That's an interesting perspective, and it's one I had not previously considered very seriously. You could be right, however. After all, it was Narcissa we saw taking extra steps to protect Draco.Thank you for sharing. You've given me even more to think about.

That's an interesting perspective, and it's one I had not previously considered very seriously. You could be right, however. After all, it was Narcissa we saw taking extra steps to protect Draco.Thank you for sharing. You've given me even more to think about.

One more thought. I wrote a chapter in an AU postwar fic in which Lucius Malfoy has been greatly reduced in circumstance, had his estate essentially confiscated to pay reparations, and is under house arrest in a very modest Muggle house, where he lives under restrictions of his movement and any use of magic. Severus visits him and sees that even with all that Lucius has gone through, he really just doesn't get it, and until he does, he'll be trapped in dreams of a glorious future-that-might-have-been-if-only. Lucius suspects Severus (who in my AU, has had a long, hard road to redemption, and a slow realization of his own guilt, with gradual shifting from having gone to the OotP because he betrayed Lily & wants revenge, etc., to having true remorse for having done the things he did) -- anyway, Lucius suspects Severus of having "converted" to the "right" (winning) side late, but timely, and for solely self-serving reasons. When Severus encourages him to try to become a man whom Draco can be proud of, to take advantage of the opportunity he has, he says, “You see me, my circumstances. What you suggest is impossible.”Severus shook his head. “No, not impossible, simply extremely challenging. You have some intelligence, Malfoy. Use it. It would give you something to spend your time on, something other than sitting in your garden dreaming about what might have been. You’re right about one thing, of course. It is impossible to change who you were and what you have done. I encounter that same truth on waking each morning and am reminded of it constantly. But show some ambition, Malfoy! Aim for something more than you were, something other.”“Easy for you to say: you chose your sides well.”“Not well: late. And hardly easy.” Severus stood. He had nothing more to say to this wreck of a man. Lucius did not yet understand the nature of his choice, that it had meant more than choosing sides and picking the winning one. Until he did, Severus doubted that the other wizard could move beyond what he was and where his previous choices had brought him.“When did you choose, then?” Lucius asked, suddenly looking up at him sharply.Severus looked down at him. “Before his first defeat. You have surely learned that from the Prophet. And it is still a choice that I make every day.”I had one reviewer who was completely outraged that poor Lucius had lost the manor, had his funds confiscated, and was living in such modest circumstances. I was flummoxed when I read the review. Lucius Malfoy was, most likely, a serial murderer, a torturer of Muggles and others, and a pureblood racist -- and it is likely that his family obtained its wealth through less-than-pleasant means, even if they weren't illegal -- and yet there was outrage on his behalf. What of his victims? The expanding circle of victims, not just those whom he directly affected, but their friends, family, and society in general? Then I realized that the reviewer must have read a lot of fanfic that completely glosses over the canon!Malfoy's behavior and beliefs and she had forgotten what a truly wretched human being he was. Of course, it is possible that she actually identifies in a positive way with canon!Malfoy, but I don't prefer that explanation.Again, thanks for the thought-provoking essay!

I will give you a better and more comprehensive response, later, but I wanted to let you know that you've reminded me why I still haven't completed my very first Harry Potter fanfic ever: it's a story of Severus Snape's journey to redemption, and I've been writing it since January or February 2010. More than two and a half years later, I still haven't managed to get him to the right place.

Getting him there is work, definitely! Especially to make it at least quasi-realistic and a somewhat plausible extension of canon. Good luck with it! 

One more thought. I wrote a chapter in an AU postwar fic in which Lucius Malfoy has been greatly reduced in circumstance, had his estate essentially confiscated to pay reparations, and is under house arrest in a very modest Muggle house, where he lives under restrictions of his movement and any use of magic. Severus visits him and sees that even with all that Lucius has gone through, he really just doesn't get it, and until he does, he'll be trapped in dreams of a glorious future-that-might-have-been-if-only. Lucius suspects Severus (who in my AU, has had a long, hard road to redemption, and a slow realization of his own guilt, with gradual shifting from having gone to the OotP because he betrayed Lily & wants revenge, etc., to having true remorse for having done the things he did) -- anyway, Lucius suspects Severus of having "converted" to the "right" (winning) side late, but timely, and for solely self-serving reasons. When Severus encourages him to try to become a man whom Draco can be proud of, to take advantage of the opportunity he has, he says, “You see me, my circumstances. What you suggest is impossible.”Severus shook his head. “No, not impossible, simply extremely challenging. You have some intelligence, Malfoy. Use it. It would give you something to spend your time on, something other than sitting in your garden dreaming about what might have been. You’re right about one thing, of course. It is impossible to change who you were and what you have done. I encounter that same truth on waking each morning and am reminded of it constantly. But show some ambition, Malfoy! Aim for something more than you were, something other.”“Easy for you to say: you chose your sides well.”“Not well: late. And hardly easy.” Severus stood. He had nothing more to say to this wreck of a man. Lucius did not yet understand the nature of his choice, that it had meant more than choosing sides and picking the winning one. Until he did, Severus doubted that the other wizard could move beyond what he was and where his previous choices had brought him.“When did you choose, then?” Lucius asked, suddenly looking up at him sharply.Severus looked down at him. “Before his first defeat. You have surely learned that from the Prophet. And it is still a choice that I make every day.”I had one reviewer who was completely outraged that poor Lucius had lost the manor, had his funds confiscated, and was living in such modest circumstances. I was flummoxed when I read the review. Lucius Malfoy was, most likely, a serial murderer, a torturer of Muggles and others, and a pureblood racist -- and it is likely that his family obtained its wealth through less-than-pleasant means, even if they weren't illegal -- and yet there was outrage on his behalf. What of his victims? The expanding circle of victims, not just those whom he directly affected, but their friends, family, and society in general? Then I realized that the reviewer must have read a lot of fanfic that completely glosses over the canon!Malfoy's behavior and beliefs and she had forgotten what a truly wretched human being he was. Of course, it is possible that she actually identifies in a positive way with canon!Malfoy, but I don't prefer that explanation.Again, thanks for the thought-provoking essay!

