20 Idiotic Decisions Made By Characters In The Harry Potter Films
17. Lucius Malfoy Giving The Diary To Ginny Weasley
Lucius Malfoys contempt for all things non-wizard is obvious, as is his disdain for lesser creatures such as Dobby. However, his stature as a well-heeled employee at the Ministry of Magic (especially to Cornelius Fudge) not only keeps him out of trouble, but also gives him insight into the workings of the Ministry and the ability to influence it. It also keeps him off the official radar of the Auror squad, but not all wizards are fooled by his public mask, especially Arthur Weasley. Malfoy was given Tom Riddles diary by Voldemort himself. Not knowing the importance of the diary (a Horcrux), he decided to plant it on Ginny Weasley in the hopes of discrediting her father. After Harry destroys the diary and returns to Dumbledores office, Malfoy bursts in, angry about Dumbledores return after Malfoy had contrived to have him suspended. Dumbledore makes a veiled reference to the fact that he knows that Malfoy planted the diary on Ginny, and Harry accuses him of it outright. As the senior Death Eater not serving in Azkaban, Malfoy should have regarded any personal possessions of the Dark Lord as holy objects. Even though it was a good plan to both rid himself of an incriminating object and take down a threat to his power, it was nearly too risky to him and his stature at the Ministry.
