*taps microphone* draco malfoy should have been in hufflepuff
a lot of draco’s motivation comes from him seeking connection with others. the way he knows to establish this connection is by outward approval of his actions. he’s genuinely hurt by harry’s refusal to be friends with him. and had no problem chatting up a random, probably very ratty looking boy in a robe shop because he could.
he went back for harry in the forbidden forest in first year which goes against: his own self interest, his advancement, and knowing that it wouldn’t change things.
part of the way he seeks approval from his father is through excelling in academics. something he does through a lot of hard work to beat out the entirety of ravenclaw house. only to be beaten every year by hermione when it comes to exam scores. for all he repeats anti hufflepuff sentiments, he sure does do a lot of hard work. for example, the way he doesn’t give up on fixing the vanishing cabinet for an entire year.
he doesn’t manipulate harry to the extent he could (and narratively should have) in return for the sectumsempra incident in the bathrooms. what slytherin wouldn’t use the guilt harry had over that incident to accomplish a mission that held their life on the line?
on finding harry alone in the train, he breaks his nose, and leaves him on the train. instead of taking harry right to voldemort as he should have- if he was determined to climb that ladder (as a quintessential slytherin should, after choosing the venue in which they want to pursue their power. voldemort could have won if draco malfoy wasn’t consumed with personal slights and leveling the playing field. letting personal grudges get in the way of ambition isn’t very slytherin).
Nava 