Lucius Malfoy's escape

[serenadust]

No: HPFGUIDX 88059

justcarol67 at y...> wrote:

> Since Lucius is so slippery and a breakout of the sort that freed
> Bellatrix et al. would look very bad, I'm predicting that Lucius 
will
> find a way to buy or talk his way out, to get Fudge back into his
> pocket and/or convince him of his innocence. (If he were a Muggle,
> he'd threaten to sue Fudge for false imprisonment and defamation of
> character, but we've yet to seen any Wizard lawyers.) 

<snip proposed scenario for Lucius return to respectability>

> Anyone else have an idea how Lucius might escape and still have 
some
> influence in the WW? Or do you all think we've seen the last of 
Lucius
> and his mantle, such as it is, will pass to Draco?

Jo replies:

I certainly don't think that we've seen the last of Lucius Malfoy 
but I can't see him regaining anything like his former position of 
influence at the Ministry or in the non-DE wizarding world.

Firstly, Cornelius Fudge is on very, very thin ice as far as his 
real influence as MOM at this point.  He can no longer deny what 
he's seen with his own eyes right in the lobby of the Ministry.  
He's whimpering, faltering, taking direction from Dumbledore, and 
making statements to the Daily Prophet concerning "Lord - Thingy"'s 
return.  He's even having the Ministry distribute guides to home 
defense (which to me seems his most pathetic gesture of all).  Even 
if Lucius (or Narcissa) were to somehow put him under an Imperius 
Curse in order to get him to drop all charges, it wouldn't be 
something that Fudge could do unilaterally.  Remember too, that 
Dumbledore has been reinstated as Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot.  
No, I really think that Fudges' glory days are over and he'll be 
lucky to escape being imprisoned for corruption if the evidence of 
his ties to Mr. Malfoy ever become public.

I do agree that Lucius won't be in Azkaban for long though and that 
with his financial resources, he'll be able to operate undercover as 
a very effective member of Voldemort's team.  As far as Draco's 
concerned, I think we'll see him be drawn into the real fight for 
the first time as he will very likely be a valuable tool for Lucius 
to use against Dumbledore and the Order.  It'll be really 
interesting to see how skillfully Snape handles him in book 6.

I can't wait!

Jo Serenadust, rubbing her hands gleefully