The Malfoys (was Re: good and bad slytherins/Disappointment and Responsibility)

[va32h]

No: HPFGUIDX 175031

I've been having a variety of thoughts about the Malfoys latelys  - 
this seems as good a jumping off point as any to discuss them. 

On another HP board I visit, a fellow poster suggested that Voldemort 
particularly enjoys torturing the Malfoys because they represent (to 
Voldy) all that he thought he should have been. Wealthy, well-
connected, a pampered prince like Draco. In short - the Malfoys are 
the wizarding equivalent of the Riddle family that had so thoroughly 
rejected Voldemort. 

My addition to that was that while young Voldemort took a certain raw 
vengeance in slaughtering that family, the older Voldy sees that it's 
much more fun to torture the Malfoys slowly, rather than kill them 
outright. Their punishments weren't too dreadful - they lost their 
house, Voldemort allows his pet to eat off their table, Draco is 
forced to torture people, Lucius must relinquish his wand (and 
symbolically his manhood, is how I read that scene). But still - 
compared to other examples of Voldemort's wrath, they got off pretty 
easily. But they would know that too, and were probably driving 
themselves crazy wondering how and when the "real" punishment would 
take place. Which Voldemort would have found wildly entertaining. 

I have long suspected though, that the elder Malfoys were pretty 
happy that Voldemort had disappeared all those years ago. Lucius had 
done very well for himself in the interim, and really had nothing to 
gain and very much to lose if Voldemort returned. My suspicion was 
that Lucius knew the diary was *something* that could bring Voldemort 
back, and  snuck it in to Hogwarts in at least subconscious hopes 
that it would quickly be found and destroyed. 

Terri said:
> I'm not sure why people think that Malfoys being in the Hall shows 
that they have changed.  IMO, they simply choose the winners side 
again.  They were out of favour with Voldemort and that, IMO again, 
is why they tried to help Harry. They are still as self serving as 
ever.  Lucius did some very cruel and horrible things both times he 
went to the dark lord.  One act does not a personality make.  You 
need to look at the balance of their lives and in the balance, they 
are mean, selfserving and cruel. It is totally in their character to 
jump ship when it isn't going their way, not a change for the 
better.  They do not have the courage of their convictions.

va32h:

After Voldemort's return, Lucius would have to conclude that he's 
pretty well screwed. The diary is destroyed but Voldemort still came 
back - oh crap. Voldemort is even more powerful that Lucius thought 
*and* Lucius lost the diary. So he has two choices - go to the 
Ministry and hope they can protect him, or try to get back in 
Voldemort's good graces. Given what we know of Fudge, attempting to 
lie to Voldemort seems a safer option than hoping Fudge can protect 
him. Complicating matters, Draco has developed a hero-worship of 
Voldemort (much like Regulus did) and won't shut up about how 
powerful his family is in the DE. 

I would further guess that Lucius was relieved to be sent to Azkaban, 
where he is at least free from Voldemort.  Narcissa then took up the 
cause of subtly defying Voldemort. She sneaks off to visit Snape, at 
great personal risk. Draco has also come to deeply regret any Malfoy 
involvement with Voldemort in HBP. His first to attempts to kill 
Dumbledore were pathetic, he's practically begging to be caught. 

Throughout DH, what we see of the Malfoys is that they are just 
trying to lay low and figure out a way out of their situation. And 
when they do see it - Narcissa jumps at it. There is no guarantee 
that Not!Dead!Harry is going to win his ultimate showdown with 
Voldemort, and if he does lose - Voldemort is not going to give 
Narcissa a big hug and say "you sure pulled a fast one on me, 
sweetie!". She's taken a very big risk in lying to LV. 

So it took 7 books for the Malfoys to summon up the nerve to 
flagrantly defy Voldemort. Well they don't have that Potter raw 
courage. But they still show growth IMO. Are they motivated by 
personal safety? 

Yes, they are but then again - Harry is extremely motivated by 
personal reasons as well. As per his discussion with Dumbledore in 
HBP, the primary reason that Harry will continue to pursue Voldemort 
is because Voldemort killed his parents. (oh and a bunch of other 
people too, which Harry acknowledges), but first and foremost its 
because Voldemort killed his parents. When Dumbledore points out that 
Harry has never been tempted by the dark side, Harry says "Of course 
not! Voldemort killed my parents!" 

Molly jumps in to duel Bellatrix why? Because Bellatrix is a baddie 
and Molly is a goodie of course, but Molly's stated reason is "NOT MY 
DAUGHTER..."

Lupin and Sirius want to kill Pettigrew because he betrayed their 
friend, Harry wants to kill Snape because Snape killed Dumbledore, 
Ron wants to go kill Death Eaters because they killed his brother. 

But as Hermione wisely points out - you can achieve your personal 
revenge will simultaneously working toward a larger goal. Ron can 
kill Death Eaters on his way to finding the snake. 

Or in the case of the Malfoys - you can look out for your own family 
while working toward a larger goal of getting rid of the guy who is 
giving your family such a hard time. I doubt the Malfoys really had a 
grand plan to get rid of Voldemort - but I won't discount their 
contribution towards that end, just because their motives weren't 
entirely altruisic. 

va32h