What will happen to Draco and his mother?

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Will aurors get hold of Draco's mom, if she is at her house?

I don't know if they'd even want to. I mean, they could have gotten her at any time and they never have. I don't really think they'd hold her responsible for what happened to Dumbledore and unless they thought she would give them information on where Snape was, I doubt they'd even bother to capture her.

They will probably take her in for "questioning," as I'm sure the Ministry will look into Dumbledore's death. After that, we'll have to wait to find out.

I hope that Voldemort destroys them, but I bet the Order of the Phoenix will hide Narcissa and fake her death at the beginning of book seven. Then, Harry will duel and defeat Draco Malfoy, and then fake his death and put him into hiding until Voldemort is eliminated.

I think Voldemort willl kill Draco and his mom because Draco didn't kill Dumbledore.

Draco's task was to get Dumbledore killed,(the Dark Lord intended on Snape doing it in the end remember?) and that is what happened(YES HE IS DEAD :)). Narcissa was not involved in this plot so she should remain free(although an Auror should tail her). As for Draco my feelings are that he is in fact on the wrong side of this and will end up dead in the end.

To me, the real question is will Borrgin be put in jail for his aiding the Death Eaters in getting into Hogwarts?

Draco will be alive at the end. Why? Because the order will hide hime after he sees Voldemort kill his father. His mother I'm not sure of, she loves Draco and will probably end up in hiding with him. Draco showed that he is not as bad as he thinks he is and that there is good in him. :angel:

I think Snape grabbed Draco and left Hogwarts so he could hide Draco and his mother. First, he'll go to the Malfoy's place to get Narcissa. Then, he'll bring them to the Order of the Phoenix headquarters. I'm sorry to say, but I think Snape, being a spy for the Order, is more valuable than Dumbledore. And since Dumbledore wanted to hide the Malfoys, Dumbledore might have told Snape (using Legilimency, of course) to kill him and make sure that the Malfoys were safe (in that part when Dumbledore says "Please" just before Snape kills him). And I know you're probably thinking that Snape isn't innocent. I beg to differ. Like I said, I think Dumbledore knows Snape's value to the Order. If Snape were killed, the Order would lose their greatest asset. I really didn't believe any of that stuff that Snape told Bellatrix in "Spinner's End." Snape and Dumbledore are very clever and the two of them can make a brilliant cover story well before anyone starts asking questions.

The part when Dumbledore tells Draco that he could be hidden better than you can imagine, I think he meant Harry to hear that, even though I don't think Harry got it. I think Dumbledore meant that they'd hide out at the Order's headquarters. Dumbldore probably told the Order to get Narcissa and fake her death. Dumbledore didn't come up with the plan of protecting the Malfoys on the fly, being that he knew that Draco was trying to kill him all year on Voldemort's wishes.

would voldemort necessarily know that draco didn't kill dumbledore?

Narcissa didn't do anything wrong, so no one should be out to get her. But the good guys may have her "watched" to see if Draco shows up.

I think that Voldemort give Draco a break. After all, he fixed the vanishing cabinet and disarmed Dumbledore. Voldemort said that he rewards his followers.

If Voldemort doesn't forgive Draco, or if Snape thinks that Voldemort will not forgive Draco, then I think that Snape will perform the Fidelus Charm to hide Draco and his mother.

I think Voldemort would spare Draco's life because he fixed the vanishing cabinet and let the DEs into Hogwarts. He had done something that was previously thought impossible.

But however, Draco did failed to kill Dumbledore. For that i believe Voldemort would punish Draco, because he is too soft. By failing to kill Dumbledore, Voldemort would think that Draco is not devoted to him.

But what is the punishment? I think it would be something that would turn Draco against Voldemort. Perheps he used the Crucio curse on Draco's mother or even killed her. After all, Draco loves his mother. And that at the same time proofs Dumbledore's belief that love is more powerful than anything.

At this point, the Order, or someone on the good side, has to take Narcissa into protective custody. She knows a lot, and Kreacher respects her.
I really hope Snape gets Narcissa into hiding shortly/immediately after doing *the deed*. Who else would? I guess I can't really see any of the other Order members thinking of something like hiding her immediately after their leader died, and I don't think the Ministry would look into it, because they wouldn't see a reason for LV to be angry with the Malfoy family. Even if LV isn't angry with Draco for not completing the task, he might kill Narcissa for revenge on Lucius, deprived of his oppurtunity to use Draco to punish him. Whoever is hiding Narcissa has to/had to move fast, before the news of DD's death reached LV. I think the Order would be best served to get Lucius out of Azkaban and into hiding somewhere, to prevent him from either being killed for his failure (and possibly for his son's) or rejoining the DE's if LV orders another jail break.
That Being said, I really feel sorry for Narcissa, I hope someone from the Order got to her before LV had the chance.

would voldemort necessarily know that draco didn't kill dumbledore?

Well LV, being the greatest legillimens the world has ever seen, could probably get the truth out of one of the 5 or so other witnesses on the tower. I highly doubt they are all highly skilled occlumens!

Even if Draco only indirectly got Dumbledore killed, Voldemort will reward him. Think of all the things Wormtail has stumbled upon through no special talent of his own.

The question is, does Draco have the heart to be rewarded in this way? Does he want more respect and responsibilty among the Death Eaters? I think not. I think he and his mother will flee, or defy them before the story is done.

He failed to follow through with the Dark Lords orders... however he did give a helping hand in the plan. For this I think the Dark Lord will spare him and give him another task. I doubt Harry and Draco have crossed paths for the last time.

I think that it's possible that Narcissa be brought into the Ministry for questioning, but they can't hold her for anything, as they couldn't possibly prove her involvement. I don't think that the Dark Lord will kill Draco, either, as he never really intended for Draco to do the killing in the first place. It could be argued that the Dark Lord intended for both Dumbledore and Draco to die for his father's cheek, but I don't think he'll go out of the way to do it.

I think Snape grabbed Draco and left Hogwarts so he could hide Draco and his mother. First, he'll go to the Malfoy's place to get Narcissa. Then, he'll bring them to the Order of the Phoenix headquarters. I'm sorry to say, but I think Snape, being a spy for the Order, is more valuable than Dumbledore. And since Dumbledore wanted to hide the Malfoys, Dumbledore might have told Snape (using Legilimency, of course) to kill him and make sure that the Malfoys were safe (in that part when Dumbledore says "Please" just before Snape kills him). And I know you're probably thinking that Snape isn't innocent. I beg to differ. Like I said, I think Dumbledore knows Snape's value to the Order. If Snape were killed, the Order would lose their greatest asset. I really didn't believe any of that stuff that Snape told Bellatrix in "Spinner's End." Snape and Dumbledore are very clever and the two of them can make a brilliant cover story well before anyone starts asking questions.

The part when Dumbledore tells Draco that he could be hidden better than you can imagine, I think he meant Harry to hear that, even though I don't think Harry got it. I think Dumbledore meant that they'd hide out at the Order's headquarters. Dumbldore probably told the Order to get Narcissa and fake her death. Dumbledore didn't come up with the plan of protecting the Malfoys on the fly, being that he knew that Draco was trying to kill him all year on Voldemort's wishes.
it mite b true but i hope u r not right coz i wanna see malfoys n snape dead but u got a great idea there dat mite happen

Voldemort should be in a good mood because Dumbledore is dead either way. I think Snape would have alerted Narcissa before aurors got there. Actually I am not sure, the aurors dont have anything on Narcissa she has not done anything wrong. As for Draco I doubt Voldemort would kill him, since his plan still worked in the end but maybe he will blame Draco for the capture of Greyback(pretty sure it was him captured).

Lucious will exit AZ and run for the hills, much like Karkaroff did. Lucious knows that he failed and KNOWS what happens to those who fail.
Draco and his mother have been hidden. Dumbledore never wanted any of the children hurt and he was not going to allow Draco to be hurt, in AZ, or on trial with the ministry.
Narcissa will appreciate being hidden, but Draco will despise it.
His absolute hatred for Harry, Ron, Hermione, and all other non-pure bloods will drive him insane if he is hidden anywhere near the Order's hideout.
Draco will only change once something happens to his family whether it is by Voldy or a DE. Once something happens to his Mom or Dad, he will begin to see the world as it should be.

At this point, the Order, or someone on the good side, has to take Narcissa into protective custody. She knows a lot, and Kreacher respects her.

I'll bet it's gonna be Tonks who'll protect them. I only believe this because Draco and Tonks are first cousins, and Narcissa is Tonks' aunt. Maybe Andromeda will join the order, and Narcissa will go to her. Hmm...well, I'll bet 10 galleons that if any of the "good guys" protect Narcissa and Draco, it'll be either Tonks, or Andromeda.

Narcissa has begged Snape to do 'it' instead of Draco. So they'd have a plan for that (in opposite to - Voldemort would kill Draco for not doing it), my guess would be that Snape asks for Draco's life or something. He's really attached tot he kid. But I agree with everyone who suggested that Tonks and Andromeda will be the ones to look after Narcissa and Draco, because the books are also about love and forgiveness.

Hello,

I just joined CoS, so I may be joining this discussion late, but I think Dumbledore had planned that if he died, Snape was to keep Draco safe. Dumbledore was eager to protect Draco, & he was the kind to plan for every contingency. I don't know that the Order would want to keep Draco, or Narcissa, but I think Dumbledore arranged a place to hide Draco and his family, and I think that's what Snape must've done after he & Draco escaped from Hogwarts. However, Draco will probably show his face in Book 7, I don't think he'll stay put in hiding, & I don't know what side he'll be on.

And Lucius? If he's smart he'll stay in AZ til the whole mess is finished!

Hello,

I just joined CoS, so I may be joining this discussion late, but I think Dumbledore had planned that if he died, Snape was to keep Draco safe. Dumbledore was eager to protect Draco, & he was the kind to plan for every contingency. I don't know that the Order would want to keep Draco, or Narcissa, but I think Dumbledore arranged a place to hide Draco and his family, and I think that's what Snape must've done after he & Draco escaped from Hogwarts. However, Draco will probably show his face in Book 7, I don't think he'll stay put in hiding, & I don't know what side he'll be on.

And Lucius? If he's smart he'll stay in AZ til the whole mess is finished!
Welcome! I totally agree with you. Snape is hiding/protecting Draco at least and probably Narcissa, too. I think you're right about that being Dumbledore's plan. Of course, no one in the order trusts Snape now, so best wishes to them on convincing everyone of the truth. Draco will definitely show up again. I predict (though I'm no Trelawney :cool: ) that Draco will try to be on the wrong side as long as he can, but in the end will go to the good side.

Yeah, :welcome: SlyLady!

I think, too, that Dumbledore wanted to protect Draco by all means, probably because he believes in the unity of all four houses. Draco is the epitome of Slytherin qualities, and (formally speaking as a reader) we never get to know any other Slytherin student than him. The point is - now that he's 'got' him - what's he gonna do with him :huh:

I think that Harry will tell the Order what happened and Draco's hesitancy and the order will go to the Malfoy's manor and offer to hide them as Dumbledore suggested. Draco will be at Hogwarts so he won't be as vulnerable but Narcissa will refuse assistance. When she is killed by Voldemort, Draco will reluctantly join Harry in finding the Horcruxes and defeating Voldemort, not because he agrees with Harry about embracing wizards and muggles alike but because he now has a score to settle with Voldemort himself. Draco will be forced to do battle against his own father in the end I think, his father having been far too immersed in the activity of the death eaters to betray them now, regardless of his wife's death.

In a way, it's not enough that he has hesitated. He's used an Unforgivable Curse, that's enough to land oneself a life-long prison sentence, plus he's almost killed two students. To wipe this record clean and come back to Hogwarts, he needs to really do something.

As a sidenote - I don't think Draco and Narcissa will be separated, they either join the light side together or not, they're a sort of team, much more than Draco and Lucius (like Harry and James, Draco and his father LOOK alike, but aren't in essence. Lucius would have killed without compunction). Narcissa on the other hand hasn't done anything criminal so far, and I think it'll stay like this. She's 'Cissy' as Bella says, she's no killer, no fighter, and got enough to do with herself.

i thinks Draco is going to spy on Voldermort for the Order and will help in getting rid of Bellatrix or other DE's

Although Draco is a nasty little piece of work, I don't believe his reasons for being this way are the same as those of his father. If he were genuinely remorseless and without a conscience...he would have had no issues killing Dumbledore. Draco is what he learnt from various lessons taught by his father, I imagine...a little parrot, if you will.

I believe he and his mother will either be neutral or will serve the light side, if they are not slaughtered by Lucius for betrayal. Snape can protect Draco, but I don't think he would be able to protect Narcissa too if it came to it.

In a way, it's not enough that he has hesitated. He's used an Unforgivable Curse, that's enough to land oneself a life-long prison sentence, plus he's almost killed two students. To wipe this record clean and come back to Hogwarts, he needs to really do something.

Well, just to play devil's advocate, I must point out that Harry has tried to use the unforgivables himself, on Bellatrix and Snape. Also, he could have easily killed Draco with sectumsempra if Snape had not shown up. We excuse Harry because of his circumstances, so perhaps we should at least try to be more understanding of Draco. Don't get me wrong; I don't like him, per se, but I think he would be allowed back at Hogwarts if he wanted back, which I don't think he will. I also think he at least has the possibilty of redeeming himself.
Isobel - I love your idea about Draco battling Lucius in the end. That would rock.

Mm, I don't think so. I think she'll be fine. Is she even a Death Eater?

Well, just to play devil's advocate, I must point out that Harry has tried to use the unforgivables himself, on Bellatrix and Snape. Also, he could have easily killed Draco with sectumsempra if Snape had not shown up. We excuse Harry because of his circumstances, so perhaps we should at least try to be more understanding of Draco. Don't get me wrong; I don't like him, per se, but I think he would be allowed back at Hogwarts if he wanted back, which I don't think he will. I also think he at least has the possibilty of redeeming himself.
Isobel - I love your idea about Draco battling Lucius in the end. That would rock.

oh, please do play the devil's advocate :tu: , I think exactly along the same lines, but was occasionally told that I mustn't compare Harry and Draco in this fashion. Seeing that with all his family's money, he'll be able to afford the best lawyer he can get, I'd say he'll be off with a mild punishment, maybe even probation, unless Scrimgeour is anything like Crouch sr and forgets about fair proceedings etc.

As for Harry and the Sectusempra curse - yes, he might have killed Draco, too, still the case is slightly different. He had no intention of killing, but should have made sure what sort of curse he was actually using. That'd be gross negligence concerning uncompleted manslaughter (I'm sorry, I've got no idea how those technical terms are like in English), a first semester law student would get him out of that one.

They haven't proven her to be a death eater, have they? If she wasn't at the ministry, then they can't prove her guilty because she's innocent until proven guilty. If she is proven guilty, then I guess Draco will have to go live with a foster home, though I doubt he's stay there for long. Voldy would probably get him out before a week had gone by, or he'd escape.

I dont believe that Narcissa was/is a DE. It was only Lucious. The only reason why Draco did what he did is because LV forced him too.

How could Snape have time after he left Hogwarts to hide Narcissa and Draco. Remember that the whole lot of DEs took off at the same time. Snape wouldnt have had time to hide them.

Draco did not complete the task at hand however he did do an aweful lot. LV will be satisfied enough. That doesnt mean I dont think that there wont be reprecussions for Narcissa and Draco but I dont believe it will be death.

