Slyths and the I-Squad

[quigonginger]

No: HPFGUIDX 144473

I've been following the thread on why Draco and the Slyths joined 
Umbridge and I'm not sure where to jump in, so I'm just throwing this 
out for anyone interested.

I think they joined up for ambitious reasons.  Lucius knows Umbridge 
(she tells Snape that Lucius speaks highly of him), and Umbridge is 
the Senior Undersecretary to Fudge, who also holds Lucius in esteem 
(see his defence when Harry accused Lucius of being a DE at the end 
of GoF).

It would make sense to me that Lucius told Draco that schmoozing up 
to Umbridge would be in Draco's best interest.  She went into the 
school with the intention to get rid of DD, and as soon as she 
accomplishes this, she forms the I-Squad.  Draco and his group are 
right there to do her bidding.  She is, at that time, the Head of 
Hogwarts, and is also highly placed and influential in the Ministry.  

Being on her side in school not only puts one in the position of 
getting a good recommendation for a career, but also being placed 
well in the Ministry.  If one is going to network, she is the one to 
work.

Until the whole Centaur thing, of course.  <teeheehee serves her 
right teeheehee>

I'm not discounting that they may have had some thoughts along the 
lines of "DD's gone, now WE can rule the school" or "DD favoured them 
for long enough, now it's OUR turn", but I think they were just 
playing their cards for the present and the future.  

Not to mention they got nifty little bagdes that made a great fashion 
accessory.

Ginger, who has been known to brown-nose with the best of them, and 
can be a good little toady if no one pisses her off.