Why did Draco want to be Harry's friend?

[M a r v o l o]

Wouldn't one think that since Lucius Malfoy is such an advocate of Voldemort and dark arts, he would have told Draco to stay far away from Harry and not be his friend at all? Maybe Draco wanted to use Harry for his own benefit because Harry is famous, but apparently that didn't work for Ron nor Hermione.. Obviously Draco KNEW it was the "famous" Harry Potter, because in book 1 when they first meet, he says "So it's true then... Harry Potter has come to Hogwarts..." So knowing all this.. What was Draco thinking?:huh:

[ahsweape]

Actually Lucius specifically tells Draco that he would be better off not making enemies with Harry:

"And I would remind you that it is not - prudent - to appear less than fond of Harry Potter, not when most of our kind regard him as the hero who made the Dark Lord disappear - "

[Twisted-Fate]

He was probably hoping he could somehow "convert" Harry while he was still vulnerable... I dunno...

[M a r v o l o]

yeah, that's possible. But for Draco to goes as far as being NICE to Harry? I dunno, I found that odd.

[rotsiepots]

I'm moving this into the Great Hall.

If another admin/mod thinks this thread should remain in the Common Room, please move it back. :)

[ahsweape]

I don't think he was trying to convert him or anything at that point. I just think he thought it would be cool to have a famous friend. Fame is power to Draco, and the Malfoys are power hungry.

[delemtri]

This is actually a telling point, I was thinking about it the other day. I think it shows that Lucius AND Draco KNOW that Harry will turn out to be a very powerful wizard capable of confronting Voldemort, and so they're trying to turn them while they can.

[Twisted-Fate]

Originally posted by ahsweape (original post (http://www.cosforums.com/a/showthread.php?postid=236862#post236862))
I don't think he was trying to convert him or anything at that point. I just think he thought it would be cool to have a famous friend. Fame is power to Draco, and the Malfoys are power hungry.


That's what I was going to say at first, but I decided against it. After all, how would big V feel if the Malfoys were friends with Potter? Not very good, I can assure you. Then again, it *does* bring Potter closer to Voldemort...

[sillygirlzam]

I go with the theory that malfoy wanted to be associated with the famous Harry Potter who defeated Voldemort.

[roz]

It is possible that they want to control him. If Harry and Draco had become friends Harry might have been willing to be placed in Slytherin. Then the story might have been very different.

Roz.

[delemtri]

I think it's funny. By being so antagonistic towards Harry, Draco actually made him want to be in Slytherin even less, and by doing so might have lost his only chance at recruiting him. So... because he tried to recruit Harry... he couldn't recruit Harry!

Although, of course, in all likelihood Harry would have opted against Slytherin in any case.

[M a r v o l o]

I can see your point. After all, Tom Riddle did an excellent job manipulating Harry through his diary.

[roz]

Originally posted by delemtri (original post (http://www.cosforums.com/a/showthread.php?postid=236941#post236941))
Although, of course, in all likelihood Harry would have opted against Slytherin in any case.


Actually, if Harry had never talked to Draco he would never have know what being in Slytherin meant, he only asked Hagrid because of something Draco said. That would have meant that he would not have asked the Sorting Hat not to put him there. So he might have been sorted a Slytherin.

Roz.

[Jessica]

I've been wondering after GoF if Malfoy sent Draco to Hogwarts rather than Karkaroff's school because of Harry Potter.

1st choice: Make friends with Harry and get him on the Malfoys side

2nd choice: Keep an eye on him and tell Daddy what he is up to.

Of course Lucius is a legacy (I think) so it may be as simple as that but Draco's assertion that him mom would have missed him too much seems forced.

[NightWanderer]

I think that initially it was an attempt by Draco (with Lucius behind it) to:

1. Feel Harry out. What type of person was he? No one had any way of knowing. He might just have been one to fit right in with Draco and the Slytherin crowd. No guaranted that just because he was inadvertently responsible for what happened to Voldemort that he was going to be a "good" person. Approaching Harry in the manner he did would most definitely cause Harry to show his true colors by his reaction.

2. Try to get Harry to join his group of friends and associates. Even if Draco/Lucius were wary of Harry, they would want him in Slytherin--where he could be kept an eye on at the very least, but more likely where he could become one of them. It would greatly benefit Lucius to have HP in his pocket. Voldemort would find that useful and Lucius would be expecting a reward.

Of course, the possibility also exists that Draco was just showing a lack of social skills in his approach. He is only 11--despite the fact the he is Lucius Malfoy's son. He could be expected to botch a simple assignment of making friends with HP--especially if he was already jealous of HP's fame. (and I suspect jealousy is an integral part of Draco's character and motivations).

[Fuchsia]

One can never have enough lackeys and if Harry was in his circle than he could keep him down, bully him. Like he does with the other two.
If you have ever seen the film Heathers it would have been like the relationship Heather #1 and Veronica had.

[MadMagic]

Draco seems to be the kind of person who wants to be friends with the best, most popular people, regardless of whether he likes them or not. Since Harry Potter is the most famous wizard around, why would Braco not want to be friends with him. I'm sure there were ulterior motives for him wanting to be friends with Harry. Draco is all about his image; being friends with Harry Potter would do wonder for his image and probably the image of the whole Malfoy family. Or maybe I overestimate Harry's fame.