It is possible that Lucious will be getting out of Azkaban ( Dementors dont seem to be looking after it right now) and it is possible that LV will kill him straight away or make him pay dearly. If so it could be done in front of Narcissa and Malfoy which would turn them to the good side.

I dont think that Narcissa is a bad person like some of the other DEs. She is a rich snob but she does love her family. She really doesnt like what LV has done to her family, she wants to protect them at any cost. We have seen already the lengths she will go to to save Draco so I can only imagine how much further she will go the more she is pushed.

There must have been a good reason why Voldemort asked Draco to kill Dumbledore in the first place though other than being angry at Lucius. I think Draco's failure is going to play a big part in the story because it shows that Voldemort and the Dark Arts don't have so much power in the new generation of wizards educated under Dumbledore as they did 17 years ago. Voldemort is having to rely on his older supporters to do his bidding - Draco does not truly believe in the Dark Order it seems nor does he have the nerve to perform the unforgivable curses. After all, the ways he intended to kill Dumbledore were all indirectly through the cursed necklace, the mead and through getting the Death Eaters into Hogwarts and letting them do it.

Draco as a characters has a lot of pull on many people's emotions and consciences, on Narcissa and Lucius obviously, Snape and Dumbledore as well as on Harry. Harry probably would be less likely to kill Draco than any of the other death eaters. Voldemort is obviously using him because he is only young and relatively innocent.

What if Draco was Voldemort's final Horcrux?

I dont think that Draco is a Horcrux. As for the reasons why LV went after Draco, he is ticked at Lucious and its a great way to get back at him, he knows it will really hurt Narcissa as she will be in fear, he gets rid of DD and he thinks that will make Harry weaker by killing DD. DD wont be there to protect him, Harry is getting ready to turn of age and if DD is out of the picture along with Sirius then this makes LV think that he has pretty much paved the way, esp now that he knows Snape was the one to finish him off. LV believes that Harry is basically alone and is totally underestimating him. All around using Draco was a great plan for him.

I think that Draco and his mother will definately be on the run after what has happened. Their manor will probably be under survealance. Though really, has his mother been witnessed doing anything wrong? Not yet, so she probably won't be in trouble, but they will want to question her no doubt.

Just one point about the 'is Narcissa a Death Eater' question - it's not really hard evidence, but in GoF, graveyard scene, Voldemort adresses Lucius, who is standing next to Wormtail. On his other side though, there is a gap, left there for the Lestranges, who would be, after all, Lucius' relatively close relatives. Sure, Narcissa could have been anywhere in that circle, but why should she be? Wouldn't it be quite logical, even natural, for her to stand beside her husband?

Well, maybe she didn't stand next to Lucius because she never wanted to be in the Inner Circle? :D Also, according to some theories around the internet, people believe that the empty spaces are Snape and Karkoff (or however you spell it).

To Isobel: I don't think Draco is the Horcrux. If Voldemort put a bit of himself in Draco, Draco wouldn't be crying and thinking of how to save his mother by now. He'd be evil and starting to attack people; he wouldn't hesitate to kill Dumbledore. At least that's what I think.

I'm a little too lazy to get out my copy and look for the direct quote, I'm sorry, but Voldemort does say that the gap next to Lucius is for the Lestranges, the other gap, with 'the one who left me forever' and the one too cowardly to return and so on, that one comes later, somewhere else in the circle.

I think that if Narssica is going to be killed by LV then Draco might come to the good side. In that case he will be like Harry who lost his parents because of LV.
If that doesn't happen and if Draco becomes a DE then he sure to die at hands of Harry or any other member of the order.

I think that by the end of the sixth book Malfloy has realized he isn't as bad as the death eaters and is sick of being blackmailed to boot: he had been crying to Myrtle about him and his family being threatened with death long before the scene on the tower where, even when faced with this horrible threat, he wouldn't kill Dumbledore. So I think that Malfloy will take his best option (he may be a git but he's not stupid) and take up the order on Dumbledore's offer to hide him. He may end up helping Harry once he's hidden, although you can bet he'd hate every minute of it. It would be interesting if Harry and Malfloy were forced to work together.

I think they are hidding somewhere, foe the first part of book seven but will sure be involved later into some action again...

I think it depends on how angry Voldemort gets at Draco for Snape for supposidly killing Dumbledore. I don't think he is finished with Draco by any means. I think they may perish by the end of the series, if they don't switch sides, but I don't know if I see that happening.

Not sure about Narcissa. While she seems to have some ability to "love", unlike Bellatrix who said she would sacrifice her own kid for Voldemort, I sense that she will meet a cruel fate. Perhaps not. I don't know if she truly deserves to die. She seems to have some "good" in her. Honestly, I could careless whether she lives or dies.

Draco is another matter. Honestly....I hope he lives. HBP has completely changed my view of Draco. I see him as more of a victim than anything else. He was raised to hate anyone that isn't a Pure Blood, and he is the result of bad-parenting and ignorance than anything else. Of course, he is of age now, and he can make his own decisions. The fact that he couldn't kill Dumbledore says a lot. He's not a cold-blooded killer like his father. However, he did almost kill Katie Bell and Ron without any real remorse it seems. BUT...he was fearing for his own life and his mother's. He basically had no choice. Very complicated.

Ideally, I hope that Draco will end up helping Harry at some point...perhaps losing his life in the process, but at least redeeming himself. I would like to see him end up as a character of "good".

Depending on Snape's loyalties, I'm betting that Draco will either be safe in hiding or in grave danger. If Snape is loyal to Voldemort I'll bet he brought Draco to face the Dark Lord. If he's loyal to Dumbledore, he is probably hiding Draco and will likely protect Narcissa as well. Finally, if Snape is serving none but himself, it's hard to say what he'd do with Draco. I somehow get the gut feeling that he's protecting Draco though, so in that case, I think Draco may be safe.

In any case, I can't help but wonder if Narcissa will betray Voldemort because of what he did to her son. If so, it's possible the Order could protect her. However, as far as I know, no one really knows she's a little disillusioned with Voldemort at this point. If she needs protection, she'll have to tell somebody trustworthy. If Snape is willing to help, I'm sure he'd try to protect her as he Vowed to look after her son in HBP.

In the end, I'm hoping that Draco will be safe and not join Voldemort's forces, and that Narcissa will go against Voldemort also, and that she'll somehow be safe if she does so.

One thing I have not seen resolved anywhere is whether or not Snape's Unbreakable Vow to Narcissa is still partly holding: the part about "And will you, to the best of your ability, protect him from harm?" The first part, about protecting Draco as he attempted to fulfill the Dark Lord's orders, and the last part stating that Snape would kill Dumbledore, only refered to the plot to kill Dumbledore. But does the second part of the vow still constrain Snape's actions? If so, it has many implications. For one thing, he will be forced to protect Malfloy from Voldemort even if he is on Voldemort's side. This will become particularly significant if Malfloy turns against the Dark Lord: Snape will be forced to prevent Draco from coming to harm while still stoping him from helping either Harry or the Order. What if Malfloy decides to protect Harry from Snape? I'd like opinions please.

Snape will not turn on Voldemort, he loves his master, he is his most loyal servant.

If Draco or his mother turn on the Dark Lord they will be killed. If they run and hide they will be killed. If they do not do as the Dark Lord pleases they will be killed. They have no choice but to serve their master.

I do not feel sorry for Draco... he should have listened to Dumbledore... he should have remembered if the time should come when you have to make a choice between what is right and what is easy, what happened to a boy who was good, and kind, and brave, because he strayed across the path of Lord Voldemort. He should have remembered... Cedric Diggory.

Snape will not turn on Voldemort, he loves his master, he is his most loyal servant.

Sorry, I mistyped late last night and didn't catch myself. I meant Malfloy. I'll edit that now.

I do not feel sorry for Draco... he should have listened to Dumbledore... he should have remembered if the time should come when you have to make a choice between what is right and what is easy, what happened to a boy who was good, and kind, and brave, because he strayed across the path of Lord Voldemort. He should have remembered... Cedric Diggory.

When did Dumbledore say the thing about choices to anyone else but Harry?

Jen1182 said that he tried to kill Ron and Katie without remorse - yes, he's tried to kill them, though we can't say much about the remorse. I'd like to make one point, namely that it is a very great difference whether you are facing a victim when killing them or doing something quite abstract that will end with someone's death. Do you think many soldiers would be capable of dropping bombs if they could see the thousand of civillian victims? Pushing a button, stir a substance into a bottle of wine - that's not very different. Does anyone around here know the case of that guy who gave a ticket for a ship journey to his rich aunty, which had legated all her possessions to him? The guy calculated that the ship might sink and he would get the legacy sooner - and idiotic as the whole plot sounds now, it did work, because it was the sodding Titanic that he sent his aunt to. He totally wanted her death, he took part in bringing it about (because she wouldn't have been on the ship if it hadn't been for the gift), but of course he's innocent. That sort of action can never elicit a conviction.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not comparing him to Draco, I've given this example as the adverse idea. And I think in a way that's its function - to show how complicated moral judgement can be, and that one should be careful and not premature with it, if one believes it absolutely necessary to judge in the first place. It's from the bible, isn't it, 'Judge and you shall be judged?'. Anyway, Katherine Hepburn says in the Philadelphia Story 'The time to make up your mind about someone is never', and I really love that phrase, for it is so true. In good and in bad, you can never be sure about someone, and while it might still be honourable to assume the best in anyone, most of the time it is the other way round - we tend to condemn people by face value.

I do not feel sorry for Draco... he should have listened to Dumbledore

Unless I am grossly mistaken he did: long before he actually faced Dumbledore on the tower he had realized he was in far over his head and that the death eaters were conpletely evil whereas he was only a bullying git. And then he refused to kill Dumbledore: Harry saw him lower his wand, and he had already been talking to Dumbledore for several minutes before the Death Eaters showed up: Dumbledore knew that Draco wasn't really a killer, and that the only reason he was following Voldemort's orders was because he and his mother would have been killed (and probably tortured) if he refused. Malfloy was in a really nasty spot, and when Dumbledore gave him an out he would have taken it, given an extra thirty seconds. I actually do feel sorry for Draco, because he is trying to protect his family at the end, not following the Dark Lord's orders.

DEAD! Draco did not succeed in killing Dumbledore, therefore LV will kill the entire Malfoy family since the Malfoy family is responsible for the destruction of a horcrux!

I think that Voldemort will try to kill the Malfloy family, but Draco will see this coming and take up the order on their offer to hide his family as soon as he can get away from wherever he apparated too in the escape.

When did Dumbledore say the thing about choices to anyone else but Harry? End of term feast, GoF.

Unless I am grossly mistaken he did: long before he actually faced Dumbledore on the tower he had realized he was in far over his head and that the death eaters were conpletely evil whereas he was only a bullying git. And then he refused to kill Dumbledore: Harry saw him lower his wand, and he had already been talking to Dumbledore for several minutes before the Death Eaters showed up: Dumbledore knew that Draco wasn't really a killer, and that the only reason he was following Voldemort's orders was because he and his mother would have been killed (and probably tortured) if he refused. Malfloy was in a really nasty spot, and when Dumbledore gave him an out he would have taken it, given an extra thirty seconds. I actually do feel sorry for Draco, because he is trying to protect his family at the end, not following the Dark Lord's orders. Draco is a coward much like Snape.

I think it depends on whether Snape will hide them, or turn them in. I believe that Snape is loyal to Dumbledore, so I'm saying that they'll be safe. But by the looks of it, if soething isn't done soon, Voldemort will track them down and kill them anyway. But after reading HBP, I really don't want Draco to die. We all saw a different part of him this time. Maybe Harry will help him and his mother out of it?

I think he was feeling a bit..not "remorseful" as such, but I think he was feeling..that he'd bitten off more than he can chew. I am not sure why, but I don't purely hate him or like him - I think his character has depth.

I know JK has totally ruked out the possibility of a Draco/Hermione ship..but that doesn't stop him having feelings for her! :P haha.. I swear, if he doesnt declare his love (hmm, thats too strong a word..umm..declare his fanciness for her?! lol) for her or something in the last book, I am screaming!

I think after Snape has taken Draco back to LV, he'd somehow put Draco and Mum into hiding - assuming that Snape is good that is.

Or Draco could do it himself. He may be a git but he's not stupid. And he was offered safety by Dumbledore, which because of Voldemort's Legilimancy he has to take. He would, of course, take his mother with him if at all possible, because Draco cares about his family (the one redeeming quality of all this pureblood mania is that at least your family becomes very important).

That's a difficult question.

I doubt all Malfoys are going to make it. Narcissa's personality was a huge discovery for me in HBP. I always presumed she was a coldhearted woman. The fact that she's caring under all that snobish appearance is very interesting. One can argue whether she's weak or cunning. She loves her son and her husband and is willing to do anything to keep them safe. All that sounds nice but easily makes her the weakest link and thus the person that won't make it simply because of the fact that her only connections are very powerful people who don't play her game. I think she feels rather lost and insecure without Lucius which supports the possibility of her death even more.

Draco doesn't have what it takes to be evil. He's not his father. To understand both men, it think we'll have to hear more about the history of the Death Eaters(I think JKR said we will). While many of you view Lucius as a coward, I have to disagree. Lucius is a powerful person who knows how to make it on his own. He doesn't need Voldemort's help. He doesn't need anyone's help. He never searched for Voldemort because he was glad to finally get rid of him. He claimed Imperius not because he was a coward, but because he's a strong individual who understands that his life is far more important then that cause of a dead man. It is important to note that Voldemort decided to punish Lucius through his son. Voldemort still needed Lucius alive. Sure, you can say that Lucius is in Azkaban and therefore out of Voldemort's reach, but if Voldemort didn't need Lucius' services anymore, he would've waited until they got out and then killed him. He wouldn't have bothered with Draco at all. Therefore, Voldemort just wanted to remind Lucius where his loyalities lay. Draco became a Death Eater as a punishment for Lucius. He had no idea of what it meant to be one. He always pictured his strong and powerful father and immediatly connected that with being a Death Eater. I believe Lucius has gone through a lot to become one of the leaders of the Death Eaters.

Draco is just a child who's always lived as a little king. A child who always had a mother to hug him, love him and tell him he was the best and a father who he could always turn to when he couldn't handle things anymore. Lucius' imprisonment had a huge effect on him. For the first time he had to face things all alone. For the first time he couldn't hide behind his father's fancy robes. That shook him. He realised he had to take his father's role. He had to protect his family. But he couldn't. Why? Because he had to kill someone. He had to be the one to take someone's life out. He couldn't do it not because he was a coward, but because he never experienced what evil meant. Lucius experienced it, but Draco didn't. Draco, despite of zillion fanfics out there, had a beautiful life. He didn't know what evil was.

Now, I have few possible theories:

1) Narcissa dies at the hands of the Death Eaters. Draco changes sides to avenge his mother. Lucius changes sides to protect Draco. Draco isn't nearly as powerful as Lucius is and he's not a high ranking Death Eater as Lucius is.

2) Narcissa figures out that the Death Eaters are going to kill Draco for failing to kill Dumbledore. She runs to Andromeda (who's probably in the Order) and begs for Draco's protection. In change for Draco's protection, she gives out Lucius' secrets. Lucius changes sides when he figures out that Voldemort is winning while Draco and Narcissa are on the losing side and therefore in line for dying (He'd fight on Harry's side if it means protecting his family). However, for his services he asks for freedom from Azkaban once the war is over.

