Why Didn't Draco Identify Harry Potter at Malfoy Manor?

[@HarryPotterTheory]

MORE LONG VIDEOS: kzbin.info/aero/PLB5djWCQq2_e0UCOmVbhRP8HkxetpzXUV

[@jameswest981]

Very nice I know it's trivial but wouldn't it have been a better Disguise to transfigure harry into a little ferret or small animal before The snatchers Got hold of them'😁

[@stevefontaine1335]

🧹🪄⚡@HarryPotterTheoty⚡🪄🧹Lord Of The Rings Theory Channel.?🙏🙏🙏

[@bradleychan5684]

I personally believe and headcannon that (due to the Post WW2 time era the series takes place in) Draco and other Purebloods heard of some...pretty horrifying stuff that Muggles were capable of and had done such as: the Holocaust, Nuclear bombing, the Night of the Long Knives, F%$%ing machine guns, and so much more. Pure-blooded wizards and witches were understandably scared. Can "Protego" defend against Nuclear Fallout? So they lashed out at Muggle-born for creating the "Nuclear-Age". However, Draco grew up and realized that 1) bad individuals didn't mean that Muggles and Muggle-borns as a whole were to blame, 2) Magic is basically wizard/witch version of muggle technology (both can cause appalling amounts of bloodshed and terror), and 3) Voldemort and many of his hardcore followers were BATSH*T INSANE.

[@fattyfatfatty1919]

I do believe that lucius probably didn't call voldemort since it would probably brand his son a traitor. It could also damage their family reputation further since draco should for sure know what he looks like and who he hangs out with. It would lead to dracos death if not the entire families because of past failures.

[@dietdrpepper15]

Draco, was DONE with the death eater crap when a teacher was murdered in front of him. Its fun to be a bully and pick on people and be a douche, but murder and someone you know who did nothing except being born different or teach something different, nah thats when he wasn't going to help them anymore.

[@karlsmith2570]

Well, to be fair, Draco was a product of his parents, which explained a lot of his behavior

[@elijahjames8837]

Though a complete jerk he was not a psychopath therefore he couldn't take that quantum leap into total depravity

[@Kaminkaese]

I love how we all agree on that 😂

[@alinamagda2547]

I too agree with your statements. Draco wasn't evil. He was an ANTAGONIST to Harry, but that doesn't make him evil. He was just the opposite of Harry in terms of personality traits, but he was NEVER bad enough to kill someone. In fact, the way I see it, death frightened him, which is extremely obvious starting with book 6.

[@karlsmith2570]

@alinamagda2547 As I pointed out in my original post on this comment, Draco was a product of his parents. The views that he'd had and voiced were mainly those of his parents and not necessarily his own. Essentially, he had been repeating his parents' views while not necessarily being taking as much stock in their views, especially towards muggle-born witches and wizards

[@andrayellowpenguin]

i always thought Draco was similar to Sirius' brother: he grew up in that environment, was indoctrinated, talked the talk, but when sh*t hit the pan and actual murders started appearing and he saw how Voldemort ruled and how the death eaters worked, he woke up to reality, but wasn't brave enough to leave and probably knew he could never het his dad out from under Voldy's clutches

[@sevdadaglar]

I think Draco never hated Harry in the first place, I remember him being friendly to Harry when they first met at Diagon Alley, and he wanted to befriend him even after knowing who he was. And his whole hostility towards him was because Harry's rejection hurt his pride. It is childish and he was a child.

[@andersen6422]

Yes. it is one thing to be a supremacist but another thing to be a murderer or serial killer. I felt another thing that really shook Draco was seeing his parents' so clearly terrified and out of their depth.

[@xyz8822]

@@sevdadaglarbut draco wasn’t nice to Ron same time. Called other mudblood. He was friendly to harry because it was harry. Harry is also halfblood. Draco wouldn’t suggested to be friends if harry had a mask on

[@WomanRoaring]

Yes, he was really young still, they were teenagers in the end and he was scared. Hard to be brave as a teen after growing up in all that.

[@all-caps3927]

when sh*t hit the fan is the saying 🤣 but I agree with your comment

[@rustysm8080]

Voldemort had asked for so much from the Malfoy family. Failure of Lucius and the loss of wand which leads to Draco being sent on a suicide mission. Voldemort intended Draco to be killed....as punishment for his father's failure. Then, there's the mark on Draco by Fenrir Grayback...and watching a professor killed.The Sanctuary and safety of Hogwarts has been ripped out from under Draco's feet...and cast him into a life of fear, violence, and evil. And...that lead to the death of Dumbledore, who had, to the last, been more concerned with Draco's well-being over his own. Draco had lost all innocence and his romantic vision of Rule and Favor under the Dark Lord. Draco could not give up on the last bit of humanity that giving Harry up for death.

[@dreelz21]

He also was raised that way. Everything he knew about Voldemort was from his parents. And when Voldy actually returned his life became hell. He realized that he was pure evil and not even his supporters were safe which made him question everything he learned up to that point. Not sure if he even knew Voldemort was back during the OoTP and it’s like he tried everything to be caught in HBP that’s why he cried so much In the bathroom that year. He was a misguided child that didn’t fully know himself yet.

[@NighT-WolF85]

Draco was always the biggest weakness of the Malfoys because despite everything they have done, they were still proud parents and Draco always tried to give his best to prove to them that he is worthy. In the end the Malfoys played a major role in bringing down the Dark Lord.

[@rustysm8080]

@EvilNightwolf Draco...a major role? Ok. Narcissa? A major role...ok. Both covered for Harry when they did not have to. Lucius? Did nothing at all beneficial. So, you are 2/3rds right. 😊

[@paulwright1814]

⁠@@NighT-WolF85 I want to back up the point you’re making here because I think it’s really good. It reminds me a lot of that scene in lord of the rings between Gandalf and Frodo in the mines of moria. When Gandolf tells Frodo that Gollum has been following them, Frodo says “It’s a pity Bilbo didn’t kill him when he had the chance“ and Gandolf says “Pity? It was pity that stayed Bilbo‘s hand. Many that live deserve death. Some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them, Frodo? Do not be too eager to deal out death in judgment. Even the very wise cannot see all ends, my heart tells me that Gollum has some part to play, yet, for good, or ill before this is over. The pity of Bilbo me rule the fate of many.”. The point being that it’s not always battles and kings and chosen ones who determine the feet of the world, sometimes history hinges upon small moments that have huge, unpredictable consequences. So I think it is fair that Draco and his mother played a significant role in saving the world.