I will give you a better and more comprehensive response, later, but I wanted to let you know that you've reminded me why I still haven't completed my very first Harry Potter fanfic ever: it's a story of Severus Snape's journey to redemption, and I've been writing it since January or February 2010. More than two and a half years later, I still haven't managed to get him to the right place.

Getting him there is work, definitely! Especially to make it at least quasi-realistic and a somewhat plausible extension of canon. Good luck with it! 

That's my belief, too, Penn, based on JKR interviews.And with that in mind, it's difficult to the point of nearly impossible for me to suspend disbelief enough to see him as "secretly good" or "easily redeemed". There's just too much there to be got over for me. It would take years of hard work for me to believe in a Lucius who truly came to see the error of his ways. No writer has yet convinced me of the former,  but I'm holding out hope for the latter.

That's my belief, too, Penn, based on JKR interviews.And with that in mind, it's difficult to the point of nearly impossible for me to suspend disbelief enough to see him as "secretly good" or "easily redeemed". There's just too much there to be got over for me. It would take years of hard work for me to believe in a Lucius who truly came to see the error of his ways. No writer has yet convinced me of the former,  but I'm holding out hope for the latter.

, I really feel for your situation. It must be a delicate balance to maintain. The Lou Dobbs statement is an excellent illustration of what I tried to write about. I've no doubt that Mr Dobbs believed what he was saying at the time. It's easy not to see the struggles of others when we're accustomed to seeing the world only as we've lived it. And I firmly believe that that is part of why many HP fans are able to dismiss the full horror of Lucius's beliefs and actions. I look forward to reading your story when you post it. You'll surely be able to bring a unique perspective to the telling. If you ever need advice or encouragement, feel free to contact me or one of the other TPP admins. We want to hear your stories!

, I really feel for your situation. It must be a delicate balance to maintain. The Lou Dobbs statement is an excellent illustration of what I tried to write about. I've no doubt that Mr Dobbs believed what he was saying at the time. It's easy not to see the struggles of others when we're accustomed to seeing the world only as we've lived it. And I firmly believe that that is part of why many HP fans are able to dismiss the full horror of Lucius's beliefs and actions. I look forward to reading your story when you post it. You'll surely be able to bring a unique perspective to the telling. If you ever need advice or encouragement, feel free to contact me or one of the other TPP admins. We want to hear your stories!

It isn't a matter of saying sorry, but of being sorry, not sorry that they have been caught,or that life has turned out to be crap, but truely sorry for the wrong that has been done.I wish I'd had the words to express this idea so simply and beautifully. Thank you for writing and sharing them.

Coming from an author of your caliber, that is a very great compliment indeed. Thank you.

It isn't a matter of saying sorry, but of being sorry, not sorry that they have been caught,or that life has turned out to be crap, but truely sorry for the wrong that has been done.I wish I'd had the words to express this idea so simply and beautifully. Thank you for writing and sharing them.

Coming from an author of your caliber, that is a very great compliment indeed. Thank you.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I think all fiction, to some extent, depicts characters that don't react in ways we expect real people might. The main difference I see in fanfiction is that many of us write the characters as we want them to be, rather than as who their creators made them. I do it myself. But I also try to be careful in my depictions when straying from canon. I haven't always been successful, but I continue to strive to be aware of the power of words.As for canon!Lucius Malfoy, I (obviously) agree with most of your assessment of him. However, one area where I think he must fail the sociopath test you've listed in in the ability to love. As much as I loathe and despise the character, I do believe he loved his family.You wrote "unless you don't want to make a connection to what is real". I think this is likely exactly the case for many writers. Why should I acknowledge the ugly and the hateful when I just want to write/read a bit of bad-boy fluff? My suspicion that tha attitude is what drives many fanon!Lucius fans is what spurred me to write this essay.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I think all fiction, to some extent, depicts characters that don't react in ways we expect real people might. The main difference I see in fanfiction is that many of us write the characters as we want them to be, rather than as who their creators made them. I do it myself. But I also try to be careful in my depictions when straying from canon. I haven't always been successful, but I continue to strive to be aware of the power of words.As for canon!Lucius Malfoy, I (obviously) agree with most of your assessment of him. However, one area where I think he must fail the sociopath test you've listed in in the ability to love. As much as I loathe and despise the character, I do believe he loved his family.You wrote "unless you don't want to make a connection to what is real". I think this is likely exactly the case for many writers. Why should I acknowledge the ugly and the hateful when I just want to write/read a bit of bad-boy fluff? My suspicion that tha attitude is what drives many fanon!Lucius fans is what spurred me to write this essay.