Well I think for someone like Voldemort, Azkaban couldn't hold him. And I think he is nastier than the Demeators, he would have given them nightmares if they tried to suck anything from him. He never knew happiness in her life. Yes he had moments where things worked out for him, but not happiness like Harry had you know.

For Bellatrix I think it just increased her craziness. She thrived on the pain of others so I think getting to relive those moments over and over again for years just pushed her over the true edge of sanity. The Malfoys wouldn't last out a year in Azkaban I don't think they are truly as evil as the rest of their fellow death eaters, certainly not Cissy. I think Lucius talks a good talk but when you get right down to it what has he ever done for the cause? in OOTP he didn't do anything but demand the prophecy and all that jazz. So I think he joined the dark side because of his family and it looked like it was something fun to do. Sort of like why Regulus joined. If push came to a shove I don't think Lucius would hurt anyone like Bellatrix of Voldemort would do.

That's true. We have no evidence at all of Lucius ever having inflicted real pain on anyone, do we? As far as I know he never crucioed or AKed anyone, just talked a very good game ("muggle loving fool" and all those other little names he was so good at dishing out). Maybe he did think it was cool and fashionable to be a Death Eater, let's not forget that he was raised to hate muggles so this was very much the thing to do. Cissy, she definitely would have broken in Azkaban, no doubt about it, as would Draco if he were old enough to be sent there.

Bellatrix would almost regard being in Azkaban as an honour, proof of her loyalty to Voldemort.

For Lucius I think the worst part would be the complete loss of control. He's always controlled not only his fate, but also the fates of a large number of people around him. In Azkaban, he's at the mercy of the Dementors and, indirectly, the Ministry of Magic - institution he no doubt imagined he had in his pocket. He's obviously been used to luxurious surroundings, fine clothes, and soft living, so the physical deprivations would hit him particularly hard. Would they have cut off that famous hair, or would it have been worse for him to keep it and watch it gradually become a filthy, matted mess?

As to why he became a Death Eater - I don't think it's primarily because it's cool or fun, but because he sees it as the path to getting what he wants. A society where purebloods rule supreme, and half-bloods, muggle-borns and muggles are completely subjugated, there only to serve purebloods, with no rights at all. Though certainly he'd enjoy tormenting muggles and striding around in his dramatic black robes!

well i think Lucius would find his hair turned in to black...if he were in askabad!!(poor lucius)well the malfoys like you guys said werent really evil...i guess they joined up to protect their haonor of being a pureblood and all that mania...Bellatrix..i guess she'd have been proud to be in askabad for Voldemort...it would certainly have increased her craziness towards the Dark Lord...and I just hope severus and lucius would be in a cell together...at least lucius would get enough oil for his hair from snape's.

Har har, Lucius missing his hot oil treatments......

Oh yeah, I agree that Bellatrix would've been proud of her stint in Azkaban, and even prouder of her criminal # tatoo. She would have, no doubt, also enjoyed bragging about breaking out of Azkaban and finding her way back to Voldie.

But, if Peter ever made it to Azkaban, I daresay he would've died. The sheer terror of dementors hovering over his every move probably would have been unbearable for him. Poor thing.