Lucius S Malfoy

Weasley,

Forgot to mention as I was leaving: You recall the Crabbes' Christmas party is this evening. We had accepted but earlier this after-noon Mrs Malfoy changed her mind.

Dimly recall that Caesar particularly wished to speak to me to-night. How do you fancy going in my stead and conveying my regrets?

If they give you any trouble at the entrance, simply tell them I sent you as Mrs Malfoy has a headache - and if he can't tell you what it's about, then offer to find a time on the books this week.

You might as well stay and enjoy yourself once you've completed the errand.

Unless you've other plans tonight?

Professor,

Loathe as I am to disrupt what I am sure is a stimulating evening, would you be so kind as to join the Governors in the Headmistress' office?

There is a matter one would have thought trifling but which has apparently engendered such debate as to keep us through the appointed hour and then some besides. Suspect that were you to appear we might resolve the issue in short order and thence entreat Peakes to release us back to our other appointed duties.

If you don't mind, of course.

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.

Weekly meeting with Fudge a mixed bag this week.

The worst report was that St Mungo's has documented 100 cases of purebloods contracting the paralysis and a number more than double that in halfbloods. We had thought the precautions in place adequately contained the disease's spread, but the most recent cases resulted from a family disregarding the travel advisory at the week-end bank holiday. Surprised this was the only case, frankly; it seemed that everyone was most anxious to conclude business early on Thursday and Friday last in order to take advantage of the days off. Recommended that Selwyn's people devise another pamphlet to reinforce the proper travel procedures and the consequences of reckless transportation. (The Knight Bus, for example, remains out of service for the time being.)

The good news is that there have been no new cases reported in the camps in over a week. The remedy devised by Rookwood and his assistants from St Mungo's appears to be taking hold. All muggles who have been given the restorative are seeing benefit within twenty-four hours and most are able to return to light duty within five days. The camps are reinstating them to full work within two weeks, and most report no lingering joint pain or stiffness by that time. Consequently, the Minister anticipates that labour forces will be back to normal levels by the end of April - though this is concerning as the planting season will be well underway by that time. Discussed measures to allow for the shorter planting season and account for any reduction in crops that might result.

Rookwood's cure for the halfblood and pureblood version is ready for testing. He has seen decent results in rats and ran a phase II trial outside of Willesden a few days ago. He and the Healer team are looking for volunteer families to test the cure; approached me for permission to give it to Narcissa's niece, as she is still in hospital.


Must review the packet for the NRBC board meeting on Monday. Also received word that Muggle-born Labour shall meet via firechat, as the muggle-born workforce is well on its way to restoration.


Court yesterday was ... illuminating. As is usual, the spring air instills in Our Lord a zest for new research. He has followed Rookwood's efforts closely, of course, out of concern for His people. His interest has expressed itself, however, by returning always to that subject which has been central to His pursuits for many years: To continually improve the strength of magic's ability to protect, to preserve and to prolong life and prosperity. We spoke yesterday at length regarding certain volumes He wishes to acquire .... Some are easily accessed in the library at Malfoy Manor; for others, I believe the Black home at Grimmauld Place may well hold the resources He would reference. Still others may be more difficult to find, though doubtless Hogwarts' library may have a musty copy somewhere. If so, Minerva, we may need to prevail upon your gorgon, Madam Pince, to release the manuscripts from their vault for a time.

Have instructed Crispin in no uncertain terms to deny all further requests for interviews on behalf of myself or Mrs Malfoy. She was already exhausted from the effort of organising the benefit and now is full-bore involved in planning our personal holiday party. The rest of the committee and representatives from the hospital may provide adequate information for the Prophet's purposes, at any rate. No one needs another photograph; and if one more gossip or fashion columnist attempts to ask Mrs Malfoy her opinions of the robes, hats, shoes or jewels worn Saturday, she shall not be held responsible for her actions! (Or so she claimed when she asked me to throw up a barrier between us and the press for the remainder of the year.)

Rookwood the younger has completed his tally for the Fund and saw to it that the last purses have been distributed. I was close on my estimate of the proceeds; if anything, a little under. It should be more than enough for St Mungo's to annex an entire block of old Muggle buildings, should they so choose.

Naturally, I have been asked to sit on the planning board; declined at least until after the holidays. It is simply impossible to take on any other projects at the moment. There's the upcoming matter I have been discussing with Nott and Warrington, as well, and I do not know that I shall be able to stretch myself beyond that.

Draco returns in two days. I think that may be the only thing keeping Narcissa from taking to her bed and declaring her own holiday to recover from the benefit gala, cancelling our celebrations! But the tree in the Grand Salon is perhaps our best yet and the grounds, so barren just two weeks ago, now are festive and festooned. It was certainly the right decision to ensure planning progressed while she was occupied with the other arrangements.

However, there is still much to do, and no time for giving statements if we are to accomplish it!

Over breakfast this morning, Narcissa expressed agitation over the final organisation for the St Mungo's gala. There are two musical sets to co-ordinate - one for the string orchestra and one for Solstice Night, who have agreed to play - all the refreshments being laid in, and more auction items are arriving each day. She told me that she was tempted to install herself in Kensington for the week simply because staying at the Manor is proving difficult. Too many decisions require her personal attention and she cannot be constantly popping back and forth.

When I asked why she did not go ahead and do so, she fretted about being able to keep up with preparations here. I knew she has been driving herself trying to ensure that all is perfect for Draco's return, but I had not realised until this morning how the strain of these two events back-to-back has been distressing her.

I proposed a solution, albeit not perhaps a perfect one. If she will leave me with a list of everything she needs accomplished in the next two weeks, I will see to it that things do not fall behind while she concentrates on the benefit. (It shall have to be a detailed list - she knows from experience that I am not ideally suited to plan entertainment, nor do I have her mind for anticipating the needs of a hostess.) Then she shall have six days afterward to put the final touches on our humble gathering before Draco comes home and the guests descend. (With any luck, she shall not then have to repair anything I have done incorrectly, either.)

As much as I dislike tasks for which I am not equipped, she was so relieved by my offer that I wished I had thought to make it sooner. It will mean a little rearranging of my timetables for the next week, but that is a small price to pay to ease her mind. I have promised to lunch with her throughout the week, both so that she shall not feel alone and rattling in all of Kensington, and to ensure that our Christmas party will still bear the stamp of her particular skills.