How did Lucius Malfoy obtain Riddle's diary?

[HermioneLuvsRon]

I did a search, and all I found was something else. There was nothing!

I'm reading the CoS again and I just realized something, The Malfoys had the Basalisk thing planned out. If you caught this before, then you're smart or something. They started it, they gave Ginny the diary, they knew Tom Riddle would come back, they did it all and I just realized it. I mean, I knew that Luciuis (however you spell it) put the diary in the cauldron, but I just realized they planned out the whole thing. Dobby heard them talking and couln't tell. How many people realized this? And what else did you notice about the 2nd book?

[T_Z]

I noticed that I dislike Dobby a lot. he's one of my less-luked characters. I kinda prefer Voldemort than him.

[deathfairy87]

It does seem odd that there's that connection. My guess is that Lucius had been writing in the Diary for a while; and Voldemort was telling him what to do.

[FoxyDoxy]

Yeah I noticed it when I read it- i'm just wondering if Voldermort knows that lu..luci (aww nuts) Mr Malfoy did it. wouldn't he want to reward him for trying to bring him back?

[FoxyKnoxy]

As I recall from GoF, LV wasn't too happy with Lucius fleeing from the Dark Mark at the World Cup and Mr. Malfoy had to do a bit of groveling to get back in his good graces I do believe. LV accused him of not searching for him in Albainia like PP did and didn't like that at all. So this makes me wonder about Lucius's loyalty to LV. Is Lucius on LV's side or not? Was TR's diary just a way to get people scared at Hogwarts and to get Dumbledore out of office or was he realy trying to get LV back into power?

[Rapunzel]

I think Lucius (sp?) really is loyal to Voldemort. But I also think he's extremely self-centered and he's not going to put himself out at all, and certainly wouldn't put himself in danger. I think he follows Voldemort because he likes the feeling of power he gets from being a death eater, and likes making people fear him.

[SilverWilver]

I did a search, and all I found was something else. There was nothing!

I'm reading the CoS again and I just realized something, The Malfoys had the Basalisk thing planned out. If you caught this before, then you're smart or something. They started it, they gave Ginny the diary, they knew Tom Riddle would come back, they did it all and I just realized it. I mean, I knew that Luciuis (however you spell it) put the diary in the cauldron, but I just realized they planned out the whole thing. Dobby heard them talking and couln't tell. How many people realized this? And what else did you notice about the 2nd book?


I noticed this the first time I read CoS

[forgetfulgenius]

And DD warns Malfoy not to give out any of LV's old school things...how did he get these in the first place? He must have been thought by LV to be very loyal at one point...

[NIrvanaFreak]

I noticed that the first time I read CoS, also. Lucius is/was a very loyal Voldie supporter. (I say was because he fled from the Dark Mark at the Quidditch World Cup.) How he got Riddle's school things could be anyone's guess. Does anyone really know how old Voldie is? Maybe he and Lucius went to school together. I don't know, just a theory. Probably wrong, though.

[Marissa]

Hey NirvanaFreak, i'm a Nirvana Freak too. Just thought i'd add that.

Come to think of it, when DID Lucius Malfoy go to Hogwarts. One would that that it would be around the same time as Lily and James...Hmmm.

[HermioneLuvsRon]

I feel stupid because I didn't pick this up when I read the book for the first time. Maybe I did but I can't remember, I did read it a long time ago. But I guess I wasn't paying any attention when I read it the first time, like, ya know when your reading, and your thinking about other things but your eyes just keep moving? Yea, that's probably what happened. It was a long time ago though...

[Marissa]

Ya i'm re-reading the 4th and 5th book because i forgot a lot. The only real reason i remember most things, it because i LIVE on this website.

[Arthur Dent]

I am not sure what LM's motives are. He does things which show loyalty to the Dark Lord but also which show a greater concern for self-preservation. (IE Running away from the Dark Mark) I know many may have said this before but, I think many of the Death Eaters were just peachy with the Dark Lord being gone. They had moved on in their lives, and many , like Lucius, had attained a certain amount of power in the magical world. This status would be lost forever when the Dark Lord calls them into open service again.

