A lot of the problem with Draco is that he doesn't come across as being all that bright, none of the members of Slytherin house do (apart from their Head, of course, and he's smart enough not to ascribe to all their supposed leanings). So while Crabbe and Goyle are obvious knuckledraggers, Draco isn't all that much smarter than they are if the evidence is to be believed.

And you're too late, I've been reading 'A Year Like None Other' for the past couple of months, even though I don't usually bother with WIPs until they're done. Always happy for good gen HP recs, though, since I seem to be able to find everything else...