Private Message to Antonin Dolohov

[alt_lucius]

What did Ari want with you?

This is

Thank Merlin our party is Saturday. Narcissa plans to out-do herself to make sure it is a universal success.

FUCKING

Come on Saturday whenever you like.

Comments

[alt_antonin]

Think nothing of it, my dear. He wanted to make sure I was aware Our Lord's favour had fallen upon Cadmus, and inquire as to my plans regarding same. I reminded him that Our Lord's favour is His to bestow, but that does not mean we must push and shove after it like dogs begging for scraps; my allegiances are not so fickle as others' might be. It was a fishing expedition, nothing more.

Though I wish you had told me what you were planning; I would have liked to assist

Unless matters force a change of plans I will be leaving after administering my last exam Friday afternoon and returning to town; I had thought to reserve Friday night for supper with Barty and finishing my final monograph for Mysteries on the underpinnings of the spell used at Saltash. (Have I told you? I am certain it is a Fidelius variant intended to shorten the casting time and eliminate some of the more fiddling requirements, but I cannot make the details make sense. It is most vexing.)

It is nothing that cannot be set aside if you are more in need of me, though, and I am entirely free on Saturday; I will do whatever I might to be of service to you and to Narcissa, or to make it plain that I do not abandon family in times of trouble. I am entirely at your service, little brother. You have but to say the word.

[alt_lucius]

Fishing. Lovely. First he deliberately blanks me to rush Mulciber as if he'd just caught the snitch; then he starts sniffing round my nearest and dearest to entice them to do the same.

Have been keeping as typical an agenda to-day as possible in order not to appear perturbed by yesterday's events. Still. Have been thinking all day and Weasley has had a slew of requests to cancel or re-arrange appointments. 'On account of the season,' if you please.

Had I not been there myself, I should not have believed Cad capable of it. You know as well as I that he has always acquitted himself on the field admirably - sometimes even with inspiration - but in the thirty years we have known each other, he has never achieved anything like the effectiveness of that duel. I cannot accept that it was mere luck, or that Maule merely was so ill-prepared.

Which means Cad has found a way to change the field. Until we can counter, our position is decidedly unstable.

And then for Ari to

It is more distressing than one wishes to consider, yet consider it we must.

[alt_antonin]

Perhaps it is time to take a more direct approach. Both Mulciber brothers are easily goaded; I cannot imagine it would be difficult to lure them into taking a swing, and you well know how fiercely they have always underestimated me.

(Mind you, should that be the plan, it would be worth my life should either of us let slip word to Barty ahead of time, and he would then immediately storm off and take care of things for us so that I would not be in danger. He does fret so.)

That pipe-dream aside, methinks it is time that one of us bought some favour with Our Lord of our own. Has He turned His attention in any particular direction lately? I can think of several things we might offer, but you are in His presence far more often than I.