which he might do if Snape is the one doing it), he will probably die by Voldemort's wand...

Or maybe people are right and he will redeem himself. :)

It is our choices, Harry, which show who we are, far more than our abilties.
I think you could replace ability with birth and still remain true to Dumbledore's meaning. Draco never really made the choice to serve Voldemort - his birth meant that he either did so or his family were killed. On the other hand is father - as far as we are aware - did make the choice to become a Death Eater.
Draco's birth stripped him of the ability to show where his true loyalties lay - with his family and removed from Voldemort. The tremble of his wand on the tower shows that Draco - if given the chance - will come over to the good side.

Draco has always been a sniffling little chicken. Look at him carry on about Buckbeak's "attack" in Prisoner of Azkaban for example, and Draco's bark seems much worse than his bite.

I think his attitudes come completely from his household, and he may begin to realise this in the next book. I'd always thought he was all talk in the first few books and nothing much really to worry about.

Here's hoping he has the conscience to face his inner demons and reflect on what he has done in assisting with Dumbledore's death - maybe he will turn to the good side after all.

So, at the end of HBP, ** said that he could protect Malfoy. Will Malfoy come back to the good side, if he does, will Voldemort kill him. I personally think that he comes back, but still he will not like Harry. Either that or he dies. Snape will not be able to stop Voldemort from destroying him.

Draco can't come back to the "good side" if he never was on the "good side" to begin with. I don't think he will change his mind, either. As long as his father is around, Draco will do nothing but what Lucius says.

whell ferst he was never on the good sied so he can't "go back"he was alwas very evil :evil: . But yes I think he will go to good...I know what will hapen he will tern good abot as Harry,Ron or Hermione is abot to die and he will push him/her out of the way of whatevers abot to kill thim and git killed insed. that whod be one of thos sad happy things like Dracos dead but he was good when he died.hes fuirul whod look like this, this are peopls faces: :upset: Dracos dead. :p he was on the good sied when he died :upset: but hes dead :p but hes good :upset: but hes dead :p but good :upset: but dead. thats how it whod go.

whell ferst he was never on the good sied so he can't "go back"he was alwas very evil :evil: . But yes I think he will go to good...I know what will hapen he will tern good abot as Harry,Ron or Hermione is abot to die and he will push him/her out of the way of whatevers abot to kill thim and git killed insed. that whod be one of thos sad happy things like Dracos dead but he was good when he died.hes fuirul whod look like this, this are peopls faces: :upset: Dracos dead. :p he was on the good sied when he died :upset: but hes dead :p but hes good :upset: but hes dead :p but good :upset: but dead. thats how it whod go.

That is a really interesting idea! For Draco to sacrifice himself for the people he has always been 'against' for the common goal of defeating Lord Voldemort. I wonder if, for arguments sake, it was Voldemort who killed Draco (protecting Harry) what effect this would have on LV?? If it was Lily's love that saved Harry originally, how would Draco's sacrifice effect the situation?

(in answer to the question then, Draco would both turn to the good side and die).

I think that deep down Draco is a good kid! i dont think he would of ever killed Dumbledore! i dont think that HE would of ever done it! i totally agree with Gnocks Draco didnt kill him and thats important because he hasnt commited a serious crime, and we dont totally know that hes been branded with the Dark Mark! I think that Draco is going to be a huge part in the next book! i am pretty sure its going to be a Snape- James moment when james saved snape even though he hated him. I think Draco is going to do somting simalar with a Harry-draco moment i dunno its a weird theroy! but whatever!

I see Draco as longing to fit in... trying to be exactly like his father. There's a certain little boyish-ness in him... he wants to be just like his daddy. I think he'll end up dead, for some reason.

He seems very attached to his mother, so I think he'll either die trying to save her, or Voldemort will murder him on some stupid reason for an excuse to get back at Lucius for giving away the diary. This might lead to Narcissa turning against her husband... and turning to the good side.

Far fetched,maybe, but possible?

i dont think he would of ever killed Dumbledore!
Yes, I think he wouldn't have had the guts too.
I think that deep down Draco is a good kid!
This is where we disagree. I think Draco is malicious, believes in what Lord Voldemort is doing, but is too gutless to carry out such deeds himself. Some people think he is empathetic, I think he's scared that he'll be locked up like his dad before him. We see him being malicious in HBP, when Harry finds him crying in the bathroom, he tries to apply the Cruciatus Curse to Harry.
I think that Draco is going to be a huge part in the next book!
Yes, Draco will definitely play an important role in HP7, whether or not he sides with the Order or the Death Eaters remains to be seen.
i am pretty sure its going to be a Snape- James moment when james saved snape even though he hated him. I think Draco is going to do somting simalar with a Harry-draco moment
Well, that's an interesting theory. That would be cool in a weird sort of way. I doubt it, however. My views on Draco's persona have been stated above, and whether or not you agree is up to you. Personally, I don't see a Snape-James moment happening between Harry and Draco.

We see him being malicious in HBP, when Harry finds him crying in the bathroom, he tries to apply the Cruciatus Curse to Harry.

Harry has also, in the past, tried to apply the Cruciatus Curse to assorted people. Granted, he had good reason, but still.. it doesn't make someone evil. It means they're human.

I don't think Draco is good... I think that he's just influenced by his environment and has a bit of a dark streak to him anyways.

Ah, this word evil, it's very annoying, isn't it?

I don't think Draco is evil, so to speak. But, he has certainly been raised with dubius moral values; Malfoy values. And, the Malfoy values state, Malfoy always comes first. Even when he thought that Voldenort was a gonna, Lucius Malfoy, turned against him and claimed to be under Imperious.- now, I don't doubt Lucius taught his son that Purebloods were better than others, I don't doubt that he told his son, if Voldemort have lived, he would have brought grat changes to the wizarding world. But, with Voldemort, seemingly gone, and life still continuing on. Lucius would have told his son, no matter what, when the chips are down, a Malfoy comes first.

That's why, when all the rest of his world falls down, Draco will go to the light and seek protection. This will not come as an all seeing new redemption. No, Draco, being fairly intelligent, will see that this is the only way forward. Draco, sees life and his and his own, being the own way forward. And, if this means turning caot to save his skin, he would do it. Mlafoy's have pride, yes. But, when prise becomes between them and daeth, they will choose the easy way out. Even, Voldemort, knows this, just read his words to Lucius inthe graveyard scene.

So, I think, yes, if Voldemort pushes him too far, after all, agaimst the odds, it seems, at least Draco holds some moral fibre when it comes to his parents and actually killing someone. Yes, I think Draco will switch sides. As a Malfoy, it's the only thing he can do to surrive. And, even thoughthe fangirl part of me, wants to believe he's seen the error of his ways, lol! I very much doubt it.

