Now I haven't any idea if this particular aspect of HBP, plus the other books, has been discussed, and if it has, by all means the moderators are positively invited to merge it.
But, having listened to the HBP tapes, I find that Urquart is the Slytherin Quidditch captain, a name we didn't hear beforehand. The previous year the Slytherin captain was Montague, and in the first three novels it was Marcus Flint. Why not Malfoy?
And why indeed not Malfoy? There is a bloke who has been "hot to trot" for a long time. In COS, Malfoy's dear old dad (DOD, subsequently) bought him a place on the Quidditch team, and though Malfoy didn't win against Harry, we have only Slytherin/Gryffindore matches to go by, to judge his capabilities as a Quidditch player.
In POA, Malfoy had so much power and persuasiveness, he could change around the whole Quidditch schedule to suit Slytherin. The Slytherin team had the opportunity to behave as badly as possible at other matches. Such a pity they didn't win the Quidditch Cup, anyway.
The fourth book concerns the Triwizard Tournament, in which Slytherin hosted the Durmstrang students to some extent, and the ultimate winner, if you exclude the hated upstart, Harry Potter, was the decent, heroic, and capable Cedric Diggory, a Hufflepuff player, who was good enough for Draco's support during the first task, but whose death, according to Draco, was something to sneer at.
In the fifth book, Malfoy is one of the prefects. Not unlike Ron, you could see him in a Mirror of Erised as Slytherin Quidditch captain and ultimately, Hogwarts Head Boy. Of course Malfoy had a lovely time as not only Slytherin prefect, but also as a member of Umbridge's Inquisitorial Squad. And not only does Umbridge favour the Slytherin team, Malfoy got his cronies, Crabbe and Goyle, onto the team as beaters. Plus Malfoy's sore nose at the end of the first Slytherin/Gryffindor match ensured that a substantial part of the opposition was banned from the game, and he had a direct hand in demoralising the remaining team.
But what of the last book? There is Malfoy skiving off prefect duties, perhaps because he has other commitments. I find myself wondering why he wasn't Quidditch captain as well as prefect.
And what are the merits of being a Quidditch captain versus a prefect, anyway?
Full Version: Why wasn't Draco Quidditch captain for Slytherin?
I guess as a Prefect you are *supposed* to do stuff, like be responsable, help others, but Draco doesnt do this like we see on the Hogwarts Express, he aint with the other Prefects, so he gets a title that he kind of likes but doesnt have to work for it.
A Quidditch captain *has* to work hard, there are try-outs, game plans, schedules, tactics, practise, organization & so on, & if the captain didnt do all this his team would fail. Draco (I'm guessing) is happy to be in the team, have his father buy cool broomsticks & stuff, but he dont want the responsabilitites (sp??) that go with being captain. Anyhowz by HBP Draco has other things on his mind...
A Quidditch captain *has* to work hard, there are try-outs, game plans, schedules, tactics, practise, organization & so on, & if the captain didnt do all this his team would fail. Draco (I'm guessing) is happy to be in the team, have his father buy cool broomsticks & stuff, but he dont want the responsabilitites (sp??) that go with being captain. Anyhowz by HBP Draco has other things on his mind...
Do we even know Draco stayed on the team? He could have left.
We don't know that Malfoy wasn't offered the position. He could have refused the post knowing he would not have the time nor energy to direct his team.
QUOTE(MamaJ @ Oct. 18 2005,12:08 )
We don't know that Malfoy wasn't offered the position. He could have refused the post knowing he would not have the time nor energy to direct his team.
Malfoy could certainly have refused the post - he's got another fish to fry this year, so why to bother?
He definitely thinks more about his career as a Death Eater than about quidditch - these times are over.
Malfoy has never been especially good at the sport; his place in the team was bought not earned, and now, with lack of interest from his side and his precious dad in prison, no one would dream to make him a captain.
QUOTE(MamaJ @ Oct. 18 2005,12:08 )
We don't know that Malfoy wasn't offered the position. He could have refused the post knowing he would not have the time nor energy to direct his team.
Good point. He wasn't that great of a quidditch player anyway, so maybe they didn't think he was talented enough to be captain.
I don't believe that Draco was on the team this year, therefore not offered the position. We often see Draco up in the Room or Requirement during Quidditch matches, as this is the time where the castle is most deserted, not down at the matches. Also you never hear of him actually playing in any matches. I think that his task, assigned by Voldie, took up to much of his time and he quit the team.
