Long session for the Council

[alt_lucius]

Despite promising Narcissa that I would take things in hand for our family party next week-end, much of the last two days has been spent with the council. The Lord Protector is most distressed that Black's recent post has managed to Confund several unsuspecting wizards, who had to be brought in so they could be clarified.

The council have been discussing ways to address the problem and bring Black to justice. Some favoured instructing the Department of Mysteries to find an immediate way to block his entries to keep law-abiding witches and wizards from being exposed to his perverse writings. A faction argued that we might instead use his posts to pinpoint him - or his followers - and thus close in on him by small steps. Personally I would rather see the latter used in a more expeditious manner. Have asked Hopkirk to concentrate her Aurors' efforts on rooting out any true collaborators among those who have honestly fallen prey to his insidious heresies.

With that set in motion, gave the whole day over to-day to catch up on the details of the celebrations. Quickly lost patience for it, but at least accomplished the most pressing portion of tasks. Crispin worked his way through the contacts left on the agenda and thus ensured additional progress.

One meeting I could not postpone this week was a conference with the Minister in which she added her recommendations to those of the council. Following this interlude, I impulsively invited Miss Robins to tea, in order to obtain a female opinion on a number of decisions. Found her input both cultured and insightful (for the most part) and it served not only to illuminate the tasks still to be completed, it provided a modicum of tolerance to return to the process.

The responses have been arriving at the Manor, meanwhile, and the number of guests appears slightly larger than last year's (to say nothing of those staying over either there or at Kensington. Ari and Pandora cannot be expected to transport themselves and the children in Pandora's growing state). Must remember to have the elves check the larder stock for breakfast next morning in addition to the refreshments on Saturday evening.

Comments

[alt_mcgonagall]

Shall you have the same outdoor fairy lights as last year - the ones along the ha-ha? So clever - and makes things much safer if one enjoys walking the grounds at night.

[alt_lucius]

Yes and additional entertainment on the pitch. I have also devised a night-flight course through the gardens. 'Ware the hinkypunks.

[alt_mcgonagall]

Lovely! I simply cannot wait. One does crave the company of adults when one spends one's whole life in a school.

[alt_pansy]

I've seen Miss Robins. She's very pretty.

[alt_lucius]

Have you? I was not aware you and she had ever been in the same place.

Are you certain you are not mistaken?

[alt_lucius]

Oh, but you have Carrow to keep you company, I daresay.

(I've made sure to have a bottle or two of your preferred label, Minerva.)

ORDER ONLY

[alt_molly]

I admit that reading this makes me quite sick with nerves. For one thing, I worry about the danger that might befall anyone who reads Sirius' journal entries and decides to act in ways that the regime might think needs 'clarifying' (now there's a euphemism). But what could be worse--oh Arthur, you and Bill are quite, quite sure that they'll never find the 'Order Only' lock, if they start examining the spells that animate the journals closely, in an attempt to exclude Sirius' entries?

[alt_mcgonagall]

And what a joy he is.

(Very thoughtful!)

Re: ORDER ONLY

[alt_arthur]

It would be foolish, of course, to assume that the lock could never be broken. Expect the best, plan for the worst. But I firmly believe Bill's one of the very best wizards at crypto-charms out there. Filius wouldn't have taken him as an apprentice otherwise.

I know you'll worry anyway, Molly dear, but trust me: Bill has the best chance of anybody of keeping himself above suspicion in whatever investigation that the Ministry may launch. In fact, if we can manage to pull the right strings, he may be the consultant running the whole thing.

[alt_pansy]

I don't think so... wasn't she at a luncheon this year? This past spring?