If Voldemort punishes him or parents severely, causing death, Draco would switch! If, Draco saw Harry and the light were bound to win, he would switch. If, in any direction, Draco saw the preference to him and his family, Draco would turn to it.

Yes, he is not a killer, I would say he needs to backed into a wall to kill, and with his back firmly against the wall he still could not kill Dummbledore. Draco will take whatever path he needs to surrive, whether good or bad. HE IS NOT A KILLER, he knows what it means to love. JK has really set up a confouding puzzle concerning him. I can't guess to whether he lives or dies, I can't prodict at which path he chooses. It could go anyway.

But, after book six, JK has certainly left us with another great characater to wonder over.

And, after saying all that, I, for one, can't wait for book seven. Whether he lives or dies, she has certainly created another charcater, that we are all burning to know the outcome from.

Personally, I hope he lives. ;)

You know, there should be like an essay thread for this. I think with how strong everyone's opinons are on this topic it'd be interesting to see us all prove our points. Many people who empathize with Draco face the argument of are they really defending Draco or Tom Felton who plays him? Many people who think Draco's evil face the argument from the empathetic people that it's not his fault & that evil is a harsh word & that there's a difference between it & bullying. Those aren't the only arguments for each side but they're large ones. Yes, I am one of the empathetic people. However, let me make it VERY clear that though yes I am a HUGE Tom Felton fan, I am VERY aware that Tom's not Draco, Draco's not Tom & so on, & I think we all thank God for that. So with that covered, here are my defenses(not excuses) for Draco(not Tom).
1.) Draco is a product of his enviornment. Bullying & prejudice have been put into Draco's mind from a very young age by his parents; or atleast by his father. Lucius bullys Draco as mercylessly as Draco bullys his fellow students. As far as we know, Draco's bark is far worse then his bite, though at the same time he proves in HBP that he should not be underestimated. Draco so easliy could've killed ** & given his circumstances you think he would've, but he didn't. That speaks wonders for his character & is one reason for me to believe he will go to the good side. Probably maintain his bullying qualities, but will be on the good side none the less.
2.) Expectations/wanting to it in. Everywhere Draco turns people expect something of him. His father expects him to be basically his mini-me. The trio, because they've never seen any other side of him, expect him to always be an untrustworty, self serving, at times cruel, bullying prat. Draco's "crew" aka: Crabbe & Goyle, expect him to always be some sort of bullying leader figure, the brains of the operations. Pansy Parkinson, see's Draco as nothing less then awe-inspiring.
3.) To qoute the song One of Us, from The Lion King 2: Simba's Pride. "Born in greed, raised in hate, helpless to defy his fate. Let him run, let him live, but do not forget what we cannot forgive". Those words pretty much say it all for Draco.
4.) Just enough of a mama's boy. Narcissa clearly loves her son as plainly shown in HBP. She's probably the only one to have ever shown Draco any real kindness/love. And that kindness/love rubbed off on Draco just enough
for him to show it in HBP by one, actually crying(not a big bullying trait is it?), & two, not killing Dumbledore. Lilly's love saved Harry's life, maybe Narcissa's love for Draco will be enough to save him/turn him around.
5.) A forgotten point. Yes, Draco didn't kill **, we all know this. Some of us think this makes him redeemable(I do), others think it makes him a coward. But there's something else many are overlooking. Draco is a bully, it's all we've seen of him for 6 years. We think we know his character so well, so surely we must realize it's really not in Draco to except help from people, not even his favorite teacher Snape. Yet, he's willing to except help from someone he "loathes"? aka:**. This gives a totally new perspective on Draco for me.
6.) His age. Draco's 16 years old people!! He's shown no real signs of evil like Tom Riddle(LV) showed at a young age, Draco's made empty threats & pathetic attempts at real cruelty & that's it! He's no Hermione, but he's intelligent enough to do real harm, whether he'd have the courage to or not, so if really had wanted to cause any death or suffering by his own hands he could've done so. For that people bring up the "Sectumsempra" chapter & him almost doing an unforgivable curse.....one, it would've been in self defense, two...did he really have enough actual "Hate" for Harry to really have made it work?
7.) **'s opinion. Ok, so apparently ** was wrong about one person(Snape), does that mean his opinions on others mean/are worth nothing? ** believed Draco wasn't a murderer, not like his father. Does that mean nothing to people?!
8.) Daddy's boy. Draco's wanted nothing but to please, impress & have acceptance form his father. He cares deeply about what certain people think of him. As much of a daddy's boy he is, I think Draco will be able to see where his fathers ways have landed Lucius(Azkaban), & realize he doesn't want to end up like that.
9.) Coward or Brave/possibley valuable? Was not killing ** a cowardly act or bravery? I say bravery. Think about it, if ya'll had been in his position would you have done anything different? Your 16 years old, you have your whole life to live(hopefully) & your entire family is under a death threat & suddenly at the last minute your offered a way out! Wouldn't you take it?! Wouldn't you want to save your family & your own life & rather not kill someone?! I would!! By not killing ** Darco & his entire family could be killed & the person who offered him protection is now dead. Would you now go to the person threating your life & your familys & be like ya, I wanna help you anyways & make up for my failure? Or would you go to the good side, apologize & ask for protection & understanding? I'd go to the good side, the worst they can do is turn you down or help & not forgive you, either way they don't kill you or threaten your family. Besides, the odds are you'll get their protection because it's what ** would have done/wanted. Same goes for Draco's other "sissy moments". Example: Had you been turned into a ferret not only by a teacher but by a highly acclaimed Auror(as far as you knew), would you stick around afterwards & be a smart*** or run away, or tell someone? I'd probably run as would some of you so what right have we to call Draco a sissy? I wouldn't stick around for another round of, lets see how high this teacher can bounce me & what other creatures he can turn me into. As for being valuable, who knows with the life Draco's lead what type of information he could have on people from the dark side & dark objects & whatever else.
10.) 2cnd chance. Does no one believe in everyone deserves a second chance? Again, taking in Draco's age, defintely consider him redeemable & deserves a 2cnd chance.
There you have it, my incredibley long list on why Draco will go to the good side. I've always been extremley opinionated, maybe it's a good thing, maybe it's a bad thing; I have yet to decide for myself so. Anyways, those are my final thoughts on the matter for now. So, anyone agree with me on any of my points?

My bad, there is an editorial thread for Draco, nevermind that essay comment.

EMMARETH: Ah, this word evil, it's very annoying, isn't it?