I believe the captain of each quidditch team is chosen by the head of house, and Snape knew Draco would already have too many extra-curricular activities that year.
It is strange that he didn't quit the team straight away... Harry and Ron find out Draco isn't going to play on the very morning of the first match.
Also, the previous year, Crabb and Goyle were on the Slitherin team. 'Suppose Draco bullied them into not trying out because he needed them as look-outs (then again, they probably were'nt very good anyway).
It is strange that he didn't quit the team straight away... Harry and Ron find out Draco isn't going to play on the very morning of the first match.
Also, the previous year, Crabb and Goyle were on the Slitherin team. 'Suppose Draco bullied them into not trying out because he needed them as look-outs (then again, they probably were'nt very good anyway).
I had taken for granted that Quidditch wasn't on his mind anymore because of the closet and DD. But if he was, his father coudln't buy him that position anyway. 
QUOTE(MamaJ @ Oct. 18 2005,12:08 pm)
We don't know that Malfoy wasn't offered the position. He could have refused the post knowing he would not have the time nor energy to direct his team.
To add to this a little bit... Draco could have refused the position because at that time he already knew of his "duty" to Voldemort, and wanted to spend his energy on that.
QUOTE(MonieLou @ Oct. 18 2005,9:42 pm)
To add to this a little bit... Draco could have refused the position because at that time he already knew of his "duty" to Voldemort, and wanted to spend his energy on that.
Agreed. Draco was already openly contemptuous of the need for O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s on the Hogwarts Express, so Quidditch wouldn't figure highly in his plans.
I was never under the impression that Draco was all that great a Quidditch player. Sure, he was serviceable, but he got on the team because of his money and his father's influence in the first place - not his talent.
In that last Quidditch match between Slytherin and Gryffindor, in HBP, it seems that Crabbe and Goyle were still beaters. The only team changes were Vaisey and Malfoy.
While Malfoy undoubtedly got on the team through his father's influence, I don't think that Malfoy was necessarily a bad Quidditch player. An unfair player, yes, but not incapable. In POA, (p.180, brit ed) Slytherin narrowly defeated Ravenclaw, and by the final match were leading by 200 points, so they must have beaten Hufflepuff as well.
In OotP, we only know how Slytherin's match against Gryffindor went. Gryffindore won, and there was a brawl after which Fred, George and Harry were banned from playing Quidditch. Hufflepuff beat Gryffindore narrowly, thanks to Ginny catching the snitch, and in their final match against Ravenclaw, Gryffindore won the Quidditch Cup, so Slytherin again must have beaten either or both Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff.
I agree that Malfoy had enough on his plate to be going on with, but the previous year the same thing had applied to Harry, too, over the less demanding position of prefect. And if Gryffindore had lost Angelina Johnson and Alicia Spinks, then surely Slytherin must have lost a few players, too, like Warrington and Montague.
While Malfoy undoubtedly got on the team through his father's influence, I don't think that Malfoy was necessarily a bad Quidditch player. An unfair player, yes, but not incapable. In POA, (p.180, brit ed) Slytherin narrowly defeated Ravenclaw, and by the final match were leading by 200 points, so they must have beaten Hufflepuff as well.
In OotP, we only know how Slytherin's match against Gryffindor went. Gryffindore won, and there was a brawl after which Fred, George and Harry were banned from playing Quidditch. Hufflepuff beat Gryffindore narrowly, thanks to Ginny catching the snitch, and in their final match against Ravenclaw, Gryffindore won the Quidditch Cup, so Slytherin again must have beaten either or both Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff.
I agree that Malfoy had enough on his plate to be going on with, but the previous year the same thing had applied to Harry, too, over the less demanding position of prefect. And if Gryffindore had lost Angelina Johnson and Alicia Spinks, then surely Slytherin must have lost a few players, too, like Warrington and Montague.
I think that the Quidditch captains are picked by the Heads of House. I feel that Snape probably though that Draco had enough on his mind besides having to be Quidditch captain aswell
I think Draco bought his way onto the team. He was only an average player, and now his Dad's in Azkaban, he has no influence on the team. Crabbe & Goyle are dumb thugs, so are perfect as Slytherin beaters still.