[@MiljaHahto]

I think Lucius was too much of a coward to change his path before the battle in the end. And even then it was probably Narcissa who talked him to it. There were signs he wasn't quite happy with Voldemort anymore, but to admit you actually want to change side take courage, and to act upon it takes even more. I don't have respect for Lucius. Draco, instead, already goes against what his parents have been teaching him, although subtle at this point, and the turmoil in his head is even bigger. And he's still a boy, still very much under the influence of his parents, so that's quite something. He actually lets Voldemort down in a major way 3 times in the story. Not murdering, not identifying Harry, and finally not changing to death eaters' side before the battle.

[@pinheadlarry3992]

I think Draco liked his life at Hogwarts and everything the Death Eaters stood for he realized defiled all the stability and comfort he had in his life. His family was wealthy, he was well-respected at school, he was a good student, Draco had such a comfortable structure all-around his life. But once the Death Eaters came into his life it all disappeared. I think Draco didn't turn Harry in because he knew Harry being alive was the only shot he had at getting his life back to normal.

[@JohnDoe-pd4jo]

Well said.

[@michellechouinard4958]

My thoughts exactly! Spot-on.

[@janesmith4048]

Great explanation. He realized the happiness he can have being number 2 in school than being number 1 hated.

[@all-caps3927]

I don't understand why it was down to Draco to be honest. I think the biggest plot hole in the series is uncovered here - why didn't Lucius or Belletrix recognise Hermione and Ron. We know for a fact Belletrix recognised Hermione as she inscribed 'Mudblood' on her forearm. So surely she would've known that she was accompanied by Harry, as only 2 years prior she fought the exact same group of people in the ministry of magic with Lucius. It just seems so improbable for them not to call Voldemort in this situation, as even if they were certain it wasn't harry and therefore didn't want to disturb Voldemort, they could've called him to torture Ron and Hermione and find Harry's location as they would've almost certainly known where Harry was given how tight their friendship was. Biggest plot hole of the series for sure.

[@pinheadlarry3992]

@@all-caps3927 I think after the blunders from Draco's mom & dad throughout the series, Voldemort had zero faith & trust in them and was willing to only listen to Draco because after "infiltrating Hogwarts and killing Dumbledore," he thought Draco was the only one worth listening to. That and i think Bellatrix might've threatened to kill them if they tried speaking up to inform Voldemort about Ron & Hermoine again. I don't remember for certain but i think they were both silenced from speaking up due to failed assignments.

[@ExpHosed_]

As everyone agrees, Draco knew that was Harry without a doubt, but saw that the only chance against Voldermort was Harry and he gave him an out. My theory on Lucius is that he also knew it was Harry, but since Draco already said "NO", he had to roll with it. If not, he calls his son out in front of everyone, that gets reported back to Voldermort and he's dead anyways for trying to hide OR being incompetent.

[@halinaqi2194]

Exactly, Lucia's isn't stupid, but just cowardly and bigoted. He likely knew that was Harry but loved his son and family more than his fear of voldemort or his loyalty to him.

[@joannegregory3024]

As did Dracos mother in the forest when she told everyone Harry was dead

[@all-caps3927]

I don't understand why it was down to Draco to be honest. I think the biggest plot hole in the series is uncovered here - why didn't Lucius or Belletrix recognise Hermione and Ron. We know for a fact Belletrix recognised Hermione as she inscribed 'Mudblood' on her forearm. So surely she would've known that she was accompanied by Harry, as only 2 years prior she fought the exact same group of people in the ministry of magic with Lucius. It just seems so improbable for them not to call Voldemort in this situation, as even if they were certain it wasn't harry and therefore didn't want to disturb Voldemort, they could've called him to torture Ron and Hermione and find Harry's location as they would've almost certainly known where Harry was given how tight their friendship was. Biggest plot hole of the series for sure.

[@hugegamer8004]

I think while bellatrix was bad, she probably also lived in fear of Voldemort. Therefore expressing an opinion that differed from her family members was not in her favour.@@all-caps3927

[@elijahjames8837]

The thing is, though, Draco Malfoy, even though he is a complete jerk he is not a psychopath. He has empathy when it comes to actually destroying someone.

[@RabbitsInBlack]

He literally couldn't hurt an old man who accepted his fate.

[@neilprice513]

I always thought that Draco never subscribed to the Death Eater's dogma, but instead went along with it to get his parent's approval. Later on he discovered what the Death Eater's really were, never really knowing the horror of their true nature, as all he had to go on were what his parent's told him about them clouded with their own nostalgia.

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

I think Draco still subscribed to the pure blood ideology, but once in “the club”, he found he didn’t like the tactics…much like Regulus so many years earlier. I think he regretted joining and wanted out, but didn’t know how to do it without getting killed. In the end, he understood that it was Harry who was right. Though he could never bring himself to admit it, he grew to understand and even respect Harry, after seeing him destroy Voldy.

[@all-caps3927]

I don't understand why it was down to Draco to be honest. I think the biggest plot hole in the series is uncovered here - why didn't Lucius or Belletrix recognise Hermione and Ron. We know for a fact Belletrix recognised Hermione as she inscribed 'Mudblood' on her forearm. So surely she would've known that she was accompanied by Harry, as only 2 years prior she fought the exact same group of people in the ministry of magic with Lucius. It just seems so improbable for them not to call Voldemort in this situation, as even if they were certain it wasn't harry and therefore didn't want to disturb Voldemort, they could've called him to torture Ron and Hermione and find Harry's location as they would've almost certainly known where Harry was given how tight their friendship was. Biggest plot hole of the series for sure.

[@hjpngmw]

After having lived in the same house with Voldie and his DE's, Draco had realized what it would truly mean if Voldie succeeded and, silently, defected.

[@StraitKnopfler]

For a second I thought that said silently defecated.

[@zibix4562]

@@StraitKnopfler probably that too

[@adenbishop9683]

Uh uh, and that's why he fixed that passage to Hogwarts and allowed DEs to enter. Truly brave stance.

[@hjpngmw]

@@adenbishop9683That event happened after Draco had only lived one summer with a Voldemort in hiding. The next summer/school year, under the evil bastard's open reign of terror, Draco's eyes were opened to the reality of the world controlled by Voldemort.

[@aquamarin4851]

I think with many ideologies people, who agree with the views might not agree with violance to establish them. Draco had seen the killings of Dumbledore and Charity Burbage and had been forced to torture people so he by that time might have found himself exactely in that position.

[@resdyadarkwatch8588]

I feel that though they were rivals, there was respect in with the issues. Because of that Draco couldn't let Harry suffer what he had seen others go through.

