Harry is not so clever: why did he think that telling Malfoy “this is a plot, you know it’s a plot” would make it not a good idea for Malfoy to commit overkill in defending his son? The point of vengeance is deterrence, and the crack of “well, it might not have been Hermione” is not a good crack to have in your deterrence. Dumbledore even tells Harry as much. And then, to top it off, Harry threatens Malfoy.
What Harry should have done: talked to Malfoy beforehand (why didn’t he?). Given that didn’t happen, told Malfoy “I have information that is relevant to the attack, which I think you should know but should not be public yet, as it might diminish your capacity for vengeance for this to be known publicly.”
Then, in private, Harry has a conversation with Lucius where Lucius doesn’t need to play to the crowd, informing Lucius of his expectation of the plot, his respect for Draco, and his vow to punish the murderer of Narcissa, and then Lucius walks back out and asks that the trial be finished in a week.
Even if Harry couldn’t get access to Lucius in private, he could have made a much better public proposal.
“Hermione was not your family’s true enemy, as you and I both know. To you, she is nothing but a pawn symbolizing the foe you can’t yet strike. But she has value to me. If you want the right to deliver her to Azkaban, so be it, but hold off on claiming that right, Lucius, and I will give you your real enemy. You can spend your anger on this one little child now. But then I will owe you nothing, and your enemy will laugh at you. Or take today’s judgment but wait on executing it, call her a hostage for my promise between us, and I will redeem Hermione with one far more valuable to you—both for your revenge, and for the life and safety of your son.”
Or something like that. It still probably wouldn’t have worked, of course—Lucius does not trust Harrymort’s intentions or power.
It still probably wouldn’t have worked, of course—Lucius does not trust Harrymort’s intentions or power.
As well, Lucius may have been behind the attack on Draco, to drive him away from Hermione (or ruin HP or so on). Giving Harry time to find the hand behind the dagger may not be in Lucius’s best interests, but regardless of Lucius’s complicity Harry should be trying to play to his stated goals, not his shame or fear.
So I was I. Apparently, there was no opportunity to contact Lucius before the trial, and he was clearly too angry to meet in private during the events of the trial.
I disagree. Lucius’s anger is designed, and its purpose is to strike against his enemies and protect his House.
And so if Harry makes a public offer to help Malfoy get vengeance- perhaps glancing at Dumbledore while he says it- Malfoy’s anger will align with a private consultation with Harry.
Harry is not so clever: why did he think that telling Malfoy “this is a plot, you know it’s a plot” would make it not a good idea for Malfoy to commit overkill in defending his son? The point of vengeance is deterrence, and the crack of “well, it might not have been Hermione” is not a good crack to have in your deterrence. Dumbledore even tells Harry as much. And then, to top it off, Harry threatens Malfoy.
What Harry should have done: talked to Malfoy beforehand (why didn’t he?). Given that didn’t happen, told Malfoy “I have information that is relevant to the attack, which I think you should know but should not be public yet, as it might diminish your capacity for vengeance for this to be known publicly.”
Then, in private, Harry has a conversation with Lucius where Lucius doesn’t need to play to the crowd, informing Lucius of his expectation of the plot, his respect for Draco, and his vow to punish the murderer of Narcissa, and then Lucius walks back out and asks that the trial be finished in a week.
Even if Harry couldn’t get access to Lucius in private, he could have made a much better public proposal.
“Hermione was not your family’s true enemy, as you and I both know. To you, she is nothing but a pawn symbolizing the foe you can’t yet strike. But she has value to me. If you want the right to deliver her to Azkaban, so be it, but hold off on claiming that right, Lucius, and I will give you your real enemy. You can spend your anger on this one little child now. But then I will owe you nothing, and your enemy will laugh at you. Or take today’s judgment but wait on executing it, call her a hostage for my promise between us, and I will redeem Hermione with one far more valuable to you—both for your revenge, and for the life and safety of your son.”
Or something like that. It still probably wouldn’t have worked, of course—Lucius does not trust Harrymort’s intentions or power.
As well, Lucius may have been behind the attack on Draco, to drive him away from Hermione (or ruin HP or so on). Giving Harry time to find the hand behind the dagger may not be in Lucius’s best interests, but regardless of Lucius’s complicity Harry should be trying to play to his stated goals, not his shame or fear.
Presumably, he couldn’t’ve talked to Lucius. And he’s clearly too angry to meet in private right now.
This post was detailing, for the audience, what Harry should have done. What Harry should do now is an entirely different matter.
So I was I. Apparently, there was no opportunity to contact Lucius before the trial, and he was clearly too angry to meet in private during the events of the trial.
I disagree. Lucius’s anger is designed, and its purpose is to strike against his enemies and protect his House.
And so if Harry makes a public offer to help Malfoy get vengeance- perhaps glancing at Dumbledore while he says it- Malfoy’s anger will align with a private consultation with Harry.