Yes!!! it is quite annoying. Evil is such a vague word! What does it encompass in this case? Was Draco ever really evil? Or was he just doing it as an act to be popular and seem like he had Voldemort behind him? Well, as it turns out Voldemort is behind Draco...just with an axe waiting to kill him...In my opinion, Draco never really thought that he was going to have to do work for Voldemort and that all of his threats were really just empty threats. From what Dumbledore deduced on the tower, Draco had been trying only half-heartedly to kill him...there would have been much cleverer ways to kill him if Draco was really determined.

I think Draco will, like Snape, remain on the Death Eaters' side for the majority of book 7 until there is a sneaky way to sabotage Voldemort. Snape is bound to ask Draco what happened before he got to the top of the tower to kill Dumbledore. Once Snape finds out that Dumbledore was trying to do with Draco and how Draco reacted to this, Snape will most likely try to find a way to get Draco safe (i'm banking on Snape being innocent here). But it is my belief that during the 'final battle' Draco will somehow help Harry out.

"And hey! if Draco dies at least he doesn't have to spend the rest of his life with Pansy Parkinson"
I'm with you there!
"He was never blackmailed by Voldemort...he went with the scheme with an open mind"
Where do you get that? Never blackmailed by LV.....then whats it called since LV said "If you fail this task(killing **) I'm going to kill you & your parents!". That isn't an excat qoute but you know what I mean. If that's not blackmail I don't know what is.
"It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.".
Whether you think it cowardly or brave(I'm with brave) Malfoy made the choice to not kill ** & as I've said before that speaks wonders for Draco's character.

I think that Malfoy and Harry will never be friend because of school experiences but because of Dumbledore actions offering Draco procection from the dark lord, it's possible that harry will extend the same offer because harry looks up to Dumbledore.

Anyone agree?

Draco is pretty typical, but I said to my cousin once that no matter how much bullies bully it's never because they're snobbish and evil It's because they have a selfconfidence problem and they feel helpless and worthless, Book six's ending was so dead on with a personal expirience I had that I had to triple check it. Everyone that speaks against Draco's Character has this intense anger and little pity for his circumstance. I root for Draco to make the right choices in the end because they are difficult and his Redemption is necessary to solve the issues between him and Harry which is wrong on both boys Harry is wrong and Draco is Wrong, but in my eyes Harry is more wrong because he is the hero.

I think that Draco will come back to the Good side along with Severus. Unfortunately, I also have the feeling that either Draco or Severus will die in the final battle trying to help Harry.

Before HBP rolled along, I hated Draco's guts. But after HBP, I had to admit, we saw a very different side to his character. For once, we see him as the 'bullied', and he doesn't taunt the trio as often as before. We could see the change in him from the beginning - bragging, and proud - and at the end - scared for his life, his family, and torn between two choices.

Dumbledore already gave him the choice. And in my opinion, he would have agreed to go over to the good side, if 'back-up' hadn't arrived.

So, long story short, I believe that Draco will come over to the good side. If he dies or not, he will be good. Unless he was to be the opposite of Harry, by making the wrong choice and dying that way. But I sure hope it's the former.

I hope Draco will true good after what happened in the 6th book. But I don't think that there is a very big chance I think Draco will always be controlled by his father...

Draco Malfoy could decide to turn sides, but he is sure to be quite aware of the risks involved. Draco knows his boss is likely to go after him and attack the Malfoys if Draco defects. Draco knows that receiving aid from the Order of the Phoenix is not certain. Yet, Draco knows that the head(?) of the Order did offer him and his family sanctuary and has surely deduced that Harry Potter overheard this offer.

I agree with Madnessisme. I hope Draco does ask the Order for help. That scenario could make for some very interesting storylines.

I think that Malfoy and Harry will never be friend because of school experiences but because of Dumbledore actions offering Draco procection from the dark lord, it's possible that harry will extend the same offer because harry looks up to Dumbledore.
:tu: Yeah, I do agree, that would make sense. I believe Draco will give some help to Harry - some information maybe - that will enable Harry to defeat Voldemort, but in any case I don't think that Draco would put himself in any danger in order to save Harry from anything... remember that as a Slytherin, he would think about saving his own neck, first of all.

JK had clarified the parallelism...

Snape>>><<<James
Draco>>>><<<Harry

They repel each other but the latter will help the former. IT's gonna be a deja vu.

I think Draco will get in way over his head. He won't immediately back out and look for help, but I think sometime he will betray Voldemort. He might not necessarily want to join Harry, but maybe just go against Voldemort (there is a difference!). :)

i believe harry will end up saving dracos life the same way as james saved snapes.

i agree with the possile redemption of draco with the help of harry because the sorting hat keeps talking about how the different houses need to unite and stick together and because harry saw that draco had his wand lowered and seemed like he was having second thoughts about killing dumbledore.

I think Draco was a lot of talk. He didn't really understand what Voldemort could do or what the price was of being a Death Eater until his father was sent to Azkaban and he was given such an important task. I think his belief in what his father says always being right is faltering. He doesn't know who to believe. He's believed and listened to his father his whole life. Now that he's gone, what is there to listen to? He doesn't seem to feel for his mother the same he did for his father.

I agree with a lot of the stuff about Draco, though quite a bit of the things he did were his choice, and some of the people who grew up in pure blood homes (Sirius for example) understood all that was wrong and tried to get out.

I think difference between Sirius and Draco is that Sirius had friends who weren't into the same things his parents were. Sirius had plenty of friends that were against the Dark Arts. All the people Draco's grown up with were HEAVILY into the Dark Arts and Voldemort. His friends, his friends parents who are his fathers friends, and so on.

I don't think Draco will turn to the Order OR join the Death Eaters. If Snape is loyal to the Order, which I don't really know--I'm quite unsure of his loyalties, then he could have the Order put Draco and his mother into hiding, but I think that'd be all. Maybe he'll spill some information on Voldemort.

I can't see Harry forgiving Draco OR Snape anytime soon. Even if everyone else forgives them, I see Harry still holding a grudge. He managed to do so for most of the series to Snape, I dunno how it'd change... especially since Snape killed Dumbledore. I don't really think Draco deserves forgiveness, to be honest. He's always been a bit of a jerk. He's done a lot of bad things and he's made a lot of mistakes. I don't think many will have much pity for him in the last book.

I really never cared for Draco. And when bad things happened to him as a result of him being a complete "git," I didn't care. I said...."There you have it, see what happens?"

But...I want him to redeem himself and not necessarily be 'good', but....better. Maybe create a fuss now and then....but not as much fuss as his daddy and voldemort. In the future, he can always be a little pet peeve of harry's....but once harry catches him doing wrong, he'll know..."I was there with you....." and back down. For a little while. :p

I'm wondering how much color he'd add to book7. Would he be a Regulus Part 2?