[@jaredc5169]

There is a difference between hating someone and disliking them.

[@tigerz8174]

😂😂 Draco was jelly or Harry and realized Voldemort was a user

[@SJ-di5zu]

There was no respect between the two lol. Maybe Draco respected Harry, but Harry did not respect Malfoy at all, and for good reason

[@macggnore]

I think it's more that Draco was arrogant and sided with Voldemort because his parents did. After seeing what Voldemort is actually like, he realized he was wrong and secretely wanted Harry to win.

[@CampNou1999]

lol stop it. Draco got afraid himself of who Harry was facing and decided he'd rather Harry win. That's all. He was and always had been, in fact, a coward.

[@iowaredneck9416]

At school they were bitter rivals, but a hex here and a curse there does not compare to real torture. Also in the beginning Draco did offer friendship to Harry. While they were on opposite sides, they would have to face each other after the war. A deep dislike for each other is a far cry from wanting to be the reason for being tortured to death. Draco is not nearly as evil as the other death eaters. The only reason Draco was a death eater was as punishment to his father

[@elmermedina1713]

I think this kind of parallels with James risking his neck to save Snape from Remus

[@alinamagda2547]

​@@elmermedina1713 no, I don't think so. James was cocky and arrogant, and he merely saved Severus because he wanted to impress Lilly. James knew that Severus was one of Lilly's friends and thought: "Oh, maybe I should rescue 'Snivellus' and brag to Lilly that I did it. Maybe she'll agree to go out with me." But that's just it. With Draco... it's another thing: he was so sick and tired of Voldemort that he may secretly have wanted Harry to win. There was actually some good in him. That's why I think he didn't betray him, and that's why he stopped Crabbe from cursing the trio. And another difference: while James Potter CHOSE to bully others without having been even told that half-bloods and muggle-borns were skum, Draco WAS TAUGHT to hate and treat poorly all members of the Wizarding World who were not pure-bloods. So... no parallel here. Sorry...😅

[@joeysfieldherpingadventure8861]

@@alinamagda2547 uh... James saved Snape because, while he was a bully and prick, he wasn't a murderer. He also didn't want Sirius and Remus to be killers, imagine Remus having to live with the knowledge he killed someone. James might have been a jerk to Snape but he wasn't a monster. Also James grew out of his bullying phase, he left high school behind, whereas Snape couldn't let it go and grow up. Draco is like James in that regard. There's no room for a petty school rivalry when there are much greater stakes.

[@zibix4562]

@@joeysfieldherpingadventure8861 It is always the easiest for the bully to move on, while the victim is left with scars and unresolved problems from being belittled and fcuked with constantly. So yeah maybe snape had a hard time moving on.

[@joeysfieldherpingadventure8861]

Snape was cruel and evil without James being a bully. BOTH were bullies. and No, we are all responsible for our choices. Snape was a grown ass man abusing children that he held responsible for the failures of their parents(or in Neville's case, not being targeted by Voldemort instead of Harry) The man was no saint and was not going to be a good person if James had never bullied him. Does that excuse James's actions? No, of course not, but Snape isn't an innocent victim, bullied into being the vindictive man we know... he's just a bad man. But he's a bad man, who happened to love a woman enough, that he hates the man who killed her more than he hates everyone else. @@zibix4562 It's crazy how someone can think James is the worst man in history, yet act like Snape is a misunderstood emo boy who just needs a hug. Dude was a wizard N*zi, and While James hated Snape he clearly was every bit the hero and friend that others held him up to be. He befriended a werewolf, and even went as far as to become an Animagus just so he wouldn't have to suffer alone during the full moon. He was like a brother to Sirius and welcomed him to his home when his own family disowned him. James had flaws, the way he treated Snape was certainly one of them, but he was not a bad guy, and his good deeds FAR surpassed Snapes prior to Lily's death. Heck, James went to fight Voldemort, without his wand to buy his wife and kid time to escape. willingly marched himself to his own death for them. He grew up. Just like Draco and Harry grew up, and left the petty school bullying behind them in face of actual issues(aka Voldemort)

[@yoko3182]

The running theme throughout the Harry Potter series is that love is the strongest magic of all, and Voldemort's inability to understand or feel love is what led to his downfall multiple times. In this case, i believe it's Draco's love for his family, especially after seeing the living hell they've gone through since Voldemort 's return, that led him to ultimately betray the Death Eater ideals.

[@jimmcclements5229]

You make a lot of good points. I want to believe that Draco isn't all bad and that he didn't really want to be a Death Eater he was forced into it. In the beginning, he seemed happy about it, but then when he saw that it wasn't as glamorous that he had his doubts. He seemed undecided as to where his loyalties lie in the battle of Hogwarts.

[@dieengie337]

I think that Draco was simply too much influenced by his parents and as he was growing up he started to form his own character and personality that is deep down good, unlike his fathers.

[@Delbel_Giggles91]

That’s what I believe as well.

[@JustyHakubi]

I agree that Draco was seriously questioning his life choices. He wanted to escape it all.

[@anastas2011ify]

9:10 “Dark times lie ahead of us, and there must be a time when we must choose between what is easy and what is right” Albus Dumbledore

[@weswheel4834]

I think it was a risk/reward thing. In a world with polyjuice potion, Draco could never be 100% sure that it was Potter. And after his experience in the last 2 films I doubt that he was expecting much of a reward. Fixing the vanishing cabinet and letting the death eaters into Hogwarts seems to have been far more difficult and I didn't get the impression that he got much of a reward for that.

[@adenbishop9683]

You know what, polijuice is a great point there, thanks

[@SingaporeLyfe]

All the possibilities may have combined to influence the change in Draco. I thought it might also be that Snape may have told him in some way to not sell Harry to Voldemort

[@markuszwerger3821]

I Always fehlt Like Tom Feltons expressions in this Scene were so good, I could almost feel his longing for another world, a world in which Voldemort was defeated and therefore Harry succeded. So it Always seemed obvious to me (sorry but the Scene from the Film is more present in my mind, as it was a really moving one) He Had recognized Harry, but (For the First time in His Life?) Took a decisione Fully on His own, following what He hoped For. Thanks for explaining my thoughts to myself, I prefer the third possibility, great Video!

[@DocBree13]

I agree - he’s one of the best actors in a cast of great actors, imo.

[@amberallen2994]

I always thought that it was because Harry had saved Draco's life when the Room of Requirement caught on fire due to Crabbe's Fiendfire spell. At least that's what I hope. It would make Draco even more heroic.

