snapril week 5 prompt: night of the witches

Draco Malfoy, bully or bullied?

Didn’t we all kind of despise Draco book 1-5? But as we turned the pages of the Half Blood Prince we felt…, pity? Pity for the character we loathed, the evil, hateful bully. I mean, he is a spoiled brat but also perhaps very misunderstood? In HP and the chamber of secrets we see Draco with his father entering Borgin and Burkes.., there is no love and affection in their relatioship. Draco was raised by a family filled with hate and smugness, hating on muggles and muggle-borns, thinking they were better than the rest. Combine this with no affection, no hugs and kisses and a lot of money. Draco learned at an early age that money and pure blood is what matters. He thought he would arrive to Hogwarts and become the most popular student there, as his father had a lot of power and influence over the ministry. He failed to understand though that his fellow 11 year old students don’t care about money nor ministry officials… but fame and cool stories such as the story of Harry Potter…, that they do care about.

Having been shoved to the side his whole life by his unloving parents Draco was jealous of the famous and popular Harry Potter. His name had circulated around his family home for as long as he can remember, and although it was with anger and hate.., they at least talked about him. They didn’t talk that much about Draco, for he was an ordinary boy. Desperate to prove himself Draco wasted all his years at Hogwarts to try and beat Harry in everything. When the moment came that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named himself gave Draco a quest, he was proud. Although he saw the fear in his mothers face, he was happy, because finally came the time where he would make his family proud. Someone believed in HIM. We have to remember Draco was only 16 at this time, a teenager desperate to prove himself, desperate for affection and praise. This, as we know was not a challange given to Draco out of belief in his talents though, but an attempt to hurt his parents who failed their missions. Draco realised that the path he was on was not the right one, he started questioning his parents choices and beliefs and this is where we see character growth. For he loved his parents of course and now he knew that he would be the reason for them being hurt.., and maybe even killed? And maybe he would be killed too? Of course he was scared of death, not every child can be as brave as Harry, that is in fact not normal. Most people fear death, and most people fall for peer pressure and will make choices to become popular. Draco was a normal teenager in his actions. You can also not say that Draco really had a choice, as explained he was brought up with certain beliefs and nothing else would have been accepted. In many parts of Britain physical punishments are used in child upbringing, more so before than now. With strict and posh parents, we don’t know in what kind of environment Draco really grew up. Was Draco maybe bullied his whole life at home?

Draco was indeed a bully, but perhaps things would have been different had he gotten help and guidance earlier. Hogwarts had no support system to catch these trouble makers before things really got out of hand. Or maybe, he is just a spoiled kid who been treated as a prince his whole life and therefore looks down on the rest?

What do you think?

*After announcing the three champions that will compete in the triwizard tournament, Dumbledore grabs a fourth paper that just came out of the goblet of fire*

Dumbledore: Harry Potter

Harry:

Ron:

Hermione:

Ginny:

Fred, George and Lee Jordan:

Cedric:

Fleur:

Victor:

Draco:

Gryffindors:

Hufflepuffs:

Slytherins:

Ravenclaws:

The Teachers Table:

Snorts milk out nose

Who here is a Gryffindor!? ✨🦁

Who here is a Hufflepuff!? ✨🦔

Who here is a Ravenclaw!? ✨🦅

Who here is a Slytherin!? ✨🐍

Rowena Ravenclaw

“Wit beyond measure is man’s greatest treasure”