Snape thought Lucius was under Imperio ? was Re: Racism and Snape's grudge

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 101560

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Wanda Sherratt" 
<wsherratt3338 at r...> wrote:

> I thought of an alternate explanation for his startled reaction to 
> Harry's words, though.  He might have just been shocked to 
hear so  abruptly of Lucius's cover being blown.  He might have 
expected that  someone as clever and prudent as Malfoy would 
have always protected  his identity, so that he could always 
plausibly deny everything.  
> Sure, nobody there expected Harry to come out of that 
graveyard  scene alive, but Malfoy seems to me the sort who 
would ALWAYS take  precautions, just in case.
> 

It wasn't Malfoy's choice to out himself. It was Voldemort's. 
"Lucius, my slippery friend." GoF 33. Of the others whom 
Voldemort named: Crabbe, Goyle, Avery and Macnair, we know 
that Avery also wormed his way out of Azkaban by claiming to 
have been under Imperius GoF 27. I think what Voldemort was 
doing here was cementing their allegiance by making sure they 
couldn't claim "innocence and bewitchment" if they were caught 
again. 

But apropos of your question, whether Snape believed Lucius 
was genuinely a Death Eater or not, he was certainly a person of 
influence among the bloodist families from which Voldemort 
draws his support, and that alone would be reason enough for 
Snape to ingratiate himself. 

Draco has so far been unsuccessful in using his father to 
intimidate the teachers, but  that could change if Lucius escapes 
from Azkaban. Though I've always thought it would be a strong 
move for Voldemort  to take over Azkaban and make it his HQ, so 
maybe Lucius won't have to escape.

Pippin