[HPforGrownups] Re: Lucius, Dobby and side #3 was:Lucius Malfoy's Ambition

[Lindsay]

No: HPFGUIDX 126818

Lindsay:

I'll step in with a_svirn and reply to this thread a bit late.  I
meant to earlier, but never actually did.  <shifty>

My initial reaction to CoS when I read it concerning Lucius was this:

Snape told Lucius that Voldemort was back in a sorts, in that he had
been possessing Quirrell for the schoolyear.  Lucius, who up until now
had done absolutely nothing to look for Voldemort, would look in a
very bad light if Voldemort showed up again soon.

I don't think Lucius completely knew the diary's capabilities, he may
not have known that Riddle's fifteen year old memory could come to
life through it.  But whether or not he did doesn't matter for this. 
But anyway, he went to Diagon Alley that day with the plans of
slipping that diary to some Hogwarts student.

He wouldn't know too much about the students, but from Draco he
probably knew which kids were rule-followers and would turn in a
strange, magical diary, so he would find one, probably a girl who
would be more inclined to write in a diary, and slip it into their
books or whatever.  It was just by chance that the Weasleys were there
that day, and just by chance that he got the oppurtunity to give it to
Ginny.

I imagine that Lucius probably reasoned that Riddle would do his
thing, open the Chamber, but that eventually Dumbledore would weed out
which student it was and take the diary from them.  Lucius may hate
Dumbledore, but if Voldemort respects Dumbledore's capabilities as a
wizard, Lucius probably does, too.  And, if some Mudbloods got killed
along the way and Dumbledore removed as Headmaster (and if Lucius knew
about, a new Riddle "born"), then all the better.  Lucius could
probably pressure the Governors into getting a new Headmaster that was
more to Lucius's liking - perhaps Snape.  With this new Headmaster in
charge that Lucius trusts, or at least controls, he would then tell
Snape etc. what was causing the attacks.  The new Headmaster would
"discover" the malicious diary that was possessing students, saves the
day, becomes the hero and ensures their place as Headmaster.

Meanwhile, Dumbledore would be discredited and not in a position of
power over the school anymore.

So when Voldemort comes back, either through whatever means or through
Riddle, Lucius could say, "Look, my lord, look what I did for you!"
and get rewarded, etc. etc.

That was my initial reaction to this whole CoS fiasco.

However, I can see the theories that Lucius is a survivalist first and
could potentially play both sides like I imagine Snape is doing, that
Lucius set Dobby up to warn and keep Harry from Hogwarts so that Harry
would not spoil the fun like he did end up doing (because as that
night in GH and as PS/SS shows, Harry has a knack for doing such
things, and it's better not to risk it), etc.

I think they're all credible theories, but like most things, I tend to
want to go with my gut instinct, and mine is "slightly concerned
Lucius who is preparing his lines for the Dark Lord's return."