Why did Snape take the UV? / Role of the Malfoys

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 157323

> >>Betsy Hp: 
> > But what about the Malfoy family?  What if there's a reason for 
> > Snape to try and earn (or keep) the goodwill of the Malfoy 
> > *family*?

> >>Potioncat:
> I hope I haven't snipped too much here. 

Betsy Hp:
Hee, never!  I get too long-winded at times. <g>

> >>Potioncat:
> I think you're on to something. You gave some good Snape-Malfoy 
> examples, but there are also a couple of DD-Malfoy examples. Why   
> was DD so easy on Lucius after the diary event? Did he know that   
> Malfoy had compromised his position with LV and might be useful    
> later? DD also said, in front of Malfoy, that help would always be 
> offered at Hogwarts when asked for. It seemed to be for Harry's    
> benefit, but what if it wasn't? (CoS--in Hagrid's hut)
> Why did DD emphasize twice (I think) that Lucius was safe in      
> Azkaban? -- and that the Order could offer sanctuary to the Malfoy 
> family?

Betsy Hp:
Ooh, fascinating.  I never thought to look at the CoS scene that 
way.  

Honestly, I have a hard time getting a handle on canon!Lucius.  
Jason Isaacs so totally made Lucius his own in the movies it's hard 
to seperate his admittedly over the top interpertation (flowing 
locks, pimp cane, a penchant for manhandling Draco) from the 
character in the books.  

On the positive side we know that his wife and son both love him.  
Lucius is also (relatively speaking <g>) a reasonable and rational 
man.  And he's a leader, *possibly* a pretty powerful one.  But you 
can't dismiss the Death Eater.  He is a pureblood bigot, that's for 
sure (Draco doesn't get his philosophy from nowhere).  He tells the 
Death Eaters at the DoM to "be gentle with Potter until we've got 
the prophecy, you can kill the others if necessary--". [GoF hardback 
scholastic p.788]  So he's also able order children killed.  And 
he's pretty hard on Draco the one time we see the two interacting.

But... The Black family suffered from similar sins, I think.  But 
Sirius suggested that they *weren't* true Voldemort supporters.  And 
his brother, though a pureblood bigot as far as we know, tried to 
get out and possibly gave Voldemort the finger while doing so.  So 
is there room for Draco to *really* save his entire family?  (I 
personally *loved* the fact that HBP made it so Draco doesn't have 
to betray his family to choose the right side.)

> >>Potioncat:
> Back to the lapdog comment, Snape certainly didn't deny it and    
> that seems to be on DD's orders.

Betsy Hp:
Do you mean Snape's continuing friendship with Lucius?  I agree.  I 
think Snape is acting with Dumbledore's blessing.  But I think 
Lucius did take tiny!Snape under his wing when Snape first started 
at Hogwarts.  Which is interesting in and of itself.  Snape is a 
half-blood and I'm betting Lucius would have realized that pretty 
quickly.  But still, Lucius befriended tiny!Snape.  I'm sure he saw 
some gain there (Snape's skills, I presume), but it does point to 
his bigotry not being that cut and dried.

> >>Potioncat:
> Hmmm--something new to think about.

Betsy Hp:
I'm glad someone else thought so, too!  I was afraid I might have 
gone a little too far afield. <g>

Betsy Hp