Private Message to Barty Crouch, Jr.
Oct. 18th, 2010 10:17 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alt_luciusLong discussion with Narcissa this evening, but she has agreed that it is better for the Prophet to assist in a controlled campaign to dispel the rumours than allow the gossip rags to run rampant with indiscriminate stories. I've booked in with Fudge to-morrow morning to brief him on approving your proposal. Let me know if Scrimgeour gives you any difficulty; heard from Hopkirk that she'll endorse whatever plan you devise. We can meet with Bole to-morrow afternoon or Wednesday - as your diary allows - to cover the permissible details.
Perhaps Travers ought to provide the Prophet with a selected analysis of the false tracts. Nothing too supportive to Black's originals, of course, but enough to reduce the matter to one of mockery and disdain - and naturally the passages that are least likely to emanate from one with his history or background. Bole can provide follow-up articles linking the sightings to Zuckerman's theories regarding Snape, which should further deflect the rumours and remind the public to report any suspicious encounters.
The whole business makes me wish for the days of Monitoring spells again. Pity it's completely unrealistic to put the topic into a Taboo, especially considering that the terms are so common. It was burdensome enough in those early months. Still, it's a comfort to think that anyone attempting to resurrect Black by attracting attention will eventually gain yours.
One favour, if you don't mind: She has said nothing to me directly, but I recognise in my wife the signs of ... let us say, optimism, at the implications of some of your team's reports. She may well take the notion that if this mysterious figure is in fact real, is alive and has enough similarities to Black to pass for him .... Should she come to you with any such ideation, I hope you will not encourage her. I think neither of us would care to see her return to the distress she suffered at either of Regulus' infamous disappearances. Dementors aside, by summer's end I had thought her much recovered; this newest development may set her back if she is allowed to run away with false hopes. To say nothing of the consequences (potentially from more than one source, if you take my meaning) were her belief to become known, especially after the job we had explaining his instabilities. I am sure I can rely on your discretion to handle her with care should she impose upon your sympathies with any outlandish thought that Regulus might have slipped his bonds a second time.
Let Crispin know when to have me at Bole's - no, on second thought, better tell us both; he missed my instruction to push back the appointment following your brief on Friday. Lucky it was only to the club for Mulciber. Well. I shall sort Fudge in the morning, and then my clerk, make no mistake.
Perhaps Travers ought to provide the Prophet with a selected analysis of the false tracts. Nothing too supportive to Black's originals, of course, but enough to reduce the matter to one of mockery and disdain - and naturally the passages that are least likely to emanate from one with his history or background. Bole can provide follow-up articles linking the sightings to Zuckerman's theories regarding Snape, which should further deflect the rumours and remind the public to report any suspicious encounters.
The whole business makes me wish for the days of Monitoring spells again. Pity it's completely unrealistic to put the topic into a Taboo, especially considering that the terms are so common. It was burdensome enough in those early months. Still, it's a comfort to think that anyone attempting to resurrect Black by attracting attention will eventually gain yours.
One favour, if you don't mind: She has said nothing to me directly, but I recognise in my wife the signs of ... let us say, optimism, at the implications of some of your team's reports. She may well take the notion that if this mysterious figure is in fact real, is alive and has enough similarities to Black to pass for him .... Should she come to you with any such ideation, I hope you will not encourage her. I think neither of us would care to see her return to the distress she suffered at either of Regulus' infamous disappearances. Dementors aside, by summer's end I had thought her much recovered; this newest development may set her back if she is allowed to run away with false hopes. To say nothing of the consequences (potentially from more than one source, if you take my meaning) were her belief to become known, especially after the job we had explaining his instabilities. I am sure I can rely on your discretion to handle her with care should she impose upon your sympathies with any outlandish thought that Regulus might have slipped his bonds a second time.
