A loose end or two...

[B Arrowsmith]

No: HPFGUIDX 83868

I've been sharing some thoughts off-site with hermionegallo and 
kneazle, mostly about that diary.
They haven't been posting lately, the effects of storm damage, I 
understand.

We agree  that  Lucius had set up Ginny as his target from the start, 
but all three of us wonder where he got it from in the first place.

Has he a collection of Voldy memorabilia, a shrine to his mentor and 
hero? Does he snog Voldy's gown, as Kreacher does with his masters  
trousers? Maybe he gives conducted tours to the other DEs - "....and 
here's a photograph of that time when we did for  the Prewitts. I 
particularly like the way the green of the AK complements the red of 
the Dark Lord's eyes."

A question I  hadn't considered, but they  had, is did Malfoy know what 
the diary was capable of and did he know that Riddle could be 
resurrected through it? Hmm. Suggestions welcome.

A  suspicion I raised concerned Lockhart.

Was he in on the dastardly Malfoy plan? Or was he a fortuitous bonus 
for Lucius? An unexpected but very useful crowd in Flourish and Blotts 
to offer cover, or a planned diversion, picking on Harry, keeping him 
the centre of attention, causing Molly to leave Ginny more or less to 
her own devices,  loaded down with school  supplies, a rabbit in the 
headlights of Malfoy's malice?

Lockhart is not nice. A liar, vain, a fraud; prime Voldy meat. But he 
is very, very good at one thing.
Obliviate! He's used it often enough in his fraudulent accounts of his 
exploits. And he's willing to use it to  get  out of trouble - even two 
twelve year old schoolboys who stood between him and his skin and 
reputation. The reasons he didn't succeed boil down to a broken wand 
and the fact that spells don't work as well when using another wizards 
wand. So he's gradually recovering. His victims aren't though -  they 
seem to have pretty permanent memory loss.

Who  does that remind me of? Permanent memory loss, a convenient  way 
to  cover  up misdeeds.

Has Lockhart been naughty in ways we haven't been told about?

Bad wizard!

Kneasy