I feel somewhat of a villain for saying this but... *breathes in*

I feel nothing but contempt for Snape. Whether he turns out to be good or not, he still killed the greatest character in the series. I reckon Draco will turn out alright, possibly Harry saving his life as aformentioned in the reference to James and Snape. But, as Harry said in HBP 'I'm keeping my fingers crossed for another death..' ;-) Maybe vicious, but or once I'd lve to see an ultimate resolution.

Of course, I'm assuming there'll be a happy ending!

I think that Malfoy and Harry will never be friend because of school experiences but because of Dumbledore actions offering Draco procection from the dark lord, it's possible that harry will extend the same offer because harry looks up to Dumbledore.Have you ever had an enemy from school or work come up to you and apologize for what they had done and asked what they could do to make it up to you? You already have an emotional investment into the relationship, it just happens to be hate. It is much, much easier to change hate to love since they are bother strong emotions, than to just erase the emotion. After the events on the tower Draco is emotionally broken. He did what he did because of his father. Now that his mother has defected he can apologize to Harry and become friends.

I still hate Malfoy. Sorry.
And I hate Snape even more. I hope he dies a horrible death. Maybe at the hands of Hermione, in response to the 'I see no difference' jibe.

I definitely agree about Draco and him being taught to hate half-bloods and muggle borns. It's very true, it was all he knew, it's how he grew up. Hate and power is all he knew as a child and now as a teenager. I think in book 7 Draco will do a big turn around in his ways. I don't think he'll be "good" but he won't be "evil" either. He'll be right in the middle.

And I hate Snape even more. I hope he dies a horrible death. Maybe at the hands of Hermione, in response to the 'I see no difference' jibe.

well, i dont think hermione would kill someone, but hey, why not?!

i dont think he'll change

Yea, I felt very badly for Draco in book 6, and I still feel that he will come to his senses in book 7. It just seems right. he isn't evil trough and through. He was corrupted by his father and mother really.

I think that Draco is going to pass through a situation very similar to the situatoin Regulus Black passed before. I think that Draco as already find out that being a Death Eater is worse than what he thought at first. He's not capable of killing innocent people and maybe he won't follow Voldemorts orders 'cause of that. If he doesn't follows Voldemort's instruccions and redeems himself, he might be slain by Voldemort or a Death Eater before he goes to the good side.
I really hope he won't die in the next book, but it will be very hard for him to survive, seeing he's quite lonely because nobody seems to trust him.

I still hate Malfoy. Sorry.
And I hate Snape even more. I hope he dies a horrible death. Maybe at the hands of Hermione, in response to the 'I see no difference' jibe.

I hope the whole twist comes out soon. Personally i think Snape's the most interesting and mysterious character JKR created. Everyone thinks Snape hates Harry, i don't think so. He often showed his dislike for the Malfoys, didn't he? The way he treated Draco at the duelling club was not too friendly towards Draco. I think Snape has strong feelings for Harry, he doesn't like him but i don't think he hates him. Some kind of feelings like Petunia has for Harry, i guess.

I hope we will see a lot of Snape, Draco and Harry twist in the final book.

Draco was a Slytherin and I don't see any major character changes coming in the last book. He may come over to the right side because of the danger to his family. He will do anything to help them out and in the process help out Harry's side.

Harry may also help out Draco because he would help anyone in a bad situation. I can't see them becoming Buds for any reason.

I just want to say a few things here, without reading everyone elses stuff, cause I have been eager to post on this board.

Now, as someone who has not read the books, I am a little at a disadvantage here. Please feel free to read my upcoming intro on this section. But I have read a lot of the info on here, know more than I should, and have analyzed the movies quite a bit.

First, about Draco. Yes, he has been raised the way he is, but he also makes his choices, and not everyone who is raised the way they are turn out the way they were raised, if you get my point. So some pity can be given to him, but not as much as some may give him.

I see two ways Draco could go. He could continue down the path he is going. An unfortunant path. His family ties to "you know who" is a situation he can not avoid. Seriously now. I do not believe it is something he wanted to deal with, nor prepared for. He is basically like a rich brat who comes to find out the family business is not legit, but has no way out of it.

The question comes though about Dumbledores proposition. Considering his age, what was going on, and the cicumstances, if what had happened not happened, he may very well have taken the offer. From what I have been told, I can not make a clear choice on this. On one hand it sounds like he was looking to get in as a DE, on the other it sounds like he was forced too, because of his family.

The other path he could go down is simular to Boramir (sp?) in LotR (which I have read). Where initially he makes a bad choice, faced with a difficult descision and being how he was raised (sort of the better son complex). Only to turn around and make the right choice, but possibly be somewhat of a tragic hero, almost giving his life (I doubt he would be killed like Boramir, which actually served a purpose to the story where Draco dying would not serve the story and only please those who really dislike the charactor) but from what I have read, you never know with the author). I have a feeling this is where he will end up. It has much more potential than the previous scenario.

First, about Draco. Yes, he has been raised the way he is, but he also makes his choices, and not everyone who is raised the way they are turn out the way they were raised, if you get my point. So some pity can be given to him, but not as much as some may give him.

I agree. :agree: Draco was brought up in a family that obviously places great importance on pure-blood ancestory and image, and agree/follow Voldemort's ideas. He's the only heir of the Malfoy's, was most likely expected to become a Death Eater from the very beginning, and was thus spoilt rotten and uses his "superiority" to bully others just like his father. The name 'Malfoy' itself means "bad faith".

But I don't think being brain-washed by his family is an excuse enough for the path he has chosen. Regardless of his upbringing, Draco has always had the option to make the right choice instead on the easy one. As soon as he entered Hogwarts and saw that what he had been taught was wrong, that people who weren't pure-blooded weren't stupid or "filthy" for instance, he could have rejected his prejudiced views instead of continuing to blindly follow them.

That said, I don't think Draco's completely evil. Nor is he totally good. In my opinion, he's a bit like Snape - grey. I find this quote from JKR's interview interesting:

Draco did a lot of growing up in this book as well. I had an interesting discussion, I thought, with my editor Emma, about Draco. She said to me, "So, Malfoy can do Occlumency," which obviously Harry never mastered and has now pretty much given up on doing, or attempting. And she was querying this and wondering whether he should be as good at it, but I think Draco would be very gifted in Occlumency, unlike Harry. Harry's problem with it was always that his emotions were too near the surface and that he is in some ways too damaged. But he's also very in touch with his feelings about what's happened to him. He's not repressed, he's quite honest about facing them, and he couldn't suppress them, he couldn't suppress these memories. But I thought of Draco as someone who is very capable of compartmentalizing his life and his emotions, and always has done. So he's shut down his pity, enabling him to bully effectively. He's shut down compassion - how else would you become a Death Eater? So he suppresses virtually all of the good side of himself. But then he's playing with the big boys, as the phrase has it, and suddenly, having talked the talk he's asked to walk it for the first time and it is absolutely terrifying. And I think that that is an accurate depiction of how some people fall into that kind of way of life and they realize what they're in for. I felt sorry for Draco. Well, I've always known this was coming for Draco, obviously, however nasty he was.

