Lucius S Malfoy

Aspiring to a place in Our Lord's circle is, simply, the highest goal any witch or wizard may hope to achieve. All else pales in comparison to serving Him personally. Certainly, it is a day Mrs Malfoy and I have anticipated for our son since his birth. That he, and all the others of you, are being offered the opportunity to prove yourselves so early in life is honour indeed.

The last time Our Lord initiated new members of the Council while they were in school (or so close to completing it), it was wartime. Recruits were sorely needed. Perhaps it is in a fitting tribute to those days that Our Lord was inspired to devise this crucible wherein you will be tested. Be assured that not only your sponsors, but the whole of the Council will be watching the proceedings closely, ready to welcome whomever rises to the top, and making note of others along the way whose potential may not yet be tempered to perfection.

Good luck to one and all.



Draco: Anything we have needed to say has been said. Make us proud.

Hydra: You have been singled out among your class but there can be no question of your right to compete at the same level as your elders. Your aunt wished me to convey her fond hopes for your success.

Miss Parkinson: Best of luck, my dear. Remember your heritage and the traditions to which you are also heir.


Harry: Your task is no less important. Your Father has given you a solemn responsibility. Of course you will not wish to disappoint. My best advice is to trust your instincts, knowing as you do your Father's mind (as much as any of us may presume to do that!). Do not hesitate to consult those around you, should you need it, for guidance, however.


Razzer: It seems you are to be entertained first-hand. Enjoy the display and bring your customary sobering influence to the proceedings, for surely there will be a need to maintain discipline in the face of the contests ahead.


Minerva: You are no stranger to the imposition of chaos into the school. Trust you are aware of your duty both to Our Lord and to the Governors to balance the necessities of the challenges posed to the candidates against the need to provide a meaningful education to those not participating. Should you find yourself in a quandary, however, the Governors are prepared to forge a clearer path for you.


Antonin Nikolaevich: I should have thought it obvious what Our Lord's decision signifies. Out of deference to our long friendship, shall trouble you no more on the subject. Should you wish to reconsider your words, you know where I am. Thank you, as always, for your kind advice.

Need all available information on Hamilton House. Or Hamilton Building. Cross-streets are Mabledon Place, Bidborough and Hastings Streets.

Current owners; number of tenants; current or pending leases; everything.

Crispin, still on for lunch Monday? Sorry to have had to put it off the week. If you can bring what you've found then, would be ... most grateful.

Weasley. Get Rosa Campbell here as soon as possible. Come to my study when you've reached her.

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.

Am fine.

More later.

Going to sleep.

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!

Pansy,

Have had occasion to glimpse some of the plans for the exercises of the next fortnight.

Sure you realise there will be moments that will be ... difficult for you. Trust you will be able to soldier through those incidents and maintain your composure.

Rest assured that none of the accounts contain inappropriate or contradictory information, and nothing that ought to give you any cause to worry. Only that, naturally, being in the place and learning the full history of the battles will perforce bring insight, stir emotions, which are more easily suppressed elsewhere.

Keep your head and you'll be fine. Remember that your father died a hero, regardless of the wand that brought him low. And remember that ultimately, that wand has been stilled, as well: Proof that betrayal always pays its price, in the end.

Perhaps I have not said so recently, but I've been ... proud of the way you have comported yourself this year, in the face of ample provocation. Hope you shall continue to show your classmates and all who would scrutinise your behaviour that you have matured and are beginning to grow into a witch who exemplifies the qualities of breeding and industry which are to be applauded in Our Lord's society.

And there will be those who are watching your moves, along with Draco's, Harry's, &c, so do be careful, my dear. But be sure that amidst the gravity of the training grounds, you also remember to have fun.

We are all looking forward to Freedom Day, when as you are no doubt learning, we shall all see the combined skill of the CCF. Until then, I remain as ever, your loving god-father,

Lucius

Found the castle bearing the strain of the extra students well enough. Though Minerva, wish to stress again the importance of not inducing the elves to expend half the years' supply of spices and other supplies on unauthorised menus. Quite agree with Peakes that there is no provision in the budget to replenish the stores when they have been used precipitously.


