One of my favorite moments in OotP was when Draco, in a moment of stress, refers to Lucius as "Dad." It's the only time in the series, I think, and it's right when he's been arrested--I knew then there had to be something to come of that! It's just that people accept the outward appearance of formality the family uses.
I remember on FAP there was once a thread asking if Draco loved his parents--I was like...huh? First, any kid not loving their parents is kind of extreme, so you've got to give me a good reason for it, but this kid? When has he ever not seemed to love them? But people were willing to say he just liked them for the prestige they had--it was kind of hilarious the kind of smooth operator they were making him into. The idea just seemed to be that he couldn't possibly do anything so positive as love anyone, so this had to be explained away.
But really...it's not that the Malfoys loving each other makes them good guys or undoes all the bad things they do, but it does seem like it's their one potential salvation. It certainly may be the thing that does give Draco that sense of right and wrong in the tower so that he doesn't kill. He's never really hated anyone, he's never really felt totally without love, so he does have a certain level of compassion. Sure he's often mean to others, but even he there's some lines he doesn't cross.
Re: I GOT A LJ!!! YES!!! FINALLY!!!
I remember on FAP there was once a thread asking if Draco loved his parents--I was like...huh? First, any kid not loving their parents is kind of extreme, so you've got to give me a good reason for it, but this kid? When has he ever not seemed to love them? But people were willing to say he just liked them for the prestige they had--it was kind of hilarious the kind of smooth operator they were making him into. The idea just seemed to be that he couldn't possibly do anything so positive as love anyone, so this had to be explained away.
But really...it's not that the Malfoys loving each other makes them good guys or undoes all the bad things they do, but it does seem like it's their one potential salvation. It certainly may be the thing that does give Draco that sense of right and wrong in the tower so that he doesn't kill. He's never really hated anyone, he's never really felt totally without love, so he does have a certain level of compassion. Sure he's often mean to others, but even he there's some lines he doesn't cross.