Narcissa Malfoy’s decision to betray Voldemort at the end of the bestselling Harry Potter series has been the cause of much debate among fans. There are many who believe Narcissa’s decision to lie to Voldemort about Harry’s death didn’t make sense, or was a surprising choice for her character to make. While this may seem confusing when observed separately from the entire narrative, it makes much more sense when taking into account her actions in previous novels — and Narcissa’s betrayal was hinted at in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows two years prior.
Narcissa’s ultimate decision to betray Voldemort in the final Harry Potter novel can be traced back to her storyline introduced at the beginning of Half Blood Prince. Being a Death Eater, many would have expected Narcissa to be loyal to Voldemort under any circumstance, but her actions in the sixth Harry Potter novel — in which she plans to inform Snape of Draco’s task. While the foreshadowing was subtle, Half-Blood Prince definitely helps to validate her actions at the end of the Harry Potter series.
Narcissa Malfoy’s Betrayal Of Voldemort Isn’t Surprising After Half-Blood Prince’s Opening
She’s Willing To Openly Betray Him If It Means Saving Draco
During chapter two of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Narcissa and Bellatrix go to visit Severus Snape. It’s at this pivotal moment that Narcissa makes her first decision to betray Voldemort, as she intends to enlighten Snape of Draco’s circumstances, and his ᴀssignment to kill Dumbledore — even against Voldemort’s instruction. As Snape is aware of Draco’s mission, Narcissa never truly betrayed Voldemort in the sixth novel, but her intentions to do so make it clear she would have if it meant saving her son.
“The Dark Lord has forbidden me to speak of it,” Narcissa continued, her eyes still closed. “He wishes none to know of the plan. It is … very secret. But—”
“If he has forbidden it, you ought not to speak,” said Snape at once. “The Dark Lord’s word is law.”
— Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter Two
This should have been the first indicator to readers that Narcissa would do anything in her power to protect Draco, and it basically plants the seeds of her disloyalty at the end of Deathly Hallows. When Narcissa discovers Harry has once again survived, she cares only to know of Draco’s survival. At this point, she understands Voldemort will be defeated, and, as before in Half-Blood Prince, shows loyalty first to her family. Her actions in the earlier novel clearly foreshadowed her betrayal, so it should come as no surprise that she chooses to lie to Voldemort in the end.
The Harry Potter Books Confirmed Narcissa’s True Loyalty, 2 Years Before Deathly Hallows
She Would Choose Her Family Over Voldemort Every Time
Not only did the early scene in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince foreshadow her future betrayal, but it confirmed where her true loyalties lied — and it wasn’t to Voldemort. Most Death Eaters in the world of Harry Potter would do anything to serve the Dark Lord, and Narcissa’s actions prove otherwise. Bellatrix tries to explain that Draco should be honored to have been chosen by Voldemort for the task, but Narcissa doesn’t believe the same. Instead, the choice to beg Snape for his help in protecting Draco ultimately shows her loyalty is first to her family.
His decision to punish the Malfoys’ failure by putting Draco in harms way hindered more than helped him.
The goal was to paint a picture of those in Voldermort’s ranks who didn’t necessarily believe in every decision he made, and his decision to punish the Malfoys’ failure by putting Draco in harm’s way hindered more than helped him. From this point on, Narcissa’s loyalties changed, and her goal going forward was to protect Draco at all costs. While the Malfoy’s do fight with Voldemort at the end of Deathly Hallows, it’s clear they follow him out of fear and not loyalty.
Harry Potter & The Half-Blood Prince Set Up Multiple Death Eater Betrayals In Plain Sight
Narcissa Is Not The Only Death Eater Who Betrays Voldemort
While Narcissa’s betrayal does play a huge part in Harry’s defeat of Voldemort and the end of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, she wasn’t the only Death Eater who helped orchestrate his demise. Severus Snape is one of Harry Potter‘s most complex characters, and the multiple plot twists tied to his character throughout the series make his redemption and betrayal of Voldemort all the more impactful. We learn in Deathly Hallows that Snape, while once a Death Eater, turned spy for Dumbledore in order to defeat the Dark Lord after he killed his one true love, Lily Potter.
There are so many moments throughout the entire Harry Potter series used to throw readers off in regard to Snape’s true motives, and it all comes full circle after his death. While Snape definitely wasn’t Harry’s biggest fan, there were many ways he helped him to survive over the years, including counteracting Quirell’s jinx, protecting Harry from Lupin as a werewolf, and sending his patronus to lead Harry to the sword of Gryffindor, among many others. It was clever to hide the true motives behind Snape’s actions, but in hindsight, it’s obvious everything he did was in betrayal of Voldemort.