Igor, I do see your concern but seems that you have the matter well in hand. If you should need to speak further, suggest you come down at a week-end and present your evidence - and your intention - where it will have a greater impact. Or you might simply bring it up on Monday when we return for the triple celebrations of Our Lord's birthday, Halloween and the naming of the Champions.


Draco, Pansy: Good to see you both and to hear your reaction to Nolan's news. You'll be pleased to know Ari has seen copies of the contracts and finds them satisfactory, as do I. Now, take care you don't concentrate so hard on writing songs that you neglect your studies! (Also, I would caution you not to expect too much from the offer.)

And son, about that other matter: Yes, I think you've the right idea. Shame. Suppose the effect of isolation had something to do with a lack of proper understanding; entirely appropriate to set the matter straight. Just mind that you go about it carefully, though from what you have said, you are doing so. Do keep me informed, particularly about any of the signs we discussed.


Harry, surprised to hear you say you had not yet made your move. You understand your Father's wishes, do you not? You are running out of time.

Realising to-day that while I have used the journals for various communications of late, it has been quite some time since I had any leisure to simply update.


Magical Commerce met Monday; nearly all signs of last year's drop in trade seem to have faded and all sectors report traffic back almost to the levels they were at before the illness struck. Crispin appears to be settling in to his new duties well enough. He reports a number of new licence applications for these so-called reduction ... clinics, spas, some of them call themselves clubs or hotels. Every one of them has its own 'guaranteed' method to produce results, naturally. But it is difficult to conceive a better solution when so many wizards have become enamoured of the pies, pasties and various other concoctions made almost entirely from transfigured foods. Suet and fat, most of them; no nutritional value whatever. Have banned Hooper going to the vendors he prefers as he had gained at least a stone since starting with me just over two months ago. At that rate he should have been able to sink a frigate by summertime.


Fudge's anniversary luncheon went well indeed. His address on the WWN is scheduled for early February and ought to be enlightening as well as affirming. Our nation is strong thanks to the measures which Our Lord Protector has adopted.


Speaking of the WWN, heard that the second broadcast channel has been picking up audience. Peale's last report claimed that the new original content - a serial drama and an interview show - have been among the most popular offerings, judging from the post he has received. Of course, the music, particularly the newer music, had a considerable jump in popularity over the holidays, but has dropped off now that the students are back at school. He's asked to monitor it again during the Easter holidays to determine whether they are correlated.

(Incidentally, Draco and Pansy: Saw Nolan last week and he asked me to be sure to remember him to you both, and to tell you not to be too discouraged. His suggestions come from experience. Any idiot can collide words until they scan and rhyme; it takes something altogether different to write a song that captures the attention of an entire country. And he said by all means to keep working on material.)


Everyone at the Elysian was talking about Hogwarts' foray into dramatics, even on Tuesday when Ari and I were there. He, of course, knew that Ptolemy read many of Miss Moon's early drafts and had already made several suggestions to her, resulting in the script that the Governors approved before the project went forward. Still, he was not certain he would attend - and small wonder, as the closer of the first half dwells on Serena's murder. Believe we have all been thinking of the past more often of late, thanks to the Londinarium article. Moody and his minions have much for which to answer, when we bring them to justice. Leicester was particularly difficult for more than one reason but it was not the only day we sacrificed heavily for the privileges we all now enjoy. One cannot regret the cost in light of the eventual victory, but I do wish I had been able to finish capture him either on the day we freed the Ministry of Bagnold and Dumbledore or on that day Tony died. It's fitting Miss Moon assigned him a cat as a familiar: The blackguard has at least as many lives as one, despite how often we whittled away at him.