[Fuchsia]

I think you are right MadMagic.
Anything to make Draco look better in the eyes of others Draco would want. Though if Ron had a problem being overshadowed he certainly would.

[MadMagic]

If Harry had condescended to being Harry's friend I can't see him living comfortably in Harry's shadow either. So it is probably for the best that they aren't friends.

[Fuchsia]

Harry would have been miserable and would just butt heads with him. And Snape would expell him after two days.

[MadMagic]

Butting heads with MAlfoy would seem like a valid reason for Snape to try to expell Harry.

[Fuchsia]

Snape could have come up with any number of reasons. "You put your socks on Malfoy's bed! You're out of here!"

[Mike21]

Snape stated that in CoS when Ron and Harry crashed the car then he would expell him but that decision doesnt rest with him. Then he got McGonnal and Dumbledoor.
Snape would use valid reasons to expell Harry because Dumbledoor probably has the final decision on who to expell and Snape could of been sacked for expelling Harry for placing his socks on Dracos bed(it would be an invalid reason).

[Master Dragonfly]

Maybe Draco just wanted a friend that had some brains. Maybe he just figured Harry's rich and he was able to not get killed. Draco's attitude with Harry could be very different. I'm sure that Draco feels he's doing the right thing in being mean to muggle-borns, and poor kids as well. It's just his family's way. But Harry is not muggle-born, and he is not poor. Crabbe and Goyle obviously lack intelligence and I'm sure Malfoy gets bored hanging around with idiots. Maybe Draco just wanted a friend that could see things his way, that could understand him. Draco wasn't being mean to Harry in Diagon Alley, I know that. He was just...being himself. He only really started being mean to Harry when he found him hanging around beggars and muggle-borns.

Draco was lonely.

[White_Rose]

I seem to recall an interview with J.K. Rowling where this very question came up. Basically she said he wanted more power, more attention, and what better way than becoming friends with the most well-known wizard? I'll try and find that interview for you guys.

[Hpmons]

I dont know whether this has been mentioned already, but perhaps Malfoy believed that Harry would turn into a Dark wizard or something. Like in the 2nd book, where Hufflepuffs believed that Harry must have been a really powerful Dark wizard for Voldermorts curse not to have worked.

Also, I imagine Malfoy would like to have a famous friend; and Im sure he was quite curious about him - being so famous, before he found out that he was going to be friends with Ron.

[smartypants]

Draco sees himself as better than most people. Harry Potter was famous, and hence in Dracos eyes, also better than average people. Obviously Draco would want to make friends with him.

Harry, however, quickly picked up on Dracos snotty view of other people being wort less than him, and did not want anything to do with him, and basically said so, which obviously ment that Draco then quickly had to start despising Harry so that he could keep up his own self-image of being superior.

[FawkesBox]

This theory sounds plausible but why then does Draco hang out with Crabbe and Goyle whose only claim to fame is that their parents were death eaters (this is of course why they all knew each other from before school- their parents were friends.)

[Weatherby]

I agree that Malfoy wanted to be friends with someone famous. Did he offer to help show Harry around when they met at Madam Malkins? I don't think so.

[pasalita]

Hm. I agree to some level that Draco had it in mind to buddy up to Harry because he was famous, but I don't think that was his true intention. I think the idea of being friends with a boy that has become legend in that he defeated, what the Malfoy's probably believe, the greatest sorcerer ever was, in a word, secondary. I believe that Draco viewed Harry as someone of power, as someone that would hold a very powerful and esteemed position in Hogwarts being that he is the "Boy who lived." For this reason, as I assume the reason Lucius buddied up to Voldemort, I believe that Draco approached Harry at the start of first year.

It's just that I've always viewed the Malfoy men as those craving ambition, power, and esteem more than anything else. In fact, if Lucius knew he could be powerful without the aide of Voldemort, I'm sure he'd drop Voldemort in a hearbeat.

[smartypants]

Originally posted by FawkesBox (original post (http://www.cosforums.com/a/showthread.php?postid=266957#post266957))
This theory sounds plausible but why then does Draco hang out with Crabbe and Goyle whose only claim to fame is that their parents were death eaters (this is of course why they all knew each other from before school- their parents were friends.)


Because he can boss them around, of course.

[Charmed]

I believe Draco wanted to be friends with Harry because of Harry being famous. Perhaps he thought that if he was friends with Harry more respect/awe would come to him as well.

[Jessie]

I totally agree. And maybe he also thought that Harry was a type of boy that was vulnerable & rather stupid. Maybe Draco thought that he could 'change' Harry. And most of all; fame.

[Mad Macca]

Yeah, I think that Draco was a bit power hungry, seeing his father strutting around, he probably thought that Harry could help him become famous, or high up in the Wizarding world. Or maybe he did it because his father wanted him to.

[Girl]

I think that Draco just wanted to be friends with Harry because he was fameous. Being friends with Harry would make other kids repect Draco more and also treat him the same way they do Harry. Also he might have felt that since Harry defeated Voldermort he would be a good thing to have on his side. Who would want to mess with the friend of Harry Potter?

When people first saw Harry they thought that he was some great wizard but he's no different than them. They made him out to be like a god and they are so amazed at him. Draco just wanted to be part of this.
Mabe he also felt that teachers might treat Harry different and Harry might be the teachers pet. Draco wanted an easy ride through school as a friend of Harry's.

