Patronage

[hp_fan_2008]

No: HPFGUIDX 180931

Mike:
> A brief synopsis; <snip> There are groups of people that are
beholden to a cell leader, support and fight that leader's fights. In
exchange, the supporters expect the protection of that leader from
political intrigue and a relief from having to worry about the general
necessities of life, the cell leader assuming the role of provider. In
the case of the WW, the cell leader is ensuring their way of life,
promoting the things that the underlings find valuable.
 
> I think JKR wrote this type of system when she wrote the series, 
> whether or not it was done consciously or intentionally. The 
> corruptness of the Ministry goes hand in hand with the type of 
> governance you get with a patronage system.
> 
> Her major Patrons were Dumbledore and Voldemort. The minor patrons 
> were people like Lucius Malfoy, Bartemius Crouch Sr., and with a 
> lesser cell, Cornelius Fudge.

This idea seems to shed some light on the whole Draco/Snape/Bella
relationship in HBP:

Snape, although really belonging to Dumbledore's patronage, had been
pretending to belong to Lucius's. We see evidence of this in the way
he treats Draco, in Draco's suggestion that Lucius get Snape to be
headmaster, and in Umbridge's statement to Snape in OP (after catching
Harry in her fire) that Lucius thinks a lot of Snape.

After Lucius was arrested, his position as Patron seems to have been
picked up by Bella. When Narcissa goes to Snape to get him to help
Draco, Bella comes along to allow her to decide if she wants to keep
him. She seems to decide not to, and convinces Draco that Snape is
trying to take over Lucius's position with Voldemort.

Draco, although convinced that Snape is trying to take over Lucius's
position, probably doesn't really trust Bella - and that's why it's so
important for him to be Voldemort's favorite. He was willing to get
little bits of help from Bella, but none from Snape. However, he
didn't quite have what it takes to be directly under Voldemort - the
ability to commit a murder.

The disagreement between Bella and Lucius over who calls Voldemort in
DH, when Harry and his friends were caught, may be a question of who
is in charge of the patronage - Lucius believes that "all will be
forgiven" - and so he will be Voldemort's favorite again; Bella is
unwilling for this to be.

                      hp_fan_2008