[@KDBetter]

But Draco lied about recognizing Harry before that

[@amberallen2994]

@@KDBetter OIC

[@colehunt4272]

Yes this happened before the Room of Reqirement. But then it would be interesting to ask, is that why Harry goes back to save Draco in the ROR?

[@martijnstuart815]

I think Harry would have saved him either way. For the same reasons mentiones in the video.

[@bailatwerski2951]

It was all fun and games for Draco until Voldermort's return. Watching his father being belittled, Being forced to find a way to kill his head master and repair a vanishing cabinet and then deatheaters entering the school and maiming and attempting to kill and then watching one of his own teachers killed in his house of safety. It was all too much for Draco. Draco did know that it was Harry Potter but did not want his blood on his hands. And so Draco lied and said he didn't know and he couldn't be sure. It was a defining moment for Draco to become a decent adult. With decency Draco marries a goodhearted seeet woman. Draco & his wife raises their son with kindness and acceptance of others. That's my theory.

[@zibix4562]

It was said he no longer put emphasis on blood purity and even though his parents were not approving at first, they did come around so they wouldnt lose their son and their grandchild.

[@crobinson2624]

I think Draco knew it was Harry and wished to allow Harry and his friends to continue to disrupt Voldemort’s plans even to the point of his downfall, because Draco is aware how much power and influence Voldemort has over his family and doesn’t like it.

[@ronakdave4466]

I simply think that Draco was so afraid of Voldemort that he did not wanted to see/meet him if possible. That would explain the use of the word 'afraid' so much there. Plus, remember how Draco was not in the battle in book 7, instead he was inside the school, looking for Harry. Besides, he was 17 years old and this type of thinking happens at that age, trust me as I myself have experienced such thing once.

[@TheLastCrow5150]

Draco had grown up knowing his dad had been a death eater held him in high regards. Malfoy would flee at violence anytime it popped up throughout the whole series. We saw how much Draco suffered when given the task to kill Dumbledore. He also saw his House Head kill Dumbledore. He realized that he'd dived into a frightening world and couldn't handle it. As much as he rivaled Harry, he couldn't bring himself to put him on the chopping block. Draco seemed to think much more like his mom than his dad. He definitely knew it was Harry becahse it was brought up in the hidden room (don't remember the name).

[@bungalowfeuhler1541]

I always thought that he was terrified of being wrong. But it’s nice to think that he was just trying to give Harry a few extra minutes. The Room of Requirement scene makes it hard to believe that he would pass up the opportunity to regain his families status with the Dark Lord.

[@mrD66M]

Draco's character arc is probably one of the most realistically human in all the series. We can talk about Dumbledore and Snape's actions as major reasons why Voldemort was defeated in the end, but I feel like people like Malfoy and his mother, Slughorn or Regulus played underrated but critical roles

[@Handymancan13]

The fact you put the Malfoys in the same camp as regulus and slughorn is asinine. Draco did nothing good compared to the other 2. Regulus took a horcrux and slughorn was a decent person and aided in the battle of Hogwarts. Like come on the Malfoys did absolutely nothing

[@alinamagda2547]

​@@Handymancan13 absolutely nothing you say? I seriously doubt that! For one thing, Draco saved Harry's life TWICE (once in the Room of Requirement when he stopped Crabbe from cursing the trio, and a second time in Malfoy Manor when he refused to betray Harry - which was a risky thing to do with all the Death Eaters in his house) and then Narcissa Malfoy literally LIED TO VOLDEMORT'S FACE about Harry being dead, thus giving Harry a chance to defeat Voldemort. You think that's nothing? Get real! The Malfoys did incredibly risky things!

[@Handymancan13]

@@alinamagda2547 you’re uneducated on this topic. Do your HW. Draco doesn’t say it isn’t Harry. He’s hesitant, he’s like “um, maybe it could be it’s hard to tell” and the only reason Voldemort isn’t called right away is because Bellatrix thinks they broke into her vault. And Narcissa only “lets Harry go” so she could go find Draco in the castle, not out of goodness. And how are you using the room of requirement as an example when Draco brings Crabbe and Goyle there to GET HARRY! The only reason Draco ever waivered is the same reason the Malfoys did nothing after Voldemort fell the first time. They’re cowards and losers who hide behind the biggest bully on the playground. They only “switched” at the end cause they fell out of favor and lost rank and power amongst the death eaters. Come on now stop defending racist terrorists and saying their “good and misunderstood” when all they were doing was saving their own worthless necks

[@MiljaHahto]

Calm down. There are signs all along the last 2 books that Draco was growing uneasy with the Death eaters, uneasy with the thought of Voldemort ruling the world. Obviously he wasn't an all-good character. But the fact he isn't an all-evil either makes him more realistic. And yes, Narcissa probably only lies about Harry being dead as a kind of thank you for the information about Draco, possibly not thinking it would make a difference in the fate of Harry, but it's actually a critical act.

[@MiljaHahto]

You don't need to be heroic to end up doing something critical.

[@colejohnson5026]

It's hard to reconcile the scene where Malfoy let Harry off the hook with later on in the story where he tries capturing Harry alive for Voldemort in the Room Of Requirement. So, I usually assume that Draco wasn't 100% sure it was Harry in the mansion scene. That was the real reason for his inaction. He didn't want to risk bringing yet another failure upon his family.

[@Matty272]

Because Draco was all talk, no action. He WANTED to be evil, but he just couldn’t be evil in the end.

[@Kanikanihia]

I remember something one of the Death Eaters said in the astronomy tower, when they were goading Draco to kill Dumbledore, “He doesn’t have the stomach, just like his father.” That really says a lot about both him and his dad. Just one short sentence and we know more than we would had we received a whole character sheet for both Lucius and Draco.

[@weswheel4834]

Great video, I’ve watched the rest of it now and you make some good points. I’d forgotten that he basically condemned Dumbledore and didn’t get much for it. Re Lucius, I think that by inviting Draco to make the diagnosis he avoided the risk himself. As you say Lucius one Harry to be as sure as Draco could be I think, but in the magical world neither of them could be 100% sure. I also think that if they did correctly identify Harry to V then Lucius would get more of the credit regardless of which of them said it was Harry.

[@all-caps3927]

I don't understand why it was down to Draco to be honest. I think the biggest plot hole in the series is uncovered here - why didn't Lucius or Belletrix recognise Hermione and Ron. We know for a fact Belletrix recognised Hermione as she inscribed 'Mudblood' on her forearm. So surely she would've known that she was accompanied by Harry, as only 2 years prior she fought the exact same group of people in the ministry of magic with Lucius. It just seems so improbable for them not to call Voldemort in this situation, as even if they were certain it wasn't harry and therefore didn't want to disturb Voldemort, they could've called him to torture Ron and Hermione and find Harry's location as they would've almost certainly known where Harry was given how tight their friendship was. Biggest plot hole of the series for sure.