[Zachary1993]

Harry Potter is famous. Draco probably thought if he was friends with Harry he would be popular at Hogwarts. He wanted to make a good first impression. Since Harry did not want to be his friend because he found Draco too rude he decided to be enemies and make Harry's life miserbal.

[morgan le fay]

maybe he didnt care to be chums or anything but just wanted to be on harry's good side. if harry was credited with killing LV, then ppl would probably consider harry very powerful, and as everyone has already said, famous. its like they say, keep your friends close and your enemies closer. maybe he was originally going on this tactic?

[Etoille]

Hm. I agree to some level that Draco had it in mind to buddy up to Harry because he was famous, but I don't think that was his true intention. I think the idea of being friends with a boy that has become legend in that he defeated, what the Malfoy's probably believe, the greatest sorcerer ever was, in a word, secondary. I believe that Draco viewed Harry as someone of power, as someone that would hold a very powerful and esteemed position in Hogwarts being that he is the "Boy who lived." For this reason, as I assume the reason Lucius buddied up to Voldemort, I believe that Draco approached Harry at the start of first year.

It's just that I've always viewed the Malfoy men as those craving ambition, power, and esteem more than anything else. In fact, if Lucius knew he could be powerful without the aide of Voldemort, I'm sure he'd drop Voldemort in a hearbeat.

Whoa! I think that sums it up in a nutshell, imho!!!!

I think that Draco just wanted to be friends with Harry because he was fameous. Being friends with Harry would make other kids repect Draco more and also treat him the same way they do Harry. Also he might have felt that since Harry defeated Voldermort he would be a good thing to have on his side. Who would want to mess with the friend of Harry Potter?

When people first saw Harry they thought that he was some great wizard but he's no different than them. They made him out to be like a god and they are so amazed at him. Draco just wanted to be part of this.WQ
Mabe he also felt that teachers might treat Harry different and Harry might be the teachers pet. Draco wanted an easy ride through school as a friend of Harry's.

Sort of the same thing, but with a variance, but this works with the other post above...so yeah!!! :)

[zer09ers]

i think tt lucius wants draco to make friends with harry to get information out of harry.

[Fleur du mal]

I don't think that even Draco was so calculating with eleven. Subconciously he might have considered Harry a good connection, but I'm positive that he never thought about "turning him around" or something, that's a bit stretched.
And Lucius wasn't so keen on Voldemorts come-back either, he had a very good position likely to climb the social ladder even higher. He didn't need Voldemort anymore, otherwise he could have seareched him like Peter did, though Peter was definitely less skilled and found him though. It would be improbable to say to his bigmouth son "Hey, make friends with Harry Potter so I can drag him to the Dark Side", because it took him so much effort to appear respectable again after Voldemort's last down-fall.

[jordmundt6]

Zero--love your sig. Basically, I think Draco thought it would be great to have a powerful and famous friend because, as his guide and a new leader-designate of Slytherin, that would make Draco more important. Plus, it could possibly have been Lucius' advice about good politics before the first term began (I'm sure there was a similar talk before first term to the one we saw before second year) that prompted him to do this.

[Jill]

Zero--love your sig. Basically, I think Draco thought it would be great to have a powerful and famous friend because, as his guide and a new leader-designate of Slytherin, that would make Draco more important. Plus, it could possibly have been Lucius' advice about good politics before the first term began (I'm sure there was a similar talk before first term to the one we saw before second year) that prompted him to do this.

Not bad but I think Draco does not like his father as much as you think. I think he fears him. I also believe that Draco was offering a truce to Harry that day. You know I don't think Dracos that bad, I mean half the time Dracos being nasty to Harry just to please Snape. So does Draco really hate Harry, I'm not sure.

The one thing that has always confused me, is Dracos name. Why would J.K.Rowling give such a powerful name to such a character, unless he is going to be powerful. Draco the snake/dragon. Then theres the school moto:Never tickle a sleeping dragon. Well at the end of OotP, I think Harry pushed Draco too far and may have tickled a sleeping dragon within. I think Draco does not need a powerful friend because he is more powerful than we are led to believe.

[jordmundt6]

Following the instructions of someone with absolute authority over you does not require liking that authority figure. It requires common sense. Draco does appear to have bonded with his father (witness his many attempts to revenge himself on Harry for embarrassing, attacking, and discrediting Lucius). But, even if Draco is motivated by fear, the result is similar. He tries to follow Lucius' instructions, and, in this case, following them and succeeding would build up his own ego. I believe the bond has strengthened out of tendency or habit over the last five years so that Draco is attached to his father now and has firmly, and almost certainly irrevocably chosen his father's path.

[Jill]

Following the instructions of someone with absolute authority over you does not require liking that authority figure. It requires common sense. Draco does appear to have bonded with his father (witness his many attempts to revenge himself on Harry for embarrassing, attacking, and discrediting Lucius). But, even if Draco is motivated by fear, the result is similar. He tries to follow Lucius' instructions, and, in this case, following them and succeeding would build up his own ego. I believe the bond has strengthened out of tendency or habit over the last five years so that Draco is attached to his father now and has firmly, and almost certainly irrevocably chosen his father's path.

