CHAPDISC: DH36, THE FLAW IN THE PLAN

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 185245

jkoney65:
> > They look like they shouldn't be there because they shouldn't be. 
> > They were followers of Voldemort, Draco let the DE's into the 
> > castle in HBP, etc. They should be arrested and imprisoned with 
> > Narcissa getting a lighter sentance for helping Harry out. <snip>
 
Carol responds:
> That's an interesting perspective. 

SSSusan:
I agree that it's an interesting perspective, and I was glad to see 
someone inquire about it.


Carol:
> I don't think that Narcissa was ever a DE or committed any crimes 
> (with the possible exception of helping to terrorize the Muggles at 
> the QWC0, so I don't think she would be sentenced. And none of them 
> took part in the battle. 

SSSusan:
I'm not sure we can know about this.  As much as I feel for Narcissa 
in books 6 & 7, I also think back to that scene in Madam Malkins', 
which was *not* a situation where she needed to worry about her son.  
She was One Nasty Woman!!  In her actions & words there, I see the 
potential for someone who might have bought into the pureblood mania 
and her husband's activities enough to have taken some part.  No 
canon, of course, but I do think it's possible she committed some 
crimes alongside him.


Carol:
> Clearly, even Lucius's loyalty to Voldemort had dwindled by the end 
> of the book. In fact, he didn't take part in the pursuit of Harry 
> in DH.... <snip> Would he get off lightly with time already
> served because he didn't fight for LV (and, no doubt, repudiated him
> loudly if anyone questioned him afterward)? And what about Draco? No
> one except Harry, a few DEs, and the now-dead Snape know that Draco
> let the DEs into Hogwarts. <snip>

SSSusan:
I tend to agree that things changed for the Malfoys in this last year 
or so.  So maybe during Draco's 6th year, he and Daddy were 
still "rah-rah" Voldy supporters, willing to do his bidding in any 
way, but certainly by the time of the crisis at the top of the 
Astronomy Tower, Draco was no longer fully there.  And the way *I* 
read DH, none of the Malfoys was any longer doing anything for 
Voldy's cause beyond what they *had* to do in order to survive.

I guess I tend to believe there actually was a bit of a change of 
heart amongst the Malfoys.  They'll probably never stop being nasty 
and extremely prejudiced, but I'm not sure they'd jump on the 
bandwagon of the next rising Dark Lord.  Would that be for reasons of 
self-preservation, of wanting to lie low & stay safe? Or would it be 
because they've seen a bit of a new light?  Hard to say.

But whether for self-serving or altruistic reasons, I see the Malfoys 
as becoming somewhat different people for what they went through in 
VW II.  I am disinclined to agree that the Malfoys shouldn't be at 
Hogwarts or that they should all be imprisoned.  I think JKR wants us 
to think, with them huddled there, about the themes of forgiveness, 
new starts and second chances.  

So I'm with Carol here:
> Anyway, I think that the Malfoys have been punished enough, with the
> possible exception of Lucius, who might benefit from a year or two 
> of bread and water, solitary confinement, and no baths.

If nothing else, for all those years of doing such horrible things 
before any change of heart he might have had.  But Narcissa and 
Draco?  I also think they've been punished enough.

Siriusly Snapey Susan