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.
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.