Harry dizendo que Lucius é um Comensal da Morte não teve efeito no Ministério.
Depois de vê-lo no cemitério, Harry tenta dizer ao Ministro da Magia que Lucius Malfoy é um Comensal da Morte. No entanto, o ministro explica que Lúcio já havia sido inocentado e recusou-se a considerar a acusação contra ele ainda mais, parecendo ofendido com a mera sugestão.
“I saw the Death Eaters! I can give you their names! Lucius Malfoy –’
Snape made a sudden movement, but as Harry looked at him, Snape’s eyes flew back to Fudge.
‘Malfoy was cleared!’ said Fudge, visibly affronted. ‘A very old family – donations to excellent causes –”
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 36 (The Parting of the Ways)
Depois disso, o ministro ainda estava disposto a conversar com Lucius, apesar da descrença de Harry sobre isso.
“Well, well, well … Patronus Potter,’ said Lucius Malfoy coolly.
Harry felt winded, as though he had just walked into something solid. He had last seen those cold grey eyes through slits in a Death Eater’s hood, and last heard that man’s voice jeering in a dark graveyard while Lord Voldemort tortured him. Harry could not believe that Lucius Malfoy dared look him in the face; he could not believe that he was here, in the Ministry of Magic, or that Cornelius Fudge was talking to him, when Harry had told Fudge mere weeks ago that Malfoy was a Death Eater.”
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 9 (The Woes of Mrs Weasley)
A tentativa de Harry de dizer ao Ministério que Lucius era um Comensal da Morte não afetou a opinião do Ministério, e Harry realmente não deu a volta em Hogwarts tentando dizer a outros alunos que Lucius era um Comensal da Morte. Naquele momento, o Ministério estava tentando desacreditá-lo, então muitos dos estudantes em Hogwarts pensaram que ele estava mentindo ou louco de qualquer maneira, então eles não necessariamente confiariam nele.
Além disso, Lucius estava dando dinheiro generosamente para o ministro.
Além disso, Lucius Malfoy é conhecido por dar dinheiro a quem está no poder, o que os tornaria mais tolerantes com ele e mais dispostos a pensar bem nele. Quando Lucius vai ver Fudge, ele tem um bolso cheio do que soa para Harry como ouro, sugerindo que ele pode estar levando para ele.
“I don’t think private matters between myself and the Minister are any concern of yours, Potter,’ said Malfoy, smoothing the front of his robes. Harry distinctly heard the gentle clinking of what sounded like a full pocket of gold. ‘Really, just because you are Dumbledore’s favourite boy, you must not expect the same indulgence from the rest of us … shall we go up to your office, then, Minister?’
‘Certainly,’ said Fudge, turning his back on Harry and Mr Weasley. ‘This way, Lucius.”
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 9 (The Woes of Mrs Weasley)
Sr. Weasley diz a Harry que Lucius dá generosamente a todos os tipos de coisas para garantir que ele esteja bem conectado e que as pessoas no poder estejam mais dispostas a fazer favores a ele.
“I’ll leave a note for Dumbledore when I drop you off, he ought to know Malfoy’s been talking to Fudge again.’
‘What private business have they got together, anyway?’
‘Gold, I expect,’ said Mr Weasley angrily. ‘Malfoy’s been giving generously to all sorts of things for years … gets him in with the right people … then he can ask favours … delay laws he doesn’t want passed … oh, he’s very well-connected, Lucius Malfoy.”
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 9 (The Woes of Mrs Weasley)
Por causa disso, o Ministério estaria ainda menos inclinado a pensar mal de Lucius.