Harry is correct in believing that Draco would not have killed Dumbledore, which I think is clear when he starts to lower his wand, when the matter is taken out of his hands. Notice that she says that Draco has supressed his "good side" - not that it doesn't exist. He has chosen to shut down his concience and compassion, but it's still there, maybe refected when he lowered his wand.

So I think there's still hope or him in the end. But the question is, if he is redeemed, will he be forgiven by the "good side", like Dumbledore chose to forgive Snape? Or will he be bansished anyway, by people like Moody who seem to believe something along the lines of "once a Death Eater, always a Death Eater"? Maybe the night Snape killed Dumbedore, he also killed away any hope for Draco - "No Draco. It is my mercy, and not yours, that matters now."

I hope he stays bad.

In HBP it was bad enuf he seemed to be a coward.

Im so sick of the bully or bad guy turning good. its cliche.

In real life a guy like Draco wud of killed Dumbledore w/o even a second thought .

I was so surprised how the Draco i knew suddenly became a wuss.

I used to think Draco was some really evil, selfish, air-headed git. Now, after reading Book 6, it had changed my perception. He was becoming mature in time. He was just a little slower than the rest of them but it didn't make him evil whole heartedly. It showed that he was not like his father. A contrast. And stop making stuff up like he is going to die in Book 7.

Anyone could die in book 7, even Harry. That isn't making stuff up, it's just that we know Jo. Heck, she killed Dumbledore.

I think Draco was arrogant, foolish and believed he was above being 'trapped' into serving Voldemort. That's how a lot of otherwise intelligent people wind up in situations where they 'sell their soul to the devil', so to speak. What I'm interested in seeing is if he can grow a backbone and actually take responsibility for the consequences of his own prejudices, arrogance and bad decisions.

(Love your sig. I'm a Michelle!)

I think that Draco may die in book 7, I think that Voldermont may run out of pacients with the Malfoy family and he may kill them. Draco also said that if he did not kill Dumbledore that Voldermont would kill him.

If Dumbledor is alive won't Draco o him some thing because didn't he save his life?

I have the feeling that Wormtail will end up being the "redeemed and immediately killed" character... kinda like Grima Wormtongue (even got matching names) in the LotR movies.

As for Snape, and the whole definition of evil deal. If Snape isn't secretly on the good guys side (and I, an avid believer in Dumbledore's trust, am having doubts in him), then he is more evil than Voldemort... and I thought Voldemort was supposed to be the epitome of evil in these stories? Hmm, this could be an arguement for Snape-is-good. Point is, Snape betrayed and manipulated and stuff, Voldy just went straight and blatantly for the Dark Side, which is less underhanded than what evil!Snape did.

Now Draco, he's not evil. Evil is someone who knowingly commits unforgivable acts, with no remorse, for their own personal gain. Draco has cast Unforgivable curses, and he has attempted murder, but let's face it, it was a pathetic attempt... and if that scene in the bathroom wasn't remorse, what was it? Don't say self-pity, the two emotions are in the same boat. He was forced into the situation where he had to do these evil acts, he did not do it for his own gain, he did it to save the lives of his family as well as himself... that is more selfless than anything else Draco has ever done, to my knowledge. It proves he loves his family, and will do anything for them, just as Narcissa will do anything for her son.

Love will be the downfall of the Dark Lord, I think. It seems clear that Draco will betray the Dark Lord in one way or another. He may already be in hiding at the end of HBP, if he is then Narcissa is undoubtedly in hiding with him. Perhaps he will take the phenominal risk that Voldemort will accept his failure without a homicidal outburst, on the grounds that Dumbledore IS dead anyway... if that happens he will either die painfully and quickly, or he will be given another impossible mission by the Dark Lord. Another impossible mission which would give him time to act for his own purposes... he's had time to think during his last impossible mission, and now he would move to protect his family and disappear from the Dark Lord's radar... the best way to do this would be to contact the Order and/or Harry Potter, but I doubt Draco's pride would allow him to do this unless it was a last resort.

Also, it it interesting to note the fact that when he was bragging to Crabbe, Goyle and Blaise on the train, he then told Harry that he didn't hear anything Draco cared about. I translated that as Harry had heard none of Draco's real feelings on the matter. Draco clearly likes to project the image of being the bad guy, especially to Harry whom he loathes, but I think that even then he was afraid. Blaise seems to be of similar upbringing to Draco, and Crabbe and Goyle don't have enough brains between them for their loyalties to lie anywhere outside their parents' loyalties, so of course Draco would want to boast to them about being a DE... and Pansy seemed, if you ask me, a bit shocked- in a bad way- by the news. I get the feeling Draco has been raised to hide his true feelings and show a presentable face, he's talented in Occlumency for this very reason. I think we've only seen Draco's real face twice (in the bathroom crying, and on the tower facing Dumbledore... and possibly also when Hermione slapped him), and I hope we see more of it in book 7.

I most certainly think that Draco, his mother and his father will all allow themselves to be shielded by the Order. After all that Voldemort put Lucius' family through (taking out his anger on his only son), even when Draco did no wrong to him, Lucius will realize that Voldemort uses the Death Eaters as none more than his puppets. Voldemort isn't their friend, and his ability to make his followers think this is what keeps him feared by all. When Lucius gets out of Azkaban, he'll know the kind of danger Voldemort poses to him, and he'll look for shelter, hiding... who in the world would shield a Death Eater? None other than the Order of the Phoenix, of course!

Draco has been Harry’s peer antagonist in the books, and I think there will be a resolution to their conflict, something else than Voldemort murdering Draco in the first chapter or something like that. I think Draco could somehow help Harry in his quest to defeat Voldemort. I think Harry is going to get help from some rather surprising people, because in my opinion it won’t be a very interesting way to end the series if he is only helped by his friends and other people who have been on his side all along. I think it would be a much powerful story if he finds some surprising allies. And Draco joining Harry on his quest to get rid of Voldemort would make for a much better story, in my opinion, than just some random Slytherin kids joining him, because there is a conflict between Harry and Draco, but not between Harry and some random people he doesn’t even know, and that’s why Harry and Draco working together would have a much bigger impact on both Harry and the readers.