In regards to the Basilisk in CoS Lucius is clearly making a power play. He wants to control Hogwarts and the only way he can is to get rid of Dumbledore and his supporters. Now whether this power play is in the service of the Dark Lord or not remains to be seen. I think Voldemorte's remarks to Lucius at the end of GoF show that this was done selfishly. Time will tell. I think both Lucius and Draco will have a larger part to play in this ordeal for good or ill, but wouldn't be just too easy for Rowling to have them just be evil and serve Voldemort unquestioningly.

A Dent

[IceKat55]

Does anyone really know how old Voldie is? Maybe he and Lucius went to school together. I don't know, just a theory. Probably wrong, though.
In CoS, Harry goes back 50 years to see Tom Riddle as a 16 year old memory. So Voldemort (in CoS) would be 66 years old. :)

[azzille]

Since the Malfoys are huge Voldmort supporters it is possible that they have some of Tom's things from before his downfall. In COS he goes to the shop in Knockturn Alley and sells some dark magic items. Draco tells the polyjuiced Harry and Ron that his father has things hidden under the floor so the MInistry wont find them. Maybe they were intrusted with Voldemort/Tom's possessions when he dissapeared.
Then by using the Diary Mr. Malfoy and Tom plot to rid Hogwarts of the Muggle borns or more likely to go after Harry. Dobby warned Harry not to go back to Hogwarts because something bad was to happen to him. In his own weird way Dobby was trying to protect him. I wonder what else Dobby knows that might be useful to the Order.

[Barbara Kennedy]

I believe that is discussed in these threads.
What would have happened if Tom Riddle had been successful in CoS? (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=26170)
The Secrets of Malfoy Manor (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=23014)
Tom Riddle- endless questions (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=29693)

This thread discusses the possibility that Malfoy also owns the Riddle house.
Who owns the Riddle House? (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=8529)

[x_shannon_x]

I noticed it the first time. Yes, I am smart. haha just joking

[MagicMuggle]

Personally, I think had no idea what lied within the Chamber of Secrets. I think all that was going through his mind was, 'If I can bring back the Dark Lord, I will be trusted again, become one of his faithful servents and I shall not have to suffer.' Lord Voldemort considers all the Death Eaters who went to Azkaban or died trusted and faithful. As for the others who escaped, they denied him. In the 4th book he says he had a faithful servent at Hogwarts (Fake Mad-Eye Moody=Mr. Crouch's son) He was in Azkaban. So I think the only reason Lucius slipped Ginny the diary was to save his own hide and gain power! Coward! Anyways..Its just my opinion!

Happy Posting! :)

[winky weasley]

I am not sure what LM's motives are. He does things which show loyalty to the Dark Lord but also which show a greater concern for self-preservation. (IE Running away from the Dark Mark) I know many may have said this before but, I think many of the Death Eaters were just peachy with the Dark Lord being gone. They had moved on in their lives, and many , like Lucius, had attained a certain amount of power in the magical world. This status would be lost forever when the Dark Lord calls them into open service again.

In regards to the Basilisk in CoS Lucius is clearly making a power play. He wants to control Hogwarts and the only way he can is to get rid of Dumbledore and his supporters. Now whether this power play is in the service of the Dark Lord or not remains to be seen. I think Voldemorte's remarks to Lucius at the end of GoF show that this was done selfishly. Time will tell. I think both Lucius and Draco will have a larger part to play in this ordeal for good or ill, but wouldn't be just too easy for Rowling to have them just be evil and serve Voldemort unquestioningly.

A Dent


I agree completely! I was getting ready to write the exact same things and decided to read the rest first...good thing I did!

I had always gotten the feeling that Daddy Malfoy was enjoying his new found power way too much. And LV coming back is only going to screw this new position in Malfoy's life up. He knew he would not be trusted again. I feel he did want to gain power of Hogwarts.

[meganne]

Yea, i noticed lucius planned the whole thing out too.

oh yea and to answer someones question.....isn't volemort just a little older than hagrid?....making him about 64....65 or something.....and lucius did go to hogwarts remember?...he was in slytherin, malfoy said that in book one i think. But lucius was at hogwarts after voldemort left allready.:)

[Barbara Kennedy]

Check this thread.
What years…? Aka How old are the main characters? (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=6273)

I've thought that Lucius planned the return of a much younger Riddle in an attempt to eventually control Riddle and the Death Eaters in the long run, hopefully destroying Dumbledore and Harry Potter along the way.