[@duewhat9815]

Hatred is taught where kindness is inherent in everything. Draco was taught by his father to feel contempt and treat those who are different terribly, where 'as Harry's willpower and kindness constantly overshadowing and proving everything his father ever taught him wrong showed him the compassion within himself before his fathers' hatred was fully implanted and sprouting in his personality.

[@oof2073]

I am completely convinced Draco was trying to please his father (and mother) until it got too much. He just wanted not to be pressured into becoming a Death Eater, become a wizard like all the students around him. He was born into a Death Eaters family and never chose to go that path. I'm sure he chose "I don't know" since he couldn't be blamed as much for it as if giving a definite answer, even tho he probably recognized Harry within seconds. They know each other well enough, he'll know his figure, voice and clothes. That moment of recognizing each other in a situation of this huge threat lingering sounds so so scary. I love hp

[@Aemilius46]

Draco knew it was Harry, even Harry said so in the Battle of Hogwarts!

[@patrickdematosribeiro1845]

I am sure Draco recognized Harry. In the books he also "didn't recognize" Hermione, although she was not disfigured. However, I think the truth is closer to option two than three. What people who say Draco secretely changed sides ignore is that he ambushed Harry in the room of requirement during the battle of Hogwarts and tried to get the diadem. This shows that his desire for glory was still greater than his desire to see Voldemort loose.

[@tulsajesusfreak489]

Didn't he go after Harry to get his wand back?

[@patrickdematosribeiro1845]

In the books he also told Crabbe and Goyle that he wanted the diadem. Besides taking his wand back would mean that Harry would have to fight Voldemort without a wand which obeyed him. Draco knew what kind of disadvantage this would be. If he had really wanted Harry to defeat Voldemort he would have waited until the battle was over and tried to get his wand afterwards. At the very least he prioretized his own desires over the victory against Voldemort. This is why I don't believe he really changed sides.@@tulsajesusfreak489

[@meerkat4292]

The real question is how nobody knew a counter jinx spell or magic/medicine to cure stings so they could get a proper look in the first place

[@grec.]

I agree. Draco did no longer subscribed to the ideology that Voldemort and Deatheaters represented. He didn't want to have more blood on his hands (yes, he has blood on his hands since the Battle of the Astronomy Tower had a few injured and one death.)

[@SerenityBane]

It really makes Lucius look like a coward. He wouldn’t confirm it because if he was wrong, he’d be at the mercy of Voldemort’s wrath. So instead he puts his son in that position?!? I’m not even a huge Draco apologist, but that makes my blood boil.

[@Stephen10188]

The evnets of HBP have always led me to belive that Malfoy Conciously chose not to identify Harry in DH. He knew it was harry, but didnt want harry dead. I think reasons 2 and 3 you identified are both partially true. Draco was not an evil character, and actually become an infinitely more interesting character with this decision, he was human and not irredemable, not a hero but not all bad either. The sight ambiguity in his reasoning, and the mutiple possible reasons for this decision, create a nuence in his story that is better than any 1 clear reason could provide. He had his reasons (Plural), and there was an not-insignificant element of doing the right thing in there.

[@TheWoodcookie]

I feel like it was pretty obvious that he felt if he was ever going to get out of living in fear this would be his only chance to get that freedom. Malfoy never even got a chance to make his own decisions his whole life. He was pretty much told to hate Harry and etc. It was Malfoy own way of standing up to everyone and making his own choice.

[@ka0t1k1]

Draco was under the impression that he and his family would be elevated upon voldemorts return and live an extravagant life. When voldemort came back he ran his followers like a prison gang

[@dg20120]

Rowling based Voldemort and the death eaters on the multitude of totalitarian regimes throughout history. Being in a dictator’s inner circle could bring power and privilege or it could bring mortal danger. I think Draco saw that his family was losing power and coming closer to being purged.

[@mainlymonte6408]

Brilliant deduction! 100% agree with everything, I know believe it was the ladder. Draco was more complex than what was perceived, and you have made that very clear, in a perfect way! Can you do more videos like this on characters “psychosis”?

[@SubjectDelta20]

He was already very mentally/emotionally exhausted by the time Dumbledore was killed, that just pushed him over the edge I think. Despite the bullying and racism, he was never actually the type. Just forced into that mould by his father. It's actually sad to think about how Draco's life would've played out without Lucius looming over him with that f--king cane. But, I think it was in the James Potter series by G.Norman Lippert (sanctioned & cannon'd by JKR herself) Draco grew up to be one of if not THE greatest potions master alive, even better than Snape. He even developed a potion that essentially cured werewolves, like a permanent wolfsbane potion.

[@miket.220]

Yeah, theory #3. Being a 'death eater' sounds great, until you really get up close and see how the sausage is ground up. Seeing his dad treated like a lackey by the guy they are trying to put in charge prob didn't help.

[@rabbitcreative]

Live vegan.

[@GusMcGuire]

Of course, the irony here is that, in choosing not to betray Harry, Draco also (unknowingly) saved his own life. Had he identified Harry for elimination by Voldemort, it wouldn't have taken the latter long to work out why the Elder Wand didn't obey him and who its true master was. He mistakenly decided it was Snape but, once Snape was out of the way, the truth would have been easy to work out, and Draco would have been doomed. The entire outcome of the Wizarding War was arguably decided by Draco in that one moment of hesitation.

[@VaBeachBeach2971]

I think he did it on purpose. He knew it was Harry. You have to remember while Draco’s whole family was involved with Voldemort he didn’t really envy Voldemort like the others did. He also had a responsibility to his family so he couldn’t just say “No”. I think this was his way of redeeming himself. He didn’t want to be on bad side but he was obligated by his family. That’s all.

[@scottleitner4801]

The thing is, Lucius should have been able to identify Harry himself...he'd been near Harry enough to know

[@KDBetter]

Yeah, once the Malfoy’s weee being punished, it was no longer fair or fun anymore. Draco was like Harry and considered Hogwarts his home. He also got to live in a world without Voldermort so when things got too real, he wasn’t down with it.

[@StraitKnopfler]

You can only 'betray' a friend.

