Lucius S Malfoy

Weasley.

Have just come from Magical Commerce. (Kindly see to it that the meeting returns to its normal time next month; cannot re-arrange the rest of the timetable every Monday. Remind Macmillan before it happens again.)

Is it possible - could it be remotely conceivable - that those imbecilic brothers of yours are attempting to obtain premises for the purpose of embarking on some sort of business venture?

No. It could not. Because if it were, surely you would have known about it. And had you known, you would of course have mentioned it to your employer, knowing that he sits on the committee for Magical Commerce. Is that not correct?

And yet. The committee to-day reviewed papers submitted by Messrs Fred and George Weasley in request of a licence for commercial enterprise, to wit: One shopfront with full storage and laboratory, living space included.

Shall be returning after supper and need to know the progress toward the camp inspections.

Meanwhile, you had best think of a reason you were unable to save me the embarrassment of being unprepared for this ... revelation. And you had better hope that their partner's name on some of the parchments was one of your brothers' infamous practical jokes. Miss Parkinson has no intention of backing them. Baddock would have stopped it, if nothing else. Falsifying permit applications is no joke, as they will learn shortly - despite whatever ridiculous products they propose to manufacture. However clever they may think they are, if their inventions are as uproariously un-funny as their fraud, their 'business' is sure to fail within weeks. Possibly days.

If you're interested in a little spot of fun, Ari and I have just run across a group down by Whitehall, one of whom had a suspicious-looking kit. On closer inspection, turned out to be full of paints matching the 'artwork' discovered near the piers.

His companions have admitted that there are a few other ... participants ... along other sections of the Strand. He has graciously agreed to lead us to them.

Assume Barty is with one or the other of you, or else not far away. Bella, bring Mulciber, too, if you know his whereabouts. There should be plenty to go round.