Good news for Malfoy fans

[fpb]

I do not think that the following facts have been widely noticed. When Dumbledore and Harry are discussing Horcruxes, Dumbledore reveals that he knows for a fact that Lucius, believing the Boss dead, has given the Riddle diary to Ginny of his own initiative. "When Voldemort discovered that the diary had been mutilated and robbed of all its powers, I am told that his anger was terrible to behold."

First point: who told him? Snape, obviously - who else could have been present at one of Voldie's temper tantrums and been able to report it to Dumbledore? Ah, but in that case, why did Snape not mention what he certainly alredy knew about the cause of Voldemort's anger with Lucius and his family, when he was speaking with Narcissa? Narcissa was under the impression that the only reason for the Boss to be mad at her family was Lucius' failure in the Ministry, but in fact the position is hugely more serious. More evidence that Snape was playing a very devious game with Narcissa and even Bellatrix. Incidentally, has anyone noticed the outright lie that he told when claiming that Dumbledore was "shaken" by his duel with Voldemort, when the only thing that actually shook him was Voldie's ultimately failed attempt to possess Harry?

Lucius, on the other hand, knows all this, and he must be aware that if he ever gets out of Azkaban while the Boss is still at large, he will wish that he had stayed inside. He may not be aware, however, that the Boss is targeting his only son and heir. When these things all come together, the Malfoys would have to be stupider than they are not to conclude that the only safe side is the one where Voldemort is not. And given that there still seems to be some sort of feeling between Narcissa and her sister, they will try to capture, disable or even convince Bellatrix to change sides. I wonder how it will end.

Comments

[dreamer-marie.livejournal.com]

I suppose that Narcissa knows why Voldie is not so happy with her husband. I'm not sure Lucius is aware what his son is up to, I guess that depends whether or not he can get visitors in Azkaban. I agree that Snape is not exactly truthful with Narcissa and Bellatrix, though. His whole attitude in Chapter 2 reeks of a holier-than-thou feeling that just fails to convince me.
I'm not sure the Order would be sympathetic, should the Malfoys come to seek refuge with them. Dumbledore would have helped them, but I can't see anyone else being that noble. I doubt that the Malfoys would be able to take Bellatrix with them. She seems too besotted with Voldie (aka too happy to have an opportunity to torture and kill as she likes).

[fpb.livejournal.com]

If Narcissa was acting before Snape, pretending not to know about the diary, the act was world-class. And why should she lie to him on the matter, when the reality would be so much more dangerous for Draco and therefore would lend so much more force to her peroration? No, I think that both Narcissa and (in her own strange way) Bellatrix were sincere. And I think that Bellatrix still has a link with Narcissa that is just about the only thing that can, if not overrule, at least oppose the Dark Lord in her mind. If she were completely sold on Voldemort to the exclusion of all family feeling, she would simply have sold out Narcissa (and Draco) the moment she started to suspect backsliding; instead, she follows her and tries to argue her out of what she regards as her folly. Can we imagine her behaving that way to any Death Eather except her sister? I agree that her being redeemed is an impossibility - there are the Longbottoms and Sirius to be paid for, for one thing - but what I am saying is that Narcissa would try, and that Bellatrix might give her a longer listen - though not a favourable one - than she would to anyone else.