[hpfan_08]

I of course did plenty of searches but found none answering my question.

Here it goes we all know that in COS Luscious Malfoy slipped Tom Riddels diary into Ginny's cauldron, but my question is how did Luscious get the diary unless he is in close communication with LV.

If there is a thread on this, please provide me with a link to it and close my thread. On the other hand, if it is just a simple answer just let me know and delete my thread.

[Egla]

LV was very interested in developing various way that would make him immortal, this could just have been one of those projects, which would of course be kept by a loyal DE.

[hpfan_08]

Yes that is true, but how did he obtain the diary.

[stormcat_5000]

Maybe he had it in the secret chamber under his House' drawing room?

[hpfan_08]

I do not mean to sound like annoying but how did it get there I mean tom left it at Hogwarts for someone to find.

[DragonBlk17]

Maybe Lucius had found it when HE went to Hogwarts and took it for himself. Then when he became a deatheater he knew that it had belonged to LV.

[Tane]

LV was very interested in developing various way that would make him immortal, this could just have been one of those projects, which would of course be kept by a loyal DE.Yes but where did Voldemort stay during CoS?

Actually I have been thinking about this and I think there is another thread along these lines, Why did Lucious give Ginny Riddles Diary (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=31934&highlight=Ginny+Diary) and Ginny and the Diary (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=32448&highlight=Ginny+Diary). The reason I bring these threads up is because why did Lucious wait all this time to open the chamber of secrets and try and bring back Tom if he had the diary for over 12 years, why did he wait for Ginny or was it under Voldemort's instructions to only bring back Tom using the diary after 12 years. It really does not make sense, did Voldemort stay at the Malfoys and instruct Lucious to get the diary during CoS and that is who Lucious new where to go and collect it.

Lucious must have seen or at least spoken to Voldemort during the summer in between PS and CoS or he would have tried to bring back Tom sooner, unless Ginny was the key to the whole problem, unless there was something special about Ginny, hence the two threads quoted.

Why did Lucious wait 12 years?

[hpfan_08]

I am guessing that in books 6 and 7 that Ginny will play a very important role in terms of LV what JKR has in store though I have know clue.

[Rikku_Rocks]

During the second year at Hogwarts, Draco would have told Lucius all about Harry, because of thier newly formed rivalry. Lucius seemed to be the character who was very dark, nasty and evil, but didn't show much loyalty to Lord Voldemort at all, really. :huh:

For instance:



'Lucius, my slippery friend,' he whispered, halting before him. 'I am told that you have not renounced the old ways, though to the world you present a respectable face. You are still ready to take the lead in a spot of Muggle-torture, I believe? Yet you never tried to find me Lucius ... your exploits at the Quidditch World Cup were fun, I daresay ... but might not your energies have been better directed towards finding and aiding your master?'
'My lord, I was constantly on the alert,' came Lucius Malfoy's voice swiftly from beneath the hood. 'Had there been any sign of you, any whisper of your whereabouts, I would have been at your side immediately, nothing could have prevented me-'
'And yet you ran from my Mark, when a faithful Death Eater sent it into the sky last summer?' said Voldemort lazily, and Mr Malfoy stopped talking abruptly. 'Yes, I know all about that, Lucius ... you have disappointed me ... I expect more faithful service in future.'
'Of course, my Lord, of course ... you are merciful, thank you ...'
- taken from "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire", pg. 564


I think these few paragraphs sum up my point quite well. It does indeed, seem odd that Lucius should wait 12 years to unleash this diary upon Hogwarts, however, there is the point that Lord Voldemort's continued existence has only been acknowledged since the end of the first year. Thus, Lucius could have taken new orders from Lord Voldemort, and this would explain why he did not do so earlier. How the diary came into possession of Lucius is a mystery to me, but I suppose - and this is a real long shot ... wow - that Voldemort's old school things could be kept somewhere in the Ministry of Magic. Voldemort could have either possessed a Ministry of Magic employee, or simply told Lucius to take the diary from the area, perhaps by paying off Cornelius (since we have ample evidence to accept that the Ministry of Magic is very corrupt).

It seems like quite a far-fetched theory, but after evaluating the situation, it seems to me to be the only plausible one.

[jasper]

I'm thinking he bought it off EBAY.

