Private Message to Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson

[alt_lucius]

Sending you both additional chocolate.

Draco, Harry will not be allowed to go to Hogsmeade next week-end. There is good reason to believe the village unsafe for him. I leave it to you to decide whether you will remain in the castle with him or go with your year-mates. But if you do choose to exercise your privileges, I trust you will also take extreme caution. Keep Crabbe or Goyle with you at least, and by no means venture away from the high street alone. We have reason to believe our enemies would not hesitate to gain access to Harry through you. Be careful. Above all, do not allow Harry to escape your uncle's surveillance or convince him to accompany you both into the village - I do not think your uncle would leave you unprotected but there are many distractions and he is but one warlock.

Pansy, believe you will be in need of cheering charms, so here is one: Your friend Mr Tenebridge has asked to hear that little song you wrote. He may have in mind arranging for one of the groups on his label to produce it. Have promised to ask if you would come at Christmas to give him a sample.

And if that is not enough, as I said, Valerian will be there by morning with parcels for you both.

Comments

[alt_pansy]

Really? I mean... really? The song is a bit silly, and it's my first real try at writing things, so he'd probably think it's rubbish, and now I'm all nervous about it, but that is absolutely brilliant! The Mr Tenebridge wants to hear my song!

That's awful about Harry not being able to go, though. I know he's been looking forward to it for ages. So that Granger girl wasn't making things up? She really saw one of them at Hogsmeade?

[alt_lucius]

Well, Nolan specialises in acquiring young talent. I'm sure he expects that your efforts will be raw. Do not underestimate the value of his interest, though: He can recommend a great deal to help you along.

Granger certainly saw someone, though exactly who or what his intent is still unclear. Still, MLE cannot afford to take any such reports as less than a real threat. My caution to Draco applies to you as well, Little Bit. If you go into the village, do look after yourself.

[alt_pansy]

I shall. And I'll be sure to not go anywhere by myself.

And it really is such an honour. I mean, just the chance to meet him this summer was so ace, and just thinking about all the other people whose music he's listened to, and how I'd be part of that group of people, well, that is fantastic. And you're right, I'd bet he'd have all sorts of great advice.

[alt_lucius]

Yes, I thought that would buoy you for at least a few hours. Very well, I shall tell him that you accept his invitation. There ought to be plenty of time over the holidays after your mother has left for her honeymoon.

You needn't tell her of this if you don't wish to do, by the way: Once she has remarried and you come in to your father's allowance you shall be largely independent and you and I may decide together what is best for your future.

[alt_pansy]

She's been so busy with the wedding, I honestly don't think she'd care one way or the other. But I won't burden her with my plans.

This wedding cannot happen fast enough. Honestly. She forgot to send me pocket money this month -- I had to remind her twice -- otherwise I wouldn't have had a thing for Hogsmeade and that would have been so embarrassing.

[alt_lucius]

Presumably she has forgot that you have the ability to spend it in the village this year.

Still it is concerning that she has not made arrangements for you to get an allotment automatically. I suppose since it is only a month or two until you may draw from your trust monthly, she feels it unnecessary. Well. If you have need of money for anything in particular, simply ask.

[alt_pansy]

I shall.

I don't suppose...

This might sound sort of petty, but would it be possible to see how much she's taking from our account for the wedding? To make sure she's not spending more than the interest? It'd... well, it'd be a mum sort of thing to do. To spend more than she ought, and to see that she got use of it instead of me.

[alt_pansy]

Do you think it'd be worth writing Mr Baddock about?

[alt_lucius]

You do not need to worry about that, Pansy. I know it was confusing but one of the many forms you signed when we met with Mr Baddock was an enjoinder freezing the principal amount of your trust. Your mother is authorised to withdraw only on the accruing interest.

But it does remind me that we shall have to go back to Gringott's - with your mother this time - to remove her as a signatory on the account following her nuptials.

How long do they plan to honeymoon, exactly?

[alt_pansy]

They are taking off on Boxing Day, and coming back the day after New Years.

[alt_pansy]

And it's good to know about the account, too.

I just know she's spending a ton and a half, so I was worried. But I guess that's Prospero's problem, not mine.

[alt_lucius]

I rather get the impression that they are attempting to economise - certainly that is my experience of Campbell. He has all the hallmarks of a highlander in that respect.

Nonetheless, I was many times assured by both your Aunt Narcissa and my sister that when it comes to planning a wedding, no expense is too extravagant to attain perfection.

Certainly it would not be the first time a bride - even a second-time bride - over-rules her fiancé by spending too much.

[alt_lucius]

I'll have Ari make an appointment before Christmas Eve so you and she can transfer the account. No sense letting her retain access any longer than necessary.

[alt_draco]

Well, I probably won't go. Hogsmeade isn't very special, anyway. It's just an old country village.

[alt_lucius]

Entirely your decision, son, though I am sure Harry will thank you for your steadfastness.

[alt_draco]

Wait, what's this about Mr Tenebridge wanting to hear Pansy's song? I helped write it, you know. Well, not the lyrics (though I did suggest that the chorus be repeated more), but I helped come up with the music to go with the lyrics. And who's going to play the song for him?

[alt_lucius]

You told me that you helped to write the music and I have not forgot. If Mr Tenebridge likes it I'm sure we'll discuss the proper credit for both melody and lyrics. As for going to play it, I assumed you would wish to go. Did you not tell me last summer that you pre-authorised trips to recording studios, WWN and broom factories?

[alt_pansy]

Of course you should come along! That would be absolutely brilliant. And you should most definitely get credit for the music part. Because it's part your song too.

Private Message to Draco

[alt_pansy]

I would've said that it was our song, but I wasn't sure if you wanted to make a big deal of it, because of your mum and all.

But it is both of ours, and it'd really be ace if you came along to play it.

Re: Private Message to Draco

[alt_draco]

I'll come along. I'm starting to get the idea that Father doesn't want me to play music, though. Yet I guess it's acceptable if you do it, for some reason.

Re: Private Message to Draco

[alt_pansy]

I think it might have something to do with my last name.

I'm sorry, Draco.

Re: Private Message to Draco

[alt_draco]

I don't know if it's just that. It might be because I'm a boy, and an only son, and things of that nature. Basically I don't think he wants to encourage me to be a musician or an artist because it doesn't really do much for the Protectorate. Though that's not completely true - like your song, for example, it pretty much says how great New London is now that we don't have to hide our magic. That does a lot in favour for the Protectorate, when you think about it.

Re: Private Message to Draco

[alt_pansy]

True. But if you look at all the things Lucius does... it's so much more than what a song could do. I mean, he's changing the world.

And there's only a few wizards out there who could do what he does and do it well, and I think he's hoping you'll be right there next to him one day. Which is a lot to think on, and a pretty heavy responsibility. But, you know, a pretty cool one too.

Re: Private Message to Draco

[alt_draco]

Oh, no one has to worry about that - I'll do important things. Maybe music will be one of them, and maybe it won't. You know what would be snitch, though? If a band performed while flying on brooms. They could have concerts after quidditch matches!

Re: Private Message to Draco

[alt_pansy]

Now that? Would be ACE.

I mean, I know they usually do little halftime shows and things at Quidditch, but to have a whole concert after?

I could see it working. Even if they weren't all on brooms. Sort of like I'd bet it'd give a chance to new bands, too, that wouldn't be able to fill a stadium on their own -- a ready-made audience.