Private Message to Barty Crouch, Jr

[alt_lucius]

It took him three months. Three months since I stepped down from NRBC and he's created a vacancy - and wormed his way into it.

From the broom trade he gets to Quidditch and from Quidditch it's a short hop to labour and all manner of commerce.

Blast.

Feared this would happen when Our Lord insisted

To make matters worse, this business with young Pott Marvolo has Our Lord on a tear. Luckily His anger remains directed more toward Minerva than to me but with that conniving, wheedling dog drawing nearer and nearer His throne, shall require careful steps to ensure he cannot contrive a reason to keep me from Court.

There's already talk of some initiative to bring camp administration under one larger umbrella, centralise the lot. Have heard my name mentioned more than once and deflected unofficial nomination, claiming matters of importance to the state.

But. Fudge has been acting oddly lately. Will get to the bottom of that this week.

Still - hope your project is going better than mine at the moment. Trust you realise that much of the deterioration began when you undertook your current task; suggestions on how to maintain your connexions and strengthen the old guard welcome, particularly if, as suspected, you cannot intervene directly to maintain the alliances already formed over this matter.

Comments

[alt_crouch_jr]

Lucius.

My project is wrapping me up.

Blast. What I need is a back-dating spell rather than this time-delay charm. Apologise to have kept you waiting for response.

Installed himself on the Nimbus Board? Dammit. Agree about the trajectory. Need to find a way to block that. NRBC isn't significant in itself. Wonder if Cuthbert couldn't be useful. You have influence there, and his independence from the Court is an advantage in this. Couldn't he find a way to undermine M? Or remove him entirely? (That might be cleanly done, too, by someone as unlikely to be suspected as C.)

Disturbed by what you say about the boy. Where's Rabastan in that? Surely He sees that your influence has lessened since the boy's been at school. It's not the school's Head I'd look to if things are going pear-shaped. Not sure what your experience was, but I can't say I was much influenced by the Headmaster in my day. But I suppose it's well for Raz if He's decided to lay blame above him. Still. I wouldn't trade places with Raz just now.

Now. What's this with Fudge? Haven't seen anything out of the ordinary in Pennifold's dailies.

Re. your last: wonder now whether it's coincidence that Bella has Travers so wrapped up in her project? Always know where her allegiance is, but that may be a our queering point in this case since His purposes are so difficult to read. You need Mordant. Malvasius is no good except as an info conduit through Mord.

As for my project: successful as far as I can measure it, though it's too early to be certain. Not safe by any means.

[alt_lucius]

Ah, you've not been receiving your post, then?

The Razzer is embroiled in what appears to be a passionate and altogether consuming affair with the Astronomy professor, no less. Presume this has affected his willingness to exert discipline over the boy - if, indeed, Raz ever had any sense of self-discipline to pass on, which I doubt.

Have maintained ties with Cuthbert as you may imagine, as well as all the others. Unofficially. One-to-one meetings prior to and just after each Board meeting. Have had to reverse a couple decisions just last month (though that was Charles, much easier to accomplish). In honesty it would have been easier to remain on the rolls - but no use whinging. M is not without friends, however. And my hands are somewhat tied as far as how much intervention I may exert without it being detected.

Re: Fudge. No, it's nothing Ned would have detected. Lately he has been less ... convivial, let us say. Not that one cares to spend more time than necessary in his company, though compared to Dolores .... Still. Between his cooled attitude and a troubling mis-direction of certain documents originating from his office it has made our meetings - challenging. As I said, will correct at least one of the two issues to-morrow. My clerk knows the other is his to remedy.

Mordant. Difficult to pry him from Level 13 these days. Gather Bella's latest is of paramount importance and requires constant monitoring. Also difficult to make casual contact without raising notice from undesirable sources. But. Yes. Good.

Any thoughts about covering appearances into the holiday season? How can we assist? Imagine it would not do to create a farce of strategy consisting of multiple comments to the effect that 'You've just missed him' and 'He must be in the other room.'