Which ever path Draco chooses, he will be a mighty wizarding foe for Harry and the DA. I am very interesting to see how Draco is going to pan out over the next book. I still think he can go either way, what with his father in prison and Voldermort not too pleased with Lucious. Perhaps Dumbledore will offer his hand in defence. Dumbledore would never allow any student to be left in danger under his control. Perhaps the Malfoys will become foes to Voldermort after all, Voldermort does not like failure and the Malfoys have failed him in a big way.

[jordmundt6]

Which ever path Draco chooses, he will be a mighty wizarding foe for Harry and the DA.

Really? Not without a lot of practice. I thought the last couple of chapters showed that Harry had just moved so far beyond Malfoy that Malfoy and his goons had to jump Harry from behind to have a chance against him. And with a posse of well-trained allies, six or seven Slytherin slackers aren't going to pose much of a threat. I don't think Dumbledore will offer a hand in Lucius' defense, he was after all trying to serve Lord Voldemort. As for Voldemort's displeasure, no I think Voldy will be pleased that Lucius stayed on mission and was as close as he was to success. He doesn't forgive failure, but Lucius served him well and should be out in a week or so to carry out the next mission.

Now--Dumbledore might offer Draco his protection, but Draco and Narcissa will refuse it. All three of the Malfoys are evil to the core as we saw in OotP. Dumbledore believes in second chances, but he can't do anything if his assistance is turned down. I do not forsee any possibility of the Malfoys turning on Voldemort, they adore and fear him. They champion and embody everything for which he stands.

[Whiskerman]

I agree that Draco was attracted to power by association in his attempt to befriend Harry.

It could also have been a case of "keep your friends close, keep your enemies closer."

[Etoille]

I don't think that even Draco was so calculating with eleven. Subconciously he might have considered Harry a good connection, but I'm positive that he never thought about "turning him around" or something, that's a bit stretched.
And Lucius wasn't so keen on Voldemorts come-back either, he had a very good position likely to climb the social ladder even higher. He didn't need Voldemort anymore, otherwise he could have seareched him like Peter did, though Peter was definitely less skilled and found him though. It would be improbable to say to his bigmouth son "Hey, make friends with Harry Potter so I can drag him to the Dark Side", because it took him so much effort to appear respectable again after Voldemort's last down-fall.

I think Lucius embodies the true spirit of Slytherin. That moto first spoken by the Sorting Hat in SS/PS, “Or perhaps in Slytherin you’ll make you real friends, Those cunning folk use any means to achieve their ends.” And then Phineas put it more bluntly in OotP, “We Slytherins are brave, yes, but not stupid. For instance, given the choice, we will always choose to save our own necks.”

I think this sums Lucius to a tea. I believe Draco has had instilled in him from birth the opinions, beliefs and goals of his family (I’d have to say Lucius specifically, because we’ve only ever had one glimpse of his mother and we really now nothing of her, or her beliefs in cannon). I don’t think Draco is an extremely strong personality of is own accord. Sure he bullies those around him (non Slytherins), but he always needs Crabbe and Goyle around him to do it. Remember how cowardly he was in PS/SS in the flying lesson when he and Harry were on their brooms fighting over Neville’s Remberall? Draco wasn’t such a bullying toerag when letf alone in the air with Harry. He’d lost a bit of his nerve. I think he holds his father’s ideals close, probably believes them himself, but really doesn’t have any true courage of his own when he is on is own. (Remember how scared he was in the Forbidden Forest in PS/SS during detention, it was just he and Harry)?

I think a large part of his trying to make friends with Harry initially was due to Lucius’ influence. Lucius probably believed that there was a possibility that Voldemort wasn’t really dead after that fateful night at Godric’s Hollow, but unlike the Lestranges and Crouch Jr. he pulled a true “Slytherin” and protected his own neck until it was for sure. However, on the other hand of that, he was still protecting his neck in the posibility that Voldemort might be coming back, therefore if Draco had made friends with Harry, how much easier would it be for Lucius to hand over Harry to Voldemort through his own son. Basically he was covering his @*** in either eventuality.

Not bad but I think Draco does not like his father as much as you think. I think he fears him. I also believe that Draco was offering a truce to Harry that day. You know I don't think Dracos that bad, I mean half the time Dracos being nasty to Harry just to please Snape. So does Draco really hate Harry, I'm not sure.

My only real thing to say to this is if this hostility toward Harry is only for Snape’s sake, then why does Draco do it at any and all opportunities whether Snape happens to be around or not…most of those times Snape isn’t present at all. So if students are going to go narking the facts of the incident to a member of the faculty it could go either way, depending on whether Harry and Co. or Draco and Co. ran to their heads of house (or any innocent bystanders ran to any other teacher, or their own heads of house) to repot the incident. Since Draco generally comes off worse after the encounter, I doubt any of the Slytherins ( Draco, Crabbe & Goyle) are going to go crying to Snape imho.

The one thing that has always confused me, is Dracos name. Why would J.K.Rowling give such a powerful name to such a character, unless he is going to be powerful. Draco the snake/dragon. Then theres the school moto:Never tickle a sleeping dragon. Well at the end of OotP, I think Harry pushed Draco too far and may have tickled a sleeping dragon within. I think Draco does not need a powerful friend because he is more powerful than we are led to believe.

I think his name has to do with the Salazar Slytherin ideal of pureblood and Slytherins preferred, and therefore, Voldemort’s favorite animal being a snake. Dragons and snakes are related in mythology. I think it’s just a strong reference to that whole consciousness. It could be something more, if so we’ll have to wait for book 6 or 7…I’m sick of waiting for book 6 already!

