Snape and Lucius: stupid, afraid or both? Was: Snape thought Lucius was

[Mandy]

No: HPFGUIDX 101629

> Wanda wrote:
> That's the way I took it - that Snape truly didn't think that 
Malfoy  would be at such a meeting.  Which tends to change somewhat 
the supposed relationship between them.  <snip>> 
> 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.  


Mandy here:
I don't know if Snape was surprised at Lucius returning to the fold 
so fast, but I do think that Snape's reaction came out of his fear 
that Lucius reputation, in and amongst the Ministry would be blown.  
(As Wanda says above.)  Snape at that moment doesn't know how Fudge 
will take the information of LV being back, and the last thing Snape 
needs is for his link with the Minstry, and potentially LV, through 
Malfoy to be destroyed.  

We know Snape has been intimate with Lucius Malfoy for years. We have 
a hint of this from Sirius when he remarked to Snape that Lucius has 
his `Lap Dog back'. That tells us two things, that Snape was working 
for Lucius in the past and is doing so again.  I will maintain that 
Snape has never stopped working for Malfoy.  They are both potent 
sources of information, too potent for either DD or Lucius Malfoy to 
pass up: Malfoy has information about the Ministry and Snape has 
information about DD and Harry.  They've been greasing each other's 
palms for the last 16 years.  Tit for Tat.  

DD and Snape were banking of the fact that Malfoy is going to be one 
of the first out of all DE, to get any information on LV.  Malfoy 
seems to be one of LV top generals along with Bellatrix, and he is 
one of the few of importance who is not in Azkaban. Snape is hoping 
that when LV returns, that Malfoy with all his power will be accepted 
back by LV who needs the kind of connections and control at the 
Ministry that Lucius provides, and when Malfoy is accepted back, so 
opens the door of Snape.  Snape suddenly moved toward Harry, in the 
Hospitial at the end of GoF, because he waited along time for this 
day to come, and can't risk loosing all he's worked and sacrificed 
for 16 long years.


>Wanda wrote:
>He (Snape) 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.

Mandy again:
You would think, right, but Lucius doesn't!  Why? Why does clever, 
prudent and powerful Malfoy go back to LV, and proceed to make the 
biggest mistake of his life by leading the raid on the MoM?  Why does 
the apparently brilliant Malfoy risk everything, EVERYTHING on that 
one raid!   The only reason I can come up with is fear.  That Lucius 
Malfoy is scared to death of Voldemort, to the point where he will do 
anything to prove his loyalty.   All the power and connections and 
respectability Malfoy's built up over the years. The empire he's 
built for his son. All the potent Ministry information he has access 
to, one would think essential for LV.  So, why does he do it?  
Perhaps Lucius has no choice.  But then why does LV, who has many 
other efficient generals ready to take command, put Malfoy in charge? 
Doesn't Malfoy have the most to offer LV of all his inner circle?  LV 
puts his best man, and all of his generals in one place at the same 
time.   It's so stupid it makes me think that maybe LV did it on 
purpose.  That LV wanted to deliberately clean house.  Get rid of any 
doubt he may have about any of his inner circle and get rid of them 
all in one swoop.  Ready to start fresh with a new younger bunch 
strait from Hogwarts itself.  

Mandy