Throughout the books Draco has also been one of the most vocal supporters of pureblood superiority, and I think there will be some kind of resolution to that too in book 7. I’m not saying that he will suddenly have a complete change of heart, but I think there will be something that gives hope that the wizarding world could become slightly less prejudiced. I think Draco would be a good character to do that, because some random Muggle-born hater suddenly changing his mind wouldn’t have a very big effect on Harry and the readers. I think it would be unrealistic to expect that bigotry will suddenly cease to exist in the wizarding world, but I also think it wouldn’t be a very satisfying end to the story if Voldemort is defeated but his pureblood agenda wouldn’t be addressed in any way.

Thanks Hinoema ?

I agree with Awiana about her theory. Draco would be a surprising character. Most probably dynamic as he undergoes a series of changes. He would reflect love, not the one who shuts down everything. I believe that he would change. I believe

To be honest, I don't expect Draco to change at all. I expect him to stop 'shutting down' (as JKR worded it) his kinder side.

As for showing him as losing some of his bigoted pride (I love the idea)... I kinda envisioned a scene where he's complaining about how standard warding spells won't keep the Death Eaters out, on some place where the Order's hiding him... and someone tells him something like; "They're not standard, Hermione did the warding spells on this place." and Draco's like; "Oh, well at least she knows how to use a wand... unlike some Ministry personel I could name." and stops complaining, or something like that.

Draco has a knack for getting himself in too deep.

Fed with the ways of the Dark Arts since birth, I agree that he started off with the wrong influences. Someone a while back mentioned that Sirius was brought up the same way and managed to escape the Dark Arts. This is very true, and probably means that Draco, on the other hand, willingly accepted everything he was told. He was also a spoiled child since his family is very rich. He is used to having everything he wants and to get things his way. So when he arrives at school, all the other kids grovel at his feet since his family is wealthy, and known as a family for the Dark Arts. Perhaps without fully comprehending what that meant, Draco carried that title on his shoulder all throughout school. He was almost always boasting about what his father would do about such and such if he heard about it, how his father could throw Dumbledore out of Hogwarts, etc. because he knew how much power his family had. But notice, that he never talks about HIMSELF, it's always his father. He may be a leader to Crabbe and Goyle, but he is still an eager follower of his father, willing to do anything his father wants because he'll get a reward; his way.

By 6th year, Draco has talked the talk of power and the Dark Arts, but when Voldemort (as inferred) confronts him about the mission to kill Dumbledore, he realizes that his time to walk the walk has come and he is a bit scared. Still boastful in the beginning, yes, but by halfway through the year, he is sobbing with fear in the boys bathroom. He dug himself into his own grave and it wasn't until it's too late that he figured this out.

I felt a bit bad for him at that point, but if you stop and think, Draco had the same opportunities as Sirius to leave the Dark Arts circle, but he never took it. However, Draco never really thought for himself, but was more of a puppet with his father as the puppeteer (sp?). It is a shame that Draco was pulled in so deep and that there is no way out for him, but if Draco had ever stopped to think, perhaps he would've managed to escape his father's rule and ultimately, Voldemort's.

I wouldn't say he has no way out... just that the odds of him getting out in one piece are very slim. We know that he is thinking on his own, now, however... and if the ingenuity of his evil scheme to get the DEs into Hogwarts is any indication, he's smarter than most gave him credit for.

"now that i see him [in a new light]...i do pity him." LOTR, Frodo Baggins

truth is in these words. well....my truth. hee hee.

Draco wouldn't have killed Dumbledore.
In HBP he starts to understand the actual reality of the world he grew up in and what it actually means. He never took it seriously; he was just fed with ideas that granted him riches and made him superior to others, so the actual reality of what this lead to was beyond him and could be neglected.

I do believe that Draco can redeem himself. I imagine him and Narcissa leading an isolated but peaceful life somewhere in the country.
The influence of Lucius must perish if that were to become reality though, on Lucius lies the greatest part of the blame in my opinion. It would be better for them without him, then redemption would be possible.

Well, Harry knows Draco only tried to kill Dumbledore because he wanted to protect his family and such from Voldemort. In other words, we sort of pity Draco, and Harry realises he wouldn't have killed Dumbledore anyway (his wand lowers remember). I think it is possible that Draco teams up with Harry. Draco, being a DE for a short time, but some time nonetheless, has got to know at least something about the Dark Lord that Harry doesn't. He may share this information with Harry, and it may help him. Draco thinks that Dumbledore's offer before his death was actually his best way out, but now that Dumbledore is dead, he may feel Harry is actually the best way out? If he sticks with Harry then he is sort of safe, considering Harry always somehow manages to stay alive. Remember Dumbledore said he is not afraid because he is with Harry? Well then I don't think Draco should be.

All in all, IMO the chances that Draco will help Harry and side with the Order (secretly or openly) in Book 7 is very likely, and his genuine help will be his redemption. And for the record, I don't think he'll die.

I hope you're right, Aarequin (about both Draco siding with the Order and his not dying). I would like to see Draco prove himself useful, and I do believe providing valuable information may be his best way to do this.

About him hating muggleborns, I think if he does survive the War or in the necesitty of him hiding from other DEs, it could be a great plausibility that he moves to the Muggle World. Love that irony.

didn't JKR say once Draco and Harry would not team up against Voldemort? If this is true, it's pointless to think he will redeem himself. However, it still doesn't mean he would end up in Azkaban after the war. Harry say him back away. He could witness for Draco on trial.

That aside, Lucius is Narcissa and Draco's stability factor. With Lucius gone, they feel lost and don't know what to do. If Lucius escapes from Azkaban, they're going to rely on him once again. Lucius is probably going to gain his top Death Eater status back, after all that's what Voldemort wants. Voldemort just has to punish Lucius, considering Draco didn't die. He'll probably go for Narcissa and her death might affect both men.

However, if Narcissa dies, Draco will become more insecure. I'm not certain for how long would Lucius be able to cover for him. And Draco's fate totally depends on Lucius' moves.