[magical]

I know there are a few threads on Draco, but I dont want to discuss what would have happened if they had become friends from the start, or if Draco isn't that bad afterall, just, WHY Draco wanted to make friends with Harry in the first place. Sorry if there is already a thread on this, but I searched and couldn't find one.

Firstly, Draco would have known all about the story obviously, and he definately acts deatheater-like, so why would he want to be friends with the boy who brought about his downfall?

Morover, wouldn't Lucius have been livid about his son being friends with Harry?

Your thoughts are welcome, and sorry again if this is already being discussed.

[Lady_Lupin]

hey cool, first response post....

I think Draco knew that Voldy (ha ha ha) was going to try to come back via his fathe telling him so, therefore Draco tried to befriend Harry in hopes to gain good favour with V. when he made it easier for V to kill harry.....

Does that make sense?

[Marge]

Draco knew that Harry would be a useful friend to have, and that he could possibly be used by his father and subsequently Voldemort, before getting rid of him.

[magical]

Yeah I kind of know what you mean, maybe his father told him to try to make friends with him, to make him more vulnerable, or so Lucius could kill him for voldemort, then again, Lucius must have forseen that Dumbledore would put a stop to it.

[Da_Chinkster]

Draco has always wanted to be the centre of attention and look like the most powerful person around. He knew Harry was going to get a lot of attention and therefore wanted to befriend Harry to get the attention as well. I think at the time Draco was snobbish and obnoxious but I dont think Lucius had got to Draco to try and get to Harry. As Draco's hate for Harry grew then Lucius made sure that Draco was always on Harry's back.

[magical]

Draco has always wanted to be the centre of attention and look like the most powerful person around. He knew Harry was going to get a lot of attention and therefore wanted to befriend Harry to get the attention as well. I think at the time Draco was snobbish and obnoxious but I dont think Lucius had got to Draco to try and get to Harry. As Draco's hate for Harry grew then Lucius made sure that Draco was always on Harry's back.

That's a really good point, but i still can't help thinking there was more to it. Maybe i'm just looking too deep though. But still, I really don't think Dumbledore would have let their friendship continue if Draco had gotten his way, therefore, in my opinion, making it quite a stupid thing to do.

[atherella]

I have to agree a large part of it is because Draco likes to fashion himself something of a 'really popular type guy', one who would want to surround himself with 'powerful people'. We know that all children knew Harry Potter's name before entering Hogwarts, as we were told they grew up knowing his name. By befriending Harry, Draco would ensure that he, himself, would also be in the spotlight.

We also know that Lucius told Malfoy that it isn't wise to not appear un-fond of Harry, for appearance's sake, but I don't think that was the main motivation in book 1.

[Vance]

It almosts seems that if Draco Malfoy became part of Harry's group he would be the "Peter Pettigrew" of the group. I think Draco wanted to be friends with Harry, because he was famous and he was going to get powerful as he grew older (just like why Pettigrew wanted to be friends with James, well not the famous part).

I don't know how Draco's father would have reacted. If he would be happy about it I would assume it was either he wanted to recruit Harry for the Death Eaters, or like Lady_Lupin said, it would be easy for him to hand Harry over to Voldemort.

[Kimmetje]

I don't think the friendship between Draco and Harry would've lasted as Draco cares more about purity of blood and power while Harry is the good and nice one, that's why he didn't agree with going on with Draco. I think Lucius would've had a bit of a problem with it, but when LV would come back he'd be happy as he could sort of give Harry...

[glugunkwen]

But still, I really don't think Dumbledore would have let their friendship continue if Draco had gotten his way, therefore, in my opinion, making it quite a stupid thing to do.

I don't think Dumbledore would have interfered that much. The first book focused a lot on Harry learning to make choices and face the consequences of his actions. I think Dumbledore was interested in finding out what kinds of choices Harry would make. Had Harry chose friendship with draco, and been placed in Gryffindore I think Dumbledore's 'plan' for Harry would have had to change dramatically.

More back on topic - I think Draco was simply looking to better his own popularity by befriending Harry. I doubt he was ever interested in becoming a true friend, but only saw that he could get things he desired (popularity, power, admiration from his father) if he befriended Harry.

[Boneca]

Unfortunately, I don't have the first book here, so I can't check this.
As I remember it however, Draco didn't know who he was talking to the first time they met. I got the impression that Draco was just trying to act cool, since this new boy could be one of his future classmates.
When Draco realised that he had talked to Harry Potter, I assume that he was very anxious to keep the friendship going. Note that Draco was trying to impress Harry, and then offering 'help' and 'advice'. Ponder this; if you were an ambitious, attention-seeking little boy, what could be better than having wizardkind's most famous boy looking up to you?
Now unfortunately for Draco, Harry wasn't like Goyle or Crabbe, and therefore didn't get impressed.

[AlbusDumbled0re]

I think Draco just wants attention and wants to look good. So having Harry as a friend would help.

[ParselTongue]

Harry was the most famous student, everyone knew his name. Of course Draco wanted to be his friend so he to would be popular. I dont think Draco was plotting evil things for Harry when he tried to be his friend.

