Becoming Harry Potter: Facing Your Draco
“You see, I, unlike you, have been made a prefect, which means that I, unlike you, have the power to hand out punishments.” [Draco]
“Yeah,” said Harry, “but you, unlike me, are a git.” –OotP
Harry and Draco’s dislike of one another from the beginning is anything but subtle. Draco is everything Harry despises—selfish, judgmental, snobbish, cruel, disloyal, and cowardly. Harry is everything Draco wants but can’t admit—famous, talented, adored. The two spend years rivaling one another. Draco is vicious to Harry and his friends. And Harry snaps back on occasion. Yet, in the end, Harry saves Draco’s life. Why?
Because of what makes him Harry and not Draco. Harry is love where Draco is hate. That love gives him the ability to be kind even to his enemies. To risk his life to save the very ones who tried to kill him. When we face our Dracos the most important thing is that we don’t become Dracos ourselves. The means are more important than the end, because the means define who we are. If Harry had let Draco die, or killed him, he wouldn’t be the boy of such strong character we adore. He would have, like Barty Crouch, Sr., been just as callous as his enemies.
Showing love does not mean we become doormats. Harry never let Draco walk all over him. What showing love means is that, even when it is in our power to do so, we will not walk over anyone. We will treat others with respect, even when they do not deserve it. We will not stoop to combating evil with evil; we will destroy evil with love.
Dumbledore also understood this…
“They thought I’d die in the attempt, but I’m here and you’re in my power. I’m the one with the wand. You’re at my mercy.” [Draco]
“No, Draco,” said Dumbledore quietly. “It is my mercy, and not yours, that matters now.” –HBP
Dumbledore had the power the entire year to take down Draco; instead, he worked to protect him. He ensured Snape would cast the killing blow so that Draco’s soul would not be harmed by an act of evil. Dumbledore died to save Draco.
If we are doing things Harry’s way, when we face our Draco’s it should be our mercy that matters, not theirs. Love always has the upper hand.
Challenge: Decide if you are Harry or Draco, love or hate. When you face a Draco, how are you going to react? Are you going to extend love if they are in need—as Harry did by saving Draco and Goyle? Or are you going to let them suffer—as Draco most surely would have done to Harry?
“We’ve all got both light and dark inside us. What matters is the part we choose to act on. That’s who we really are.” –Sirius, OotP
