I searched this subject, and I didn't find anything like this, but if there is something that is the same as this, feel free to shut me down.

In the first HP book, Draco could be found trying to make friends with Harry, but was denied. I don't understand this because I thought that they were supposed to be enemies, with the death eater thing and all that. My question is, what was draco aiming for? did he want to defy his father by making friends with the 'enemy'? or was draco trying to steal the spotlight from Harry?

i believe the latter because that is the way draco is.

other theories would be encouraged.

for now,
-->nymphadora

JKR gives us the answer through Mr Malfoy in CoS p 59.

I think it was just because Harry was famous. As a Slytherin, Malfoy loved power and he knew he could have that if he cultivated a friendship with Harry.

it could be one of two things it could be Draco trying for personal gain or he could have tried to get harry into slytherin so they could become friends and he figured if harry was able to defeat LV then there must be something to harry that his father overlooks.

I am inclined to think that Draco, being the git that he is, was trying to gain power by being the friend of 'the boy who lived' He would have wanted to be in spotlight as the best friend of one of the most famous wizards alive.

yeah... i also think he wanted power, that's just the way he is
plus snape said in HBP that there was a rumour about harry being a dark wizard because he defeated LV, so maybe draco (and his father) wanted to know...?

We also get a clue to this in HBP, when Snape tells Narcissa and Bellatrix that when Harry was little, no one was sure if he would turn out to be a dark wizard or not--no one was sure if he would have extraordinary powers.

Everyone knew of Harry, but few knew about him--what he was like, or what he was capable of.

Snowdrop hit it when she said the answer was in CoS. Lucius encouraged Draco to be friendly with Harry. Lucius was trying to keep up the facade of being a model citizen on the side of good, and wished Draco to perpetuate that myth. How better to do so, than to play chummy with the Boy Who Lived?

malfoy wanted the spotlight defienetly and being friends with the most famous person in his year would be good not caring about his father

it could have also been because his father wanted to see if harry could become a new dark wizard as snape said in book 6 he could have told draco to try

i agree malfoy only wanted to gain some spotlight from harry thats why he tryed to be harrys friend in their first year

Draco was and is a product of his father. What Lucius wanted, Draco wanted. At eleven years old I don't think Draco really understood what "power" was. All he knew was his father thought it would be beneficial to be friends with Harry Potter, so thus he made the effort. From reading SS/PS I don't think he made that much of an effort to do so. He was rude, stuck up, and insulting. What made him think Harry would be receptive to this? My only conclusion is perhaps he had heard something about the way James and Lily lived. Perhaps the Potters were as wealthy, or wealthier then the Malfoy's. Perhaps that's why Draco came across the way he did. He thought Harry was just as snobby as he was. Lucky for Harry he wasn't. I have no doubt had Harry been friends with Draco and sorted into Slytherin he would more than likely be dead, only because I don't see Draco lending a hand with the stone in the first book. But if Harry were sorted into Slytherin, would he care about it?

I'm not saying that any of you are wrong, far from it. maybe I'm wrong, I dont know, but it really didnt seem as though draco knew who harry was. I mean, He did know harry potter, but I dont think he knew that the nervous boy next to him was harry potter. I think that what went through his mind, was that he would be far better off forging friends before the start of term.

Ive never thought about that. But yes, why would Draco want to make friends with Harry.
I think Draco has an odd fasination with harry. maybe he was overwelmed because harry was so famous or something. But then again why would he want he have a fasination with someone who killed 'his' lord?

Draco is and always has been jealous of Harry. Yes Draco grew up wealthy getting everything he ever wanted never having to want for anything, while Harry on the other hand was brought up by magic hating muggles who could have cared les if Harry lived or died.
The reason that I say Draco is jealous of harry is not because of the ways that the two were brought up, but because of Harry's special gifts that he has. Harry survived an attack by the Dark Lord, and was marked for it. And this in turn left Harry with a gift that Draco will never have. Harry has compassion for others, Draco only for himself, Harry helps others, Draco himself and Harry is far more advanced at his magic skills and his Quidditch abilities than Draco.
So I think the reason Draco wanted to befriend Harry to begin with is because he wanted to share in all of Harry's glory then perhaps take credit for it.