3) Narcissa gets protection from the Order (via Andromeda) for her son and herself. In change for that protection, she allows members of the Order to search the Malfoy manor and possibly gives out Lucius' secrets.

4) Narcissa gets protection from the Order (via Andromeda) for her son and herself. She tells them that Lucius' holds valuable informations about Voldemort that she doesn't know of. The Order members offer Lucius freedom in change for informations (Lucius is not stupid. He knows Narcissa and Draco could easily be killed by the Death Eaters. He also knows that while Voldemort needs all his powerful Death Eaters (just while the war is going on) if he wins he won't need all of them anymore. He also knows that then Voldemort will get rid of those less loyal and he knows he's among them). Lucius decidees to help the Order if they promise him freedom from Azkaban later on. They agree.

5) Narcissa gets protection from the Order (via Andromeda) for her son and herself. Lucius doesn't change sides and they end up fighting each other.

6) Draco is killed(by the Death Eaters or by Voldemort) and Narcissa changes sides to avenge her son. Lucius changes sides for the same reason.

7) Draco is killed by Voldemort(or the Death Eaters) and Narcissa changes sides to avenge her son. Lucius doesn't change sides and they end up fighting each other.

8) Draco is killed by Voldemort(or the Death Eaters) but nor Lucius nor Narcissa change sides. However, somewhere in the final battle, Narcissa tells Harry where to go to find Voldemort and promises to distract Lucius so Harry can easily pass through the Death Eaters. Harry asks her ehy she's helping him and she answers it's because she wants Voldemort dead for destroying her family. She says she doesn't care about her life anymore and tells Harry to kill Voldemort for her son. Narcissa is killed while Lucius is imprisoned for lifetime (or they're both killed – I doubt Narcissa is going to end up in Azkaban)

9) Narcissa is killed in the begging of the book which makes Draco change sides. Draco spies on his father and hides his true loyalities from him. Somewhere in the final battle Draco is killed by a Death Eater while helping the Order. Lucius figures out that this war had cost him his entire family. He kills the killer of his son and then finds Harry and helps him with a few Death Eaters. He tells Harry where to find Voldemort and tells him he'll cover his back. Lucius is one of few Death Eaters who have survived. He gets lifetime sentence in Azkaban and ends up being the last of the Malfoys. He becomes the example of a person who lost everything, his reputation, respect, possesions, land, money and family just because he loved power too much.

To be honest, I find 6) and 7) least likely. After all the trouble Dumbledore went throught, I doubt Draco will die. 1) is more likely while 2) is a bit idealistic. 8) and 9) are in my opinion quite possible even though Draco gets killed in them.

Which one do you find most likely?

My friend has this steadfast belief that all the Malfoys will survive. I can't help agreeing with him. They're the first (if only) evil-human family represented in the books, and I think it'd be more meaningful to have them stay alive. I'm not sure about the fate of the Malfoy parents, but I keep having this nagging hunch that Draco will resign from the war, go neutral, and just turn his back on the whole Wizarding World.

The aurors may question her, but she may not have done anything wrong or aided Draco in any way other than trying to protect her family.

I think that Narcissa is innocent of any wrong doings against Dumbledore in that she only wanted to protect Draco. This is what I think will save her in the end and gain her protection by those who see the love in her doings.

Very interesting discussion, again, the ability of Draco to love is significant, although I really want to hurt Draco, he loves his parents and was willing to kill DD to save them and himself for that matter. LV does not have this ability. Draco is always teetering on the verge of good and evil. I believe that Draco will choose good in the end, he will not embrace it fully but will choose not to follow LV in the end.

So instead of being black he will end up a mixed gray, like Sirius but darker.

great post, BadEyeBella! I think you are very perceptive with your ideas. I don't believe Draco will die though (I'm not even sure about Lucius and Narcissa), mostly for a formal reason: In PS, Narcissa and Lucius are there right at the beginning of Harry's life as a wizard. We as readers don't see them because Harry doesn't notice them, but Hagrid mentions them to him. Makes me think that they will stay on until the very end, at least (possibly even survive). The same goes for Draco - he's been Harry's antagonist for six books - he can't just be gone for being dead. (I don't regard the death at the end of HBP to smash that theory, because I think that this dead person may well be dead, but will nonetheless play a great part in the last book). Do you know what I mean?

No.

Simple...

Draco will get spanked by Voldemort with his wand. :evil:

Bellatrix will think he deserves death and will try and curse him, Narcissa will kill Bellatrix and Voldemort will kill Narcissa.

Snape will help Draco escape to get help from Harry.

Harry will kill Snape and offer to help Draco.

Lucius will be killed for his son's, wife's and his own mistakes. :tu:

Draco will hold Voldemort from behind in front of the arch in the death chamber while Harry goes Rocky Balboa on his evil butt and then kick him in the gut and Draco and Voldemort will both go flying thru the veil....

Ultimate revenge all those whom hurt him have paid! :rotfl:

One thing I have not seen resolved anywhere is whether or not Snape's Unbreakable Vow to Narcissa is still partly holding: the part about "And will you, to the best of your ability, protect him from harm?" The first part, about protecting Draco as he attempted to fulfill the Dark Lord's orders, and the last part stating that Snape would kill Dumbledore, only refered to the plot to kill Dumbledore. But does the second part of the vow still constrain Snape's actions? If so, it has many implications. For one thing, he will be forced to protect Malfloy from Voldemort even if he is on Voldemort's side. This will become particularly significant if Malfloy turns against the Dark Lord: Snape will be forced to prevent Draco from coming to harm while still stoping him from helping either Harry or the Order. What if Malfloy decides to protect Harry from Snape? I'd like opinions please.

New to this thread...better late than never?

I'm surprised noone has picked up on this post, I think it is a very interesting suggestion. I agree that the second part of the Vow might still be in force. The second part, as you point out, appears to have no time limit, and the only qualification is 'to the best of your ability'. I think Draco definitely poses a problem for Snape. If he's a 'bad guy', he will have to maneuver to convince Voldemort not to harm Draco. Which he might have a shot at, as Voldemort mught be quite pleased with Snape. And if Draco defects that will certainly be interesting for 'bad-guy' Snape.

If Snape is a 'good guy', also problematic. Clearly in this case his best bet would be to get Draco protection from the Order, but he's going to have some trouble contacting them under the circumstances.

draco's family was threated by Voldemort so i sure hope they get protection from aurors and the Ministry Of Magic.

i hope draco joins the Order.

Harry and the Minister could do an exchange.. harry could tell him where he and dumbledore went about the horxcuss and all.. and then the Minister to return the favor could send lots of aurors to seek out Draco Malfoy.

draco's family was threated by Voldemort so i sure hope they get protection from aurors and the Ministry Of Magic.
They can't get protection from the ministry, they were both death eaters and Draco was directly involved in Dumbledore's death. Narcissa we don't know about, but we can safely assume she has major crimes to her name as well. I think that they will instead end up hiding with the Order. Incidently, the Order hiding defecting Death Eaters is something else that the ministry will get mad at them about. But I think that Draco will end up going straight to his mother and dragging her into hiding. He knows that he is dead if Voldemort catches up with him, and will want to save his mother too. Depending on whether or not Snape is evil, and whether or not he figures out immediatly where Draco has gone, they may barely escape from the Death Eaters.

Edit: Also, Harry cannot tell the ministry about the Horcruxes, and I doubt that the ministry could be trusted in a trade anyway: they've been pretty darn oppurtunistic so far, and Scrimgeour wouldn't have any qualms about holding Malfloy if they found him, and then telling the order that he can't be found. That aside, though, another reason Harry can't tell the ministry is that it is full of spies for Voldemort.

I think they will be killed by Voldemort. Voldemort wanted Draco to kill Dumbledore because he wanted him to die because of what happend with his father. Since Draco did not get killed while trying to kill Dumbledore, Voldemort will kill Draco and his mother because she was the reason that he did not get killed also because of the Unbreakable Vow. Voldemort will probably also kill Snape.

But don't you think that Draco's smart enough to figure out that Voldemort will want to kill him? My guess is that he was suppossed to apparate away with Snape to a meeting place, but Malfloy took advantage of Snape's distraction to apparate somewhere else entirely so as to go into hiding. He'll probably want to save his mother too, that was the main threat Voldemort had over him. So he probably went to the mannor and tried to tell Narcissa what happened.

I think Narcissa Malfoy will not do any great things except for her son. But there is a possibility of Draco's return. In HBP he was hesitated 2 kill dumbledore. Maybe he will be on the truth side at the last moment. I expect the book 7 to be full of miracles.

Well. Voldemort will be in a good mood that Dumbledore is dead, so I doubt he'd kill Draco. Though, just like some people said here, he'd be punished. The Dark Lord will probably kill Lucius and maybe even Narcissa just to get back at Draco for not finishing the job himself.

Well nothing will happen in favour of him turning good as DD said.....but then he died! he'll be in Lv's realm (most likely Snape's assistant) and become a Death Eater. His mother will also just go back to the way she was before she started worrying about Draco failing Lvs task.

I am one of those who have trouble believing Draco will "go over to the good side" and join the Order of the Phoenix and then die a glorious death fighting alongside Harry to defeat the Dark Lord. There is nothing in the books to support that theory because Draco is not a character who has shown even the barest inkling of goodness in his character.

The only positive thing that can be said in Draco's defense is that he did not kill Dumbledore in the tower. However, I attribute this to his not having the nerve to do it. It is easy for Draco to push around those who are smaller or weaker than he is when he is backed up by his two goons Crabbe and Goyle, but murdering someone by himself, expecially if that someone is the most powerful member of the resistance against the Dark magic, is a whole new league and Draco has not the stomach for it. Basically, he is all talk and no action.

And when it comes down to it, Draco just does not want to join the Order. He has, at least up until the end of book six, believed strongly in the Dark Lord's ideology and thinks true power lies in that path. Even if his opinion on this has changed and he no longer holds to Death Eater beliefs, he still will not join the Order because he despises it and all of the people in it. Some hatred runs to deep to ever be fully eradicated, and I believe this will be the case with Draco. He would rather die than ask the people he detests for help saving his life. Remeber, "Pride cometh before the fall."

So I believe Draco is now too deeply entrenched to get out of the path he has chosen for himself, the way of the Death Eater. I would honestly not be surprised if he is dead within the next year, and with him will die one of the oldest pure blood families in the wizarding world. (Funny how that happens, is it not? The pure blood families keep dying out as a result of Lord Voldemort. First Barty Crouch Jr. has his soul sucked out by a dementor and with his soul goes his entire family line. Then Sirius was murdered by Bellatrix Lestrange, a Death Eater, and thus the Black line has ended as well. Who is next? The Malfoys, perhaps?)

I hope Draco gets over his cowardly side and proves that he's not a killer and that he's actually not evil, as we've already seen in HBP. As for his mother she may die but I don't think she's a very major character so it doesn't really matter too much if u see what I mean.

Hmm. Hard to tell now. Maybe they'll be good, but I doubt it

Well this is how I view it:

Snape told Draco to run while he stayed behind to stall Harry. I always felt that if Draco was really fearful of Voldemort and felt threatened by Snape since he was the one to do the deed, therefore telling Voldemort Draco's failure, than Draco really did run. Not to Snapes home or even his own, he's not rational at this moment, he just saw a great wizard die who promised him protection, he watched a small amount of hope diminish and now is afraid that there's no were to turn to and going back is death. So he pulls a Regulus and decides hiding is his best bet. He may think Voldemort won't kill his mother, assuming that she'll be used as bait instead if he stays hidden. He's under pressure now, and we've seen what happens, ex. the locket, poisoning...both accidental yet it was caused by a desparate young man who couldn't get the real plan off at first. If he wanted to embrace Dumbledore's request then he would go to Tonks or Andromeda first if only because they are family. There is one problem with the idea of Draco dying. Though its more of a Shakespearan thing than a JKRowling thing, though she may use it. Draco is to Harry as Laertes is to Hamlet. He's a foil, he gets presented with some of the same decisions as Harry but choses a different route about it yet they have some similiarities in there attitudes from time to time. The problem I see if Draco is a foil to Harry, is that if Draco does die then there's a good chance Harry will as well. I suppose if thats what JKR intends then that's the way it is if not then it doesn't matter technically Draco can die and Harry can live, or both live. The only good thing that indicates Draco possibly switching to the side of light is the fact that he was hanging round Moaning Myrtle, not once but more. She's a muggleborn but that didn't seem to bother Draco at all and he even expressed his emotions to her. There's the small chance Draco doesn't hate muggleborns and much as he portrays but we won't know til book 7.

I think that Snape will come into play with this tid bit. He will some how full fill his role and convince Voldemort that Draco did what he needed to. Some how,as we know that they have both learned lagilimens and what not, he and Draco will manage to hide some of it from the DL. Snape will defend him, as much as he can and then the picture will deepen....

As to what will happen to Mrs. Malfoy...haven't yet decided, but I think that Belletrex will come into play here...question is will she betray her sister to glorify the DL or will she have some feeling of loyalty to family? Some how I doubt she will choose family...

Snape won't let anything happen to Draco, as he is bound by the unbreakable vow. Draco might turn to the good side, however as he has always been quite cowardly...and dont know about narcissa...

I am not sure what will happen, I don't think that Draco and his mother will be killed though because in the end Dumbledore was killed so Voldermort might not be botherd who killed him as long as he is dead. Anyway, we will have to wait till the next book, :)

My prediction: Voldemort snuffs Draco - he said he would if Draco didn't kill Dumbledore, Draco didn't kill Dumbledore, Snape had to blow his cover, and Voldemort does not forgive.

This will cause Narcissa to question her loyalty to Voldemort. She has already shown her willingness to not follow orders (talking about things she has been forbidden to discuss).

Hmm... perhaps when Snape reveals everything, Draco will be shocked. He and his mother will go into hiding like what Dumbledore had said. Draco and Narcissa will remain safe in the end.

I am really sad to say it, but JKR has it in for Draco. She has said that 'she always knew this was coming for him - death eater ville - and I think she will have him work his way up the ranks of death eaters. His task to prove himself? kill Harry Potter. But in that duel he will not be able to do it although on the brink of doing so. He will spare Harry and then realize his doom. He will try to escape and in a blood curdling, short 3 paragraphs, JKR will have Voldy torture and do away with the Slytherin God forever. Cuz she's just wicked like that... Draco's last words? "Killing me gets you know where Riddle, Harry Potter will kill you!" Thus allowing him back in our good graces. Little does she realize he already is for many...

My idea?

LV kills Lucius.
Makes Draco take his place as a Death Eater.
Uses the Malfoy Manor as his Headquarters
As a result Draco and Narcissas fear and hatred for LV will grow.
Snape will give Draco to Harry to protect.
Harry hates Snape but will protect Draco, keeping him at 12 Grimmauld Place.
Bellatrix and Narcissa will descend on Harry to find out where Draco is.
Harry will tell them he will help them if they help him.
Bellatrix will try to torture him, but Narcissa will fight her and possibly kill her.
Narcissa wont like siding with Harry, but she'll do anything to protect her son.
When LV is dead Harry will leave 12 Grimmauld Place to the Malfoys.
They will be able to live there happily as it belonged to their family.
They wont like Harry, but they'll respect him and be somewhat grateful.