No. I think he was very close in with Voldy all along, and was among the few Death Eaters who didn't lose their heads and get arrested at the end of the first war. Plans and back-up were probably always in the works, so the diary was no doubt left in a secure location that the inner circle would know about.

The 12 years- it could actually have taken that long to figure the diary out and come up with a plan for it.

As for why Ginny Weasley? Mr. Malfoy might have selected any wizard kid who happened into the book store. The Weasley's are a family that Mr. Malfoy has a beef against. Ginny would have been the least suspecting, easiest target in that family. (and of course, JKR had a hand in his choice for plot development reasons)

[tantrix]

I think that Voldy left for other lands before he turned into what he is.. as Riddle, he must've hidden the diary in a spot where other people could easily find it.. maybe Lucious found it and kept it.. talking to the Riddle in the diary and taking instructions from him.. waiting for the opportune moment.. he knew that the first and only girl in the Weasley family was Ginny, an anomaly of sorts. He gave her the diary for some reason.. (she is pure blood.. maybe she's destined to go evil..)

[lupislune]

Hmm . . . this is very plausable tantrix, or since Lucius was his one of his most faithful servents, Lucius retained/inheritated all his master's items when he turned into Vapormort.

[Apocrypha]

THere's really no telling, Lord Voldemort could have givin it to him anytime.

[atherella]

I do not mean to sound like annoying but how did it get there I mean tom left it at Hogwarts for someone to find.

Well, we don't KNOW for a fact that Tom left it at Hogwarts for someone to find. We simply don't know WHERE it came from. I imagine that Lucius is in possession of a lot of Voldemort's old possessions that Voldemort simply gave him to keep at his manor for safe-keeping. We really don't know if LV has a home, or a place where he used to reside, so it makes sense that he'd want his items kept somewhere with a person he trusts. Who better than a death eater who is in his 'inner circle'?

[tantrix]

Hmm . . . this is very plausable tantrix, or since Lucius was his one of his most faithful servents, Lucius retained/inheritated all his master's items when he turned into Vapormort.
I'm sure that all the other stuff was inherited by Lucius.. maybe Voldy lived in his house for a while.. or maybe in Grimmauld Place.. but the diary was a special object created by Riddle for some other Hogwarts student. I really don't think that Voldemart would've kept the diary after he left Hogwarts..

[Nikki_Star]

I believe that Voldemort and Lucius are very close. Lucius KNOWS that Voldemort is only half-blood. Voldemort is the only one he trusts with this secret. Why I don't know, but I have a feeling (and a theroy. I'll keep the theroy to myself). There's something about Lucius that Voldemort trusts. I think Lucius has all of Voldemorts old things...school things etc, to hide who he was in the past (Tom Riddle). I know I make no sense, but I don't want to divulge my theroy. Point in case, Lucius and Voldemort are very close and Lucius knows things that other death eaters don't. Just because he isn't the most "faithful servant" (ie. Bellatrix and Barty Jr.), but he trusts him immesely...obviously he would have to. Lucius keeps his secret.

[Tonks04]

If Voldemrt trust Lucius then why was Lucius selling most of it in Cos as Borgain and Burkes? And why when LV retuend in GoF did he call Lucius my slippery friend ? (or something like that)

[winter snow]

If Voldemrt trust Lucius then why was Lucius selling most of it in Cos as Borgain and Burkes? And why when LV retuend in GoF did he call Lucius my slippery friend ? (or something like that)

Lucius was selling Voldermort's Dark Arts items because the MoM was conducting random raids on wizard's homes looking for the contraband. Lucius takes a great deal of effort to look "respectable" to the outside world. He keeps his being a Death Eater a secret. There is a roomful of Dark Arts items under the drawing room in Malfoy's house.

The reason Voldermort called Lucius his
"slippery friend" is because in GoF, when the Dark Mark was releashed into the sky, Lucius ran from it and did not return to Voldermort as he was supposed to.

The reason Ginny was selected to be given the diary is that noone would have suspected her. She's an innocent girl, who would think Ginny Weasley would do such a thing?

As for where Lucius got the diary, I suspect Voldermort gave it to him. As well as his other Dark Arts items.

[Tonks04]

he if was a close friend to LV then why did he run from the mark? i mean wouldnt he be happy that LV is back?

