I am deeply moved by the role Draco played in the final stages of Deathly Hallows. I was sure he would be important, but I did not expect that Harry's opportunity to face Voldemort on even footing would hinge on Narcissa's concern for her son, on Narcissa actually sparing Harry's life and risking the destruction of Voldemort. Of course, by that time, I think all three Malfoys had a pretty good idea that if he rose to the height of power, it wouldn't turn out to be such a good thing for them. But I still think what Narcissa did was brave and noble, and her husband followed closely behind her. What happened to them next? It's hard to say, but for that beautiful moment from an unexpected source, I am grateful.
Exhortation
You hear the rapid heartbeat of the boy who you despise.
Narcissa, time to make a crucial choice.
Will you deceive Lord Voldemort, who trapped you with his lies?
Can you conceal your tremulous, soft voice?
And Lucius, standing by, no longer arrogant and calm,
You echo Arthur, frightened of his fate.
No power grimly promised you will ever be a balm
If Draco dies, if you arrive too late.
Lay down the wands you wielded for a master who betrayed.
Lay down your dark allegiances and run,
Allowing your devotion and your love to be displayed.
Lay down your hatred; go and find your son.
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6 comments:
Erin, this may be one of your more beautiful, powerful poems based on DH yet. So spare and haunting. I am thinking of these as your "Deathly Hallow cycle" of poems, you know. :-)
You're right: it's so powerful that so much hinges on Narcissa's choice. How wonderful that she has, in a sense, become so much more than her name. Her love for Draco here becomes an important echo, and a complement to, Lily's love for Harry. And both of those loves are needed in the end.
I found it highly interesting that Narcissa's nails pierced Harry. The phrase "nails pierced" jumped out and bit me, especially as Harry lay spread-eagled on the ground, having just journeyed through sacrifice and death. Narcissa has been through some of her own little deaths throughout the past couple of books. Her suffering, and the Malfoys' suffering, is no less painful just because they've inflicted pain on others in the past. In some ways it's worse because they are just now waking up to the reality of the darkness and how it affects them and others. And waking up to their own role in helping that darkness. I keep getting a sense that the Malfoys are almost coming out of an evil enchantment.
"Go and find your son." Beautiful poem.
Thank you. I'm thinking them as my DH cycle too, and the poems keep coming - way more of these in comparison with the other books, which only have one or two each, though I can always go back and write about them...
Interesting point about the piercing nails, and now that you say that, it makes me think of the centurion commenting that Jesus really must be who He claimed to be. The one who inflicted so much pain, suddenly coming to this startling revelation...
Interesting, I hadn't thought of that. I think Narcissa's revelation has more to do with the depth of her love for her son, doesn't it...I think part of what the Malfoys are waking up to is the realization that they love a person (or persons, their whole family) more than they love a cause.
Lots more to come from me (when? argh!! I don't know...I'm having a terribly crazy week, and am missing having time to think and write about all this!) on the Christian themes in this book. I haven't had a chance to respond to your post on Godric's Hollow yet. Hopefully this afternoon!
Looking forward to it! Yeah, I don't really think Narcissa's actions have a whole lot to do with Harry, except maybe feeling a bit grateful knowing that he had encountered Draco and, even after being imprisoned at the Malfoys', didn't kill him. But it's an interesting parallel...
Yes, it's odd, isn't it. In some ways you could say Narcissa's still essentially self-centered, but at least her "sense of self" has expanded to cover her family. The Malfoys still aren't heroic, still not choosing the side of right for most of the right reasons -- in fact, I'd hesitate to say they're really choosing it all. It's more that they're fleeing the side of wrong. But that's a start. And at least they are getting their priorities straight, and getting a sense of the reality of evil and what it can do to people. I hope there's hope for the next generation of Malfoys, though with a name like Scorpio (urgh) one has to wonder.
Wouldn't it be fun if Scorpio ended up in Gryffindor though?!
Hehe, yeah, there's a character-defining name if I ever heard one. Here's hoping he doesn't take it too much to heart!
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