Well. Voldemort will be in a good mood that Dumbledore is dead, so I doubt he'd kill Draco. Though, just like some people said here, he'd be punished. The Dark Lord will probably kill Lucius and maybe even Narcissa just to get back at Draco for not finishing the job himself.

Um, I think everybody keeps on forgeting that this whole thing wasn't about Draco. It was about Lucius. Draco was supposed to fail. His death would've been a punishment for Lucius. So, Voldemort won't kill Lucius to get back at Draco, because the whole thing was about getting back at Lucius.

The way things are going, Draco is the one who might get killed if Voldemort thinks Lucius wasn't punished enough. People, Lucius is an important Death Eater. He's in the Inner Circle. He's the leader of the top-squad. He was the only one powerful enough to protect a piece of Voldemort soul (according to Voldemort himself). He was the only one Voldemort treated with a bit of respect in GoF. Voldemort still needs Lucius. He won't kill him. He just wanted to remind him that kids are enemies as well and that he should've killed them insted of playing hide and seek. If Voldemort wanted to kill him, he would've gone to Azkaban and killed him. He wouldn't have bothered with a child that hasn't finished school yet.

Um, I think everybody keeps on forgeting that this whole thing wasn't about Draco. It was about Lucius. Draco was supposed to fail. His death would've been a punishment for Lucius. So, Voldemort won't kill Lucius to get back at Draco, because the whole thing was about getting back at Lucius.

The way things are going, Draco is the one who might get killed if Voldemort thinks Lucius wasn't punished enough. People, Lucius is an important Death Eater. He's in the Inner Circle. He's the leader of the top-squad. He was the only one powerful enough to protect a piece of Voldemort soul (according to Voldemort himself). He was the only one Voldemort treated with a bit of respect in GoF. Voldemort still needs Lucius. He won't kill him. He just wanted to remind him that kids are enemies as well and that he should've killed them insted of playing hide and seek. If Voldemort wanted to kill him, he would've gone to Azkaban and killed him. He wouldn't have bothered with a child that hasn't finished school yet.
I don't know that that's truley is the case. Narcissa figured it must be to punish Lucius because she didn't believe Draco had any chance of completing any of the tasks. But is it possible he was actually recruiting Draco because he could get the other DE's into Hogwarts. It seems Draco knew right from the start how to use the vanishing cabinet. It may have even been his idea.

Besides, Now Draco has proven himself to have the makings of a loyal follower would LV really kill him. He'd figure he's a useful tool.

I don't know that that's truley is the case. Narcissa figured it must be to punish Lucius because she didn't believe Draco had any chance of completing any of the tasks. But is it possible he was actually recruiting Draco because he could get the other DE's into Hogwarts. It seems Draco knew right from the start how to use the vanishing cabinet. It may have even been his idea.

Besides, Now Draco has proven himself to have the makings of a loyal follower would LV really kill him. He'd figure he's a useful tool.

I don't know. Draco himself said that he figured out the cabinets, so it certainly wasn't Voldemort's ides.

On the other hand, Draco's a kid and out of Hogwarts he isn't that important or powerful, at least not nearly as Lucius. Voldemort wouldn't want someone who can't perform an Avada Kedavra. He may be loyal out of fear, but when it comes down to big things, Voldemort wants capable and intelligent wizards. For as long as there are big battles, Voldemort is going to need Lucius, but Draco is a completly different story.

Narcissa might play a big role in making Lucius change sides (which I think he will to save Draco).

Narcissa might play a big role in making Lucius change sides (which I think he will to save Draco).

Just curious...what, if anything, written in the books leads you to believe that Lucius Malfoy will "change sides"? Or any of the Malfoys, for that matter?

I think Narcissa and Draco will do something to redeem themselves and go into hiding. I have a feeling that Tonks will have something to do with their situation as well.

It was obvious from the end of book 6 that Draco was having second thoughts about joining Voldemort. My guess is that Draco's mother will side with whoever Draco sides with- she would want the protection. I don't think that there would be enough reason for her to be aprehended by aurors just because of Draco's action. She could be used as a lure for Draco, but I don't see that happening. Hopefully Draco gets caught and punished (Azkaban just doesn't seem like it can hold too many wrong-doers, especially if most support Voldemort).

Narcissa might play a big role in making Lucius change sides (which I think he will to save Draco).

I don't actually think Lucius gives a damn for his son-he's proved in the books that he's 'not good enough'. He doesn't beat the mudblood in lessons, he's not even that good at Potions. And I doubt Daddy was happy with him joining Umbridge's Inquisitorial Squad-siding with the Ministry, tut tut.
I wouldn't be so suprised if Draco switched, but then Narcissa would be kind of...stuck. She'd have Lucius and Bellatrix on LV's side (both very close to her), and the only close family she now has in OOP is Tonks, and somehow I don't think they're particularly chummy!
But as long as JKR doesn't kill off Bella or Cissy, I'm happy =]

Just curious...what, if anything, written in the books leads you to believe that Lucius Malfoy will "change sides"? Or any of the Malfoys, for that matter?
I don't know about Lucius, but Narcissa has shown when her son is concerned she is prepared to go against LV's orders. That's why she's in Spinners End. "There is nothing I wouldn't do anymore." If it protects Draco I think she would change sides. She even might kill her own sister.

I don't see Lucius having the guts to switch, but I think LV will kill him which will make it easier for Narcissa to choose.

Just curious...what, if anything, written in the books leads you to believe that Lucius Malfoy will "change sides"? Or any of the Malfoys, for that matter?

The fact that DRaco is in so much trouble that he'll probably have to turn to Harry. This doesn't have to happen at the beginning, but it might happen somewhere in the middle. It's only natural that Narcissa wouldn't want Lucius and Draco to fight each other. Somehow, I don't think Lucius would trade Draco for Voldemort. Voldemort himself thinks that Draco's death would be the biggest punishment for Lucius. I doubt Lucius would join the Order or anything of that sort, but when it comes down to it, he'll do something to help his son. Narcissa might go over to Andromeda for help. And no, I don't think she's to proud for that. If she could beg a half-blood, she can beg her sister as well. To sum up, the Malfoys are in too much trouble to never consider changing sides.

True, but i dont believe that Snape would allow the Dark Lord to eliminate Draco after he sacrificed so much to rescue and protect him in the first place. He would probably make up some excuse as to why he must live.

I'm quite sure that Draco will turn up for the good side leaving Narcissa to choose between her husband & her son. I don't think Lucius will ever switch sides. So it will depend on what Narcissa chooses. After all, its all about our choices.

I am really sad to say it, but JKR has it in for Draco. She has said that 'she always knew this was coming for him - death eater ville - and I think she will have him work his way up the ranks of death eaters. His task to prove himself? kill Harry Potter. But in that duel he will not be able to do it although on the brink of doing so. He will spare Harry and then realize his doom.
But that would be nothing but a repetition of what's happened in HBP:shrug:

I think that Snape will protect Draco from Voldemort and both of them-Snape spying on Voldemort and Draco either hidden or with Harry-will help Harry on his quest.
Snape might also ensure that Narcissa is protected in the same way.

I am really sad to say it, but JKR has it in for Draco. She has said that 'she always knew this was coming for him - death eater ville - and I think she will have him work his way up the ranks of death eaters. His task to prove himself? kill Harry Potter. But in that duel he will not be able to do it although on the brink of doing so. He will spare Harry and then realize his doom.

I think you are forgetting that the Dark Lord wants to kill Harry personally. Lord Voldemort believes the prophesy must be fulfilled as it was worded--that he, and he alone, would have to kill Harry Potter if he were to ever succeed in his plans of controlling the wizarding world (and vice versa for Harry).

The Dark Lord probably also wants to have the satisfaction of murdering Harry himself because Harry, a mere child, is a humiliation to Voldemort by the mere fact that despite Voldemort's best attempts thus far, he just will not die.

So it is extremely unlikely that the job of killing Harry will be relegated to any of the other Death Eaters. And on the highly off chance that it were, the Dark Lord would probably not set Draco to the task as he has proven himself to be highly incompetant on missions such as these.

And I feel as though I must say that I disagree with your statement that J.K. Rowling "has it in for Draco." The only person to blame for Draco's winding up in his predicament is Draco. He could have swallowed his stupid pride and gone to Dumbledore for help when he realised he had gotten in over his head. However, he still held his hatred of "that muggle-loving fool" Dumbledore.

Point blank, the reason Draco is "doomed", as you put it, is because he does not want to change. There is nothing in the books that shows Draco believes anything to the contrary of the Death Eater ideology. The only reason he began to listen to Dumbledore in the end was self-preservation. He is not sorry for doing any of the horrible things he has done, he is sorry that in the end they will most likely cost him his life. In a way, I do feel sorry for Draco because his poor choices will inevitably lead to a very short life, which is quite tragic, though still not excusable.

I think Voldemort willl kill Draco and his mom because Draco didn't kill Dumbledore.

I think Snape is in love with Narcissa and he will save them

I think Snape is in love with Narcissa and he will save them

I always had the impression that Snape made the Unbreakable Vow because of his friendship with Lucius. But, this is a possibility and Sape certainly either ows something to Lucius or cares for the Malfoys a lot, since he was willing to risk his life to help Draco.

I doubt Draco will die. Especially because of the fact that Dumbledore, in a way, died to save him. However guys, Dumbledore's words to Draco, those omitted from the UK Edition, kind of imply that Narcissa will die. Do you agree?

I always had the impression that Snape made the Unbreakable Vow because of his friendship with Lucius. But, this is a possibility and Sape certainly either ows something to Lucius or cares for the Malfoys a lot, since he was willing to risk his life to help Draco.

I doubt Draco will die. Especially because of the fact that Dumbledore, in a way, died to save him. However guys, Dumbledore's words to Draco, those omitted from the UK Edition, kind of imply that Narcissa will die. Do you agree?


I totally agree

I don't know if she will die, but Malfloy and probably Narcissa are now on Voldemort's hit list. Malfloy proved he wasn't tough enough for the job and Voldemort gave it to him to set him up to die in any case. This combined with his anger towards the Malfloys for botching his plots will almost certainly be enough to get them killed if they are caught. This, however, is the key qualifier. Draco, though a nasty git, is no idiot and probably knows full well that his life is in serious danger. Further, he apparated completely seperately from Snape and at least a minute earlier. He could have gone anywhere, my bet being on his mansion to tell his mother he failed. Depending on Snape's reaction (in other words, does he decide that "protecting" Draco means finding him or not telling Voldemort Malfloy left) to discovering that Draco did not go wherever Snape sent him and the speed with with the Death Eaters find him, Malfloy may or my not have time to escape with his mother. After that, he'll have pretty much no choice but to take Dumbledore up on the Order's offer for protection.

Voldemort should be in a good mood because Dumbledore is dead either way. I think Snape would have alerted Narcissa before aurors got there. Actually I am not sure, the aurors dont have anything on Narcissa she has not done anything wrong. As for Draco I doubt Voldemort would kill him, since his plan still worked in the end but maybe he will blame Draco for the capture of Greyback(pretty sure it was him captured).


I got this impression too, I think the final result of the fight between the order and the DE, was 2 killed (Dumbledore and a DE), one injured (Bill W) and one DE captured. Also, he or his mother won't be punished because in the end, it was HIS plan that made it possible for Snape to kill **.

But remember, Voldemort has been looking for an excuse to kill Malfloy anyway, which is why he was given an impossible mission in the first place. Both Snape and Narcissa think that Voldemort gave Malfloy the mission in order to get him killed.

But remember, Voldemort has been looking for an excuse to kill Malfloy anyway, which is why he was given an impossible mission in the first place. Both Snape and Narcissa think that Voldemort gave Malfloy the mission in order to get him killed.

He's exactly right. Voldemort will undoubtedly be happy about Dumbledore dying, but 1.) Draco is still alive. (I believe Voldemort had some other reason for assigning him the mission, because he should have known that Dumbledore wouldn't kill his own student, but that's another debate.) 2.) It wasn't carried out by Malfoy and 3.) He lost one of best Death Eaters in the process.

I think that the only way that Draco and his mom have a chance of surviving Voldemort, who undoubtedly will want to kill him, is if Draco takes up Dumbledore's offer. Harry could help with that since he was in the room at the time.

Kaydotsisot, it's me Slayer. I wear many disguises. I think you're right though. I'm not sure how ready Harry will be to take up his offer. maybe McGonnagal or even Hermione will convince him.

He's exactly right. Voldemort will undoubtedly be happy about Dumbledore dying, but 1.) Draco is still alive. (I believe Voldemort had some other reason for assigning him the mission, because he should have known that Dumbledore wouldn't kill his own student, but that's another debate.) 2.) It wasn't carried out by Malfoy and 3.) He lost one of best Death Eaters in the process.

I hadn't thought of the fact that Dumbledore wouldn't have killed him (I completely agree though), but I'm not sure that Voldemort knows this. Remember, Dumbledore also said that the Death Eaters would believe that the Order had killed Narcissa out of revenge when we all know that none of the members of the order would ever do something like that. I think that it goes under that category of "Evidence of Voldemort's Lack of Human Understanding". In other words, since Voldemort has so badly mutilated his soul he is virtually incapable of any emotions but fear and anger all he can do is try to calculate how someone with emotions would act, and it is simply inconceivable to Voldemort to allow anyone who threatens you to live.

Hey Slayer, I thought that was you because I read your profile on here. I know what you mean, but Harry was starting to pity him, so maybe somebody could convince him, but then again I'm a firm believer that Jo wrote Malfoy like she did in this book in the hopes his role in book seven will be more against Voldemort than with him.

Hey Kaydotidot and Slayer! LOL. We'll take over yet, we will.

I think that Draco, Narcissa (and Lucius, once he's free) will be on the lam from the Ministry of Magic and the Death Eaters, and may fall into the custody of either camp.

I'd like to forward the somewhat uncommon hypothesis that Draco is a werewolf! He knows of Fenrir Greyback (not highly unusual) and speaks of him to Borgin before showing him something on his arm, which may be a Dark Mark or MAY be a bite mark a la Greyback. He's disgusted/revolted/repulsed/insert-adjective-here when Greyback arrives in the castle on the night of Dumbledore's death (doesn't sound like he's glad to have a powerful ally there). And, he's often described as sickly, thinner than he was, and graying...the same descriptions were attached to Remus Lupin in PoA. Something to think about.

I agree with owlpatronus. Remember that Dumbledore said that the Dark Dork does not understand love, like Dumbledore I'm sure cared for all of his students, even Draco. So maybe he really did expect Dumbledore to kill Draco.

Herminia, I never noticed that, but that's a fair point, though I always thought he was pale and sickly from worrying about completing his mission and trying to fix that cabinet.

I'd like to forward the somewhat uncommon hypothesis that Draco is a werewolf! He knows of Fenrir Greyback (not highly unusual) and speaks of him to Borgin before showing him something on his arm, which may be a Dark Mark or MAY be a bite mark a la Greyback. He's disgusted/revolted/repulsed/insert-adjective-here when Greyback arrives in the castle on the night of Dumbledore's death (doesn't sound like he's glad to have a powerful ally there). And, he's often described as sickly, thinner than he was, and graying...the same descriptions were attached to Remus Lupin in PoA. Something to think about.