[@kgiese9]

Always took it as Malfoy having more respect for Harry and his classmates than Voldemort, who expected loyalty from the Malfoys despite his treatment of them. Being sent on a suicide mission to kill the most powerful wizard in the world and maybe in history was the final straw, as it was clear what Voldemort thought of the Malfoys and Draco individually (i.e he despised them). So why bring about Voldemort’s victory when all Draco wanted was to live comfortably? Why give that level of respect and care to a guy who has no respect or care for you and why leave a kid you’ve grown up with, despite your differences, to be tortured to death, particularly when that kid is the key to the downfall of your own bully? This is Draco’s small bit of redemption and is part of why at the end of the series, Harry and Draco share a respectful nod, free of the sneering, hate-filled behavior that had been put upon Draco by his scared, cowed father. Finally, the two, having shared in the experience of the war, could put aside their distrust, their animosity, their biases, and allow their own children to live in a world free of such callous things.

[@hunterkiller1440]

My head canon is that Malfoy would like to play two sides of the war as a backdoor, just like his ancestors before them, making gallons out of Muggle allies.

[@scottb4540]

Once they were found with the sword of griff you’d think they would have been able to erase any doubt they had about it being harry

[@lordnul1708]

my original thought on it was basically "he wants to *actually* beat Harry, and only on his terms, not on Voldemort's, let alone some random Death Eater's."

[@joannegregory3024]

I think Draco wasn’t a killer, he couldn’t kill Dumbledore, i think he was torn between his loyalty to his family and his conscience, he was terrified, he s a kid. His mother also told Voldermort Harry was dead in the forest when she knew he was alive. I think the Malfoys wanted out but were scared

[@kentara_excelsior]

The only reason why I cringe at the Malfoy Manor scene is the convenient plot line for Draco to be home from Hogwarts only to "not" identify him. The are only home twice a year, Christmas and summer holidays. This wasn't any of those times.

[@carlosbenjaminturner5123]

"And watched Charity Burbage being k1lled in her house"...👀 "in her house..."🤔 In HER house?!? 🤨 😂😂😂 Now, jokes aside, this is a question that comes to my mind every time I listen to this theory: If Draco was so keen to spare Harry's life in one way or any other, why did he pursued him later at the castle during the Battle of Hogwarts??? What I think is that he was more eager to stay alive and keep his family out of any more trouble, rather than going for the glory of bringing Potter to the Dark Lord. He was so scared of him that the idea of confirming the identity of somebody, even when he wasn't 100% sure, was terrifying, I reckon. Just imagine, if the boy that was brought up turned out to be a decoy and then Voldemort was summoned just to find out he was deceived by a mistake made by the Malfoys... Well, the immense amount of wrath unleashed by Voldemort over the whole family would be, I say, EPIC! And that was something Draco would definitely didn't want to be responsible for. 💁‍♀️ This action wasn't one of redemption out of mercy and heroism, but it purely was one of self preservation out of fear and cowardice. 🤷‍♀️

[@Kazanko28]

Draco, was immature, he liked to pretend to be a bad guy, but he really didn't understand what was required to truly be what he was pretending to be. He f'd around and found out though.

[@Woogoo336]

This actually points out one of the reasons voldemort was doomed to fail. He sows so much fear in literally everyone that even those closest to him are mired with inaction and constantly betraying him in small ways. His presence destorys all loyalty.

[@lizbird9628]

Let's just take a moment to remember that HP face is all over posters so he is recognisable in general. Draco's father, Lucius has met him in person a few times also, and was unsure. Bellatrix also met him at the ministry during Order of the Phoenix. He may well have been just as Confused by Hermione's charm.

[@mecahhannah]

Awesome as always thanks

[@MegaCosmoVision]

Draco always wanted to be Harrys friend from the beginning

[@MrKingYuji]

A big reason is that Draco was condemned to death the moment he joined the Death Eaters; he probably learned quickly he was expected to be killed. And yet Dumbledore of all people offered him mercy and sanctuary. That moment made Draco rethink his allegiance.

[@lollipop1894]

Love this video great take

[@kimberlyballard6298]

Draco may have also been grateful that Harry came back for him when the Room of Requirement caught fire.

[@digixivatechnologies]

Afterall they grow together ❤❤❤ how can he draco was incomplete without harry

[@54raynor]

Draco didn’t identify Harry for the exact same reason Lucius didn’t identify Harry: he wasn’t absolutely certain, and knew exactly how bad it would be if he were wrong. And while I think Draco was definitely having second thoughts about Voldemort and the Death Eaters, he still wasn’t above selling out Harry and his friends. That is why he went to the Room of Requirement with Crabbe and Goyle while the trio went after the Diadem.

[@dsanchezbrett]

Of course he knew it was Harry. He was with Hermione and Ron and that was good evidence. Draco was clever enought to deduce it. Draco just didn't want to be envolve in Harry (and friends)' death. Cowardy or lack of convince about Death Eaters, we can't be sure... but I have not doubts that Draco knew it was Harry and he didn't say it even if he was scared of his Father and Aunt... He probably was punished with his family because Harry and friends scaped and he lost his wand in the process too, that was a real problem because his father didn't have a wand.

[@robertmcclain2679]

Draco woked up to the nightmare

[@TimberlakeTigerGirl]

Harry and Draco can hex each other into next Tuesday but they would never actually try to kill each other. Even when Harry hit Draco with Septemsempra he was really regretful of his actions as it was done out of anger. I just wish there could of been a way to get the dark mark off Draco so he could defect and join the Order. He was a character that deserved a redemption arc.

[@jayt9608]

The dedication to Pure Blood status was of old standing, as we see in Salazaar Slytherin's holding to that position before the founding of Hogwarts. An actual campaign based on that bigotry was new, as is seen in that the Pure Blood biased Grindlewald was not opposed to taking "inferior" wizards and witches into his army as he was actually more concerned with muggles potentially killing off the wizarding world, nor was he necessarily in favor of using Voldemort's tactics, and we see that the split on his favor was much closer to even than the situation with Voldemort, and the war lasted much longer. That being said, we see that believers in blood purity, such as Regulous Black, Narcissa and Draco Maloy, Fudge, and Horace Slughorn among others were not at all in favor of Voldemort's tactics. Even the creator of the list of pure blood families allowed for a means by which a family off the list could be reintigrated, though it would take several generations, four or five if memory serves, to regain the status, which shows that while bigoted, even he was not in favor of utter slaughter or confinement. Voldemort chose to tap the most easily corrupted blood purists in his drive for power. Adfitionally, we see any number of times that Draco is a coward. He sees the direction the war is going, and he is miserably attempting to straddle a razorwire fence with no one telling him what to do. In this instance, he knows the truth, but lacks moral fortitude to either expose or protect Harry, so he weakly demures and retreats, which is likely for the best as an explicit denial might have caused Greyback to try another test, and approval would have gotten Harry killed.

