We got to see a rather different view of the Malfoy family dynamic in Deathly Hallows. We saw Narcissa take the reigns while Lucius sat idly by (at the beginning of DH) and they both were in a fury over finding their son at the end. What do you think of this? What does this tell you about the Malfoy family dynamic? Does this change your previous view of the Malfoys at all?

I always guessed that the family was close. I think it was maybe due to the fact that Draco was an only child and hopelessly spoiled. The fact that Narcissa would literally risk her life for Harry at the end just to find out whether or not her son was alive said more about their relationship than all of the other books combined. I liked having this glimpse into the seemingly cold, rigid, world of the Malfoys, because it turns out to be something that wasn't quite expected.

2nd to post! finally

It was a nice surpise to see the Malfoys acting like a family. In the other books all you got to see was Lucius yelling at Draco about something, but then in the last book they are a family. I liked it and i was glad for it. She made all the DE out to be cold and heartless, and yeah most of them were, but i know there were some who just joined bcuz it was something cool. We got to see the love that they all had for each other as a family unit. Narcissa I think would have done the same thing as Lily if she were pushed to that point, she would have stood in between Voldemort and Draco if it came to that.

I'm not so sure that that Lucius would have to be honest.

This whole thing really says something about what kind of person Narcissa is underneath it all. Some may say she was shallow, manipulative, whatever, but the main thing is that she is a mother above all else, a very caring, warm and sensitive mother who would do anything for her son. In the end I think she realized that Harry wasn't bad, also, that he had saved Draco's life and she risked it all in order to do the right thing. Shows what love can do, doesn't it?

I have to agree with you there. I don't think Cissy was bad at all. Her husband never did anything out right bad. he just played at being evil, and Draco never did anything either. He never actually killed Dumbledore, he tried very poorly. But never never did anything that most kids his age hadn't done. Look at what James and Sirius were doing. That motherly love won out in her heart speaks volumes about the person that she is. Bellatrix wouldn't have even dreamed of doing anything like that. She was have given up her child for the dark lord to abuse and misuse. I think the Malfoys just went along with the whole dark arts things because it was expected of them to do so.

Lucius's lack of action underlines just how far he's fallen.

He started out as the Dark Lord's right hand man, so rich and powerful that no-one could touch him. From that, he's been through imprisonment in Azkaban, and all that implies. It pretty much goes without saying that Voldemort tortured him after he broke out of Azkaban, as punishment for his failure - most likely in front of the other Death Eaters, for an added layer of humiliation.

Now his home has been taken over, and his son has been given what looks like a suicide mission. But for me, the most disturbing moment is when Voldemort takes his wand away. For a wizard, that strikes me as the equivalent of, say, being blinded.

Everything he values has been stripped away, and I think he lets Narcissa take the lead because he honestly has no idea how to react any more. For the first time in his life he is powerless, at the mercy of others, and in the end he turns to the only thing that makes sense any more - his family.