What were the Malfoys DOING there?

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 113114

 Hannah now: 
>>>The real question here is what Lucius Malfoy was hoping 
to achieve with the diary. I can think of three possibilities:
1. Restore LV to power through diary Tom
2. Kill off as many mudbloods as possible, and get the school shut 
down.
3. Discredit Arthur Weasley, hopefully killing some mudbloods along 
the way.<<<

SSSusan earlier:
>> Personally, I'm going for #2, with the change from yours that 
Lucius simply wanted to bring about DD's OUSTER from Hogwarts. <<

Geoff:
>> So I think all his actions were directed to unseating Dumbledore 
who is probably the most difficult obstacle for Malfoy to deal with. 
The other possibilities would be merely spin-offs from the main 
game - helpful no doubt - but not the major aim. In fact, I'm not 
totally sure that he would try very hard to restore Voldemort.....<<
 
Bookworm:
> In general, I think he was trying to stir up trouble. If it would 
> bring back Voldemort, great. If he gets rid of Dumbledore and/or 
> Arthur Weasley, even better.  Geoff makes a good point.  Is Malfoy 
> a loyal DE or just using Voldemrot to gain his own power? 


SSSusan now:
I would say *neither*.  That is, I think he is neither a loyal DE 
nor using **Voldy** to gain power.  I think Lucius is smart enough & 
cautious enough to know that if Voldy's *around*, his own climb to 
power will only be as far as Voldy will let him rise.  During CoS--
when Voldy is *nowhere around*, Lucius is using *Tom's* diary to try 
to gain power, not accompanying or using an active & alive Voldy.  
(Hoping that distinction makes sense.)

Again, if I'm right about this, then I wonder whether Voldy has been 
schnookered or is aware that Lucius truly *is* "slippery"?

Siriusly Snapey Susan