Let Crispin know when to have me at Bole's - no, on second thought, better tell us both; he missed my instruction to push back the appointment following your brief on Friday. Lucky it was only to the club for Mulciber. Well. I shall sort Fudge in the morning, and then my clerk, make no mistake.
no subject
Date: 2010-10-19 06:05 pm (UTC)Wanted to see Scrimgeour before answering, but that was interrupted. By Fudge. Obviously you stirred him into action this morning--he admitted he'd been distracted from international matters and had in fact allowed a request from the French to languish--he seemed entirely surprised to find that they've been working all along and had, in fact, something of substance to report.
As Bellatrix pointed out this is hardly the first time Fudge has appeared to be overtaxed by the demands of his office. I feel certain he took her point.
Regardless. By the time we'd assembled--I believe Fudge's assistant tried her best to reach you, knowing you would wish to be in the room for the report--the French Inspectorate had opened the Floo for the Directeur Général:
They have a body, and the preliminary evidence supports identification.
no subject
Date: 2010-10-19 06:19 pm (UTC)I'm not at all surprised Miss Robins was unable to reach me this morning. I have been ... blind-sided, I suppose is the best term. Dealt an entirely unexpected and unwelcome surprise. Still, while your report gives truth to the adage that good news can wait, I am very pleased to hear it.
Was heading to Elysian but shall see if I can reach Dideron myself, now. Did he say when they expect to confirm a positive match?
no subject
Date: 2010-10-19 07:06 pm (UTC)Dideron did mention that they'd been unable to confirm a match through residual magical signatures: it's rather late for that, and while they have a collection of personal items Black is known to have used magically, the imprint of his magic has obviously faded from those items, as well.
He did not say directly--I think the French are rather more reserved than we on such subjects--but I gathered he might follow up with a request to Bellatrix for a personal sample of some sort that could be used to confirm the body's familial relationship to her. To be honest, I've no idea whether Bellatrix would agree to any such thing. She wants the remains transferred here immediately, of course, but that met with resistance. (They are conducting their examinations in situ and feel it would impair their investigation to shift the remains.)
no subject
Date: 2010-10-19 07:32 pm (UTC)As for the remains, so long as they are willing to transport them once they have completed their inspections, let them conduct what trials they will. Our Lord has already reserved a spot in His collection for the prize, once the public have been able to view the evidence that Black cannot possibly return.
We could not have asked for a better answer to those infernal broadsheets. Well done.
no subject
Date: 2010-10-19 07:56 pm (UTC)The only unfortunate consequence of this timing is that it may bolster Narcissa's hopes--if you are correct that she is still harbouring them--that our rash of supposed domestic 'sightings' might be evidence of Regulus's survival.
Considering her position, I would almost rather that we'd found his remains.
I'm entirely in agreement that whatever we do with regard to squelching those ludicrous forgeries, we must not foster any notion that he could be the impostor. It's too ridiculous to imagine his having penned anything of the sort. Regulus was weak, there's no denying that, and he was guilty of countless idiocies, but he was never a lover of the muddied masses.
no subject
Date: 2010-10-19 08:30 pm (UTC)Fortunately, as I say, she has made no overt mention of it to me, so perhaps I am simply being cautious. Still. I am sure you are aware of the extent of her mourning, despite her cousin's myriad flaws. We all liked Regulus, of course, but she always viewed him as her particular pet. I should not like to see her put herself through any more torment on behalf of her sentimentality toward him - nor should I wish you to be troubled by it further. She has taken more than enough of your time and indulgence over the last few months.
It would indeed have been better for us all to speedily locate his remains as well - curse them both for their penchant for dying and simultaneously disappearing! But if one must choose between the brothers for one to confirm - well, I cannot but prefer to identify the traitor over the deserter.
Narcissa will simply have to live with the indecisive nature of Regulus' end, as shall we all. Who knows? If it took four months to find his brother's corpse (if indeed, it is him) then Regulus may yet provide a clue to his final moments and the whereabouts of his own tomb.
no subject
Date: 2010-10-19 09:45 pm (UTC)