Narcissa's love

[Matt]

No: HPFGUIDX 174322

Carol wrote:
>> I think we should all pause, and mentally thank Narcissa 
>> for saving Harry's life. It was she who lied to Voldemort, 
>> saying Harry was indeed dead.  Curious, isn't it? Once 
>> again, Voldemort is defeated my a mother caring more for 
>> her child than for his service.

Milz replied:
> I don't think Narcissa's act was totally unselfish. I 
> don't think she could have cared less if Harry survived or 
> not. 

Whether Narcissa -- or Draco, at other points in the story -- cared
what happened to Harry is left deliciously ambiguous.  Clearly
Narcissa's actions in the forest were utterly self-centered (in the
sense of favoring her own interests over Voldemort's), calculating and
manipulative.  In short, she was perfectly in character for a Malfoy.  

If by this point she prefers Harry to survive, surely it is only for
the chance that he might bring down Voldemort and thereby make her and
her family's lives better.  She is willing to risk lying to Voldemort
not for Harry, but for her own chance to reunite with her son.  

The analogy to Lily's act of supreme self-sacrifice holds only in the
sense that, once again, Voldemort fails to understand the bond between
mother and child.  In other respects, Narcissa's act is nearly the
opposite of Lily's: Where Lily confronted Voldemort, Narcissa evades
his command; where Lily pled for mercy, Narcissa tells Voldemort what
he wants to hear; where Lily was willing to face the separation of
death in order to save Harry, Narcissa's only wish is to see Draco
again.  

I imagine, notwithstanding her name, that Narcissa does love Draco --
she certainly has always been shown as caring for his well-being --
but I hardly think we need to admire her for looking out for herself
and her son.  She'll surely take care of the admiring herself.

-- Matt