geoviki | Draco

I have to say it was no surprise to me that Jo and I have differing views of Draco. Hell, half of my flist and I have differing views of Draco! In DH he did what Jo needed him to for her purposes - mainly to get a couple of wands in place ~~and provide some UST in Harry's life~~. And she put him back on the shelf when he was done. Her call.

But...

But...

Even she gave us something in canon that I didn't even pick up on until I reread the fire scene more slowly.

First, she gives all the bad business in that scene to Crabbe, not Draco. Crabbe's the one who says they stayed behind to catch Harry and deliver him to Voldy, he's the one casting all the Unforgivables, he's the one who starts the fire. And he dismisses Draco in front of everyone, telling him: Who cares what you think? I don’t take your orders no more, Draco. You an’ your dad are finished.

In contrast, Draco's all talk (no surprise) -- how he wants his wand back, how he got in. Then he focuses on stopping Crabbe from destroying the room and killing Harry, although it's never made clear why he's doing this. He never casts a single spell, although he loses his (mother's) wand early on, so he didn't have much opportunity. Then the Fiendfyre is let loose and everyone runs:

Malfoy grabbed the Stunned Goyle and dragged him along....

Wow. He didn't just run full-tilt toward the door, as we would expect a selfish coward to do. Instead, he runs while dragging a stunned and, we already know, ginormous guy. Not at all easy. Or predictible. Not the action of someone looking out for number 1.

The fire worsens, Harry hears a thin, piteous human scream from amidst the terrible commotion, the thunder of devouring flame, and he turns to see:

Malfoy with his arms around the unconscious Goyle, the pair of them perched on a fragile tower of charred desks, and Harry dived. Malfoy saw him coming and raised one arm, but even as Harry grasped it he knew at once that it was no good. Goyle was too heavy and Malfoy’s hand, covered in sweat, slid instantly out of Harry’s –

So he's carried Goyle somehow to this precarious island in a sea of flame, and here comes Draco's one chance to be saved...and he doesn't let go of Goyle. He doesn't abandon Goyle to save himself in what might be his only chance to live.

Ron and Hermione make it possible to save both of them, and what's the first thing out of Draco's mouth when they're safe:

"C-Crabbe," choked Malfoy as soon as he could speak. "C-Crabbe…"

I don't think Jo planned to have us all think Draco's the coolest thing since the iPhone. I'm just saying she doesn't condemn him as much as we think, and that there's still a lot of wiggle room for us Draco fans to work in.

What say you?