alt_lucius: (Farah)
Suspect you may not see this before morning but it's the first chance I have had to pick up our conversation.

Well. If we were not beset before that ill-considered account of your work, Toshenka, we certainly saw the floodgates open to-day. Luckily, at least half of the correspondence (through me, at any rate) defended the necessity of young Clarkson’s execution. Ironically, Black may have helped cement your reputation as a kindly, thoughtful soul. (Fret not: Those who know better shall say nothing to contradict.)

Were you much pestered by any of it? Prophet wanted to run a feature to remind people of the quick restoration of order after the Ministry fell to us; recommended that downplaying the entire re-appearance of Black would be preferrable. You may have seen a small item on it this evening (to the effect that this account tells of a traitor meeting a painless end in complete solitude with the innocent well removed from the scene. What could be more patriotic? And the usual reminder that Black’s posts are, of course, ‘forgeries’).

Apart from that disruption, you survived your first week, I surmise? Know that it is still early days, but would suspect you of slipping if you did not already have opinions on at least a few potential additions to your coterie. Remember to let Horace have his pick of the litter, as well. But have you begun to identify the possibly useful, the tantalisingly challenging and the mere chaff?

Confess had not until you mentioned it had any desire to claim to anything in either Carrow’s possession. However, since you brought it up in your last, have increased in avarice – particularly for her collection of potions texts. Artefacts, of course, but if Rodolphus joins you there is little chance they will divide evenly. And then there is the question of her guilt in Tony’s death. One wonders if she kept anything to confirm it.

To answer your query about that: Yes, Pansy is my goddaughter. Not surprised at her performance. Asking questions or cutting to the heart of a debate has never been a particular difficulty of hers. In fact at one point, despaired of her ever developing the discretion to curb her curiosity and wait to ask her questions during an appropriate moment! Pleased to hear her reform continues to influence her in a positive direction. (Still not sure whether to thank Narcissa or blame her for devising that particular solution. True, it brought home lessons Pansy needed to learn; on the other hand, believe it sealed her attachment to your unfortunate prodigal.)

Still reading trash and passing it off as dire scholastic tomes? Toshenka, perhaps the next time someone accuses you of ruthless and macabre acts of carnage, we could share your current bookshelf as the counter-argument!
alt_lucius: (Assessing)
We've heard some interesting rumours today.

As well as some interesting facts.

Our Lord, you'll be happy to know, was not much affected by the news. Still, MLE were dispatched to Lincoln and found Carrow at the foot of the wall. Quite in pieces.

As to what happened to Alecto, Minerva, you surely have a better idea than anyone at Court. At least, as far as her final moments. Her deterioration, however, I am given to understand we owe to entirely different sources.

Unfortunately there's no sign of the mudblood. He might have been able to offer some account of how Carrow came to fall and was unable to Apparate to safety.

Curious, don't you agree?
alt_lucius: (Triumphant)
To answer both your owls: Yes, much better, thank you.

Heard from Minerva this afternoon. She met with Our Lord and although He was somewhat becalmed by then, He still wishes to see Alecto and Amycus Himself before delivering a ruling. She seemed confident that He would find them just as unbalanced in His presence as they have been lately at school.

He indicated to her that He would, if so, entertain the notion that they would not return next term. Believe His strategy is to ... remind them both whom they truly serve.

Cannot say I would repeat the last three days, had I the chance to do them over, but if that is what it has taken to reassign them both to something more suitable .... Well.
alt_lucius: (LectureMode)
Addition to to-morrow's agenda: 2:00 with Scrimgeour, Hopkirk, Truncheon, Lestrange, Travers and Davies (Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures).

Also when you arrive in the morning, kindly provide Miss Johnson at Sainsbury's with the copy of the menu for the holiday party next week. Promised Mrs Malfoy I would give it to the catering office on Friday last and left it on my desk.

Oh - and arrange for two seats at Wednesday's Christmas Concert with my compliments for Rowena Robins and Cassius Cameron. Anywhere in the Mezzanine is fine.

I shall need half an hour's time with Allenham prior to Muggleborn Labour, as well. See to that, please.
alt_lucius: (Annoyed)
Alecto Carrow has just interrupted my evening.

It seems she is not at all satisfied with treatment her brother received at the hands of your matron, Minerva, after he was apparently attacked?

By someone who appeared in the guise of Sirius Black, no less.