[AlbusDumbled0re]

I'm guessing Voldemort probably gave it to him along with some other dark magic items. Lucius does own a lot of dark items in his home.

[Dementor Dave]

I doubt the Dark Lord gave Lucius the diary because he trusted him or even thought him an especially loyal servant. He did know that Lucius is prone to achieve his ends by any means. He mave not have even given it to him purposely. But if he did, he knew that Malfoy would ensure its re-release to the Wizarding World.
-Dementor Dave

[Tonks04]

Maybe LV gave it to Lucius 'accidnetaly' knowing that he would somehow want to get rid of it, and relase it into the wizarding world.

[winter snow]

he if was a close friend to LV then why did he run from the mark? i mean wouldnt he be happy that LV is back?

Good question. I believe that deep down Lucius is a coward just like his son. I also think that Lucius doesn't want anyone to know he's a Death Eater because he doesn't want to go Azkaban.

[angelous]

I think that lord voldermort left it in lucius persetion i think thta MAYBE the dark lord lived with the malfoys and after he LEftt WELL LUCIUS HID ALL THE STUFF AWAY SO HE COULD DO EVIL DOINGS WITH THTAT

[MagicMuggle]

Honestly, I think that Lucius Malfoy aquired the diary from a shop in Knockturn Alley (sp.?) or he had it hidden within his house. I don't think Lord Voldemort and Lucius communicated at all in any way, shape or form. I think he figured that if he returned Voldemort to power, he would be considered one of his most loyal Death Eaters, and then he would be spared and not have to pay the consequenses for claiming that he was under the Imperious Curse. It's all one great scheme to save his own neck!

Any questions?
-Ohhh! Pick me, pick me! :lol:

-Well, why didn't Lucius do it last year, or sooner?

I figured that he waited for Harry to come to school. He waited to the Second Year to launch his plan because after the First Year, he would have a full count of who was with who, and how everyone got along from Draco. Therefore he could devise a plan to bring back Lord Voldemort by manipulating the right people. When his plan failed, Lord Voldemort forgot this attempt and he didn't show any gratitude to Lucius.

[Tonks04]

Yeah, and maybe he was jsut trying to get on the good side of LV as winter snow said, he probably was a coward.

[hpfan_08]

Yeah, and maybe he was just trying to get on the good side of LV as winter snow said, he probably was a coward.

True he probably just was being a coward, but also who in there right mind would want to be on LV's bad side.

[Nicole]

Not enough info to tell how Lucius got Voldemort's school things, but the diary was just one of them. Dumbledore subtly threatens Lucius about "giving out any more of Lord Voldemort's old school things." We never heard if Ron actually told Arthur about the secret chamber under the Malfoys' drawing room, Draco says it contains some "very valuable Dark Arts stuff." Wonder why Lucius was selling things to Borgin and Burkes instead of putting it in his secret chamber?

[rotsiepots]

It was clear after Lucius's conversation with Borgin that he has a collection of dark artefacts, some of which are apparently compromising to his "respectable" name. Like all dark items they must originate from somewhere and I'm sure Lucius has his sources. I agree with many others that Knockturn Alley seems a likely hotspot for trade in dark items, otherwise I'm sure there are many independent merchants willing to sell their possessions for a galleon.

[Blacks Beauty]

I have always thought we'd find out Mrs. Riddle was a Black -- in which case Narcissa could have inherited it upon Riddle's death. (Riddle wouldn't have shown up on the tapestry because Mrs. Riddle married a muggle.)

[Cedric Black]

He had it for years, but had not used it. However, Lucius knows that it belongs to Lord Voldemort and surely possesses some dark power of its own. Perhaps he had not known the diary's use or did not care about it at all --- until he got anxious to let loose loads of his dark stuff in his home. He did mention in the shop that he wanted to sell something, but in the end left without even negotiating. Next thing was, he slipped the diary into Ginny's book.

Could the diary be what he wanted to sell in the first place?