[Creatively Evil]

Draco knew he was probably someone good to hang around with. Harry is one of the most known wizards, so if he stood by Harry then he'd become popular, Draco's really shallow. Do you really think he was planning evil things at age 11?

[Rikku_Rocks]

From the background that Draco has been raised from, it would be unwise to discount the possibility that he was planning evil things. After all, at age 11, Draco was nearly no different to age 15. Age does not constitute the person.

As for his attempt to befriend Harry ... well, could you not think of a good few reasons why he might do so? It is in Draco's very nature to use people, and also to choose his friends wisely - at least in his opinion. He didn't know that Harry was very pure good at heart and knew better than to befriend Draco, so his attempt was likely because he believed Harry was a powerful wizard who could ultimately become invaluable to Draco, and possibly, the Malfoy family.

[LuvHP_001]

Draco has always wanted to be the centre of attention and look like the most powerful person around. He knew Harry was going to get a lot of attention and therefore wanted to befriend Harry to get the attention as well. I think at the time Draco was snobbish and obnoxious but I dont think Lucius had got to Draco to try and get to Harry. As Draco's hate for Harry grew then Lucius made sure that Draco was always on Harry's back.

That's a very good argument, i absolutely agree.

[jordmundt6]

Which scene are we criticizing here? The train meeting or the discussion in Madam Malkins' robe shop? There's a similar theme there but there are slight differences. For instance, in the train scene, Draco is attempting to follow in his father's footsteps, forging a political alliance with someone very powerful (by rep) and likely to be quite influential at school. It's interesting that Draco made this attempt at all because we've seen that Harry is reviled by the DEs for what he's acoomplished and Draco has imbibed that ideology strongly from both parents. If he had been successful, it would have been a political coup of which even his father might have been envious. Who'd have thought it. His son had managed to turn Harry Potter--the son of very powerful very meddlesome Mugglelovers and the living embodiment of the Dumbledore regime at Hogwarts into a loyal Slytherin. A truly admirable stroke.

In Madam Malkin's Draco's just making small-talk and trying to impress Harry a fellow wizard (looking for another vassal?) but the core of his nature is evident even in the way he carries himself and expresses himself about mundane things. Well, that post wandered away from me, didn't it?;)

[tantrix]

Powerful people have better chances to come to the dark side.. Draco knows that.

[Denyse]

I've also wondered what Draco's motivations would be for wanting to befriend Harry. But, something else that you have to wonder about, is, at 11 years old, how much would Lucius have instilled in Draco? Would his mother, Narcissa, have let him known too much by that point? I mean I'm sure Draco would have had a foundation in some Dark Arts by that time but to what extent? Did he know the full extent to which his father was involved with Voldemort, etc.

I think his motivations had a lot to do with being "popular" and well known/liked. I also don't think he completely knew at that point what position being friends with Harry would put him in. It was more of a child's motivations, rather than that of a Dark Wizard. I hope I'm making sense. I'm finding it hard to articulate what I'm thinking.

[Rikku_Rocks]

Something that seems a little odd, is why Draco would wish to befriend the boy who almost destroyed Lord Voldemort, whomst the Malfoy family is very accustomed with. I suppose it depends on how much Draco knew about his father (and mother?). And I also agree; Draco would find Harry a good boost to his popularity, especially if he thought he would become a fellow Slytherin.

[busy91]

I agree with Denyse. I don't seem to think his parents would tell him too much. I had always thought that having Harry in his gang would make Draco more popular, especially if St. Potter, was one of his followers. Can you imagine what a boost it would be to his ego to boss Harry around?

[potter_chick]

when Harry entered his first year he was already famous and I think Draco wanted to make friends with someone who was well known to the wizerding community.

also i don't think Draco knew abouts his dad being a Death Eater because he was only 11, if he did know I don't think he would of tried to befriend harry.

[mugglemania]

I think Draco only wanted to be friends with a popular kid.

[Barbara Kennedy]

Here is a closely related thread.
What if Harry sided with Draco on the first day of school? (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=28387)

[Buckbeak2004]

I think that Draco tried to befriend Harry because he would be an extremely useful friend. Harry is a very talented wizard and could provide as a protection for Draco, a bit like Crabbe and Goyle, except with more brains and magical ability ;)

Also, when Draco is a bit older and possibly a DE, he could have made it easier for LV to get to and possibly kill (dun dun dun...) Harry.

[Culte Ventosus]

Remember, please, that Voldemort made Harry an offer next to the mirror. He wanted Harry to join him. Perhaps it was a trap, but Voldemort did not know the entire prophecy...

[Apocrypha]

I think Draco knew that Voldy (ha ha ha) was going to try to come back via his fathe telling him so, therefore Draco tried to befriend Harry in hopes to gain good favour with V. when he made it easier for V to kill harry.....

Does that make sense?

That sounds 'bout right ter mah

[RupertObsesseD]

I agree with the majority of what people here are saying. I think Draco just wanted to make friends with a popular/famous wizard, as I'm sure many others would have hoped to become Harry's friend. I have to disagree with the few who said that Lucius possibly told Draco to befriend Harry so that they could deliver him to Voldemort. I might be mistaken, but in GoF, didn't Voldemort tell Lucius that he was disappointed in him when he ran away when the Dark Mark was sent into the sky at the Quidditch World Cup? This, to me, makes it sound like Lucius would be too cowardly to personally deliver Harry.

