Lucius' Motivation ( wasRe: Tom Riddle -- Who Knew?)

[Hannah]

No: HPFGUIDX 126286


> > SSSusan wrote:
<snip>
  Even if Lucius wasn't necessarily trying to bring 
> > Voldy back via the diary scheme [I have my doubts that that was 
> > his goal], I do still believe he knew this diary was Tom's *and* 
> > Voldemort's and that they are one and the same.
> 
> 
> Katie wrote:
<snip>
> To Susan-  If not to bring LV back, what else would Malfoy's plan 
> have been?

Hannah now:
Oooo... a Lucius Malfoy's motivation question!  I love these!  We 
had a really interesting discussion on this a few months back, let's 
see if I can remember what we came up with...

My contention has always been that Lucius Malfoy's intention 
*wasn't* to bring LV back.  Because I believe that LM acts only to 
further his own interests, and I don't think that playing second 
fiddle and grovelling around to LV was really that beneficial for 
him.  After all, he was quick enough to denounce LV when it looked 
like that was the losing side, and hadn't made any effort to 
reinstate in him in that time.  If PP could track down LV in a few 
weeks, I'm sure that LM, with all of his resources, could have 
managed it in ten years.

So what was his motivation?  Several possibilities.

1) Malfoy needed to discredit Arthur Weasley.  It's mentioned 
several times in CoS that the Muggle Protection Act is going to 
affect Malfoy's interests; the very motivating factor that I believe 
LM will act on.  Thus he gave Ginny the diary, and sat back to wait 
for her to be caught.  This theory is supported by the timing (why 
did he choose that particular year to pass out the diary?), and by 
DD, who seems to lean towards this theory himself when he confronts 
Lucius at the end.

2) Lucius wished to get rid of DD from Hogwarts so that he could 
take over there himself through a puppet Headmaster, likely Snape.  
Also, removal of DD from Hogwarts would weaken the authority of the 
biggest 'champion of mudbloods and muggles.' The diary created an 
extreme enough situation for him to get DD removed (and even then he 
had to resort to threats and bribery). This is supported by his 
actions in CoS, and by Draco's toadying comments in Potions.

3) Lucius hoped to 'rid the school of mudbloods' through the diary 
scheme, but had no intention of bringing back LV.  I don't think 
Lucius even necessarily realised that it was going to be possible 
for TMR to leave the diary and take on a life of his own.  

4) Lucius wanted specifically to get rid of Harry, and thought that 
the basilisk and diary!Tom would be able to do this.  Harry 
represents a symbol of hope for those who support DD's ideals, and 
are thus opposed to Lucius.  Enough reason for LM to want him dead.

Those are a few for starters.  Discuss at will!

Hannah