More clever, cowardly, opportunistic, and cunning than the Malfoy family? In the Harry Potter universe, not sure that exists... Throughout history, the purebloods with diaphanous blond hair have made sure to always find themselves on the winning side. The icing on the cake is that, despite their crimes and their commitment to Voldemort, these Slytherins manage to escape Azkaban at the end of Deathly Hallows. A look back at this feat.
The Malfoy family escapes Azkaban
From the beginning of the story, J.K. Rowling presents the Malfoy family, aristocratic and wealthy, as one of the most loyal to the Dark Lord - although it is clearly stated that their absolute priority is their survival, beyond their devotion to their Master. It is this ability to stay afloat in troubled waters that will allow Lucius, his wife Narcissa, and their son Draco to escape a more or less lengthy stay in Azkaban, the infamous wizarding prison lost in the middle of the ocean, after the death of Lord Voldemort. Indeed, at the end of Deathly Hallows, we learn that the trio has been pardoned by the Ministry. An unexpected turn of events for wizards up to their necks in Dark Magic, but one that can be explained by several reasons.
The Malfoys: Enemies... But Not 100%
In Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, the sequel to the story written a few years later, we learn that the Malfoys were not punished. The first reason for this is due to Narcissa: Draco's mother lied by claiming that the hero was dead, protecting him from the Dark Lord. Second, she and her family joined the side of the protectors of Good during the Battle of Hogwarts, abandoning their post at Lord Voldemort's side. They then gave the government the names of all the Death Eaters and information about them, allowing them to be captured and locked away.
A sentence reduction process with which we are ultimately quite familiar, having often been depicted in fiction. Thanks to this providential pardon from society, Draco was able to live a normal life. Despite his misdeeds at wizarding school (opening the gates to the Dark Arts, attacking Muggles, mocking the Golden Trio, attempting to assassinate Dumbledore, giving the bewitched necklace to Katie Belle), he gets off lightly: he marries Astoria Greengrass, with whom he has a son, Scorpius.
Freedom for the Malfoys, an unfair pardon?
Certainly, Draco was a minor when most of his crimes were committed, and it's made clear from the start that he and his parents are terrorized by Voldemort. Their lives are constantly threatened by the Dark Lord to ensure their devotion and obedience, and it is clear that the young man is sick with fear and extremely anxious about what he is forced to commit within the confines of Hogwarts. Certainly, his family flirts (and always will?) with the Dark Arts, while fiercely despising "Mudbloods" and "lesser" creatures, but they seem to have made amends regarding their allegiance to Voldemort.
Nevertheless, fans agree that Lucius should have been imprisoned for his crimes as an example: however, within the universe of Harry Potter fiction, their lack of sentence is consistent. They are privileged and have strong connections to the Ministry (the wizarding government being very corrupt, it could have contributed financially to his freedom). Regarding their racism towards the Modlus, let's not forget that a part of the wizarding population doesn't like them either. They are far from being isolated cases.
And you, what do you think of this decision? Do you find it justified?
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