The one think striking about the Malfoys (at least the male members, I can't say much about Narcissa) is that they always go for that solution that will gain them the most.
Now you could argue that Lucius has a lot to gain from Voldemort, but I truly don't think so. They were much better off without him, and Voldemort has shown 'his true colours' with the whole 'Punishing-Lucius-by-sending-Draco-on-a-suicidal-errant-thingy'. What's in there to win? Who on earth who's got their senses together would want a master like that? One that will kill your family members if you fail with something?
When Lucius joined the Death Eaters, he must have been quite young still. When you're young, you commit yourself fully to any cause, often you tend to be more rash, less considerate. Now, Lucius is in his forties, with a family and all - and what seemed like a great idea in his twenties is no longer an eligible option. If he did some major betrayal, he could hope to convince the 'good guys' (in this case: the Ministry) to reconsider his Azkaban sentence, and go on with his life like before. On Voldemort's side, he's got no such chances. He'll always be stuck in a dilemma, his master is immortal and he knows it, he cannot even hope to be his successor once. If he would never again fail with anything. If you've got an ounce of common sense, you are aware that you cannot be sure to never fail. He must also be aware that Draco and Narcissa are even less prone for never-ending success and are therefore endangered.
Yes, Lucius is a pureblood fanatic and far from being a decent human being. But he isn't stupid, and believing stupid things doesn't render his other thoughts stupid either.* Draco isn't stupid, too. The whole 'redemption' motive is often linked to some thorough change of heart, and some people seem to believe that Draco was simply a misunderstood child raised by racist parents who would see the light in the end. By the same train of thought, Lucius is stamped as irredeemably bad.
But it doesn't have to be like this. In my opinion, it is even most unlikely. You can do a good thing for perfectly selfish reasons, it happens all the time. If any of the Malfoys play a part in bringing down Voldemort (which I absolutely believe), it won't be because any of them had suddenly turned unselfish or good or whatever. They will act that part because they can see that it's better for them.


* If you don't think so - Isaac Newton was arguably the most brilliant physicist that ever lived, and he did and believed some very stupid things. He once pricked his own eye with something like a big nail and was outstandingly lucky to have not gone blind, just goes to show that having a truly brilliant mind doesn't mean that you cannot be grossly silly about other things.

The one think striking about the Malfoys (at least the male members, I can't say much about Narcissa) is that they always go for that solution that will gain them the most.
Now you could argue that Lucius has a lot to gain from Voldemort, but I truly don't think so. They were much better off without him, and Voldemort has shown 'his true colours' with the whole 'Punishing-Lucius-by-sending-Draco-on-a-suicidal-errant-thingy'. What's in there to win? Who on earth who's got their senses together would want a master like that? One that will kill your family members if you fail with something?
When Lucius joined the Death Eaters, he must have been quite young still. When you're young, you commit yourself fully to any cause, often you tend to be more rash, less considerate. Now, Lucius is in his forties, with a family and all - and what seemed like a great idea in his twenties is no longer an eligible option. If he did some major betrayal, he could hope to convince the 'good guys' (in this case: the Ministry) to reconsider his Azkaban sentence, and go on with his life like before. On Voldemort's side, he's got no such chances. He'll always be stuck in a dilemma, his master is immortal and he knows it, he cannot even hope to be his successor once. If he would never again fail with anything. If you've got an ounce of common sense, you are aware that you cannot be sure to never fail. He must also be aware that Draco and Narcissa are even less prone for never-ending success and are therefore endangered.
Yes, Lucius is a pureblood fanatic and far from being a decent human being. But he isn't stupid, and believing stupid things doesn't render his other thoughts stupid either.* Draco isn't stupid, too. The whole 'redemption' motive is often linked to some thorough change of heart, and some people seem to believe that Draco was simply a misunderstood child raised by racist parents who would see the light in the end. By the same train of thought, Lucius is stamped as irredeemably bad.
But it doesn't have to be like this. In my opinion, it is even most unlikely. You can do a good thing for perfectly selfish reasons, it happens all the time. If any of the Malfoys play a part in bringing down Voldemort (which I absolutely believe), it won't be because any of them had suddenly turned unselfish or good or whatever. They will act that part because they can see that it's better for them.

I agree:tu:

Lucius has every reason to leave Voldemort for good. I have also noticed that many people judge Lucius so harshly and feel sorry for Draco. As you said, Lucius was probably very young when he joined to Death Eaters. He's now 42. He must've been around 20 when he joined, if not even younger because Voildemort's rise to power began earlier. Cosidering Lucius was the leader of the most powerful Death Eaters and considering how many Death Eaters there were at that time and considering time that it takes to rise high up, he really could've been even younger. He was certainly not stupid, but as you said, less considerate. he had very little to worry about. Abraxas was still alive (Draco remembers him), so Lucius probably didn't do much. He was young, talnted and bored. It's obvious he never made a mistake before. Also, if we feel sorry for Draco for having a father like Lucius, why not feel sorry for Lucius for having a father like Abraxas? Lucius is, more or less, an adult Draco. They shouldn't and will not be separated. It's like: buy Lucius and you get Draco for free!:lol:

Really, it'll all come down to what Lucius thinks is more suitable. He's not and never will be a loyal Death Eater. He was the first one to betray Voldemort in the First war. He might as well repeat his actions. Unlike Draco, Lucius knows what he's doing and will do whatever it takes to save himself and his son. And I agree, he doesn't have to change what he believes in, he just has to change sides. There are people who do such things in real life so I don't say why would it be strange if it happens in Harry Potter.

I feel that Lucius always looked out for himself first. When Voldermort was the rising power, Lucius assigned himself with the Death Eaters. Sirius says of his parents that although they thought Voldermort was correct in his ideas, they didn't become Death Eaters, that was left to the son.Lucius did become a Death Eater and whilst Voldermort was in 'power' took a full part. However when Voldermort no longer as powerful Lucius is no longer a 'faithful deatheater' and needs to seek forgiveness from Voldermort. Draco has grown up with a self centerd father and yes that would taint most people's actions. I do believe he has the mark on his arm as he could go through the barrier, but I do not think he fully realised what being a Death Eater entailed. He did not realise that Fenrir would be coming to Hogwarts ( it says in the book that he had a look of horror at the idea of Fenrir loose amongst his friends -paraphrasing) He was also unable to kill Dumbledore, if yu take as longas Draco took to reach a decision to kill, it's unlikely you are going to be able to kill. I believe Snape did it for Draco to protect Draco. What will happen to Draco and Narcissa? I'm not entirely sure but if they are to survive they will have to go into hiding. Draco was supposed to kill Dumbledore or be killed trying- he did neither and Snape bailed him out. Voldermort is not going to like that! Narcissa was willing to make an unbreakable oath with Snape to protect her son- I think she will go into hiding to continue to protect Draco. I don't think Draco will become 'good', just not fully turned to evil.

Well, Harry knows Draco only tried to kill Dumbledore because he wanted to protect his family and such from Voldemort. In other words, we sort of pity Draco, and Harry realises he wouldn't have killed Dumbledore anyway (his wand lowers remember). I think it is possible that Draco teams up with Harry. Draco, being a DE for a short time, but some time nonetheless, has got to know at least something about the Dark Lord that Harry doesn't. He may share this information with Harry, and it may help him. Draco thinks that Dumbledore's offer before his death was actually his best way out, but now that Dumbledore is dead, he may feel Harry is actually the best way out? If he sticks with Harry then he is sort of safe, considering Harry always somehow manages to stay alive. Remember Dumbledore said he is not afraid because he is with Harry? Well then I don't think Draco should be.