I trust you have an explanation.
alt_lucius: (Angry)
Minerva, I've no time at the moment to adequately express how inexcusable this week's events have been. I'm sure you have already heard from Our Lord His opinion regarding your ability to control the students' - and Professors' - temptation to administer the Curse. No doubt you also know that Peakes is convening an emergency meeting of the Board (to-morrow before the Quidditch match) in order to discuss what reasonable provisions might be emplaced as guidelines for the Curses' proper and effective use.

Already we have seen the effects these capricious applications of the Curse have had on the journal project, on parental outrage and on faith and trust in the Department of Education. We must not allow this misstep to jeopardise any of the Lord Protector's long-term goals.
alt_lucius: (Farah)
Clearly, I chose the right day to be on-hand at Epping Forest.

I began the day at the Ministry for a briefing from the MLE, then Apparated to the Epping district office to begin my tour. Applebee, the administrator, had scarce arrived to conduct me round when we heard a commotion near the herb gardens.

We found the scene a shambles and it took Applebee and three overseers a quarter-hour to sort out the altercation. A Muggle male, age 30, had attacked one of his guards. The Muggle was quickly subdued, but not before a few others took his part. They were also brought to heel swiftly. I was able to observe first-hand their methods of ascertaining the cause of the minor mutiny. Moreover, the interrogations that resulted from the incident revealed that there has been a growing unrest among a portion of the Muggle population of the camp. Fortunately the Enforcers now have a clear picture of the extent of the danger and may now take definitive steps to suppress the violent urges inherent in their charges and channel them back to productive pursuits.

The interlude naturally took much longer than anticipated, given the fracas, but by mid-afternoon I was able to proceed with the originally planned tour. We circuited the grounds over about an hour (skipping several unimportant areas) and then Applebee's assistant conducted me to Building Seven to meet with Augustus.

Suffice to say that the research upon which he has embarked is illuminating. Amycus seems to have found his element, as well; I am gratified to hear that they work effectively as a pair.

Since the inspection and our ensuing conversation regarding their theories ran quite overlong, I accepted Augustus' invitation to dine. Applebee had the staff prepare a fine, if rudimentary, meal, and Augustus supplied a particularly good wine from his personal stores.

Our discussions ranged, but at one point we did touch on Carrow's poet. I had glimpsed him from afar, though thankfully Amycus has kept the prying eyes away from the sanctum and has wisely chosen to occupy his body in order to prevent his mind growing presumptuous once more. Though to that, when I complimented him on the apparent reform of his servant, Amycus expressed rare prescience and a concern that the effect, however transformative, may be only temporary. I noted our surroundings and suggested a potential solution, should he prove repeatedly intractable.


In more pleasant matters, Ari has begun transferring the family to Kenwood and will bring Pandora there directly she is discharged from St Gerard's. Pansy is quite taken with her kneazle; the outing was pleasant but I was most relieved when Ari suggested we take Ptolemy to the Caledonian for a libation. (And interesting to note that they employ Mudbloods among their domestic staff!)


Well, it is late and I've another early start to-morrow. Selwyn, I have down ten o'clock; that makes sense as it would follow directly on my briefing with the Minister.
alt_lucius: (Unimpressed)
My first meeting on the board of Presto Records was held this morning. I invited Draco to accompany me - not to sit in on the meeting itself, but I thought he might like to see the studio - but it seems he is still enjoying his new-found freedom (not to mention the end of all those detentions) and would rather lie in and then later take his broom out. Then again, perhaps it's not so surprising as the weather is fine to-day and he has not ridden since going back to school in January.

In any event, the meeting concentrated largely on the release schedule for the summer. I can see why Nolan wanted someone on the board with ties to the WWN; much of the conversation centred on arrangements and contract relationships with the Network to obtain play and thus drive sales. Still, the production and promotion of recordings (and the musicians who create them) is outside my realm of experience; I can appreciate that there shall be a curve before I am quite as useful to them as Nolan hopes. Nonetheless, it is interesting.


Crispin requested an early departure to-day. I don't believe he observes; I rather got the impression it has to do with something else entirely. Since his Valentine's holiday, he has been, ah, eying the clock a little more than I am accustomed to see. I suspect it is due to the young lady with whom he struck up acquaintance that week-end. I have not pried overmuch but I gather that she is of a suitable family with reasonable prospects. He has mentioned that she works at the Ministry, though not which department. I've no idea whether the affair is serious, nor is it my business, so long as he maintains the high standard I have come to expect. (Though if it comes to that, I hope he will find occasion to at least introduce me to whomever has captured his interest!) It is of course to be anticipated - indeed, it is both auspicious and proper - that a young man his age should seek company. It is, however, inconvenient at times, particularly when I suspect his attention is elsewhere in consequence.