[atherella]

hey cool, first response post....

I think Draco knew that Voldy (ha ha ha) was going to try to come back via his fathe telling him so, therefore Draco tried to befriend Harry in hopes to gain good favour with V. when he made it easier for V to kill harry.....

Does that make sense?

I have to respectfully disagree with this. When Draco first met Harry, he was only 11 years old. I really don't think that Draco was hoping to get on Voldemort's 'good side' (if he has one) at that young age. I know that Draco always seems to know a lot that is going on, but at the age of 11, I doubt he knew much about the activities of LV and the death eaters. Perhaps if they had been older when they met, this may have been true, but I doubt even Lucius would have his 11 year old trying to do work for LV.

[Tane]

Draco might have issues with his own father, I just wonder whether Draco had Harry had the chance to become what Sirius and James where. Sirius went against his parents will so why Draco would not if he was unhappy and thought Harry could be his answer to solve any of his problems associated with fathers. Then again maybe Draco felt that if he befriended Harry he would not have to compete against him so much to please his father.

[elfgirl831]

Well, since the Slytherins want power, maybe Draco thought he could gain popularity/acceptance by befriending famous Harry.

[magical]

People have made loads of great points, and it does seem the most sensible explanation is that Draco was being a typical slytherin, however, i still think it's possible that Lucius could have influenced Draco into trying to make friends with Harry.

[soccergoddess24]

very good question :tu: i was actually wondering this the other day! as all of you have said...yes, draco would want the power, and yes it would be easier for voldemort to get to harry if draco pretended to be his friend...so if harry WOULD have agreed to be draco's friend on the first day of school, would the sorting hat most likely have put him into slytherin? probably, which would lead harry to having different friends who wouldn't have been as good as ron and hermione...and think of all the year's ron and hermione had to help him..and do you think dumbledore would have tried and stopped the sorting hat? dumbledore being the genius he is, wouldn't he know what harry would be getting himself into? i wonder how exactly dumbledore would go about stopping harry from making that terrible decision? :huh:

[slavetopadfoot]

hey cool, first response post....

I think Draco knew that Voldy (ha ha ha) was going to try to come back via his fathe telling him so, therefore Draco tried to befriend Harry in hopes to gain good favour with V. when he made it easier for V to kill harry.....

Does that make sense?

yes. yes, it does and i think that's the reason. i mean, why else would a malfoy *uber dark wizarding family* want to befriend harry potter *the boy who lived*?

[magical]

It's possible that Dumbledore knew Draco was going to try and do it, maybe because Lucius had told him to, and that's why McGonagal interupted them before it could go any further, or was that just the film? I can't remember now!

[Nichola]

I tend to agree with most of the above,Draco just wanted to be popular,well liked & NOT the butt of jokes-he'd want to be the one making them!.He was just a spoiled,snobish rich kid. However I know this is abit off track, but I think Draco is to Harry,what Snape was to James. Their relationships bare a striking resemblance to one another + I agree with Rupertobessesed when it come to the whole Sirius/Draco parallel, just cause Draco grew up in a dark wizarding household,doest mean he is dark;remember Sirius wasnt a shining example of humanity himself when at Hogworts-(Snape haging by the ankles,with his undies showing,it may not have been him holding the wand,but he was there & it was also him who told Snape to follow Lupin during the full moon,it may have been a joke,but it was a deadly one.I for one can see a srtong resemblance between the two).
The other thing most seem to have forgotten is that (as stated above) Lucius wasnt exactly at the top of the suporters list before Voldemort rose to power again,remember he lied about being a true supporter in the 1st place,then started to rid himself of "dark tools" when the ministry was doing the rounds.It wasnt untill Voldemort showed himself in book 1,that he started to interfere at Hogworts-(remember Draco & Harry were'nt pals but they were in the Forbidden Forest together & it was'nt like Draco was trying to off,harm or goad Harry at all,this all started to happen (mostly)after book 2 & Voldemort's reappreance!)Lucius seems to be the type who is'nt altogether loyal.I think he's more like Peter, in that he buddy's up to those most in power at the time!-self preservation seems to be 9/10's of his law!!!
Now, back to the point I do'nt think Harry would have become friends with Draco for the simple fact that Hagrid was the 1st wizard he meet & he liked him a great deal however if you remember when he meet Draco at Madam Malkins Robes, after Draco's comment about Hagrid being a servent, He was liking the boy less and less every second to this end I could'nt see Harry taking up any kind of friendship with Draco right away!

:welcome::clap::rave::agree::wow:

[jellyjames]

I believe Draco have no idea who Harry was when they met at Madam Malkins. He was just making small talk, which I think is pretty innocent enough though it does show him to be deeply opinionated as the sonversation went on. If he had known who Harry was, he wouldn't need to ask for Harry's surname then, would he? And he is not that snobbish, in a way, if he had bothered to initiate the conversation in the first place. Okay maybe he did that so that he could show off and he would not have bothered to say anything nice, if at all, if he had thought Harry was not a pure blood but still I always thought it nice if a person try to create small talk with another instead of remaining silent throughout. If anything, at least his parents taught him some manners.

[rupertlvr27]

i believe that Draco, although he did not know Harry at madame malkin's, wanted to befriend Harry because he knows Harry 's popularity would help him and would give him even more power.

