Lucius S Malfoy

Preparing final touches on the report for Our Lord. Plan to send Cadmus to deliver the worst of the news.

Bella, shall you go along or do you prefer to keep the pressure on the perimeter of the affected area? If you wish someone to return to St James' Palace with Rodolphus, Narcissa will keep watch, surely.

Saltash camp: Destroyed. An area approx. 10 acres disappeared under a spell believed to be a variant of Fidelius at seven o'clock this morning. Investigation pending. Area to remain under surveillance by MLE indefinitely.

Casualties: Rufus McLaggen, Councilwizard and former Auror Trainee (by the hand of Frank Longbottom); four MLE personnel (names attached); Camp Administrator Hugh Pendarvis; 15 camp enforcers

Missing, Presumed Dead: Junior Administrator Carter Prentiss (captured within the inaccessible area); further half-dozen camp personnel

Wounded: Crouch, Barty; Lestrange, Rodolphus; Mulciber, Cadmus; Mulciber, Corax; other names (MLE, Camp) attached

Material losses: 2,500 in muggle chattel; approximately 200 head of cattle; twenty fishing boats; Saltash administration buildings and camp facilities. In addition, a further estimate of 1,000 muggle chattels were in the affected area at the time of the alleged Fidelius. See above re: MLE surveillance to capture any refugees leaving said area

Twenty-five prisoners remanded to the custody of MLE for further interrogation.

Of note: Frank Longbottom sighted by several MLE personnel but evaded capture. Witness reported sighting of Sirius Black impostor late in the morning but could not be confirmed

Anything further to add?

Might interest you to know that there has been a rather severe revolt at Saltash. It seems your acquaintance Prentiss was foolish not to have transferred to Maidstone when he had the opportunity.

Although, so far, perhaps it was the right decision from our perspective; he has seemed strangely rattled at the scale of this ... conflagration. (An apt term: They have set fire to almost half the compound.) It's strange, considering that he gave every indication in the inspections that he knew his camp inside and out.

But then, you know as well as I that an emergency can cause even the most organised and capable wizard somewhat addled.

Surprised Mafalda did not call in all available Aurors prior to this point. Half-expected to find that you were already here, wand in hand.

Bella's called a meeting in three minutes.

Need you on standby - there has been a disturbance at Saltash which is apparently proving resistant to peacekeeping forces.

May need you to re-arrange meetings to-morrow. Particularly morning meetings.

Corax,

Understand that Maidstone now requires a change in leadership. You ought still to have the reports on the junior personnel at Cheadle and Harlow; as you know, the search committee have already recommended Mr Willoughby (formerly of Doncaster) to replace Bawsley at Adur. However, we found Mrs Miranda Moore (of Harlow) a close second.

Additionally, though he was not one of the final three candidates for Adur, Carter Prentiss of Saltash was on Revanche's short list. Auror Sawers-Cumming has the full reports of our findings and can provide them to you.

Mention it merely as it seems your clerk has been under the weather and we cannot afford to lose any time in the matter of weeding corruption out of the camps.

(Also to-day's Wizengamot session reminds me how behind my correspondence has been.)

Ned, if you please, see if you can coax Barty to eat. There's a lad.

Weasley, go and find Hieronymus Bole as well as Barnabas Cuffe. Cannot be done via Private Message; Floo is fine so long as it does not generate too many inquiries. Require them at MLE headquarters at their earliest convenience, with full lists of the Prophet staff during both their tenures (Yes, aware this will take Hieronymus a while).

Also, last month's inspection tour of Bawsey. There was a witch on the team telling us about the fortifications to the waterfronts in King's Lynn. Blishwick, I think? Well, whatever the name: She had details of the piers and mentioned similar projects using camp personnel in Southampton, Hull and Birkenhead. Should like her to bring the elevations and the list of all labourers assigned to any of the work, particularly anything to do with shoring the foundations or work under-water on pilings and such. As soon as possible, please.

Last: Have copious pages of notes from interrogations beginning around 5:00 AM. See if you can pull them into coherence in time for Court. Shall need Yaxley and Hopkirk to read over before presenting.

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.

Dearest,

Unable to accompany you tonight. Perhaps Draco would like to stand in for his father so that you don't need to face the St Mungo's Auxiliary alone.

I trust you shan't overbid on anything, despite the validity of the cause. But do, if you feel it warranted, find yourself something to make up for my absence.

I anticipate being home late. Don't feel you need wait up for me; it may be very late indeed.

Spent most of the day, following Court, on inspection tour at Preston and Leeds. Sheeting down rain the whole time - except, of course, when the Head Enforcer for the region conducted us inside for luncheon. Had to reinforce warming and water-repelling charms twice before returning to New London.

Leeds remains an altogether well-organised operation. There were some minor issues and of course, one or two open questions regarding security. The mud (both varieties) makes for an excellent brickworks, sorely needed for repairs throughout the realm and the muggle population appears well-kept and adequately deferential as befits their station. Interestingly, the administrator there has chosen to separate families, as a matter of course. Claims it elicits better compliance.

