33

I was recently watching the movie Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. In the beginning you can see Draco Malfoy ripping out a page from a book in the bookstore Flourish and Blotts.

For what reason does he need this page?

I've already heard some theories about helping Hermione and Ron with the basilisk but this sounds sort of implausible.

Could someone please explain this scene to me? AFAIK it has not been told in the books.

Note: I am searching for canon answers such as quotes from J.K. Rowling.

Improve this question
8
  • 21
    Helping Ron and Hermione doesn't really sound like the Malfoy I know.
    – Mario
    Jan 15, 2016 at 7:36
  • 7
    If it's a scene exclusive to the movies, then J.K Rowling would be the last person able to answer it.
    – ibid
    Jan 15, 2016 at 7:56
  • 5
    Since it is specifically about film canon (as you say, he doesn't do this in the book), shouldn't you be looking for quotes from the filmmakers instead of JKR? Is there any reason it couldn't have just been random acts of vandalism?
    – BMWurm
    Jan 15, 2016 at 7:57
  • 1
    [Jeremy voice:] Director said, make this character rip a page off a book to make him look more like an a**hole.
    – Zikato
    Jan 15, 2016 at 11:44
  • 2
    I was more concerned about the fact that Hermione ripped a page from a library-book... (the page about the baselisk.) Destruction of other people's property, seems to be quite in the character of Draco.
    – Baard Kopperud
    Jan 15, 2016 at 12:56

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
58

There is no canon answer to your question, or an answer from J.K. Rowling, but I feel safe in saying that Malfoy was likely just being a jerk. The last person Draco would assist in any manner would be Hermione -- heck, he wished her dead by the Basilisk in Chamber of Secrets. I don't believe, characterization wise, that Draco and Hermione had any sort of secret romance or revising club going on.

In book six, we see Draco being a jerk to Madam Malkin as she tried to fit him with new Hogwarts robes -- Draco and his mother end up huffing out of Madam Malkin's, after Draco just unceremoniously drops the robes on the floor. This is not a guy who is respectful of other peoples' property.

Malfoy was being a jerk.

Improve this answer
8
  • 9
    Why "was", he is a jerk throughout the entire series. That is his main character trait, the main bully of Hogwarts.
    – Thomas
    Jan 15, 2016 at 8:19
  • 1
    @AdrianMann No evidence in the book :)
    – Dawny33
    Jan 15, 2016 at 9:07
  • 1
    @Dawny33 I thought it may have been something added by JK to make the readers dislike Malfoy even more because as a book lover she would never vandalise a book and look down on others who do, big time! Like all of us.
    – atw
    Jan 15, 2016 at 9:24
  • 3
    @AdrianMann There was evidence in the book. Malfoy ripped it out. Now no one can prove he ripped it out of the book because he ripped out the evidence of him doing it, despite the fact it must have been written in the book before he did it so he could have just walked away and let the book be false. Time travel sucks.
    – corsiKa
    Jan 15, 2016 at 19:27
  • 5
    @Thomas: At the conclusion of the entire series, there's some possibility that he is less of a jerk. He at least acknowledges Harry when they're all grown up. So "was" is pretty appropriate.
    – Ellesedil
    Jan 15, 2016 at 20:25
19

Firstly, there is no evidence of that happening in the books. So, the director might just wanted to portray the traits and personality of the character, Malfoy better by showing him as a jerk.

In addition to Slytherincess' answer (which should be accepted IMO), it should be noted that Malfoy loves to flaunt the fact that his family is one of the richest in the magic world.

So, it would be a pleasure for him to see his father throwing away money at the shopkeeper for a very measly reason (for damage).

And, as Slytherincess have already put it nicely, he is just being a jerk, which he always was throughout the series.

Improve this answer
2
  • 6
    I wonder if Lucius Malfoy would even bother paying for the damaged property, or if he'd just use his clout to ignore it entirely. Either way, I'm sure Draco would love it!
    – BiscuitBaker
    Jan 15, 2016 at 9:24
  • 1
    @BiscuitBaker Like father, like son :D
    – Dawny33
    Jan 15, 2016 at 9:28

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.