[HPforGrownups] Why Does Lucius Still Have Influence After the Diary!Ridd...

[SALeathem at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 42909

Phyllis wrote:
<< I was hoping to get the input of the group on a question I have 
 regarding Lucius Malfoy.  At the end of CoS, Harry tells Lucius 
 Malfoy that Ginny got the diary because Lucius gave it to her at 
 Flourish and Blotts.  Lucius responds by hissing "Prove it" (CoS, US 
 paperback ed., p. 336).  Dumbledore then says "Oh, no one will be 
 able to do that...Not now that Riddle has vanished from the book.  On 
 the other hand, I would advise you, Lucius, not to go giving out any 
 more of Lord Voldemort's old school things.  If any more of them find 
 their way into innocent hands, I think Arthur Weasley, for one, will 
 make sure they are traced back to you" (pgs. 336-337).
 
 This implies that only Dumbledore and Harry know the truth about how 
 Ginny got Riddle's diary.  However, this must have been communicated 
 to others, for on p. 340 we learn that "Lucius Malfoy had been sacked 
 as a school governor." 
 
 OK, so good, so far.  The news was broadcast that Lucius was behind 
 the diary, and he got what was coming to him (although I think 
 Azkaban would have been more appropriate, but I digress).  But here's 
 where I get confused - how, after being sacked as a school governor, 
 and presuming that his "sacking" was due to others learning about his 
 role in the Diary!Riddle incident, did Lucius still have the 
 influence needed to order Buckbeak's execution?  The school governors 
 send Hagrid a letter which reads "We have decided to uphold the 
 official complaint of Mr. Lucius Malfoy, and this matter will 
 therefore be taken to the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous 
 Creatures" (PoA p. 218, US paperback ed.). >>


***I think that was because as a parent, if he has a complaint about the 
running of the school he is still entitled to take his complaint to the 
Governors. They will still listen to him and take his views seriously because 
Draco was hurt (if only a little bit, its still an injury to a pupil and the 
school is still liable), despite him being sacked. 

Thinking about it, does Hogwarts have a PTA? Because I think had such a thing 
happened at my school, the first port of call for a parent would have been 
the PTA (if they had no joy from the headmaster). My mum knows more about 
this as she used to be on the PTA when I was still at school and is now a 
Governor at my old primary school as she still works there... Anyway - 


<< Hagrid then says "Them 
 Disposal devils, they're all in Lucius Malfoy's pocket!  Scared 
 o'him!" (PoA, p. 219).  And after the Trio learns that the 
 executioner will be coming to the appeal, "Harry had a horrible 
 feeling that the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures 
 had had its mind made up for it by Mr. Malfoy" (PoA, p. 316).
 
 Is it perhaps that the "Disposal devils" (an apt descriptor!) are 
 Death Eaters like Lucius?  We learn in GoF that Macnair, the 
 executioner sent to kill Buckbeak, is a Death Eater.  But why 
 wouldn't the opinion of the rest of the Wizarding World matter? >>

***Seems to me that it's more about money. We know, or at least are fairly 
sure, that the Malfoy's have a lot of cash. I think they are literally, in 
his pocket. He's bribing them. Though its highly likely that some of them, 
like Macnair will be Death Eaters too. Perhaps its fear as well? Lucius 
strikes me as someone that could be very intimidating at times - with or 
without money. Its mentioned in the UK editions that alot of the people that 
make those decisions are old and afraid of Malfoy (I think its Ron that says 
this, but my copy of the book isn't around to check)

 
<< In addition, in GoF, Lucius and his family rate a seat in the top 
 box.  There's a reference to Lucius' generous donation to St. 
 Mungo's - is this it, then, he's bought his way back into influence?  
 While I know that it's not unheard of for someone to buy their way 
 into influence, it just seems to me that no amount of money could 
 make up for someone who was behind a plan to set a basilisk on a 
 school full of (mostly) innocent students, with the aim of killing 
 off non-pureblood wizards and, IMO, with the aim of finishing off 
 the "good, great" Harry Potter himself. >>

***Hmm as for this, perhaps Fudge and whoever else was responsible for Lucius 
getting the top box seats didn't know about the diary incident, so have 
continued to view Lucius as they always did, or you could view it that Fudge 
is in on it too (Evil). 

Sara - delurking for a moment again :o)