I think that you're right in a sense. Draco has the ability to understand where his family's loyalties lie, and the amount of anguish and danger that is associated when you go down the dark path. He has the ability to leave Voldemort's circle if he has the Order's protection, and he also can go to the 'light' for good. Draco I just can't see as a horrible, all-around evil person, when in HBP he had second thoughts about killing Dumbledore, and didn't have the heart to kill the old Headmaster.

He just doesn't have it in him to be a death eater, and I see him coming back to 'our' side.

Those of you who are saying Lucius and Draco are the same, I think you might be forgetting something. Lucius has been a Death Eater for many years, he cannot have done so without killing. It seems like murder is part of the initiation rights/tests to the DEs, or something. Lucius has killed, Draco chose not to.

Draco is bad and has always been bad just like Snape.

Those of you who are saying Lucius and Draco are the same, I think you might be forgetting something. Lucius has been a Death Eater for many years, he cannot have done so without killing. It seems like murder is part of the initiation rights/tests to the DEs, or something. Lucius has killed, Draco chose not to.

Yes, but if Draco killed (or kills), he would (will) end up being just like Lucius. I believe Lucius (and every other Death Eater) went through the same thing Draco was going through before his first murder, he just didn't have Dumbledore to kill, but someone else.

Draco is bad and has always been bad just like Snape.

maybe so, but still...he lowered his wand. snape didn't. that's a big difference between good and evil. draco may never be the picture of all that is good and pure, but he isn't exactly the embodiment of evil, either.

like i said before, draco may actually be a valuable player in this little game we call war.

despite all he's been through, draco isn't evil, just...snotty and snobbish. very irritating, but not all-the-way bad and evil.
snape, on the other hand....heck, i could go on and on, but i'll just agree with you to spare the forum a long rant. :lol: :D :p

I don't think Draco is evil, but he does have his problems. I can think better of him for not killing Dumbledore though. I didn't think he could ever kill anyone. Step on someone's nose...yes. But kill?

I don't think he will ever redeem himself, but I do think he will become very pathetic in book 7. He will no longer be a threat to anyone on the "good side," because I don't think Voldemort will be happy with him not killing Dumbledore. He was killed, yes, and that's probably the most important thing to Voldemort. But I have a feeling he'll probably consider it an insult or something that Draco didn't go through with it. Or maybe he'll think he is too young to have been given a task like that, and he'll punish him or send him somewhere. I don't know. I'm brain storming...:p

Persomally, I believe that at least Narcissa, and perhaps Lucius and even Draco, will be dead by the end of Book 7. However, if only Narcissa and/ or Lucius is killed, the path is clear for Draco to convert, which he shows signs of wanting to do when he lowers his wand in HBP- if he was evil through and through and intent on pleasing Voldemort, he would have killed Dumbledore outright.
"Much madness is divinest sense." -Emily Dickenson

I think of Draco as a scared boy trying to save his own neck by siding with those he thinks are stronger. He thinks Voldemort is stronger and I think he thinks Voldemort is more likely to kill him than Harry is. So he joins Voldemort because he is actually afraid of Voldemort. So he wants to be on Voldemort's side so Voldemort won't kill him. He doesn't really fear Harry, or at least he doesn't think Harry will kill him. I don't really think he hates Harry. I think he might be jealous of Harry. I think he probably secretly hopes Harry or someone will kill Voldemort, but he can't help Harry or appear to, because that would make Voldemort mad and Voldemort would kill him. So he has to oppose Harry or at least appear to, so that Voldemort will leave him alone. This might mean that Harry will die and Voldemort will win. Draco doesn't care. If Harry dies and Voldemort wins, he will survive because Voldemort will let him live. He will serve Voldemort and do what Voldemort says and he will live. He doesn't think serving Voldemort will be that bad. Maybe it will even be fun. Maybe he thinks it will be fun to kill muggles or do a lot of other evil stuff and get away with it.
If Harry wins well he won't have to worry about Voldemort anymore. He will live and probably continue to do whatever it is he wants to do, he'll just be careful not to get caught doing it. Maybe he will be evil but not cross a certain line. That is, he can be evil and cause great harm to people without killing people. And maybe he can do it in a way no one will know he did it. So I think he will still dauble in the dark arts. Either way, he just wants to live so he is just joining up with the side he thinks will win. Now he might change his mind and he might think Harry will win. But I don't know if he will help Harry. I think the best we can hope for is that he will go into hiding and stay out of Harry's way and not assist Voldemort anymore. I think he fears Voldemort too much to actually help Harry now, because he might think Harry can win, but he still thinks if he helps Harry Voldemort will kill him. So I think if he doesn't want to be on Voldemort's side he won't help Harry because he still fears Voldemort.

Only problem with that theory, Kidney_Pie, is that if Draco puts so much as one toe out of line, even the least mistake, and Voldemort will kill him anyway. I think Draco might come to realise that soon enough if he hasn't already... and then he would either run and hide (as you suggested) or turn to the only people who probably won't kill him and are slightly less likely to throw him in Azkaban than the Ministry would be.

I think he will stick with Snape then. I follow the Snape is not evil line of thought. So I think he and Snape will hide together. Snape is either going to run back to Voldemort or he is going to hide. Either way he's going to have everyone mad at him. Voldemort is going to be trying to kill him and everyone else is going to be trying to Kill him. I think Snape can hide and maybe he can protect Draco. Maybe Draco will feel safer with Snape than anyone else. If he runs to Harry or the order or anyone else, he is going to go to those he thinks is going to be able to hide him the best or protect him the best. Maybe Snape can do that, or maybe not. Anyway, Snape is either going to run to Voldemort either to be a death eater or continue to pose as one. The order can't really believe he killed Dumbledore and maybe they know something Harry doesn't. I think the order doesn't know anything else, but Snape could still be acting on Dumbledore's orders. He'd have to convince Harry and the order that he is still on their side, that Dumbledore's death was planned by Dumbledore and that this was the only way to succeed. That is going to take a lot of explaining. He might be better off returning to Voldemort for now and continue posing as a death eater. If he isn't one.

I don't know who can protect Draco now. If he is going to go to the order I think he is going to have to do this early on in the next book. And avoid Harry or others who are mad at him. He'd be better off going to Mcgonnigal or someone else who will listen to him. Harry would probably attack him now and ask questions later. Snape might go to Macgonnigal too. She seems the calmiest one to approach, other's would probably attack him too.