Lucius S Malfoy

Get up. Need you in office immediately. Throw out to-morrow's - make that to-day's - schedule.

Keep Fudge but must meet 1st thing, before nine o'clock. Seven would do.

Travers next - Mordant, that is. Barty as well; see Ned for his calendar. Hopkirk and Scrimgeour may wish to add their instructions.

Next. Bole.

No. Bole before Travers & Crouch. But Hopkirk before Bole. NOT at Ministry.

Blast. Selwyn as well - put him in after Fudge. He may have already been notified but in case not, tell him it concerns Whitesnake.

Broome has a special session of Council on the agenda for one o'clock - must work 'round that and imperative to have met with Bole before then. No notice to the Prophet, if you please, that Council will convene.

Oh - & send something to Mrs Malfoy for breaking to-night's promise. Two dz sufficient. Inform her I shall likely remain at Bkhm most of evening, as to-night.

Minerva, I've just been in conference with Mafalda Hopkirk on the sighting in Hogsmeade this evening. We were informed by Crockford that the girl's interrogation was routine. Nonetheless, Mafalda has asked and I have agreed on behalf of the Governors that Mr Marvolo ought to be kept within the grounds for the time being. Crockford is moving the Dementors closer to the village and given the boy's reaction on the train, it would be doubly wise for him to remain within the protection of the castle.

Raz, Crockford also reports a certain pamphlet that was recovered in the village, which he'll pass on to Barty's team. More prognostication of Marvolo's untimely demise. Keep him close if you please.

If you require anything prior to the Governors' meeting next week, let me know.

We were in the midst of Court when the hue-and-cry arrived regarding the sighting at Hyde Park.

By the time I and other members of Council arrived, the Aurors had the scene well in hand; the students (principally Harry Marvolo) had been evacuated back to the Horseguards and the only suspicious person in the whole of the Park was a young mudblood masquerading as a witch.

There were a deal of onlookers, of course - it seems the students' posts brought citizens out of their homes in hope of glimpsing the fugitive's capture. I'm sure the MLE will have something to say about the wisdom of mulling about a crime scene when there are people to apprehend. It does add to the work of vetting the harmless from the dangerous and interferes with their investigations, particularly when time is precious.

At any rate, the Aurors on the scene quickly determined that the girl belonged to a nearby couple. When summoned, both husband and wife arrived instantly and proceeded to discuss suitable punishment with the MLE. Her attempted escape, the theft of robes and her admitted intention to join with Black's underground were enough, but there were further revelations - facts which, I am certain, precipitated her decision to run. For it turned out that the mudblood had undertaken over the past several months to seduce and tempt her master - successfully, more's the pity. Clearly she wished to abscond with the unborn child. The wife, it can be imagined, was not half incensed at this affront. She begged Auror Travers' permission to deal with her servant on her own. As for the husband, he shall face house arrest and a fine, at the very least. Further reprisals, I should think, will depend on his wife's decision whether or not to press charges or to acknowledge the child once it has come to term.

However, the situation was at least under control, so I left the unfortunate wife under Travers' supervision, informed the Lord Protector of His son's safety and and returned to the St James' house. Had a few final matters to wrap up before the Sandoval party.

The surprises were not to be over for the afternoon, however: Interrupted presently by Weasley, about to inform me of a visitor. She was unwilling to wait in the drawing-room, it seemed, for she came in hard on Weasley's heels, and somewhat inconsolable at first.

As it has taken me over a quarter-hour to stop the flood and convince Miss Parkinson to tell me the matter, Narcissa, I fear I may be later than anticipated coming home to change for the Sandovals'. Confident we shall not miss the guest of honour's presentation to society; only perhaps some of the entertainments designed to heighten our anticipation of that moment.