Lucius - Full blood (was The [Real] Importance of being Draco Malfoy)

[onnanokata]

No: HPFGUIDX 114332

samnanya wrote:
 
I wonder if JKR will suprise us all and have Draco Malfoy
turn out to be the Half-Blood Prince.  We know that his
mother's line is pure because of the Blacks, but precious
little is said about Lucius' ancestry......
JKR has already said that pureblood is not necessary to
be a Death Eater.
At the end of GOF (706)  Fudge responds to Harry's
allegation that Lucius Malfoy was a Death Eater by saying
"Malfoy was cleared! ... A very old family -"
Hmmm I ownder why the word "wizard" or "wizarding" was
not added as it was in so many other places.
Not much yet to go on, but isn't that what suprises are all 
about? If you don't think so, please provide CANON evidence 
that Lucius is indeed pureblooded........
  
kmc provides the cannon:
Page 113, OotP, Hardback, American version Chapter Six (emphasis 
mine)
  
"He pointed to another samll round burn mark between two names, 
Bellatrix and Narcissa."'Andromeda's sisters are still her because 
they made lovely, respectable PURE-BLOOD marriages,' 
<snip>
"Sirius mimed blasting the tapestry with a wand and laughed 
sourly.  
Harry, however, did not laugh; he was too busy staring at the names 
to the right of Andromeda's burn mark.  A double line of gold 
embrodidery linked Narcissa Black with LUCIUS MALFOY, and a single 
vertical gold line from their names led to the name Draco."
  
Cannon - Lucius is full-blood as is Draco.
 
BTW - When I first heard the title of book six, I was pulling for 
Draco to be half-blood.  But, alas, this is not support by cannon.
  
- kmc
 
Dharma replies:
 
I personally do not believe that it is impossible for Witches and 
Wizards who believe they are purebloods to find out that such is 
not the case.  There are characters who hold some pretty important 
facts to be true, only to find out that they are just plain wrong.  
Canon often reflects what the characters know, until it is the right 
time in the plot to reveal the truth, or another character has a 
reason to present to appropriate information.
 
-Sirius believes that Peter could not be a spy for 2 or so years, 
only to discover the truth at the cost the Potters' lives.  
 
-Remus and Dumbledore believe Sirius to be a spy and murderer for 
more than a decade, until they are witness the impossible.  
 
-Most of Hogwarts seems to be under the impression that Trelawney 
has no Sight, but that is not the case.  She makes very accurate 
predictions regularly.  She only has two known prophesies under 
belt, but her predictions work out.
   
-Bellatrix is unable to accept that Voldemort is not a pureblood 
wizard even though she is given information to the contrary.   
Barty Jr. knows so why doesn't she?
 
-Harry believes that Mrs. Figg is just an older Muggle woman in his 
neighborhood.  
 
-Almost every member of the Wizarding community, including Sirius 
who was imprisoned with him, believed that Barty Crouch Jr. was dead.
 
Canon suggests to us that "pureblood" families would start 
disowning members if they stepped out of line.  This to me sets up 
the perfect scenario for some family mythology.  Hiding facts, 
telling lies and ignoring evidence have been done commonly in history 
to maintain "noble" family reputations.  We do have canon to suggest 
that there are Wizards who would willingly lie and scheme to 
protect their children (see Mr. and Mrs. Crouch). If there is one 
illegitimate child somewhere in a family history, or a not so 
publicized marriage, it's not too difficult for a pureblood Wizard 
to be come a half blood Wizard.  
 
Narcissa's phenotype comes to mind on this one.  She might have 
gotten all of those recessive features from the Black line.  But 
then again, we only know what Sirius knows about that part of the 
family, and for me the information is not very complete.  Her 
mother's family is never discussed.  If it only takes one Muggle or 
Muggleborn Wizard in an individuals lineage to alter one's pureblood 
status and canon only reflects what the characters believe to be 
factual, then we could be in for some surprises.

With that said
I'm not sure who the HBP is, but it could be 
interesting if it did turn out to be a character who is under an 
erroneous/incomplete impression about his family history.  That 
could lead to some very interesting developments in books 6 and 7.
 
kmc again:
 
The challenge was to provide cannon that Malfoy was pure-blood.  
Consider that Mrs. Black blasted off every member of the family who 
did not conform to the her ideals of pure-blood.  I see the marriage 
between Lucius and Narcissa more as the proper thing to do - maybe 
even an arranged marriage.  As has been stated, there aren't a lot of 
choices if you are only going to let your sons and daughters marry 
pure blood wizards.  It may be why Narcissa looks like there is "a 
nasty smell under her nose."  She had to go to the Quidditch Cup with 
Lucius.

Dharma replies:

Narcissa might just not like Quidditch.  She may have and issue with 
sitting in a crowded stand.  The look on her face tells us nothing 
about any moment other than what we see.  She might find community 
functions annoying.  There is just as much likelihood that she loves 
Lucius as there is that she tolerates Lucius.
 
kmc wrote:
One of the girls in my youth group and I were discussing the Draco as 
half-blood prince on a recent car ride.  I was arguing for him being 
the HBP and she was able to counter everyone of my "dreams" with 
cannon. We discussed affairs, a hidden Mugggle in ancestory.  She 
used the arguments I posted here for the hidden Muggle. 
 
I argued that maybe Narcissa had a Muggle in her background that was 
hidden from the Black family but she pointed out that Kreacher did 
not take orders from half-blood Tonks.  He would not run to Narcissa 
if she was Half-blood.

Dharma replies:

Kreacher acts on information from Mrs. Black.  If any male Black 
married a Muggleborn, Muggle or half blood Witch, why would they tell 
the truth and have their bigoted relatives, most certainly Mrs. 
Black,  potentially attack their mate?  It is common knowledge that 
Andromeda married a Muggleborn Wizard; therefore Kreacher is able to 
act on the information (ignoring Tonks).  Andromeda chose to marry a 
known Muggleborn and was apparently ousted from the family.  Does 
everyone have that kind of courage?  What do we know about Narcissa's 
mother?  We know what Sirius knows.  There is more than enough canon 
to suggest that Sirius could have legitimately believed false 
information.  We've had more than one instance of Wizards lying to 
protect their skin.  Kreacher's behavior is just not conclusive.
 
kmc wrote:
As to Lucius not being Draco's biological father - Lucius and Draco 
have the same features and coloring.  That Harry recognizes him as 
Draco's father in COS.

Dharma replies:
Did anyone in this thread suggest that Lucius was not Draco's 
father?  If so, you did not include that bit in your post.  If you 
are referring to my comment about illegitimate children, my comment 
could apply to any "pureblood's" family history at any point.  I 
certainly never suggested that Lucius was not Draco's father.

<snip>