Lucius S Malfoy

Have just returned from White's where Ptolemy asked his father and me to join him. Showed us his new Mark.

If he thought Ari would embrace him with paternal pride he was sorely mistaken. He has only just reconciled him-self to being a father-in-law! He was entirely unprepared to see Ptolemy undertaking Our Lord's service so young or so soon after marrying.

Took quite a number of rounds to calm him down. Might have been one too many for Ptolemy as well. (At any rate he took my advice and has gone home with his father rather than surprise his new wife with a late-night carouse.)

Cannot blame him. Barty hears about Ned second-hand, and Bella about Lana. Claudius was not present at Sarah's induction; now Ari and I both blind-sided by Ptolemy. If my clerk's petition is granted before the end of the summer we may all be sure the ranks are being diluted to a purpose - though what He intends I could not pretend to guess.


There was something else.

Can't


Oh.

Covington. Augustus says he checked the log book. Covington's not been to his lab since Friday after-noon. Odd because Covington typically works at least one day at the week-end and for the past three weeks has been in by 7:00 a.m. on Mondays.

Also, Barty: Augustus had something new about Bale.

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.