[Jamara]

I agree with what has already been said a few times. Draco just loves being center of attention and befriending "The Boy Who Lived" would have earned him some serious street cred. He also probably thought that because Harry defeated Voldemort that Harry was an even more powerful dark wizard. But when it became apparent that Harry was a good kid the animosity between them grew and grew. Harry did also narrowly escape being put in Slytherin, and I'm sure if he would have ended up there Draco would have sucked up to him and try to use him. It is interesting to think about the difference it would have made to see Harry in Slytherin, the different circle of friends he would have had. Who knows, perhaps Voldemorts followers would have taken Harry's side to have an even more powerful wizard on the dark side.

[McBeth]

I think the only reason Malfoy wanted to be Harry's "friend" was because he wanted some of his power. Typical Malfoy. He might've also been asked by his father to try and find out if Harry had any information about Voldemort, but that's just a though.

[Markus]

I don't think Draco's father had anything about Draco's attempt to become friends with Harry. If Lucius had wanted Draco to do this he would have had a better strategy for Draco to try rather then to run up to him and make fun of the person standing next to him. Lucius knew Harry would never befriend Draco if he knew he was a complete jerk.

[SyirenSlytherin]

if there's one thing Draco values, it's connections. from the first time he met harry he wanted to start building his network of friends, the more people that like you the better. but his social skills are that of an upper class brat and he didn't realise he was putting other people off, since i'm sure his friends at the time all acted the same way. when he found out who harry was, he tried even harder and failed even more. harry would be a valuble asset to anyones friends list based on rep. alone. the malfoys were looked at as dark wizords, not the most desirable rep. so what better way to prove they're not then by befriending the boy that led to LVs downfall. surely they'd be greatful to the boy that put an end to Lucious being under the imperious curse...

[Mafalda04]

My thought is that Draco knew the importance of Harry and He thought that his father and alot of other people would give him gratitude for knowing harry and Persuading him to the dark side b/4 Harry knew anything different...

[aries4180]

I think Draco just wanted him as a friend.His domineering father wasnt around at the time and they had no problems.It wasnt until Harry rejected his friendship that Draco Hated the "famous harry potter".

[sneff]

i don't know. i don't think that Draco knew who Harry was on there first meeting, i have always got this feeling. because he askes him like were your parents " our kind" or something like that? i believe that he didn't know that Harry was THe Harry Potter. i can find all of the quote that support my idea just now but i think that there are some more.....?!?!?








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[Nys]

I daresay that Draco had grown up hearing about Harry Potter, and wanted to see if he could turn him to their side... Makes you wonder whether it was an order from 'Daddy'...

[Kat24]

I would say it was the power and popularity factor. Not to mention, Draco has always seemed to know about his father's dark side. It may have been the old idea of keeping your friends close, but you enemies closer.

[weasley]

It is probably by the popularity and the famous Harry Potter thing but maybe Lucius told Draco to be "friends" with Harry so:

1. You'll get some reflected glory by hanging around HP
2. It looks odd not to like Harry Potter
3. Once he's a friend he can get information about HP
4. Then tell Lucius where he lives and is able to kill HP (In COS it says at the end that Lucius isn't fond of HP. Maybe "isn't fond" is an understatement).

Well that's what I think anyway.

[huckleberry]

Maybe because Harry is so well-known and we all know what attitude Draco got :p

[kenmarekestrel]

Draco probably wanted some of the popularity that Harry was going to attract. When Harry rejected him, which he isnt really used to, he hated him but he was probably intrigued by him at first. Also, like everyone else, he wanted to know how Harry survived the killing curse and the best way to do that was to get close to him.

[LuvRed]

In PS/SS, Draco noticed Harry was buying his robes in a first rate, not second hand, tailor shop. I figure Malfoy considered Harry an equal that he could fit in with at Hogwarts. Also,Malfoy is use to getting want he wants and probably thought Harry knew his parents had prestiage and connections. However, I don't think Draco wanted to be Harry's bestfriend, but just a network connection in the wizarding world. When Harry turned Draco's "friendship" down, Draco felt embarassed and neglected, two emotions no tween/teen ever accepts.

[haha]

I daresay that Draco had grown up hearing about Harry Potter, and wanted to see if he could turn him to their side... Makes you wonder whether it was an order from 'Daddy'...
That's not a bad point and the quote about keeping you enemies close would apply, but i always thought that the main reason for what he did was because Harry Potter was such a well known person that he was sure to draw attention to himself if he hung around him.
Obviously we all know how much Draco would love to be in Harry's limelight, and might even claim some of his achievements for himself.

[lynsey1989]

i think it was for popularity

[sirius_gerl]

I agree about the popularity and glory stuff, but also, Lucious Malfoy is one of Voldamorts closest Death Eaters. Wouldn't it be easier for Voldemort, or even Lucious, to get Harry and kill him? It would be so innocent to pretend to be Harry's friend, invite him over in the summer, and then Voldemort turns up and kills him. Finishes off what he had been planning to do for the past some odd years. When he refused, Draco resorted in trying to make Harry's life as miserable as possible, as if to make his father some what proud of his son. Draco likes to make his father proud, and Harry could have been one of the things he was looking for. Maybe he thought that if he did something to Harry, it might make up for him refusing, or something.

[HeRmIoNe_14]

Well, it would have been much easier to have the enemy on his side...he would have known everything about Harry an communicated it to his father