Lucius S Malfoy

Hooper, did you manage to accomplish anything in the last week or have you, as I suspect, taken the opportunity simply to sleep in, empty the larder and leave after luncheon? The point was to cover for my being out of the country - not to make it clear to all and sundry by your behaviour that I have been away. Should not have to impress upon you the delicacy of both sets of negotiations with countries, schools and leagues involved in these endeavours. Even Bagman's people understood the need for absolute secrecy until such time as all parties agree to the terms. How is it possible that you have failed where they succeeded?

Moreover, explain to me the dereliction of your duties that occurred whilst I was gone. You led me to believe all was in control. I specifically left documents to be completed and forwarded to Scrimgeour prior to my return. I've just seen him and he claims not to have received the parchments. What have you done with them?

I trust the parcels for Hogwarts, at least, were delivered as requested.

Make yourself useful, if you can, and kindly see if Cornelius and Dominic have ten minutes before day's end - before four o'clock, if you please. To-day of all days I have no intention of leaving Mrs Malfoy to dine alone. Under no circumstances interpret that to mean you may also pack in before you have completed your tasks.

Speaking of which, I came across your request for time away over the summer. Presume this means you intend to acquire coverage in your absence. Perhaps if, in future, you intend to bring all the business of my office to a halt when I am not present, it would be better to assure that your holidays co-incide with mine. As for the current request, out of the question. Shall need you at the very least to be on-call during the event, should anything untoward occur. With so many visitors and dignitaries on all sides it would be disastrous. You will be afforded an excellent seat for the match itself, never fear. Provided you can fit into it.

Bagman ought to be invited to meeting next week. The one on Tuesday. See to that, as well, before you take your luncheon. And kindly contact Clarriker to replace anything you have consumed these last days - garnish your wages to settle the account, if you please.

If you've the reports on Bradford and Llanfyllin, bring them to me at your convenience.

In response to the many inquiries regarding yesterday's incident, all is well.

We had decided to take in the excellent booksellers' district in the 6th Arrondissement. (The selection of grimoires and monographs on magic in Paris is unparalleled except perhaps by the great library of Budapest, and Hogwarts' own.) Since it was meant to be a simple, private outing, we elected not to bring along the usual entourage that has dogged our steps the last two weeks.

As it turned out, no harm done. The journals provided yet another service - I am again quite pleased by the variety of application they have seen in this year alone! - and I was able to locate Draco with some effort.

The wizard who noticed him is, in fact, not only genuinely a wizard, but as it happens, one of the applicants to emigrate to the Protectorate: a M David Brutka. I had not yet had the pleasure of interviewing him, but in light of his heroism in reuniting me to my son, invited him for tea and we conducted an informal conference then and there.

(What really puzzled me at first was Draco's description of the Arc de Triumphe at one end of the park. I could not fathom how he had managed to cross the river and gain the Tuileries when we were adjacent to the Rue Danton on la Rive Gauche; it was only later, after finding the two of them together, that I recalled there is an automatic Floo connexion that by-passes the Île de la Cité, provided one approached with wand out and focusing on water. Evidently extreme thirst qualifies.)

At any rate, our benefactor showed initiative and good sense in rescuing Draco, qualities which proved most intrinsic to the man's nature (if such can be believed). M Brutka has consented to come to the embassy house to-morrow for a follow-up interview with Selwyn's representative in the room.


This afternoon we greeted Igor Karkaroff after too long an interim. Narcissa was particularly pleased to re-establish the acquaintance. At one time, Igor was almost a fixture at the Manor, between our business together and Narcissa's admiration for his research.

Those researches have purportedly found a home, it seems. Igor has been offered a prestigious post at Durmstrang. This intrigued Amanda greatly and she commenced with him a comparison among it, Hogwarts, and Beauxbatons. Of the last, she apparently knows a great deal, much more than I would have expected of someone with no children, who settled on the continent after completing her own education. Asked Mother what that was all about and she said simply that Amanda has long taken an interest in the field of academia - which is news to me. I do so dislike being evaded.


Hard to believe our visit is half over. Narcissa insists that we travel south over this week-end as she still has not properly greeted the Riviera, and we have promised Draco an opportunity to sketch the coast.

(Speaking of which, I think he quite enjoys his lessons. I certainly hope so; it is not every wizard of his age who is presented an opportunity to study with a curator in the wizarding levels of the Louvre!)