But I confess it was a great pleasure to run the Ouroboros' course last night with so many others. In a way it was more like the days of old when we were the few who had the courage to follow through on Our Lord's magnificent plan. Certainly, we did not chase quarry near so ... appealing ... as the creatures Travers arranged for us yester-night, nor so willing victims. Must say that Narcissa's training regimen has been nothing but good for her. She kept pace every bit as well as Malvasius and Forney, even Bella at times. (Not that Narcissa was ever less than skilled in duelling, but the course has some sections that are calculated to be challenging even for warlocks in their prime.) I daresay she surprised quite a few members of MLE - and I hope made them fear for their profession, if they can't surpass her!

The only drawback to such a spirited celebration was that neither of us cared to go further than Kensington at evening's end, nor even to-day. We have remained in Town and in a state of utter relaxation - necessary, but something of a lost day. Not even sure what we were supposed to do this afternoon, but whatever it was, our apologies. I trust that the event took place without any notice that we were not in attendance. I do recall we had seats for the opera this evening, but we both agree that's out; we shall re-arrange to attend another performance.

To-morrow, we do not have the luxury of late lie-ins and lazy afternoon teas, however. That much I do recall without consulting my books.


Oh, and Barty - assuming you've any time for journals outside of throwing yourself on Ms Drumgoole's mercy: Should she refuse to forgive you, perhaps the hair ornaments Gaude gave you will convince Miss Golightly to return with you to the ring.

I hope you are both getting a good night's rest before to-morrow. I've just had to send Draco up to his rooms since he was still, er, 'tweaking,' I think you called it, son?

Everything will be fine, I am sure. Mr Tenebridge doesn't You'll neither of you perform to your best abilities if you're so nervous if you spend the whole night pacing.


By the way, Little Bit - your mother didn't I take it from your earlier entry that your shopping went well? No further ... arguments confrontations?


(Draco this quill truly is excellent but does take some getting used practice. Luckily I find it is learning as it goes. I rather thought it might be longer before I could risk using it in the journals - and indeed, I am not nearly satisfied enough to use it for open posts yet at all. In fact I may well decide to use it more for other correspondence than the journals. It has a habit of anticipating incorrectly requiring much scratching out before the draft is perfected ready. Since it was intended to make journal-writing easierp as a time-saver, I hope its learning curve increases in accuracy with continued employment.)

In any event, Pansy, you may Floo direct to Presto if you wish, only remember to instruct your elf to be sure to transfer your trunk to the St James' house so that you shall not need to return to Campbell's estate before spending the remainder of the holiday in London. If you prefer, you may Floo to St James' and we may go all together.

But for now, I hope you are already asleep, and if not, you will be soon.

Rosa,

I should like to know what game you think you are playing. I have just had several minutes' conversation with your daughter - she is, I believe, still your daughter - in which she imparted to me certain particulars concerning your attitude regarding her inheritance.

I cannot countenance why you should choose this time of year to grow obstinate. And why you should create such a commotion on the day we are expecting several hundred guests is quite beyond me. It is not to be borne.

One surmises that this childish behaviour and disregard for your own future is not what Campbell envisioned when he extended his offer. Nonetheless, you were acquainted with the consequences of remarriage when you first set your cap for him; if you have come to regret your course, then you have within your hands the means to remedy the situation. However, if you are, as I suspect, committed to your relationship, then you must also accept the transfer of the Parkinson estate as set forth by your late husband's will for the protection and welfare of his only heir.

This peevishness is most unseemly - not to mention damaging to Pansy's well-being and continued health. Having only just learned the extent of your extortionist tactics, I am surprised her condition has not flared in response. As it is, she has been reduced to sobs of frustration in my office - not at all the sort of turn one would imagine for a holiday party.

I have not the time nor the inclination to converse further on the subject at present. I shall expect you to-morrow morning at half-nine to explain yourself and to make provision for Pansy to allow her to complete her shopping.

I hope I need not remind you of the repercussions should you fail to comply.

L.S. Malfoy