What Will Draco's Fate Be?

Draco Malfoy. The greasy-haired, selfish, evil little brat. At least that's how his story begins, but how will it end? When we last see Draco he has set himself up for a world of hurt. At first he's proud that he's joined the ranks of Death Eaters, just like his parents. What Voldemort had planned for him, however, may mean the end for our foul little friend. After failing his new master, what choices does Draco have and can he possibly live to see the end of Deathly Hallows?

In Half-Blood Prince Voldemort gives Draco the Dark Mark, essentially christening him into the Dark Lord's evil world and then gives him orders to kill Dumbledore. He fails in attempt after attempt, only making the Dark Lord more and more angry until he finally tells him that if he does not do as he is told he will kill Draco's parents. With his parents' lives in his hands Draco faces Dumbledore. Dumbledore, alone, wandless and injured, talks Draco down, promising that he and the Order can protect him and his family. In the end, Snape kills Dumbledore, fulfilling a promise he made to Draco's mother to protect her son but that means Draco failed his master. Racing off of Hogwarts grounds with Snape, Draco must now decide what to do.

The option of joining the Order and seeking their protection, as Dumbledore promised the would, seems rather unlikely. For one thing Draco, scared as he is, is still too proud to take up with the very people he's disparaged since his first day at Hogwarts. From day one he trashed Ron and his whole family for their poverty and Hermione's lack of pure wizard blood. It's also quite possible that he doesn't believe the Order is powerful enough to protect him. And his parents certainly wouldn't follow him into the Order which would put a big bullseye on their heads with Voldemort at the ready. Simply put - joined the Order for his own protection sacrifices his parents.