by .:.Lily.:. » Sunday 17 June 2007 8:35:16am
Draco Malfoy was raised in a home where the Dark Arts are cherished and bigotry is pounded into the very core of who he is. In admiration for his father, he embraces the way he was raised, the life that was laid out before him but in all the years that such malice and hatred were bred with in him, he was never exposed to what exactly serving the dark lord actually meant. He's a kid trying to live a life that he was never really prepared for. He is thrust into it prematurely as punishment for his father's mistakes.
Draco hesitated, he lowered his wand, he had no intention of killing DD. If he had the power to, he would have accepted Dd's offer of help but he believed no one could help him. If he didn't do what LV wanted, not only would he kill Draco, he'd kill his entire family. LV, truly evil as anyone can be, killed his own father, he would never let anything like the fate of his parents stand between him and what he wants. What Draco wanted was safety but he thought of his mom and dad first and hesitated too long to accept. He lost his opportunity.
I don't believe Draco is really evil. He isn't exactly pure and good, but he isn't evil, he isn't a murderer. Draco will find a way to save his family and then he will find a way to save himself, even if it means fighting alongside Harry.