The diary (Was: Snape as a Spy and Spy!Lucius, too!)

[Julie]

No: HPFGUIDX 86473

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "justcarol67" 
<justcarol67 at y...> wrote:
> -Carol wrote [snipped]: 
> > BTW, I still don't understand how Lucius got hold of the diary, 
which couldn't have been left in the Riddle house at the time of the
> >  murders. The police would have found it and realized that Tom 
Marvolo Riddle, the name on the binding, was not the name of the Tom 
Riddle who died. A little investigation would lead them to the older 
Tom's divorce, an unacknowledged son in an orphanage, and a certain 
teenage murderer. Maybe Voldemort told Lucius that it was at Hogwarts 
and Lucius forced Dobby to find it and bring it to him? ..... I think 
LV gave it to him during VWI. Lucius was a trusted lieutenant at that 
time, probably the highest-ranking one. I think LV gave him 
> > many personal belongings for safe keeping.

> Carol [snipped] ....TR wrote the diary in 1943 and left Hogwarts in 
1945. It's highly improbable that he carried it around during his 
travels from 1945-1970 while he was busy transforming himself and 
trying to become immortal.  I think it's much more likely that he 
left it at Hogwarts in some secure place just before he graduated in 
1945 .....

Julie:
I can well imagine Voldemort entertaining a few of his most trusted 
cadre with tales of his early days, so as you say Lucius could well 
have had some idea of what he was unleashing when he planted Tom's 
diary on Ginny.  And since presumably Malfoy Mansion is a large house 
& estate it makes sense that Voldemort might have kept a few things 
in storage there, or even had a permanent guest room, depending on 
how chummy he was with Lucius (didn't some noble families keep a room 
or suite of rooms decorated and available for visiting sovereignty 
back in the days of royal tours?) So while I can see this as one way 
Lucius might have gotten possession of some of Voldemort's 
possessions, I can also see another senario.  

Voldemort's trip to Godric's Hollow was supposed to be a quick 
assassination.  He didn't expect the destruction of his physical 
body, especially by a baby.  Even if he had placed a few cherished 
items in "safe keeping," its likely that the morning after saw a 
group of stunned Death-Eaters milling around the DE Central or 
Voldemort's own personal home mournfully wondering what to do next. 
How to carry on the good fight now that the great man himself is gone 
sort of discussion. Its quite possible that Voldemort's belongings 
were divided up amongst his most devoted followers (or snatched as 
keepsakes by those of lesser stature). Now that he's back in the 
flesh, he might want to round up a few things (dark artifacts, rare 
spell books, personal papers, his old school diary, his mum's photo, 
etc)  
Just a thought.

Julie
(who is amused at the thought of He-who-must-not-be-named demanding 
back his favorite comfy sweater and pipe)