Riddle House

[ghinghapuss]

No: HPFGUIDX 90700

> Carol wrote:
<snip> The third never lived there but reputedly kept it "for tax 
>purposes." The >impression created by those words is that the 
>current absentee owner is a rich Muggle, >but people on this board 
>have speculated that it's really Lucius Malfoy, who has kept it 
>for LV all these years. I personally can't imagine 
Lucius "lowering" himself to pose as a Muggle or succeeding in the 
attempt. 


Mandy here:
Posing as a Muggle - no, but using muggles for his advantage - yes.
I agree that the Riddle House appears to be owned by a Muggle, but I 
also believe that the estate is controlled by Mr. Malfoy and he 
doesn't needs to pose as a Muggle in order control to do it.

All he needs are a few `interests' in the Muggle world, and even 
though he hates Muggles with a passion, he would be very naive and 
stupid to ignore the larger and more influential world that exists 
outside the world he lives.  Whether he likes it or not, and I'm 
sure he resents every moment of it, Lucius has to recognize the fact 
that the smaller WW has to co-exists inside the greater (and more 
powerful in some ways) Muggle world.  Especially has LV was born a 
half blood and lived as a muggle orphan until 11.  If we are right 
in our assumption that Lucius is LV right hand man, it stands to 
reason that Malfoy has to have had extensive contact with the muggle 
world of the young Tom Riddle.   

Of course, despite the fraternization of Lucius and LV with the 
Muggle world it doesn't change or stop their illusions of grandeur, 
and I'm certain once both of them have created a WW they can be 
truly proud of, they'll turn their attentions toward changing the 
balance of power with muggle world.  

I believe Lucius has muggle money invested in non-wizarding banks in 
Britain and overseas.  It would be a conveniently way for him to 
hide money from Gringotts bank and the MoM.  He most likely has 
investments in muggle, as well as wizarding, property and I have no 
doubt he employs a Muggle Barrister to `take care' of all those 
interests.  It would be so very easy for a muggle Barrister to 
control the Riddle Estate for Lucius, leaving behind absolutely no 
paper trail to connect back to our slippery friend Lucius.

Just because Lucius Malfoy despises Muggles, it doesn't mean he's 
not raping and pillaging the Muggle World to his advantage.

Cheers Mandy