I admit I'm always surprised when people ask whether Lucius loves Draco or even more oddly vice-versa. There was a thread on FAP once about whether Draco 'Really loved his parents' and I thought...eh? I mean, in canon we see him constantly talking about them and complimenting them and getting instulted on their behalf...what is your point? And of course it's some strange idea that this is something he somehow puts on because it gets him stuff (to which I ask...what stuff?).
Anyway, it's weird to me because it's like you say...parents loving their children is pretty much standard, unless they're deranged. Lily's sacrifice is dramatic but it's really not exceptional. Look at Molly's boggart--almost any mother would have done what Lily did. Would Narcissa? Hmmm...we've never seen her. Does she live up to her name so much that she would save herself before her baby? Maybe not, but I think the fear that she wouldn't on Draco's part is far more important than whether or not she actually would. His parents probably do love him, but I don't think he feels loved.
Dudley is probably the same way for the reasons you mentioned--if your parents aren't, say, fat like the doctor says it might be cool in the short run because you don't have to diet. But if you yourself realized it was true they'd be telling you what you were was just too unacceptable to deal with and you'd probably wonder what the point in your even being there is.
So really, I think it's more interesting and more dramatic and probably more realistic and certainly more tragic if Draco's parents love him but really aren't capable of showing it. So my vote goes there.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2004-05-06 04:12 pm (UTC)Anyway, it's weird to me because it's like you say...parents loving their children is pretty much standard, unless they're deranged. Lily's sacrifice is dramatic but it's really not exceptional. Look at Molly's boggart--almost any mother would have done what Lily did. Would Narcissa? Hmmm...we've never seen her. Does she live up to her name so much that she would save herself before her baby? Maybe not, but I think the fear that she wouldn't on Draco's part is far more important than whether or not she actually would. His parents probably do love him, but I don't think he feels loved.
Dudley is probably the same way for the reasons you mentioned--if your parents aren't, say, fat like the doctor says it might be cool in the short run because you don't have to diet. But if you yourself realized it was true they'd be telling you what you were was just too unacceptable to deal with and you'd probably wonder what the point in your even being there is.
So really, I think it's more interesting and more dramatic and probably more realistic and certainly more tragic if Draco's parents love him but really aren't capable of showing it. So my vote goes there.