Glad to see that Amycus and Augustus are finding their research to be of mutual benefit. Must visit the Epping camp next week to see how they are getting on.


Ari says that Pandora shall be moved to St Gerard's to-morrow and the Healers there are going to bring things along, if nothing starts on its own. (Apparently with all four children home, and now several weeks overdue, Pandora is exceedingly uncomfortable.) This intelligence made something else on my agenda a little easier to accomplish:

Pansy, my conference with Caldecott was less than satisfactory, I am sorry to say. He believes it prudent to appear to comply with your mother's expressed wishes, for the time being. However, that is not to say that no outing can occur; only that you may not accompany me solus. To that end, I have asked Crispin to arrange a Floo connexion for you next Tuesday to come to St James'; Mr Baddock and his older children will go with us, which will give Mrs Baddock time alone with the new baby. He has a number of items to acquire for Kenwood in any event; and he apparently promised Malcolm a familiar as well (as a sop, I think, on obtaining yet another baby sister!), so it is not a particular imposition to him.


Our Lord continues to shun His council members, preferring to be alone with His son and His work. I have been meeting with the Minister rather more of late to help determine those matters which must come to His direct attention and those which can be resolved without disturbing Him; the Wizengamot session will go forward, I believe, since there are a number of cases (including Llewellyn-Davis' official sentencing) that must be concluded before the 10-year celebration.

{That, by the bye, is coming along well according to Miss Robins. She thanked me earlier this week for my recommendation to Dolores that Miss Robins be permitted to take on most of the planning; apparently she has been corresponding with Warrington about using Muggle-born Labour in the preparations and thought to have his team document the work as part of the placement efforts. Marvellous! Old Nott believes it could be the 'boost' the programme needs. Warned Miss Robins that if she keeps on as she has been, she'll find herself promoted and away from the place where she seems to be doing the most good. (To which she replied that she is confident she can work miracles no matter what her posting. Who am I to doubt it?)}

But I bring up the council because I met several other members for drinks earlier this week. Travers, Avery, Barty, Regulus and the Razzer. Toasted Bellatrix and Rodolphus's impending arrival, of course; but much conversation revolved around His current project and His reasons for keeping His own counsel on the proceedings. Reminded our less confident brethren that it is for Our Lord to decide what we ought to know of His private affairs, and that as He has always done in the past, He shall make our role in His plans known when it suits Him to do so. Until that time, it is our solemn duty to ensure the smooth operation of the Protectorate, to His greater glory.

Recovered

Feb. 25th, 2009 09:13 pm
alt_lucius: (Masks)
Must have slept half the day away on Monday - well after noon when I woke - but by early evening my brief, impromptu holiday was quite at an end. Dined with the Lord Protector and several other guests; after which we continued the work interrupted by Friday's events. I do believe we made progress, although thus far the only result has been proof of a surprising stamina. While frustrating, it was nevertheless somewhat impressive.

On returning home, it became clear that the lack of a tray that morning lay not, as I had assumed, wholly within Narcissa's consideration for my need to catch up on lost sleep. I retreated to the office rather than press a confrontation, but it was just as well, for there was more than enough to demand my study.

Yesterday, apart from the usual tea, back to Buckingham for an hour or two, and a meeting at Obscurus Books. We expected the report from Derby with the full details, rather than the pitiful excuses we have been receiving throughout the week-end, but nothing yet.

Also, still no further word from the harridan - possibly a good sign. Though one never knows ....

This morning's breakfast seemed restored to harmony; Crispin informed me that Madam Pomfrey has been provided direction so that future requisitions shall be processed without delay. It is unfortunate that Peakes' new clerk was apparently not entirely versed in the new policies before the beginning of term.

I have not yet written about the most enlightening and productive conversation had with Amycus over supper on the night before Draco and Harry's misadventure; I flatter myself that of the many subjects of our discussion, my advice afforded him some new perspective - and a renewed vigour to apply alternate methods to a test case that has, heretofore, shown both resistent and deceitful. Moreover, we had the opportunity to explore Amycus' penchant for empirical analysis - and I believe I can connect him to a project that will enable him to channel that enthusiasm and energy to his - and all our - benefit.

No office hours to-morrow, of course, though as yet my plans do not much extend beyond spending the afternoon at the club.

Public Face

alt_lucius: (Default)
Lucius Malfoy

September 2015

S M T W T F S
   12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
27282930   

Syndicate

RSS Atom

Close Connexions

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags
Page generated Apr. 12th, 2026 05:11 pm
Powered by Dreamwidth Studios