[@mistermyself1128]

Malfoy saw how fast things were moving and he was terrified himself. They were kids a week ago and now they are at war.

[@teddyhh9947]

I think draco remembers the time with Harry as a period in his life where he was much more innocent. And thus felt filthy when being tasked to destroy a remembrance of his innocence.

[@maciejkaczmarek3036]

Can you do "What if Voldemort didnt kill Lily and James and instead used Crucio and tried to kill only Harry (or Just kill him first) ?" Would the protection still work or did they have to die for Harry to live ?

[@r2020E]

Voldemort being Voldemort would always have gone for the killing curse. One of the rules of the Harry Potter world is that prophecies have to be true

[@Dk-hh3uc]

Too keep it long: Draco has everything> Draco father failed the dark lord> Draco lose everything> Draco has to become a magical hitman to save everyone he loves and if he fails, either gets punished or he dies or someone he loves dies>harry discoverd what he was up to and actually did kill him if he bleeded out completely, however he was saved by snape>and professor snape looked him in the eye>Draco failed to kill Dumbledore because he could not bring it up to kill someone who could save him and his father and mother>it was at that point when he lost all hope, but when he sees harry still willing to fight the dark lord a small chance to gain everything back what he lost would, mean the world to him and so it became that Draco Malfoy has gained the title of biggest gambler ever,draco mom tried to gamble to, because she wanted to know why here son was sent on mission with 2 other death eaters and why Voldemort was pissed off and seemed out of touch and why he was alive and free to come walk here in the forest and not defend himself, surely all death eaters wonderd why the hell he does not go straight after the boy with his duelling skills it should be easy, but clearly every death eater teleported away since harry died from a unforgiveable curse and survived 2x, first voldemort had alot of valid reasons to explain why the killing curse didn't work, why he could not kill him with his hands, why he could not kill with his wand. So voldemort realized to late he was hoarcux

[@fredyphoenix]

There are so many great comments and I can’t argue with the logic. I think it boiled down to the Malfoy family was so far in the doghouse there was literally no way out. Even if they had delivered Potter they would still be punished. With the dark lord there is no going back into his good graces, no matter what. Plus the risk of being wrong or losing Potter again, they just didn’t want to even be in his presence anymore. Self preservation all the way.

[@eenjaria_7136]

I think Lucius didn't recognise them was bcuz he didn't see the kids after the chamber of secrets incident. (Unless I'm forgetting something. Do correct me if I am.) And as for Malfoy, I think and that point Malfoy and his mother were like prisoners among the death eaters. Malfoy was still pretty young, so it would of course hit him hard when things became so real so suddenly for him. Bullying someone is one thing, but you need a different level of insanity to be okay with people getting tortured and killed around you, or by you. The 1st mission Malfoy was given as a new death eater, included him killing Dumbledore. And as he was preparing for the death eaters to infulitrate Hogwarts, he had to keep thinking about it, and the more the dread grew in his conscience. You could see how he didn't want to do it when the time came. He was a bully, but he wouldn't want anyone dead, or tortured horribly. Another thing with him was that he saw how Voldemort treated Lucius, the one person Malfoy looked upto the most, and realised what was becoming of their family that he was so proud of. When Malfoy was young, his father likely glorified what it was like being part of Voldemort's army, and Malfoy thought that being wicked was cool(since his father, who was his role model, was like that). But he'd never imagined how it really was like, and only realised the truth when his family was trapped with Voldemort. So when he saw Harry, he knew that if he told the truth, his one chance to escape and save himself from that darkness would be gone. But he said, "I don't know," bcuz 1. If voldy found out he's lying, he'd be killed. 2. He wasn't sure what to do with himself.

[@johndanvers2379]

Because Draco wasn't evil. He was a bit of a bully but loads of kids can be bullies when they're young and naive. There's a difference between a school rivalry and wanting to actually torture and murder them.

[@edman1357]

Rowling's greatest failure was not to have a Slytherin student character's redemption based purely on repulsion to what Voldemort stood for. Her second greatest failure was not having a student character from one of the other three houses betray, deeply betray, the heroes.

[@argentvixen]

That is funny. I would say the first reason is the most likely. I don't think he was mentally or emotionally equipped to have the other two motivations. He was just scared. Self service is all he has ever known. Yes, the previous year was devastating but he showed no signs that those events made him more compassionate or selfless. When weighed with lack of other evidence to the contrary, 'I don't know' supports self preservation and leaning toward unwillingness to take responsibility.

[@rumblebudgie2085]

I believe he didn't betray him because it wasn't in the script of the movie to do so...

[@AliceBlackwood]

I think Draco hated and feared Voldemort and wanted his downfall after everything that happened to his family and was willing to save Harry's life because if indeed he was the chosen one destined to defeat Voldemort then he at least didn't want to give him out.

[@mathewrivera6492]

Probably a case of him just following his parents’ footsteps rather than actual loyalty to Voldemort and the cause. If he was loyal to Voldemort he wouldn’t have been so hesitant to kill dumbledore and probably would have tried to kill Harry himself. I think as an adult he’s realized the error of his ways like in Cursed Child but it’s confusing exactly when he got to that point, ‘cause in the start of half blood Prince he petrified Harry and stomped on his head

[@adenbishop9683]

Oh thanks for reminding me of that!

[@clairedisapia]

Maybe Draco realizes why are all these adults afraid is my classmate? Draco had enough of this crap and he wasn’t going to help them in anyway

[@michellechouinard4958]

I agree with others that Draco hated Voldemort after all that had happened. He'd gone from being well-cared for, popular, and happy to being forced to torture people, to living in terror and shame. He wanted Voldemort gone, and Harry was his only hope. He wouldn't openly help Harry, because his goal is self-preservation, but he also was reluctant to let Voldemort get his hands on Harry. And he didn't say "no, this isn't Potter," because that could result in his punishment for being wrong. And the truth was bound to come out once the stinging hex wore off, so he wasn't going to risk that.

[@HamguyBacon]

they did Draco a disservice by removing him throwing his wand to harry.

[@timelessperspective]

This is really really simple. Draco always felt the pride and pressure of his lineage, but he was also fighting the good fight within himself. Actually betraying Harry would have been a direct conflict of who he really is, not the ego he puts on display for the world to see. Deep down, Draco just wanted to be friends with Harry or at the very least highly respected him, but the world and status wouldn't allow it. Identifying Harry to be slaughtered would've been the death of that part of himself, of his innocence.