That's true. That might be the reason that he was so nervous out Greyback being there. He didn't want anyone to suffer the same fate. There's no evidendce of him being rpesent at the full moon. Snape would also be able to give him the potion. I don't think he went to the shreiking shack, because it's describred that Ron (being dragged) left a streak with all the dust on the floor. It doesn't seem to have as much activity these days. I won't call you "delusional," but I'll have to say I disagree. The descriptions of Lupin can be labelled on someone who is constantly exhausted, and I can't Death Eating as stress-free employment.:no:

Yeah...I find the parallels intriguing though. When she has a whole Thesaurus of words to choose from, it's odd that she would choose the SAME words to describe Lupin's lycanthropy and Draco's whatever-it-is.

As for the dust, hmmm...the dust in the Shrieking Shack was in their third year, I'm guessing the werewolf bite (if he has one) is a recent development--that is, since the Department of Ministries debacle orchestrated by his father.

As for the dust, hmmm...the dust in the Shrieking Shack was in their third year, I'm guessing the werewolf bite (if he has one) is a recent development--that is, since the Department of Ministries debacle orchestrated by his father.

You have me beat with that arguement. I still don't know about Draco being a warewolf I'll no longer be surprised when he turns out to be one. We're way off subject though. To tie it back how about you guys all answer the question: "Would being a warewolf affect Draco and his internal conflict?" Would it make him hate the Death Eaters for what they did to him, or would he see that the only way to have rights is to fight with the Death Eaters?

Hey Slayer, I thought that was you because I read your profile on here. I know what you mean, but Harry was starting to pity him, so maybe somebody could convince him, but then again I'm a firm believer that Jo wrote Malfoy like she did in this book in the hopes his role in book seven will be more against Voldemort than with him.
I definitely believe that Malfloy will turn against Voldemort, and that the only place he can turn too is the order, but I don't know what his role will be after that. First, he hates Harry's guts, and would hate being in his debt even more, which he would be if Harry helps get the order to take him. Second, even if he turns against Voldemort he would still be scared stiff of him. So I don't see Malfloy, for example, going off with Harry, Ron, and Hermione to destroy horcruxes, nor do I see him making a big stand against Death Eaters. At best he's a one shot source of intelligence and something for the ministry to get annoyed at the order at for: I doubt Scrimgeour would be happy with the Order sheltering ex Death Eaters.

I doubt Scrimgeour would be happy with the Order sheltering ex Death Eaters.

I doubt the order would care. :p

Anyway, you're definately right about Draco not joining the trio in their search for the Horcruxes. I can see him being spy like Snape was for a while. (maybe still is) The hard part for Draco will be earning the trust of the Order somehow. I would like to see him save one of the trio's lives. Somehow they get captured and he releases them or something. (hmmm....I'll keep that in mind if I ever write fan fiction again.) They might even take them on their little journey, but I don't see that happening. I DO see him somehow turning against Voldemort in the end. (That is, unless Voldemort hasn't already turned against him.)

I definitely believe that Malfloy will turn against Voldemort, and that the only place he can turn too is the order, but I don't know what his role will be after that. First, he hates Harry's guts, and would hate being in his debt even more, which he would be if Harry helps get the order to take him. Second, even if he turns against Voldemort he would still be scared stiff of him. So I don't see Malfloy, for example, going off with Harry, Ron, and Hermione to destroy horcruxes, nor do I see him making a big stand against Death Eaters. At best he's a one shot source of intelligence and something for the ministry to get annoyed at the order at for: I doubt Scrimgeour would be happy with the Order sheltering ex Death Eaters.

True. I also believe that Malfoy will turn against the Dark Dork, a possibility I had almost started to lose hope in after some of the things people have said, even JKR saying that Draco will never become friends with Harry. But they don't have to be friends for Draco to give them information in return for protection for him and his mother. He can suck up his pride for a minute or two, no?

You have me beat with that arguement. I still don't know about Draco being a warewolf I'll no longer be surprised when he turns out to be one. We're way off subject though. To tie it back how about you guys all answer the question: "Would being a warewolf affect Draco and his internal conflict?" Would it make him hate the Death Eaters for what they did to him, or would he see that the only way to have rights is to fight with the Death Eaters?

Well, as much as he despised Lupin, he has at least seen a living example of how a werewolf can go right. I'm not convinced that he's one either, but the possibility intrigues me.

Anyway, you're definately right about Draco not joining the trio in their search for the Horcruxes. I can see him being spy like Snape was for a while. (maybe still is) The hard part for Draco will be earning the trust of the Order somehow. I would like to see him save one of the trio's lives. Somehow they get captured and he releases them or something. (hmmm....I'll keep that in mind if I ever write fan fiction again.) They might even take them on their little journey, but I don't see that happening. I DO see him somehow turning against Voldemort in the end. (That is, unless Voldemort hasn't already turned against him.)

If Book Seven ends with Draco and the Trio skipping off into the sunset together, I'll be sick! I too see him turning against Voldemort - maybe in the heat of batlte, he'll go warn Harry of Voldemort's plans or something dramatic and redemptive like that!

I think Voldemort willl kill Draco and his mom because Draco didn't kill Dumbledore.

this is exactly what will happen

If Book Seven ends with Draco and the Trio skipping off into the sunset together, I'll be sick! I too see him turning against Voldemort - maybe in the heat of batlte, he'll go warn Harry of Voldemort's plans or something dramatic and redemptive like that!

LOL, I won't be able get the image of Draco and the Trio skipping off into the sunset to the Indiana Jones theme music out of my head for the rest of the night. :clap: Maybe warning the trio about a plan or giving them the sixth horcrux. I'm not sure Voldemort would trust Draco with a horcrux, though.

To be honest, I'd be surprised if Draco didn't change sides. However, who can he ask for help? Andromeda, perhaps? It seems more likely that Narcissa would go begging for help. If they get protection, it'll be through Tonks.

I think the Order would be more then happy to have Lucius' son in their custody. Perhaps it doesn't sound like them, but they could use Draco to blackmail his father once he's out of Azkaban.

As for Voldemort, he only wanted to punish Lucius. He cares(doesn't) about Draco and Naricissa as much as he cares about the last year's snow. The whole thing was only about Lucius. Voldemort wanted him alive, but he also wanted to punish him.

That was true, but it's my opinion that Malfloy has now made the 'punishment' (read "death") list for refusing to kill Dumbledore and for getting a death eater killed and Fenrir captured in an escape that could have gone perfectly had he not "chickened out" and done the right thing despite the threat of his family's death. Also, Voldemort's plans for punishing Mr Malfloy involved Draco dying, not becoming a hero for successfully doing the impossible and getting death eaters into the castle.

I agree that Voldemort will not let Draco off the hook that easily.

I think that it would be cool if Voldemort killed Lucius for his myriad failures. Then he could order Bella to kill Draco, and, being the fanatical supporter that she is, she does it. Then her and a grief-stricken Narcissa duel and Bellatrix is killed. I think that would be a very dramatic scene in the book with the family conflict and all that.

Then, of course, Narcissa is either killed by Voldemort for her betrayal or defects to the Order and lives.

i think that draco if caught would go to axaban, and nothing would happen to malfoys mother, as far as i know she hasn't actually did anything.

I think the Aurors or members of the order might get Narcissa.
And I think Draco will hide for a while, but then turn to the Good Side. He doesn't have what it takes to be a real mean guy. And ultimately he'll use his brain and understand what's the right thing to do.
He's very good example, along with Dudley, of the results of bad parenting.

I agree with you Mad..Draco will go to the Good side. Hes only mean because he thought he had to, to gain his Father's acceptance, thats another reason why he thought he had to join the death eaters.

I think the Aurors or members of the order might get Narcissa.
And I think Draco will hide for a while, but then turn to the Good Side. He doesn't have what it takes to be a real mean guy. And ultimately he'll use his brain and understand what's the right thing to do.
He's very good example, along with Dudley, of the results of bad parenting.

Well, Draco does have what it takes to be mean but he doesn't have what it takes to be truly evil, which is I think what you meant. He's a bully not a killer in other words.

I think the Aurors or members of the order might get Narcissa.
And I think Draco will hide for a while, but then turn to the Good Side. He doesn't have what it takes to be a real mean guy. And ultimately he'll use his brain and understand what's the right thing to do.
He's very good example, along with Dudley, of the results of bad parenting.

If Draco attemtps to hide he will be hunted down and killed like a mad dog. It has happened to older, better and more intelligent wizards before him. The Dark Lord does not tolerate deviant Death Eaters, and should Draco be stupid enough to attempt to run, he will be caught and made an example of what happens to those who fail to do the Dark Lord's bidding and then attempt to avoid the consequences. Understand that when you enter into the Dark Lord's service, you are making a life-time committment. The price you pay for backing out is your life.

And I disapprove of people attempt to say the sole reason Draco has wound up the way he has is because of his parents. It's like:

"Step right up, Ladies & Gentlemen, it's time to play the Blame Game! Here we attempt to pass the proverbial 'buck' on to anyone and everyone we can to avoid taken responsibility for our own actions!"

In a way, I find it slightly insulting because I have bad parents, and I am nothing like them. I made a choice to be different from them, and it was one of the hardest decisions I have ever made, to raise myself to be a kind, morally upright person with no one to teach me how. I had to deal with a lot of abuse because of my decision, and it was very hard, but I still stuck by it because I knew I was doing the right thing (consequently I had to learn that what is right is not always easy).

When I see things like this, it makes me feel like people are saying, "It's okay if you turn out just as horrible as your parents. No one will hold it against you because you can't help it, it is just the way you were raised." It makes me feel like less of a person; like people think I am unable to know the difference between right and wrong or make good decisions because I don't know any better or something.

My point is that Draco had to face the same decision that I had to make: To accept his parents way of life and grow to become like them, or to make the decision to go the way of the moral road. Draco chose the former, and he is now paying for his choice. He has no one to blame for it but himself.

It is my opinion that you are missing several key attributes of Draco's character. For one thing, you seem to be ignoring the fact that by the scene on the tower one of the most important issues for Draco was not only his death but the death of his family. Also, I doubt that Voldemort gives a clean death to anyone who specifically betrays him, and having you and your family tortured to death is not a pleasant prospect to be operating under. And most importantly, even despite this horrible threat, Draco was unwilling to kill Dumbledore and in the end chose not too. In other words, it is my contention that Draco has made a choice to redeem himself.
However, more significantly, I also think that you are misunderstanding the role a family can play. I have no idea why you say that someone's family having an effect on them makes them less of a person. If anything, it makes you exceptional because you had the courage to overcome your surroundings. But this takes a huge amount of courage and requires that you see a reason to change yourself. Draco has been spoiled his whole life, he's been taught that because of his ancestry he's better than everyone else, and he can do whatever he wants because his father sets it up so that he can get away with it. In other words, for almost the entire series he has seen no reason to change himself. However, now that Draco has actually become a Death Eater and is being told to kill people, he's realized that he actually has a conscience despite the fact that it's largely ignored, and in the end he makes a choice to do the right thing when it will almost certainly, as you say, get him killed horribly. This goes along way to redeeming him in my opinion, because it's the choices you make when the chips are down that really count.

My point is that Draco had to face the same decision that I had to make: To accept his parents way of life and grow to become like them, or to make the decision to go the way of the moral road. Draco chose the former, and he is now paying for his choice. He has no one to blame for it but himself.

Wow you have strength to step up to you're parents and do the right thing! Draco on the other hand doesn't seem that brave ( look how he reacted in the forest in the Ps) He alsways has been spoiled, looked after and protected. But that is not his choice. I think that the moment at the tower with Dumbledore was an important moment were he could see what the price is for the rich life he has been living: cruelty and evil towards others. I think Draco is now capable of making that important choice between good and evil, because he now knows which choice he has. He and Narcissa are in a difficult situation, and I realy hope that they will join the right side before it is too late.

I don't know if Voldermort will kill Draco. I mean, you heard(read?) snape in the 2nd chapter, Voldermort most likely planned for him to do it in the end.
Not that they're won't be punishment mind you, I just don't think it'll be death.

But wasn't Draco supposed to die in the attempt? And in any case, Draco was responsible, indirectly, for the death of a Death Eater and several Death Eaters being captured, including Fenrir. Had Draco done what he was supposed to and killed Dumbledore immediatly they would have escaped easily. Instead he not only botched the escape but chose to defy Voldemort and not kill Dumbledore at all.

It is my opinion that you are missing several key attributes of Draco's character. For one thing, you seem to be ignoring the fact that by the scene on the tower one of the most important issues for Draco was not only his death but the death of his family. Also, I doubt that Voldemort gives a clean death to anyone who specifically betrays him, and having you and your family tortured to death is not a pleasant prospect to be operating under. And most importantly, even despite this horrible threat, Draco was unwilling to kill Dumbledore and in the end chose not too. In other words, it is my contention that Draco has made a choice to redeem himself.

Draco was not unwilling to kill Dumbledore, he just sucked at it, if you will excuse my crudeness. If I recall correctly, Bellatrix said Draco was excited to be given this task by the Dark Lord because if he succeeded, he would be honoured above all others. When Snape offered to help him, Draco said he was just jealous because if Draco succeeded, he would be replaced by Draco as the Dark Lord's favourite. And he made two known attempts on Dumbledore's life before what occured on the tower, almost killing two other students. These are not the actions of an unwilling participant.

To me, it sounds more like Draco was excited at the chance to do some real action, but as he made attempt after unsuccessful attempt, he realised that this was much harder than he had originally thought. Too hard, in fact. Have you heard of the saying, "Talk is cheap"? Well, in book 6 Draco realised the meaning of this phrase. He had been talking tough his entire life, but when it came time to back it up with actions, he found out that he does not have the guts.

As for what occured on the tower, I believe a lot of Draco's hesitance came not only from his lack of stomach to back up his incessant chatter, but the fact that Dumbledore was psyching him out. Also, Dumbledore offered Draco a way out of having to admit that he did not have what it took to be a Death Eater, which tempted his Slytherin self-preservation driven personality.

I really do not think what happened that night shows that Draco has had a change of heart. He has shown no remorse for what he has done, no regret for the pain and suffering he has caused. In fact, the only thing he is truly sorry about is that he will be killed. He still referred to muggleborns as Mudbloods up on the tower, proving he still holds on to the racial prejudices of the Death Eaters. In short, he has displayed no signs that he wishes to change his ways, only that he wants to save himself and the Malfoy family from disgrace.

Do not misunderstand me. I believe in redemption and a person's ability to change. But that person has to want it. And to me it does not seem that Draco wants it, or at least not badly enough.

Maybe she will get protection from the Ministry.

Draco is a coward. At every turn he blusters and brags but in the end he is always shown to be a sniveling coward. This is why he could not do the deed. He was gutless.

