Lucius S Malfoy

With everything that has transpired this week, forgot to mention to you: Rabastan's private service is to-morrow.

Trust you understand.

Would like to meet, however, sometime soon. Much to discuss. May not be able to get away much in the next few days but my diary has been more-or-less cleared for the family crisis.

Say when.

All things considered, Raz, am grateful your festivities were planned for this late in the day.

And though it was far from the bachelor party we would have wished, nonetheless, all the best to you and Aurora.

See you shortly.

Problem?

Please tell me that Draco was not one of the ones responsible.

Tosha, if there are any parents whose children were involved, to whom you'd rather have me speak, but say so.

The worst is over.

There is still far too much to accomplish by way of rooting out the conspirators but we seem to have broken the core rebellion.

Will still be a few days here, cleaning up. Expect Fudge shall arrive by end of week.

Unsure yet about whether we need to reschedule our week-end; on one hand should dearly love nothing more than an island, a loaf of bread, a jug of wine and you; on the other, circumstances may dictate that I keep the journal open whilst there, which rather defeats the purpose of going.

Too tired to think clearly about it, at any rate.

Tosha has some of his fire back, though confess I was keeping half an eye on him the whole battle long.

Your sister was in her glory, my love: She claimed over 50 kills on the spot and believes that she took one of Dumbledore's old agents, along with some three or four others, with a curse of her own devising. Of course, time will tell on that one.

Rod, the Razzer and Barty all fine. Claudius - not so lucky. He's with Healers now. We should know more in a few hours.

Must go, darling, or drop where I sit. Have only until noon before I am due in the war room.

But know that I am, forever,

Yours.

-L

Good to see you both this after-noon. Must admit the social hour before and following did put our other tasks behind, a bit, and returning from those, naturally, found the day's correspondence grown to mountainous proportion. Still have a personal note or two if to-morrow is not to begin already behind.


Trust you both found to-day's (yesterday's, one should say!) educational presentation edifying. Harry looked a bit tense, during the bout. Draco, is he all right? Glad to see you appreciated the display for all it was, and led the others in a properly jovial, but respectful, light.

Antonin Nikolaevich tells me you are both showing great promise, already. Not surprising, but good to hear his professional assessment, nonetheless.

He has his eye on a few others, as well, who were much more ... unexpected. But that is his way.

Be careful, however: He is incorrigible. If you let him he shall ply you with all manner of temptations, suited to your particular interests, in order to bend you to his will. No doubt soon enough he shall supplant even your favourite professors as your tutor of choice.


Speaking of favourites, did not have much of a chance to speak to either of you privately. Wished to ask you: How has the CCF programme been thus far, under Madam Umbridge? (Be honest, both of you; should expect you both might feel any positive comments are disloyal to its previous mentor. Have no fear of your opinions generating unwanted repercussions.)


Well. It is late. Though you shall doubtless not see this before morning, should observe brevity and proceed through my other notes, in order to sleep, as well.

I take it all back; this is vastly diverting. In its wild inaccuracy, if nothing else!

'Dominic's' hair ... 'Dolores' as a lithesome, gracious, curl-headed brunette .... Must not laugh aloud - but Morgana, it's difficult.

I will admit that your imitator, Raz, has some of your mannerisms down pat (the obvious advantage of paying attention to your lessons, no doubt). And the girl portraying Barty is quite good - I think in fact she does his sneer better than he himself!


Ari, if there's any young lady your boy's trying to impress, it's clearly Miss Moon. Otherwise how could he possibly associate himself with this farce?

Ahha-- Norah!


(Pardon. Narcissa is helpfully digging her nails into my thigh so neither of us dissolves into peals of laughter. Suspect we shall find ourselves both relieved and excessively sorry we did not indulge with much wine at supper.)

Have been discussing Narcissa's continued quest for a holiday late this month. Shall need to be sure we have all Draco's books and such prior to the trip as there will not be time between returning and his departure for his third year (impossible as it seems to credit that he will begin third year!). I understand that she, Barty and the Razzer made great use of their four hours yesterday to evaluate three of their remaining possible sites. Had hoped to have a decision by the end of the week; doubt this will be possible given that none of the three of them were able to break away to-day for any other visits. Still. The list has been gleaned, and likely will again, before we must simply choose among the best of the bunch.


First of the month accounts have been settled; Wizarding Wireless board met on Monday with no particular news of moment. Except perhaps that there is a proposal to create a second signal with varied programming. It is felt that this will create jobs and satisfy the growing demand for additional (wider) range of programmes. Lively discussion: I do not think old Glendower has stirred himself to such animation in perhaps twenty years! Appreciate the desire to increase the market for jobs, particularly with the numbers of halfbloods who have been unable to return to work and subsequently lost their previous positions; not convinced that expanding the WWN is an appropriate response.


Received post from Amanda: back from the honeymoon and busy settling into their new home, closer to Beauxbatons. She enclosed a photograph taken at the Jiaohe Ruins near Turpan and promises Narcissa a length of silk, a ginger jar and a tea set in bone and silver, as well as carved bone haircombs 'as soon as ever they can be unearthed from the packages' and sent through the post. She does sound as though they spent a lovely time, and notes that 'Etienne collected some near-perfect early Tang scrolls which he hopes to incorporate into his lessons very soon.' Reading between the lines, it seems Mother has apparently already begun to wonder how soon she will be a grandmother again. (No need to rush, my dear sister!)


Narcissa informs me that this autumn will be as busy a season as the summer: We have received invitations to no fewer than four weddings, three engagement parties, three coming-of-age presentations, five birthday celebrations and eight anniversaries before Halloween! Clearly we shall have some difficult decisions to make as they cannot all be satisfied.


Minerva, I hear that congratulations are in order to you, as well, having made your selection of a home in town. Though perhaps 'in town' is a misnomer. Chiswick, really? And you are leaving it open to touring hours? I shouldn't wonder if you need to hire in a hit-wizard to guard your doorstep against petitioning parents wishing to bring their complaints in person. Nonetheless, I look forward to seeing you in residence from time to time. I do hope you have received the figures we discussed at the last Board of Governors' meeting. As it is the summer holiday, I should expect that the staff have had no pressing demands and have been able to fulfill the Board's request.