[@katelijnesommen]

It's one thing to be childhood enemies and quite another to actually want someone brutally murdered

[@adenbishop9683]

Which he did in first, second, fourth and sixth year.

[@benwienen7988]

But why did he tried to stop Harry when he wanted to get the horcrux in the room of requirement if Draco really wanted that Harry should succeed

[@DonBaker-f8u]

I also think that he was a chicken like his father & wasn't cut out to be a Death Eater. Like he told Dumbledore, he was chosen & if he didn't kill Dumbledore he'd be killed. He didn't have it in him to be a bad guy. He was just a bully at Hogwarts because his only friends were the kids of other Death Eaters & he didn't fit in anywhere else.

[@adenbishop9683]

His first and second encounters with Harry are him insulting Hagrid and Ron and threatening death. In the second year he threw mudblood word like confetti and again threatened death. What a stellar record.

[@StandAsYouAre]

Sadly Draco in his early life was the product of nurture vs nature. Draco wasn’t naturally cruel, it was taught to him. Yet I would say going to Hogwarts and meeting a variety of kids from other backgrounds, plus the escalating danger and stress caused by the realities of the mess his family tied themselves to, that Voldemort is seriously evil. He started changing his views, and had a change of heart. He didn’t become a good person at the end of his Hogwarts years, he just became neutral. Which for a boy who went out of his way making other people’s lives miserable, that’s a pretty big change.

[@MrMalvolio29]

Obviously, at this point in *The Deathly Hallows,* Rowling is further developing the “ethical redemption arc” for Draco that had begun when he had found it--just at the climactic moment of *HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE,*-utterly impossible and even unthinkable to kill Albus Dumbledore. After Hermione disguises Harry with the stinging curse as they are pursued and finally captured by the Werewolf Greyback and the other Snatchers, despite Hermione’s unparalleled magical abilities as a young witch, someone *very*, very familiar with Harry’s face--as Draco clearly was-*could,* despite the swelling, still fairly easily discern Harry’s features. Draco has *finally* begun to ask himself some serious, self-reflective questions--now that Voldemort and the Death Eaters are in power--about whether or not HE, Draco, *truly* WANTS to be a part of this “pureblood magical dream” his Father had always taught him was right…Draco *sees* the thankless humiliation Voldemort pours on his Father; he has seen the headmaster of Hogwarts he at heart deeply respected MURDERED; and he has begun to see that there is absolutely NO depth to which his new leader, Voldemort, will not sink if it means extinguishing any and all witches and wizards, old or young, who are not *perceived* to be as psychotically devoted and obedient to The Dark Lord as his maternal aunt, Bellatrix Lestrange… In other words: DRACO **CHOOSES** NOT TO IDENTIFY HARRY POTTER, BECAUSE AT LONG LAST DRACO REALISES THAT “THE BOY WHO LIVED” *HAD* LIVED BECAUSE OF SOMETHING VOLDEMORT IS DETERMINED TO OVERPOWER AND DESTROY, SOMETHING THAT **EVEN DRACO’s DEATH-EATER PARENTS, LUCIUS AND NARCISSA, CONSIDER PRECIOUS**: Familial Love…….. Recognising and accepting this is what ultimately leads Narcissa to LIE about Harry’s still having life-signs after Voldemort’s Avada-Kedavra killing curse had hit the boy. And in the final stage of the Battle of Hogwarts, it is why (in the *book*) the Malfoys take no more part in the fighting, and shelter with all the wounded good witches and wizards in the dining hall; and it is why (in the final film in the series) the Malfoys walk away from it all, each of them finally realising that being obedient to Voldemort will eventually destroy their own precious Familial Love.

[@darthkahn45]

Draco finishing off Voldemort and saving Harry at the end would have been pretty epic.

[@CarmenElRose]

Lucius reminds me of my polish great grandfather who supported nazis (by declaration, not action, thankfully) during 2nd ww. I believe it was purely opportunistic kind of thinking and some cold bloodedness to be able to witness others perishing while you stand. Draco reminds me of his son, my grandfather who, lived in different times but carried the racism in his mind because that's the kind of talk he grew up with. I think even if his father wasn't really that invested into the ideology, the child growing up in certain environment with certain mantras will grow up to be such a stuck up Draco. He, however, has parents who actually loved him a lot, and it seems like it diminished his potential for violence. I feel that Lucius is a kind of person who doesn't believe in anything really but follows his instinct to stay on top of society in any given situation. I see Narcissa's disobedience to voldemort as stemming from their shared "morals". In the end Lucius wasn't the most obedient either. Malfoys are very interesting family and I love that we can still discuss these characters 20 years later.

[@BenMossWoodward]

I'd like to subscribe to this idea about Draco's change of heart, but then why (oh why!) were Draco, Crabbe and Goyle waiting for the Golden Trio outside of the Chamber of Secrets when Harry et al are looking for Ravenclaw's Diadem? Going by past performance Draco would have been the instigator but if he is having 2nd thoughts why does he sneak back in, after the Slytherins get ejected from Hogwarts? Crabbe says “We ’ung back, Potter. We decided not to go. Decided to bring you to ’im.” but I can't see it being Crabbe's idea. This also raises the question of how Draco, Crabbe and Goyle knew to wait outside of the Chamber of Secrets for Harry, Ron and Hermione.

[@morristyson1]

When you realize your hero is actually the villain

[@PariahKamikaze]

"I just wanted to bully him a bit, not kill him."

[@DamonNomad82]

Like all bullies, Draco was a coward at heart. That said, he was quite intelligent and calculating. He almost certainly recognized Harry beyond any shadow of a doubt, but giving a definitive "yes" or "no" answer on recognizing Harry would have almost certainly committed him to one side or the other beyond the point of no return. If he said "yes", Voldemort would win and the whole wizarding world (or at least the British part of it) would have become the Dark Lord's slaves of fear. Voldemort, as pointed out in this video, had demonstrated his cruelty and viciousness multiple times to Draco, so that scenario would, from Draco's perspective, have only been preferable to Draco or one (or both) of his parents being killed. On the other hand, if Draco said "no", he would be committing himself to the same side as the trio he had grown up loathing and fighting with, which would have meant swallowing his pride and admitting he was wrong. This would have been a bitter pill to swallow, even if it was preferable to dying or being a slave to Voldemort for the rest of his life. He would also be committing himself to the side that looked far more likely to lose in the end. In addition, if he said "no" and Voldemort checked anyway and found Draco had answered wrongly, that would almost certainly lead to a gruesome end for Draco and/or his parents at Voldemort's hands. In the end, by answering "I don't know", Draco kept his options open and his posterior covered.