Draco was not unwilling to kill Dumbledore, he just sucked at it, if you will excuse my crudeness. If I recall correctly, Bellatrix said Draco was excited to be given this task by the Dark Lord because if he succeeded, he would be honoured above all others. When Snape offered to help him, Draco said he was just jealous because if Draco succeeded, he would be replaced by Draco as the Dark Lord's favourite. And he made two known attempts on Dumbledore's life before what occured on the tower, almost killing two other students. These are not the actions of an unwilling participant.
To me, it sounds more like Draco was excited at the chance to do some real action, but as he made attempt after unsuccessful attempt, he realised that this was much harder than he had originally thought. Too hard, in fact. Have you heard of the saying, "Talk is cheap"? Well, in book 6 Draco realised the meaning of this phrase. He had been talking tough his entire life, but when it came time to back it up with actions, he found out that he does not have the guts.
As for what occured on the tower, I believe a lot of Draco's hesitance came not only from his lack of stomach to back up his incessant chatter, but the fact that Dumbledore was psyching him out. Also, Dumbledore offered Draco a way out of having to admit that he did not have what it took to be a Death Eater, which tempted his Slytherin self-preservation driven personality.
I really do not think what happened that night shows that Draco has had a change of heart. He has shown no remorse for what he has done, no regret for the pain and suffering he has caused. In fact, the only thing he is truly sorry about is that he will be killed. He still referred to muggleborns as Mudbloods up on the tower, proving he still holds on to the racial prejudices of the Death Eaters. In short, he has displayed no signs that he wishes to change his ways, only that he wants to save himself and the Malfoy family from disgrace.
Do not misunderstand me. I believe in redemption and a person's ability to change. But that person has to want it. And to me it does not seem that Draco wants it, or at least not badly enough.

I think that Draco certainly was a willing participant at the begining, when he volunteered and even through most of the first half of the year. However, I find it hard to believe that he was at the end.
His father had always shielded him from what being a Death Eater was really about, and he didn't understand what he would be asked to do or what killing someone actually meant. He joined for the same reasons that Regulus did. Regulus Black joined because he wanted to be a "right little hero", as Sirius put it. But then Malfloy realized that his plan was far more difficult than he expected and what would happen to him if he failed. He got desperate, and tried to kill Dumbledore twice.
Now granted both his attacks were poorly thought out, but had they worked they wouldn't have hurt anyone but Dumbledore and (a key point) would have allowed Malfloy to escape blaming himself too much because it was done indirectly. This doesn't make it better, but it's certainly true that it's easier to justify killing by remote to yourself as opposed to actually looking at the person as you kill them. Now by this point Malfloy is completely desperate, so desperate that he's in the bathroom crying to Moaning Myrtle repeatedly. He thinks he and his whole family is going to be killed, probably after being tortured and made an example of.
This is why where you say Malfloy didn't have the guts to back up his talk, I draw the opposite conclussion and say that Malfloy showed a huge amount of courage and unexpected morals when he overcame his desperation, his families expectations, and his fear of death in order to refuse to kill Dumbledore. All his life he's been pushed in a particular direction and he was in a horrible position, yet when the chips were all down and he was forced to make a final decision about what side he was on he made the right choice, which I believe says a great deal.

Draco didn't have a change of heart. He was scared witless at what he was about to do. He had sense enough to realize it was an irrovocable act and he didn't have the courage for it.

Hmm... The way I see it Draco might die because

1. He disobeys Lord Voldemort's orders

2. He is kiiled because he strikes at Voldemort because he has not yet freed his father.

I still think Draco changed his mind. It's a bit comparable with a kid being forced to do something bad to be a part of the gang. First he's excited, but when it realy comes to it he realizes it's not what he wants. But at that point it's a bit too late to back out. I -like Harry- believe that Draco wouldn't have killed Dumbledore. Yes maybe because he is such a coward, but he wouldn't do it. Draco may not realy want to have a change of heart, but his situation is forcing him to pick a side. Snape took care of him when they were leaving Hogwarts, so I'm hoping that Snape continues to take care of him and his mother. In that way they can both 'stay out of it'. But I doubt Voldemort would allow it.

I still don't see why people believe that Draco was a coward on the tower. Is it cowardly to not kill someone you've been ordered to kill even when your refusal will result in you death? Lets compare it to the alternative: In my opinion it is far more cowardly to kill an unarmed opponent who you don't actually want to kill simply because you are following orders and fear for you life. In other words, you are making the argument that it would have been brave for Draco to kill Dumbledore because Draco's life was being threatened, and I don't buy it.

I still don't see why people believe that Draco was a coward on the tower. Is it cowardly to not kill someone you've been ordered to kill even when your refusal will result in you death? Lets compare it to the alternative: In my opinion it is far more cowardly to kill an unarmed opponent who you don't actually want to kill simply because you are following orders and fear for you life. In other words, you are making the argument that it would have been brave for Draco to kill Dumbledore because Draco's life was being threatened, and I don't buy it.


I agree. People often forget that there's only one coward in the series: Peter Pettigrew. Draco is not a coward. He's weak, though strong as wizard, because he doesn't know how to deal with a situation in which he has to deal with serious problems. He was always able to put everything on Lucius' back and Lucius was always willing to solve his son's problems, that's the thing with Draco.

Exactly, Draco has never actually had to take any responsibility for anything before and now that he is being forced to see the consequences of his actions he is making choices that reveal he is not as bad as we thought. Still not good mind you, but at least not as bad as, say, his father.

I agree. People often forget that there's only one coward in the series: Peter Pettigrew. Draco is not a coward. He's weak, though strong as wizard, because he doesn't know how to deal with a situation in which he has to deal with serious problems. He was always able to put everything on Lucius' back and Lucius was always willing to solve his son's problems, that's the thing with Draco.
I disagree. Draco is a coward - he is not brave enough to accept personal responsibility for his inflated talk. Bravery is action in the face of fear -- and he doesn't do it on his own. Look at the way he acted in the forest in PS/SS, the way he won't do anything without Crabbe/Goyle to back him up, the way he reacted to the magical creatures, to Moody. He was a snivvely cowardly bully.

I disagree. Draco is a coward - he is not brave enough to accept personal responsibility for his inflated talk. Bravery is action in the face of fear -- and he doesn't do it on his own. Look at the way he acted in the forest in PS/SS, the way he won't do anything without Crabbe/Goyle to back him up, the way he reacted to the magical creatures, to Moody. He was a snivvely cowardly bully.

Well put! I think you completely hit the mark with that statement.

Yes, he's acted as a coward virtually all the time, and I'm certainly not trying to say he's as brave as someone like Neville. But what I am trying to point out is that, in the specific case of his actions when he was facing Dumbledore on the tower, he was for once in his life being brave and doing the right thing instead of being cowardly and carrying out his orders. All Draco had to do to secure his life, his family's safety, and a heros welcome among the death eaters was commit a murder, and he refused. It certainly seemed brave to me.

Yeah, he's acted cowardly, BUT he was a child. Not being a hero, shouldn'z immediatly define a person as a coward. Draco doesn't have what it takes to kill someone ehile watching him in thge eye. Dumbledore said that Draco's attempts to kill Dumbledore with necklace, etc. were so weak that it was as if he didn't have his heart in it. Everything he did in HBP, he did because he was afraid for his family. Trying to protect them in such way is not brave, but it shouldn't be described as cowardly either.

I disagree. Draco is a coward - he is not brave enough to accept personal responsibility for his inflated talk. Bravery is action in the face of fear -- and he doesn't do it on his own. Look at the way he acted in the forest in PS/SS, the way he won't do anything without Crabbe/Goyle to back him up, the way he reacted to the magical creatures, to Moody. He was a snivvely cowardly bully.

ohh I wanted to say that :D They are such good points

Yes, he's acted as a coward virtually all the time, and I'm certainly not trying to say he's as brave as someone like Neville. But what I am trying to point out is that, in the specific case of his actions when he was facing Dumbledore on the tower, he was for once in his life being brave and doing the right thing instead of being cowardly and carrying out his orders. All Draco had to do to secure his life, his family's safety, and a heros welcome among the death eaters was commit a murder, and he refused. It certainly seemed brave to me.

I don't think he didn't kill Dumbledore because he was brave enough to go against orders. I think he didn't do it out of fear for murdering someone. As Dumbledore said, it isn't as easy as most people think. And besides that, Dumbledore offered him another way out, a way wich would also secure his life.

Yeah, he's acted cowardly, BUT he was a child. Not being a hero, shouldn'z immediatly define a person as a coward. Draco doesn't have what it takes to kill someone ehile watching him in thge eye. Dumbledore said that Draco's attempts to kill Dumbledore with necklace, etc. were so weak that it was as if he didn't have his heart in it. Everything he did in HBP, he did because he was afraid for his family. Trying to protect them in such way is not brave, but it shouldn't be described as cowardly either.

I find it funny that you argue Draco's cowardice should be excused because of his youth when the main character of the story, Harry, who is the same age as Draco, is a very brave and selfless person. And Draco's motives were cowardly in Half-Blood Prince because Draco was more concerned with himself and the others of his bloodline being murdered than doing the right thing. When have we ever seen Harry do something on a grand scale that he knows is wrong just to save his own life? Never, if I recall correctly. Though, Harry is quite an exceptional person overall and is in most ways Draco's superior, so perhaps it is unfair to compare them with one another.

draco will evidently have to go into hiding since voldermort will be wanting to kill him for failing his task...so his mother will probably join him.

I find it funny that you argue Draco's cowardice should be excused because of his youth when the main character of the story, Harry, who is the same age as Draco, is a very brave and selfless person. And Draco's motives were cowardly in Half-Blood Prince because Draco was more concerned with himself and the others of his bloodline being murdered than doing the right thing. When have we ever seen Harry do something on a grand scale that he knows is wrong just to save his own life? Never, if I recall correctly. Though, Harry is quite an exceptional person overall and is in most ways Draco's superior, so perhaps it is unfair to compare them with one another.

Harry is a hero. He shouldn't be compared to anybody because everybody looks like a coward compared to him. And that's not true.

Draco never faced anything in his life until HBP. You can't expect him to behave in the same way Harry would. Harry lived a horrible life. He never had a family. He would rather die then betray his friends and he would certainly rather die then kill someone to save his own skin.

But, Harry's exceptional, as you said. Why not compare Draco to Ron? It's debatable what Ron would do in such position. How can we be sure that he wouldn't put his family above Dumbledore's life? Then again, we can say that he's Harry's friend. We can say that he isn't spoled. Thanks to that, we can say that because he wasn't spoiled, he would understand that he can fight. And this is thanks to the fact that he is poor and has many brothers whose pressence thaught him to fight and compete. Then again, it's not Ron's fault that he's poor or that he has a big family. But, all that would affect his behaviour towards the task.

Just as it's not Ron's fault that he's poor, has a big family and doesn't have parents who would solve all his problems as soon as they appeared, it's not Draco's fault that he's rich, has a small family and a powerful father who would solve all his problems.

Also, Dumbledore was not Draco's side. So, it was really brave of him to even stand up to a stronger enemy.

If Neville went after Bellatrix he would be considered brave, so why isn't Draco brave when he tried to defeat (and almost succeded) Dumbledore? Keep in mind that, if Voldemort is Harry's enemy, Bellatrix(/Snape?) is on Dumbledore's level of importance.

If Neville went after Bellatrix he would be considered brave, so why isn't Draco brave when he tried to defeat (and almost succeded) Dumbledore? Keep in mind that, if Voldemort is Harry's enemy, Bellatrix(/Snape?) is on Dumbledore's level of importance. The act itself is brave but the motivation for the act is what separates them. Neville might confront Bellatrix wanting justice for his parents, maybe even out of vengeance. Given Neville's character I doubt he could go through with it-- not because he's a coward but because he knows it's wrong. That's entirely different from Draco's motivation. He's desperate and he wants to live. He knows taking another life is wrong but he's willing to do it anyway to save his own. Maybe he is all about doing what he as to do in order to save his family, but if that was the case why not accept Dumbledore's help and come to the good side?

In the end I think Draco and Narcissa will accept the help of the Order. Not becasue they see the error in their ways but because they want to survive. When that will happen depends on what Voldemort's reaction is to the fact that although Dumbledore was killed Draco wasn't the one to do it. If Draco stays on Voldemort's side he's only going to get another task that requires him to prove his loyalty, which more than likely means killing someone else. All his awful acts aside, Draco's not a killer. He'll be putting himself in the same kill or be killed situation and I don't see him surviving it again.

Harry is a hero. He shouldn't be compared to anybody because everybody looks like a coward compared to him. And that's not true.

Draco never faced anything in his life until HBP. You can't expect him to behave in the same way Harry would. Harry lived a horrible life. He never had a family. He would rather die then betray his friends and he would certainly rather die then kill someone to save his own skin.

But, Harry's exceptional, as you said. Why not compare Draco to Ron? It's debatable what Ron would do in such position. How can we be sure that he wouldn't put his family above Dumbledore's life? Then again, we can say that he's Harry's friend. We can say that he isn't spoled. Thanks to that, we can say that because he wasn't spoiled, he would understand that he can fight. And this is thanks to the fact that he is poor and has many brothers whose pressence thaught him to fight and compete. Then again, it's not Ron's fault that he's poor or that he has a big family. But, all that would affect his behaviour towards the task.

Just as it's not Ron's fault that he's poor, has a big family and doesn't have parents who would solve all his problems as soon as they appeared, it's not Draco's fault that he's rich, has a small family and a powerful father who would solve all his problems.

Ron has proved himself to be brave and loyal, as have Neville, Hermione, Ginny, Luna, ect. If they can do it, why can't Draco?


Also, Dumbledore was not Draco's side. So, it was really brave of him to even stand up to a stronger enemy. .

When Draco faced Dumbledore on the tower Dumbledore could not stand upright without the support of a wall and did not have a wand. At the moment, Draco was the stronger of the two physically.


If Neville went after Bellatrix he would be considered brave, so why isn't Draco brave when he tried to defeat (and almost succeded) Dumbledore? Keep in mind that, if Voldemort is Harry's enemy, Bellatrix(/Snape?) is on Dumbledore's level of importance.

First off, I would like to point out the Bellatrix Lestrange in the reason Neville's parents are currently residing in a closed ward at St. Mungo's. Dumbledore has not heinously wronged the Malfoy family the way Bellatrix has the Longbottoms. Neville has a possibly justifiable reason to kill Bellatrix; the same can not be said about Malfoy killing Dumbledore because he is only doing it as part of a plot to put a mad man and his psychotic band of serial killers in a seat of power. You may want to rethink using this as an argument, as the situations are not comparable at all.

I thought you have said previously that Draco was an unwilling participant in the plot to murder Dumbledore, which is why he failed so abysmally, and never intended to kill the headmaster. And yet here you are saying he was close to succeeding in his task, which he really wasn't. It is not like he was ever meant to succeed, though, so it really matters not.

I thought you have said previously that Draco was an unwilling participant in the plot to murder Dumbledore, which is why he failed so abysmally, and never intended to kill the headmaster. And yet here you are saying he was close to succeeding in his task, which he really wasn't. It is not like he was ever meant to succeed, though, so it really matters not.
I think that standing with your wand pointed at someone who you have disarmed when you have managed to get allies into Hogwarts castle to back you is close to succeding.
I don't think he didn't kill Dumbledore because he was brave enough to go against orders. I think he didn't do it out of fear for murdering someone. As Dumbledore said, it isn't as easy as most people think.
I'm not sure whether it was neccessarily fear of committing murder that made him stop. But even if it was, then that means he has enough moral courage to overcome his fear of death and his desire for glory. "Fear" as you call it of commiting murder is noble, and so allowing it to overcome your motivations for murder is courageous.

I think that standing with your wand pointed at someone who you have disarmed when you have managed to get allies into Hogwarts castle to back you is close to succeding.

I'm not sure whether it was neccessarily fear of committing murder that made him stop. But even if it was, then that means he has enough moral courage to overcome his fear of death and his desire for glory. "Fear" as you call it of commiting murder is noble, and so allowing it to overcome your motivations for murder is courageous.