However, this is not borne out when compared to Preston, which also until recently kept the genders segregated and rewarded good behaviour with the privilege of conjugal visitation. Preston's disciplinary logs over the last two weeks have shown a marked increase and there are signs that its administrator (Rosalia Craig) may be losing her control over her charges.

At least her muggleborn denizens are tightly mastered, yet even these have undergone recent periods of unruliness, particularly leading up to and on Bonfire Night. When our party arrived, however, the camp had been turned out in good form and we were treated to a public reprisal for the mischief of Friday night. While their comrades staged a diversion, three mudblood youngsters had broken in to the dispensary and stolen strength potions. These, we were told, they distributed among several of their younger companions and together attempted to overpower the guards and make their way to an abandoned section of town, where they intended to hide.

The three instigators were apprehended and four of their accomplices as well. Craig also located their muggle parents and forced the children to watch while the adults were Cruciated in front of them. A fine lesson in theory but Craig seems to have under-estimated the degree to which separating mudbloods from their biological parents also divorces them from any feeling of kinship, nor from any responsibility to one another as a family. Thus it is hard to conceive what possible submission the method will secure when neither parent nor child has any contact with one another to re-inforce the necessity of docility. Moreover her redress, from what our party could discern, had quite the opposite of its desired effect - though not, as I say, out of familial loyalty. Instead of reminding those under her supervision of her power to give pain or succor, she merely added to their disquiet. Suspect she missed the point of the prisoner's dilemma. Return scheduled in two weeks to determine whether our recommendations have made any difference to her bottom line. (Oh, and Mr Kendall: note the date if you please and clear the calendar as necessary when you hear from Spencer-Wells' office to schedule the visit.)

In any event, back at the St James' house now and unable to accomplish nearly as much as I should like owing to the constant interruption of questions from my front office. (Which also reminds me, Mr Kendall: If you are so wholly incapable of brewing a decent cup of tea, leave it in future to the elf.) Should like to read the intelligence report from the Bonfire Night arrests in Green Park - if one could find them!

Had completely forgot that the Board of Governors could meet in person at Hogwarts, so quickly had I become accustomed to meetings via Floo and other measures.

However, it was convenient to trek to the school, especially as it gave the opportunity to check on Miss Parkinson. Was not altogether surprised by her continued dolour following Black's untimely death; given her history, in fact, rather expected her reaction to be much worse.

Draco seems in high spirits, particularly compared to last year. Think the visit, despite the circumstances, did him good. Hope this does not signify that he and Harry have any sort of mischief planned for the end of the term. Understand from Narcissa that he and she have finalised the invitation list for his birthday (and it is very short, which shows restraint following his very large list for Christmas). She tells me he asks to play host for his own guests, rather than relying on us to fulfill the duties. Just as well; she can make sure the event runs properly and I may be able to retreat from an invasion of young teens.


Camp inspections with Yaxley proceeded much as expected. The after-effects of Black's Paralysis continue to ripple through considerations of housing, safe drinking water and of course skilled labour. Several camps have attempted to organise behind foremen who are more recently awakened; naturally they did not bargain for the power of Enforcement to answer to their resistance. Census attempts have proven difficult; the muggles have devised curious methods to confound barracks head counts. Discussed mandatory roll calls while the surrounding buildings are thoroughly searched to locate anyone who may be hiding from work detail. Yaxley suspects that as many as 5,000 muggles may have escaped into the countryside, but without a census it is impossible to tell. Have endorsed the plan to conduct a concerted effort through the papers and the WWN to locate anyone harbouring or aiding muggles, and to report any unrecognised persons in known wizard settlements.


Meeting with the Minister this morning went well; in addition to the camps, discussed his plans for the restoration of Tintagel as a satellite for the Astronomers' Guild and the initiative to improve the infrastructure left by the muggles (particularly fire safety, water treatment and road maintenance). Usual lunch; then Hogwarts.

Did see Ned, rushing between departments on some errand. He commented that his first week has rather reminded him of the sensation of drinking direct from an ocean wave, but knowing Ned, he shall thrive on the pace. Suspect within a month he shall have most of the routine functions well in hand and then Barty shall be receiving the full benefit of an excellent clerk.


Presto Records board meets to-morrow. Must remember to speak to Nolan about arranging the evening's entertainment at Draco's party.

The Lord Protector's decision to move court to Windsor necessitated some changes to the timetable. Consequently Magical Commerce met this afternoon, instead of this morning.

Fortunately, industry has been on the rise since the camp populations have returned to work. It is particularly stronger since Rookwood's restorative was deployed with success. There was even discussion of opening the camps again, though in the end it was determined too early for that.

However, the supply situation was discussed and it was recommended to the Ministry that owl traffic resume to all quarantined areas, including camps and Hogwarts. We await the final decision of the Minister, of course, but it should be a matter of time. None too soon, it seems, from the reports we have seen this week!


Pansy, spoke to your mother regarding spending time in town. She is amenable, which was surprising enough in itself, and we are awaiting the YPL schedule to decide on suitable dates. She indicates that Campbell has a rather full agenda planned while you are on holiday with them; doubtless he knows that he still has some work cut out for him.