I agree with many comments above. Malfoy got on the team originally due to his father's influence. He may have gotten the prefect position due to the same influence although, Snape would certainly get some enjoyment out of Draco bullying Harry. He was probably an average Quidditch player. He likely wasn't even on the team in HBP because of his assignment, which Snape knew about.
QUOTE
RE: post #16 (by the_boy_who_lived on Oct. 31 2005,09:30 ) in this thread
Draco definately bought his place as Seeker due to his father supplying the Slytherin team with new brooms. I dont think team Captain is appointed by the Head of house, so I dont think Snape would have influenced this decision either way (unless maybe Draco or Lucius had persuaded Snape). And, Snape does not know the extent of Dracos plan because when he asks, he says : I see your aunt has been teaching you Occlumency. imo I just think that Draco didnt want to be captain because he had too much on his mind, & even without his task it just seems that there is a lot of effort & involvment required of a Captain. We know Draco neglects his Prefect duty but if he neglected his Catain duty, his team would lose, & I dont see that he would be happy to watch Gryffindor or H or R win.
If you had a task to perform for Voldemort wouldn't you put all your energy into doing it because what are the consquences likely to be if you don't - DEATH I suspect.
I think Malfoy really values his life and naturally chose to devote his time to his mission for Voldemort over a few Hogwarts Quidditch matches!
I think Malfoy really values his life and naturally chose to devote his time to his mission for Voldemort over a few Hogwarts Quidditch matches!
I don't think that Draco was even on the Slytherin team anymore!
QUOTE(the_boy_who_lived @ Nov. 01 2005,8:29 am)
I don't think that Draco was even on the Slytherin team anymore!
I think that Draco was still on the team as Harry and the rest of the Gryffindor team were surprised when he wasn't playing against them. Don't have my book with me at the moment, but didn't Harry also ask Slytherin seeker how much Draco was paying him to take his place? :conf: As to why he wasn't captain, if he was appointed, I think that he would have opted out, knowing what he had to do for LV during the year.
At least when the 6th school year begins, Draco is on the Slytherin team.
As for the topic of this thread, I think all theories that people have thought of so far are plausible:
1. Malfoy wasn't offered the position because Snape knew he'd be too busy with his Death Eater mission
2. Malfoy declined the position because he knew he'd be too busy with his Death Eater mission
3. Malfoy was a good enough player to stay on the team, but not good enough to be considered for Captain
Good thinking, everyone!
QUOTE(HBP14 "Felix Felices" @ US hardcover p.294)
"Conditions look ideal," said Ginny, ignoring Ron. "And guess what? That Slytherin Chaser Vaisey - he took a Bludger in the head yesterday during their pracice, and he's too sore to play! And even better than that - Malfoy's gone off sick too!"
"What?" said Harry, wheeling around to stare at her. "He's ill? What's wrong with him?"
"No idea, but it's great for us," said Ginny brightly. "They're playing Harper in stead; he's in my year and he's an idiot."
Harry smiled back vaguely, but as he pulled on his scarlet robes his mind was far from Quidditch. Malfoy had once before claimed he could not play due to injury, but on that occasion he had made sure the whole match was rescheduled for a time that suited the Slytherins better. Why was he now happy to let a substitute go on?
So Malfoy is on the team, but not playing that particular match. (The emphasis is mine, by the way.)"What?" said Harry, wheeling around to stare at her. "He's ill? What's wrong with him?"
"No idea, but it's great for us," said Ginny brightly. "They're playing Harper in stead; he's in my year and he's an idiot."
Harry smiled back vaguely, but as he pulled on his scarlet robes his mind was far from Quidditch. Malfoy had once before claimed he could not play due to injury, but on that occasion he had made sure the whole match was rescheduled for a time that suited the Slytherins better. Why was he now happy to let a substitute go on?
As for the topic of this thread, I think all theories that people have thought of so far are plausible:
1. Malfoy wasn't offered the position because Snape knew he'd be too busy with his Death Eater mission
2. Malfoy declined the position because he knew he'd be too busy with his Death Eater mission
3. Malfoy was a good enough player to stay on the team, but not good enough to be considered for Captain
Good thinking, everyone!
Im quite sure snape didnt want to distract draco from doing his job in HBP..
Snape made the promise so he had to help draco in anyway...so he didnt give him captaincy..
Snape made the promise so he had to help draco in anyway...so he didnt give him captaincy..
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