Exactly! Draco was in a situation where he had to do something he didn't really want to do in order to keep his family safe. What he did, he did because he was afraid for his parents' lives. It's not nice, but, given the situation, it's understandable. It was very brave of him to stand up to someone as powerful as Dumbledore. Would it have been courageous if he stood up to Voldemort? Of course. But, notice that, if we take Voldemort's power in consideration, Voldemort is for the evil side what Dumbledore is for the food side.

As I said before, Draco isn't a courageous hero like Harry, but it's unfair to call him a coward just because he did everything he could to keep his family safe.

I’ve been lurking around here so long without posting- but this topic really got me thinking… so a rare post is in order, I guess!

Draco is a villainous character in the books- albeit a conflicted villain. He seems to be a product of expectations (i.e. – pressured his family heritage, his parents’ Death Eater status or his father’s reputation). From what I know about villains, it seems like their biggest flaw is usually their undoing. In my opinion, Draco’s biggest flaw is his unwavering arrogance, although I’m sure this could be debated, even by me. It just seems that everything Draco does is driven by his belief that the very blood that runs through his veins is superior to those around him, regardless of who he interacts with. (Crabbe/Goyle, Harry, Dumbledore or Snape come to mind)

My feeling is that Draco will die in the next book- but I think how he dies is really going to bring his character to life. (yep, oxymoron there!) I have three theories about his character’s death, not listed in any particular order:
1) I see Draco’s arrogance causing him to do something risky, bordering on foolish, and thus cost him his life. He is going to have something to prove to the Death Eaters/Voldemort, seeing as he didn’t finish off the prescribed task of killing Dumbledore. So, I can see him charging headlong and headstrong into a battle he cannot win- being overly confident and aiming to prove the neysayers wrong. There’s his big flaw being his undoing…

2) Another possibility in my mind is that he dies while protecting his mother, Narcissa. This one is interesting to me because I feel that Draco has been shown to be the true opposite of Harry on so many levels, but the one thing they have in common is their dedication to their parents. Harry uses the memory of his parents to make courageous and difficult decisions, almost as an inspiration. Meanwhile, Draco is very dedicated to his mother and father, but we see it in a different way- he uses their power and privilege to empower himself. I could just see Narcissa finding herself in danger and Draco rushing to save her. Making the ultimate sacrifice for something he believes in may come more naturally to him than killing Dumbedore- a task, it was clear, he did not believe in. I guess that would be more of his biggest emotional weakness, not flaw, bringing him down.

3) My third thought is the one I have yet to really think out, but I wouldn’t put it past J.K.R. to possibly have Draco fall while engaged in an act of valiancy. By this I mean fighting to protect something “good” rather than “evil”- maybe protecting Dumbledore or someone from the Order- proving me wrong, surely, but also showing others that he is not as unfaithful to what is good in the world as some of us may have thought. That would definitely bring his true character to life, wouldn’t it?

There are so many good ideas in this thread, I really can't wait see what comes of Draco. Thanks for reading- hope I didn't break too many rules in my measley second post!

Draco is a Slytherin, the hat almost had a heart attack when it was set on his head. It threw its little hat arms over its heart and cried for mercy...remember? He may be cowardly (for some reason they left that trait off of Slytherin house member description, but the unearned arrogance of its members does tend to speak toward cowardice) however, he is also very cunning and will use whatever means necessary to meet his ends. So in combination with any cowardice he has, there has to be a modicum of bravery involved or he would have been shuffled off to...perhaps Hufflepuff.

Draco has certainly showed signs of bravery and those cannot be ignored. EVEN if JKR would like us to do so.

Slughorn, Snape, Parkinson and a few other Slytherins have also showed signs of cowardice, but that does not send them whirling into the pitiful abyss of nothingness. Slughorn is magnificent at potions, Snape at potions and the dark arts, Draco at mind control...my point? Bravery is being over rated in this thread. These gentle people cannot compare to Harry in bravery, but they certainly out do him in other respects.

Draco has about a 5% chance of living through book 7 and only a 10% chance of making it through the first half of the book. However, I would personally like to see him live. It is a sad world when everyone who shows a little negativity in life is stamped out unmercifully at the writer's whim.

I mean really, why not just wipe out every one who was ever in and who currently resides in Slytherin house. The house ghost...I forget his name, let's call him Fritz...Fritz their little ghost would be living all alone there and WAIT! that would make for some wild parties in the second series of Harry Potter books...maybe we should kill all of the Slytherins! No...let's have some of them live just to prove that the book is realistic. All bad guys don't die, sorry, but that is just the way of the world.

Draco is a Slytherin, the hat almost had a heart attack when it was set on his head. It threw its little hat arms over its heart and cried for mercy...remember?
I remember it saying Slytherin after barely touching his head, that's different.
I mean really, why not just wipe out every one who was ever in and who currently resides in Slytherin house. The house ghost...I forget his name, let's call him Fritz... His name is the Bloody Baron.
Draco has about a 5% chance of living through book 7 and only a 10% chance of making it through the first half of the book. However, I would personally like to see him live. It is a sad world when everyone who shows a little negativity in life is stamped out unmercifully at the writer's whim. Draco has certainly showed signs of bravery and those cannot be ignored. EVEN if JKR would like us to do so. You'll probably get your wish because I, personally, don't see any instances of Rowling stamping out characters. Yes, characters die, which is very rare for a "children's" series. But I don't see any of these deaths as decided on casually any more than I see Rowling wanting us to ignore the subtleties of her characters. She put alot of effort into creating her characters and her world, she doesn't want the effort wasted.
that would make for some wild parties in the second series of Harry Potter books...maybe we should kill all of the Slytherins! No...let's have some of them live just to prove that the book is realistic. All bad guys don't die, sorry, but that is just the way of the world. Something I have a serious issue with: I feel I have to point out, yet again, that not all Slytherins are evil. Slughorn is halfway decent and he was the head of house. There are almost definitely Slytherins who are perfectly fine, if abitious and crafty, just like there are Gryfindors who are callous or arrogant.

Draco was not afraid of what would happen if he killed Dumbledore, he was afraid of what would happen to him if he did not. It is a subtle yet important difference.

Yes, and he overcame his fear by choosing not to kill Dumbledore.

They're gunna die. Voldemort will kill them because Voldemort is mean. Especially since Draco proved that he is not as bad as we thought. If you're not mean, what purpose will Voldemort have for you? None. because Voldemort is a stupid butthead. (and many other words i cannot say.)

Well, Draco does have what it takes to be mean but he doesn't have what it takes to be truly evil, which is I think what you meant. He's a bully not a killer in other words.

Yes, thank you OwlPatronus, that's exactly what I meant.
Tarragon, I actually meant he would probably hunt from the good side. I never thought I'd have to hide from Voldemort, but you're right, he failed his mission, so he'll probably get into some serious "trouble".

I agree that JKR could easily kill off Draco using the rationalization that Voldemort would never allow him to live having failed his little task.

However, it is possible that Snape somehow:
1) hides him from Voldemort with his mum.
2) intercedes and Voldemort allows Draco a second chance.

I forsee #2 as a very likely plot. His new task would be to bring Harry Potter to Voldemort (who has already demanded that he must be the one to kill Harry or that would be the chore.) Draco of course would have a very difficult time doing that, but he is crafty, so he might 'pretend' to be good and helpful and then lead Harry directly to Voldemort, which Harry wants anyway. But that of course would spell doom for Draco because that would indeed be an evil deed and JKR would ensure he paid for it.

Still I would like to see him live and I think HE would make a great protagonist of a second series of Potter books.

ps. OwlP, for some reason all of my little jokes seem to go over your head. I was kidding about the Slytherin parties and killing them all off. I realize (perhaps more than JKR) that in any group, even an evil group banded together just to be evil, there will be at least one good soul among them in most cases.

I agree that JKR could easily kill off Draco using the rationalization that Voldemort would never allow him to live having failed his little task.

However, it is possible that Snape somehow:
1) hides him from Voldemort with his mum.
2) intercedes and Voldemort allows Draco a second chance.

I forsee #2 as a very likely plot. His new task would be to bring Harry Potter to Voldemort (who has already demanded that he must be the one to kill Harry or that would be the chore.) Draco of course would have a very difficult time doing that, but he is crafty, so he might 'pretend' to be good and helpful and then lead Harry directly to Voldemort, which Harry wants anyway. But that of course would spell doom for Draco because that would indeed be an evil deed and JKR would ensure he paid for it.

Still I would like to see him live and I think HE would make a great protagonist of a second series of Potter books.

ps. OwlP, for some reason all of my little jokes seem to go over your head. I was kidding about the Slytherin parties and killing them all off. I realize (perhaps more than JKR) that in any group, even an evil group banded together just to be evil, there will be at least one good soul among them in most cases.
I have a very simple explanation for why your jokes go over my head: because there a quite a few people who make suggestions like that and are perfectly serious. Now I recognize you and know your real opinions I know better. Now,

Both of you options are definitely viable. I would like to add a third option: Draco tries to flee to the order himself. Remember, Draco disaparates at least a page before Snape. This is immediatly after Draco has, in front of multible witnesses, shown himself unwilling to kill Dumbledore and thus failed his task. Draco is not stupid, he knows perfectly well that he is in a great deal of trouble, if not marked for death, once this is reported. He also has shown that he doesn't want to continue with the death eaters anyway: the only reasons he was still participating were the threats he was under. He may very well try to save his mother and himself by apparating to the manor and then getting Narcissa to leave with him, then they can both go into hiding while they try to find someone in the order to surrender too.

I have a hard time deciding which of the three options see,s more likely:D Perhaps 2 or 3.

However, I think Draco won't die in the end because Dumbledore died to save Draco, in a way. Dumbledore's death couldn't have been for nothing. Also, as much as he resembles Regulus, I doubt JKR would repeat profiles.

If Draco goes in hiding he could either plan how to surrender (Tonks and Andromeda might come into play) or how to get his father out.
I still believe that the Order wouldn't accept them just like that (there's no Dumbledore anymore and war is a serious thing) and they would ask for some sort of favour. If you ask me, they're going to use Draco and Narcissa to lure Lucius in a trap. Whether Lucius would fall for it or not, can be argued.

I still contest that Draco knows better than to attempt to flee. If he returns to the Dark Lord having failed his task, most likely he will be punished in some lesser way than death (possibly Crucio'd a few times around the block and back, but not killed) because Dumbledore is dead, which was the thing that mattered most. If Draco tries to run, he will be tracked down and killed like a fox in a hunt, and his family whom everyone believes he seems so concerned about, will most likely go the way of the dodo with him.

I don't believe that Draco would be punished by Voldemort. Wormtail did more wrong things than Draco, but he wasn't really punished. Dumbledore is dead after all.

But since Draco couldn't kill Dumbledore, I reckon that just there he really realized what he was doing... and it scared him to death. Maybe I'm a optimistic but I really hope that he can come back to light.

I agree nelly, there are enough bad characters, JKR should allow at least one of them to do the major conversion thing. That of course Snape did already, a better character for the real conversion would be Draco. But rather than just come over to the good side, I would like to see him try to steal the role of hero and make Harry jealous. in the end, Harry gets to kill LV (which Draco would be too scared to do anyway) and Draco could like get Ginny as a consolation prize.

i think in the end both will die along with lucius by voldemort.

Voldemort can't kill Draco, or Snape dies because of his unbreakable vow.
Snape can't die, he's the last link between the order and the deatheaters.
I think Snape represents the duality of men, the victim of prejudice and Draco will be the second to open his eyes and turn away from Voldemort.
So, to save his own life and finish his mission for the order and pay a tribute to Dumbledor, Snape will have to hide Draco. But I think Snape will die in book 7 (Hope you understood what I meant, sorry, my English is just terrible...)

I still contest that Draco knows better than to attempt to flee. If he returns to the Dark Lord having failed his task, most likely he will be punished in some lesser way than death (possibly Crucio'd a few times around the block and back, but not killed) because Dumbledore is dead, which was the thing that mattered most. If Draco tries to run, he will be tracked down and killed like a fox in a hunt, and his family whom everyone believes he seems so concerned about, will most likely go the way of the dodo with him.

It's true that Draco would probably have a tense time of it trying to survive, and it proably wouldn't last long. The only thing which might save him is that he knows he has a place to run too which can and probably will protect him if he can get there. So if he runs the key question will be whether he can find the order before the death eaters find him.

Now that might be difficult: the order headquarters itself is completely hidden, and the members keep themselves secret both because of the threat they would otherwise be under at home and because of the ministry of magic's policy to the order: that it is at best a rogue group and at worst an actual threat to the ministry. Draco, being a death eater, probably knows who a few members of the order really are, but still finding them in time and convincing them to hide him would be difficult.

There is, however, another possibility for Draco. If he can nerve himself up to face torture and convince himself that he won't be killed, he can wait until he is given another assignment alone or with one death eater, then when he inevitably runs into the members of the order sent to stop him he can immediatly surrender, if alone, or curse the other death eater in the back and then surrender to the order if he's with someone else. In a larger group he could probably set it up so they would all be captured in another way, preferably one which would be obviously deliberate to the order members.

Voldemort can't kill Draco, or Snape dies because of his unbreakable vow.
Snape can't die, he's the last link between the order and the deatheaters.
I think Snape represents the duality of men, the victim of prejudice and Draco will be the second to open his eyes and turn away from Voldemort.
So, to save his own life and finish his mission for the order and pay a tribute to Dumbledor, Snape will have to hide Draco. But I think Snape will die in book 7 (Hope you understood what I meant, sorry, my English is just terrible...)
He wont die (snape) because he made the unbrekable vow that he would do everything in his power to protect him on the task voldermort set for him. That vow has ended.

I don't think that the Ministry or anyone for that matter will go after Draco or his mother because all Harry told everyone was that Snape killed Dumbledore and he was with a group of Death Eaters. I don't remember him telling anyone but ROn and Hermione, but of course I could be horribly wrong here so feel free to yell at me :D. I think that by the end of book 7 Draco will ask Harry for forgiveness and Harry will tell him all he saw at the top of the tower. Whether Harry will forgive him or not I do not know, but I think that Draco, at least, will join the Order, unlike his parents.

draco won´t be killed, he will help harry in the end. but snape can die because nobody likes him:p

i beelieve the real reason that malfoy was a deep concern of dumbledore is because he's the real heir of slytherin and will be the first step for slytherin for the inter-house unity that is capable of diminishing the steadfast grow of voldemort's dominance.


Harry and Malfoy joining forces would be the beginning of a more unified Hogwarts, and that unity would be a great asset if it spread to the rest of the Wizarding World. However I'm pretty sure Malfoy is not the heir of Slytherin.
In chapter 18 of CoS, Dumbledore says, "Lord Voldemort - who is the last remaining ancestor of Salazar Slytherin..."
That is pretty straightforward, and I haven't seen any hints or clues to make me doubt that this is untrue. Generally when Dumbledore speaks that clearly about something it's true (however, this is debatable on some issues).

Firstly, Aurors are not out to get Narcissa as far as we know. I saw someone post it... :p

To buisness, Draco never killed Dumbledore, and Voldemort, being a highly skilled Legilimens will need little questioning, if any, before the truth spills out. That is to say if he doesn't know already.