I have always thought we'd find out Mrs. Riddle was a Black -- in which case Narcissa could have inherited it upon Riddle's death. (Riddle wouldn't have shown up on the tapestry because Mrs. Riddle married a muggle.)Sirius never mentioned anyone else which I could link up to Mrs. Riddle... But it could still be a possibility. :)

[Drusilla]

Voldemort probably gave it to him at some point during the First War, and he just kept it-quite likely, he didn't think of it at all-till the Ministry began conducting raids on pureblood homes. It's possible that the diary resurfaced when he was cleaning out his house, trying to rid it of all the Dark Arts junk-only this particular piece of Dark arts junk had the potential to derail the entire Muggle Protection Act and, with it, the raids. He didn't use it all this while because he didn't think of it. I think he picked on Ginny because, well, she was there and he thought she wouldn't know better-she just happened to be the youngest and (to his eyes, at least) the most vulnerable of the lot, besides which she was an even easier target in his opinion because she was a girl-I'm sure he'd heard enough about Ron from Draco for him to decide not to mess with the best friend of someone who'd survived a face-to-face with Voldemort TWICE, and the twins and Percy were too old to be tricked with something like a diary.
Of course, he was also taking the chance that she'd show her parents the diary and they'd have it destroyed....the whole diary episode was about him taking a small risk, albeit one that almost paid off in spades. If the diary wasn't used and nothing happened, he'd have thought-well, too bad, I can do something else, the diary couldn't be traced back to him anyway. And if it did get used, well, he didn't have anything to complain about then, did he?

[lynsey1989]

i agree i think voldemort gave the diary to lucius

[Lough Gabhra]

I think Lucius found the diary when he was at school. Riddle says to Harry when they are in the chamber that he opened the chamber and a girl got killed but it became too dangerous to open it again (Dumbledore was suspicious I think). He didn't want to throw away 5 years worth of hard work so he made this diary and left it behind so that someone could finish the job. He doesn't say WHERE he left it, but he does say it wasn't safe to open the chamber while he was still in school, so he made the book and left it for someone to find it. Where else could he have left it? Maybe he went back to get it himself and then give it to Lucius, but it doesn't make much sense to me.

But I have another question about the diary. WHY do everybody feel this irresistible need to write into it? OK, Ginny I can understand - an old-looking book makes a very...romantic diary I suppose. But Harry??? I mean, Ginny tries to sink it INTO THE TOILET!!! And Harry knows it, because Myrtle tells him that someone tried to drown it but the water brought it out again. :eyebrows: And what does Harry do? He picks it up, waits for it to dry and starts writing! :p Shouldn't we be a little worried about his...fascination for that kind of stuff and maybe toilets in general? :eyebrows:

[FitzTML]

I would imagine that the Diary was left in a secure location that Mr. Malfoy knew about. After his name was cleared (and his house was searched) he could have obtained it at his leisure.

Mr. Malfoy’s motive seems to be not as much to return Voldemort to power but more to get Dumbledore out of Hogwarts. Malfoy seemed to pressure the school governors to suspend Dumbledore as the attacks continued.

Why Ginny? The Weasleys and Malfoys seem to be at ends. And Ginny was the youngest (and most naive) and the only daughter. Even Ron seemed to distrust the diary when it was first found but Ginny may not have known better. I think Mr. Malfoy chose Ginny to strike against the Weasley family.

[chupachup07]

I always thought that Voldemort had given the diarie to Lucius for safekeeping. Lucius then was able to slip it into Ginny's cauldron when they met in Diagon Alley.

[Nikk]

I think that Lucius left it somewhere in the Slytherin common room, and Lucius came across it. After finding out what it does and it's uses, he left it for another, or borught it with him, and when he thought Voldemort was for sure gone, he would try and spread the terror of the young Tom Riddle throughout Hogwarts, and tell all his pure-blood loving friends that he is responsible.

[filosofie]

I think you could have it right with your theory. Maybe someone who didn't want the chamber of secrets to open found it and made it be transported tot them ministry. But then again, in the second book, Voldemort had not jet risen. So how could he have ordered lucius to go and get the diary? Maybe Lucius already had from is first period as a death eater...
If he found the diary while he was going to hogwarts, the question is why he didn't open the chamber of secrets back then... So actually I think you're theory is more plausible.
I also thought that Lucius went to school at the same time as Harry's parents and knew Snape from those days, but when Sirius is telling Harry, Ron and Hermione of the gang Snape belonged to at that time, he didn't mention Malfoy. So he could be older then Harry's parents.
The first time I read the book, I missed the fact that we didn't know how lucius had obtained the diary, but I realized it yesterday when I was watching the second movie again with my little sister...