Malfoy Sr's Intent with TMR's Diary (CoS)

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 114368

Siriusly Snapey Susan wrote:
>> I'm afraid you're misunderstanding my point entirely, Carol.  I 
do NOT believe that Lucius had any opportunity to tell Voldy about 
the diary plot at ANY point before the graveyard scene.  It is 
precisely that fact which, to me, makes it extremely significant 
that he does not use that first moment of opportunity in the 
graveyard to protest about what he's done!  
 
*IF* he had really set up the diary plot as a means of helping Voldy 
return, then **at this first opportunity** [read:  graveyard] to 
brag about how hard he worked, about the risk he took, about how 
close he came to success, then why NOT do it?  I'm simply taking 
Lucius' reticence at that moment as evidence that he DIDN'T set up 
the diary plan as a means of bringing Voldy back at all, but rather 
set it up to advance his own position in the WW.<<
 

Carol responds:
> Gotcha. (SSS breathes a sigh of relief.) But we don't know what he
> told LV *after* the graveyard scene. He really had no opportunity
> to say so *during* it. First it was Voldemort's monologue about his
> return (which it would be most unwise for Malfoy to interrupt), 
> then it was the DEs welcoming Voldemort back and accepting their 
> punishment for disloyalty (and again saying as little as they 
> could get away with if they had any sense--Lucius came off pretty 
> well and wisely left well enough alone), then it was the 
> confrontation with Harry which was supposed to end in triumph for 
> LV but instead ended in humiliation and chaos--most definitely a 
> time to remain silent and try to obey the frantic order 
> to "Stupefy him!" At that time our witness, Harry, returned to 
> Hogwarts, and we have no idea of what followed his departure. It's 
> possible that Malfoy, who clearly was on good terms with Voldemort 
> throughout OoP, remaining his righthand man despite LV's awareness 
> of his "slippery" nature, found the time to tell him--in secret, 
> away from anyone else--about the diary incident (*if* he knew that 
> Tom Riddle was Voldemort and that the diary could have restored 
> Tom to life). But why would he? The plot failed. You don't brag 
> about an attempt that didn't work.
> 
> I'm not saying that Malfoy *was* trying to bring Voldemort back. 
> I'm as confused as anyone else regarding his motives and how he 
> came by the diary in the first place. I'm just saying that 
> slippery Lucius knows when to keep his mouth shut, and this 
> strikes me as just such a time.  
> Carol, who hopes she's playing on the right court this time


SSSusan:
Yea!!  Indeed you are on the same court w/ me now.  And you raise 
some possibilities I had not considered.  I know that I likely was 
doing some projecting when I suggested Lucius would've been inclined 
to blurt out, "But, Master, I DID try to help you!"  Because, 
monologue or no monologue, wise or not wise, that's what I would've 
done if it were true.  But Lucius is decidedly not me.  He *is* 
slippery and smooth and ambitious, and I'm...well...a blurter.

I like the thought that Lucius might've told his story later; that 
makes a good deal of sense to me.

Siriusly Snapey Susan, who took the day off to clean the house, so 
she'd better hop to it.  Besides, my cat is on top of my monitor and 
keeps dropping his paws down over the screen so I can't see.