Lucius' trouble at the ministry has gone unpunished in Voldemort's eyes. I believe he expected Draco to be either killed, or caught in the attempt of killing Dumbledore. Snape made sure that his Unbreakable Vow went unbroken and dealt with Dumbledore. Lucius is the person responsible for the destruction of the Prophecy. It held the key to Harry' defeat, and now Voldemort will have to do something else to strike Harry down. Let him try :).

I believe that Draco and Narcissa will not return to their master in fear. I am sure that if they do return, they will be killed. Lucius is only safe while he is detained, and when he either escapes or is freed somehow, he will die along side his family, before or after.

Snape made the Unbreakable Vow to Narcissa so that Snape protected Draco, or else Snape will die. Maybe Snape will help the Malfoy's flee. After all, "Lucius always talked so highly of you {Snape]" or so says Umbridge.

Perhaps the two will week refuge within the Ministry and pray that they do not die. They know that at any moment that they seek sanctuary from them, Voldemort will know, and if they are in danger now, they are in even more danger with them on his top "To Kill List". Draco seemed to be thinking it over on whether he will side with the good side, Dumbledore's side.

Will they die?

I seem to think that they are more important than a plot filling death. There is more to come between them...

draco won´t be killed, he will help harry in the end.

What evidence from the text supports this claim?

I don't remember any comment by JK about that, could someone try to find it please?

I don't think that the Ministry or anyone for that matter will go after Draco or his mother because all Harry told everyone was that Snape killed Dumbledore and he was with a group of Death Eaters. I don't remember him telling anyone but ROn and Hermione, but of course I could be horribly wrong here so feel free to yell at me :D. I think that by the end of book 7 Draco will ask Harry for forgiveness and Harry will tell him all he saw at the top of the tower. Whether Harry will forgive him or not I do not know, but I think that Draco, at least, will join the Order, unlike his parents.
The ministry will get after Draco and if they catch him he will go to Askaban for the rest of his life. Unless he makes a deal. Reasons:
1. He was part of the plot to kill Dumbledore, he let the DE in Hogwarts.
2. He used an unforgivable curse on Mme Rosmerta. Harry tells McGonagall, and we know that this is something punished with a lifelong imprisonment in Askaban.

voldy never really expected draco to succeed in killing dumbledore but i think he didnt expect draco to chicken out. he will probobly kill draco and his mother. hees not really known to be forgiving

but though, I still feel he'd die. but on the later part of the book. but i prefer he won't die...he'd be a lame counterpart of regulus. it's just some boring deja vu...but i prefer draco to be somewhat like regulus with a happy ending to balance things out. but i'd also like him to be punished one way or another, probably fleeing the wizarding world after The Final Battle and be muggle, get married with one and the works...and all the pureblood-craziness of him going on would finally be put on an end.

but though, I still feel he'd die. but on the later part of the book. but i prefer he won't die...he'd be a lame counterpart of regulus. it's just some boring deja vu...but i prefer draco to be somewhat like regulus with a happy ending to balance things out. but i'd also like him to be punished one way or another, probably fleeing the wizarding world after The Final Battle and be muggle, get married with one and the works...and all the pureblood-craziness of him going on would finally be put on an end.

How is Draco a counterpart of Regulus? And how did Regulus have a "happy ending"? We know that Regulus is dead, and Sirius speculated he was murdered and that it had something to do with his involvement with the Death Eaters, so that does not sound particularly "happy" to me.

And Draco is an extreme racist; his racial prejudices are towards all Muggles and Muggle-born wizards. So he would never pretend to be a Muggle, and suggesting that living amongst them and marrying one would cure him of his hatred is completely untrue. Racism is not a disease, so it is not something that can be "cured."

I agree that if Draco is caught by the ministry (which I do not think will happen as there are other more likely possibilities, but to go along with the theory) he will be thrown into prison with his father whom he apparently loves so much. I do not think that Draco will even have a chance at a deal. Remember, Stan Shunpike is not a Death Eater or guilty of any Dark activity and the Ministry is still wrongfully holding him prisoner as a scapegoat because they have to make it look like they are catching some of the Dark Lord's followers (and the injustice of it all makes my blood boil--I wanted to punch Rufus Scrimgeour when he tried to convince Harry for the first time to be the Ministry's poster boy). And here they would have a boy who not only is guilty of providing Death Eaters a way into a school, but is actually one himself. No, if the Ministry catches Draco, they will nail his Death Eater butt to the wall.

But just think: maybe if Draco is caught and thrown in prison they'll toss his mother and her holier-than-thou attitude in a cell with him and his father! It would certainly bring an atmosphere of family and togetherness to Azkaban, don't you think? Now that is something I confess I would enjoy seeing--all three Malfoys in prison clothes and covered in grime because I doubt Azkaban is the most sanitary place in the world. That is certainly the least they deserve. I mean, honestly, don't you hate it when bad things happen to good people?:lol:

I think that Draco probably fled the moment he left Hogwarts perimeter. I also expect Lucius is safe as long as he's in Azkaban. Not sure about Narcissa, Draco may have gone straight to the Manor to get her.

Draco seemed to be making a very half-a**ed attempt on Dumbledore's life before he let the DEs in, in fact, I'm pretty certain Dumbledore would have spotted the curse and poison a mile away, and Draco probably knew it. He's probably been stalling for time all year. I think he knew he wasn't a killer all along, he was just too proud to ask for help from either side.

I hope he ends up aiding and abbeting the OotP... but certainly doubt he'd ever befriend any of them, especially not Potter.

i think draco might want to be getting out...he wasnt able to kill Dumbledore and the dark lord specifically wanted draco to kill him or he would kill him and his family...though since Dumbledore is out of the way and draco afterall did get the death eaters in when everyone thought it impossible, he will not punish him...though after not being able to kill Dumbledore i think it would have to put a thought in the back of his mind that"i cant be doing this"...the dark lord will be looking for more things for him to do now and he wasnt even able to do his job last time.......

time will tell

Was it this thread or somewhere else that someone suggested Draco might have been bitten by Greyback? I sincerely doubt that he was, either way. We've already got two named characters who were maimed by Greyback and deserve to have a part in Fenrir's demise. The theory that it was a bitemark on Draco's left arm instead of the Dark Mark has one BIG problem; the Dark Mark is instantly recognisable, but a bite could come from anywhere, and Borgin clearly recognised whatever Draco was showing him on his arm instantly.

Which means Draco has the Dark Mark, but I think it was for show, to make Draco believe he was playing for real instead of just being a pawn. I agree with the theory that Voldemort was sacrificing Draco on an impossible task to punish Lucius. Draco certainly doesn't seem the type to like being used as a pawn... and I'm sure if he heard the truth about Voldemort's half-blood heritage he'd immediately turn his nose up at that too.

All in all, I think he's most likely to turn on Voldemort at one point or another. The question is whether he's smart enough to have run the same night Dumbledore died, or whether he needs another example of Voldemort's eviller-than-thou behaviour... like killing Narcissa, which I think is the most likely way for Voldemort to try to punish both Draco and Lucius.

I am really hoping that Draco and his mother go into hiding. I was rereading HBP last night, and I was reminded of The Sound of Music, when Captain Von Trapp tells Rolf "you're just a boy. You'll never be one of them." It made me cry.

Even if Draco is absolutely horrible, he is a human, and a young one at that. We've already seen that Narcissa is far from a true DE. She loves and cares for Draco. Draco is terrified that Voldemort will kill him and his family. He may be nasty, but he isn't as sociopathic as Voldemort likes his followers to be. I wouldn't be surprised if Harry insists that they protect the Malfoys.

Sorry to bust in on this thread, but I had a thought about Draco and I don't really think it warrents is't own thread. So, I'll post it here and hope you guys have some thoughts on it.
Do you think Draco will learn of the prophesy? Obviously he won't learn of the entire prophesy unless Voldemort somehow does, and that is assuming Draco is still around Voldemort. But I am curious about how he will react if he learns of the existance of a prophesy that basically says Harry is the one to defeat Voldemort and how it will:
1. Color his actions
2. Effect his ego
3. Change his views

Any thoughts?

Hmmm, I think if Draco found out about the prophecy, after all the threats Voldemort made to Draco and his family, it would probably hurt him a lot to do it but he'd choose to go to Harry and offer to help fight Voldemort, instead of running and hiding on his own which I think is his most likely choice. But that's just how I see him in my head, and I admit to having a biased opinion of Draco. And for the record,even if Draco did offer to help Harry fight Voldemort,that would in no way ever make them friends- those two will never be friends.

I'm afraid that Voldemort was mad enough about Lucius' failure to get the porphecy, that he has put the rest of his family in a no win situation. He to Darco to kill Dumbledore thinking that he would not survive the task. Voldemort didn't want Narcissa telling anyone about her son's task and she told Snape.

The Malfoy family would be much better off if they are caught by the MOM before Voldemort gets them.

I think Voldemort will punish Draco for not completing his task. Narcissa will be unable to protect him. Draco may be assigned another task to prove himself. They will be in hiding and I expect the Ministry to watch the Malfoy mansion for their return. With Dumbledore dead, Draco and his mother have no way to leave Voldemort and his Death Eaters, but I can't say that it appears that they want to leave. I think Draco will be with the Death Eaters until the end, if he isn't killed by them, because he considers it to be the only means to save his family. Narcissa will continue to work behind the scenes to protect Draco, even if it means others will suffer or die in the process. I think Draco and Harry will meet up towards the end and Draco will be given a choice to help Harry.

I have a theory... it does depend on a certain answer to a certain FAQ poll on JKR's website... but if 12 Grimmauld Place is no longer protected by Dumbledore's fidelius charm... didn't it belong to the Black family? Even though it is Harry's now, the Malfoys would have no way of knowing that.

It's possible Narcissa would think of hiding there... and they'd get ambushed by OotP, and after some persuasion the OotP would let them hide there (probably locked up somewhere, but not as bad as Azkaban woulda been)... thenwhen HArry getsthere he tells the OotP about Draco's change of heart being true and Draco helps them fight Voldiepoo.

I do believe Narcissa will do whatever it takes to protect Draco. And I also believe Draco is now disillusioned to the whole Death Eater concept. That's just my opinion.

I don't think he will kill Draco. I think he will kill Lucious or Narcissa. That is an even worse punishment I think. To make it worse, he may even kill one (or both) of them right in front of him! Oh dear! :(

He's not so likely to kill Lucius, since Lucius is the one he appeared to be trying to punish by sending Draco to almost-certain-doom, in the first place. If Voldemort has all three Malfoys in front of him, and is in a good mood, Narcissa will die... if he's in a bad mood, Draco and Narcissa will die. Lucius just gets to watch.

He's not so likely to kill Lucius, since Lucius is the one he appeared to be trying to punish by sending Draco to almost-certain-doom, in the first place. If Voldemort has all three Malfoys in front of him, and is in a good mood, Narcissa will die... if he's in a bad mood, Draco and Narcissa will die. Lucius just gets to watch.

I totally agree. Voldemort didn't want and doesn't want Lucius dead. Otherwise, he would've gone to Azkaban and killed him. Lucius is a powerful Death Eater. Voldemort needs strong wizards on his side at the moment.

I totally agree. Voldemort didn't want and doesn't want Lucius dead. Otherwise, he would've gone to Azkaban and killed him. Lucius is a powerful Death Eater. Voldemort needs strong wizards on his side at the moment.
I also think that Voldy does not want Lucius dead and I doubt he will kill him. I do think he will die by the end of Book 7 without any kind if change of heart. Draco on the other hand will have to deal with some big internal contradictions and I think he will end up helping Harry, but probably just by exchanging helpful information.

I do like the theory that Narcissa and maybe Draco will try to hide at # 12, but I'm not sure how likely that is, as I think Arthur and Lupin will be fully aware that they need to cast a new Fidelus Charm ASAP. So unless Cissy went to # 12 in a hurry, she shouldn't know where it is.

I picture Draco being restrained somehow (preferably Voldemort holding him by the hair with his free hand), and Voldy's casting Cruciatus on Narcissa, who's writhing in pain on the ground while Lucius kneels before Voldemort looking clearly upset but not about to argue with his master... and Draco's screaming for Voldemort to let her go... and maybe Bella's in the background watching with altogether too much glee. I'd love for someone who can draw to make me a picture of that scene! I wanna see it, but I can't draw too well.

The ministry will get after Draco and if they catch him he will go to Askaban for the rest of his life. Unless he makes a deal. Reasons:
1. He was part of the plot to kill Dumbledore, he let the DE in Hogwarts.
2. He used an unforgivable curse on Mme Rosmerta. Harry tells McGonagall, and we know that this is something punished with a lifelong imprisonment in Askaban.

You know, I was about to reply to this by saying "but Dumbledore would speak for Draco, like he spoke for Snape, and get him off the hook."
I was already forming an whole argument for that in my head, and then I remembered that Dumbledore was dead.
It just kind of keeps hitting you like that in different ways, doesn't it?
I guess this was a totally irrelevent post, but... I don't know. I'm sad. It's strange how much the loss of Dumbledore has gradually built up in my mind. It's like the same way you feel when you lose someone for real, that you know. You pick up the phone to call them, and actually dial the number before you realize they're gone. That's the exact same emotion I just felt about Dumbledore, the loss hitting you all over again, just as strong as the first time.
I guess that's a testament to JKR, that I could feel that way, so strongly, about a fictional character.

I dont think much will happen to them, they maybe will be put in Azkaban but probably not for very long.

I still think that Draco is too smart to go back to Voldemort: he knows perfectly well that he's failed, and that there are many witnesses who saw him refuse to kill Dumbledore, and that he's going to be tortured, at best. He also knows that his failure may lead to the death of his mother. So as I see it he only has one choice: go home, tell his mother they have to run for it, and try to flee to the Order which is the only group that can protect him. Dumbledore offered him a safe haven, and it's very likely that he'll take it.

I agree with owlpatronus.

I still think that Draco is too smart to go back to Voldemort: he knows perfectly well that he's failed, and that there are many witnesses who saw him refuse to kill Dumbledore, and that he's going to be tortured, at best. He also knows that his failure may lead to the death of his mother. So as I see it he only has one choice: go home, tell his mother they have to run for it, and try to flee to the Order which is the only group that can protect him. Dumbledore offered him a safe haven, and it's very likely that he'll take it.
I agree that this would be his instinct and the smart decision. But this all hinges on where Snape took Draco after they high-tailed it out of Hogwarts. Draco could very well be forced to face Voldemort. I do think that he will try very hard to pry Voldemort's clutches off of his mother and father. I could see Draco and his mother turning to the Order if they can shake Voldy or any DE's that might be around.

Interesting ... I think things are definitely looking bleak for the Malfoys. Lucius is out of the picture. Dumbledore is dead. :sad: Snape is playing a dangerous game (wanted for Dumbledore's murder so unable to contact the Order, while continuing to deceive Voldemort - or not) and Aunt Bellatrix is blindly devoted to Voldy. I fear that Draco’s opportunity for salvation has been lost, though Voldemort might be prevailed upon to recognise that he did play a significant part in bringing about Dumbledore’s downfall. But I can see him and his mother dying in the end … perhaps, in a confrontation with Aurors. Draco might show some vestige of nobility in defending his mother. Thus, bringing about the humbling of proud Lucius (‘poetic justice’ similar to that visited on Milton’s Lucifer) through the loss of his wife and son as well as his wealth and status.