Lucius S Malfoy

Our Lord is truly the greatest wizard of this or any age.

Shall be able to explain soon - at least I hope. Meanwhile, the most important points:

1. Dominic Selwyn was responsible. No idea where Chloe has taken the children but should she contact you, you must alert Barty at once. At once.


2. It seems he had Obliviated me at least three times. Memories returned now.


3. Not quite safe to return to the Manor yet. Remain where you are with Rigel. Ought to be clear in time for Razzer's wedding


4. Have an errand to run at the Ministry, cannot wait until morning. Will let you know as soon as I have determined we are safe from any implications in Selwyn's treason.


5. Of the Council, trust only Barty, Tosha, Rod, Bella, Raz, Ari, myself. Unclear as yet who else was part of the plot. Selwyn can no longer answer, but he was raving toward the end. No idea what Our Lord may have seen in the wretch's thoughts.


Shall contact you when I have eliminated possibility he left any manufactured evidence to bring me down with him.

Dominic,

Apropos of our conversation last week, re: New Blood. Was just leaving Elysian and was waylaid by Glendower the Younger, who (among other uninteresting news) tells me that Higgs has been bragging he's to go to Court this after-noon, for a presentation Yaxley intends regarding 'Protectorate Defence.' Apparently Julius Avery had something to do with it as well. (Those two are not known to work together often, as you know.)

Ari and I are both intrigued. Do you know anything? We could easily forego tea this after-noon to attend instead if you think it would be worth the time.

Let us know.

Well, thank Mordred that's over.

Stephen, he did well. Quite well. Let me know if time with others his age will help him put this behind him. Harry's spending most of the holiday with us at the Manor; he could go flying with the boys and not dwell on what's been done.

Tosha, it seems you took the curse for us all in conducting Weasley elsewhere; you might be disappointed you separated, however, for Razzer joined us in Oban. (Thankfully he did not press us for details of the event, other than to ask if it had been successful.)

Dominic seemed to need the refreshment almost more than anyone. Kept going on about last Friday (and this), and how unpredictable He is becoming. Believe the business with Bettina truly unsettled him.

Don't know if you know this but Chloe locked him out that night. Then there was her outburst toward Razzer's astronomer, of course. Advised him that if he's truly worried about Our Lord's wrath being visited on his wife, he ought to counsel her toward more discretion, in future. He wasn't pleased with the remark but was too far in his cups already to give much protest.

Unfortunately, that did not stop him fretting over what might come next. First preventing Bettina Yaxley from holding a wand to punish Claudius. Then this business of forcing your ward to get his hands unnecessarily bloody, Stephen. He even suggested that Our Lord might take a notion to combine the two and force one of our children to kill one of our wives. (Do not need the night terrors that conjured!)

In the end we decided to book him a room. If he's having that much trouble with Chloe, she surely would not appreciate his arrival by Floo, stinking of firewhiskey, smoke and blood magic.

Merciful Morgana, it's been an absolute bitch of a week.

Timetable changes for to-morrow and Friday:

Inspection tour of Tedford to-morrow morning, urgent. See if Fudge can move to afternoon. Contact the Elysian and change Friday morning's duelling course booking to earlier: 6:00 or 7:00 is fine. Not later than 8 o'clock. Inform Travers, Mulciber and Glendower of the new time, when you have it. (Yes, Glendower - the younger, if you please.)

Also add in meeting Friday at 10:00 o'clock: Crouch, Travers, Rowle. Under no circumstances confirm with Rowle's assistant - go through him directly for his calendar. Book one of the cafes near the Ministry so they can step out without attracting notice.

Will be in Porlock and Preston rest of day, up until Court this afternoon. Contact camp administrators to arrange entry parchment for Ms Blishwick as well; others in the party all ought to have the proper credentials already.

Need first avail. with Spencer-Wells and Dominic.

Oh, and - there's a short list of engagements requiring someone to represent yet be silent. Add to your books.

Weasley why did you not tell me that Froissart had left a message about the Beauxbatons delegation?

Dominic, it seems we must revisit the question of that halfblood to whom you objected. Delacour. The young woman selected in her place, Mlle Dulonges, has suffered a rather grievous injury in her Potions lesson this morning and will be unable to travel for ... several months. Madame Maxime insists that her protégé be reconsidered from the list of alternates.

Don't believe we need discuss at the Board of Governors' meeting this after-noon but if you think it necessary .... Certain Peakes would oblige if you cared to make an issue of it. At this point, cannot imagine that her 'unfair advantage' (that is what you called it, if I recall) will afford her any more benefit than an over-abundance of invitations to the Yule Ball. Froissart reports her skills are adequate at best.

In any event, it is of no consequence to me at this juncture. Let the chit come and fail, and let that be a testament to the follies of miscegenation.

Have baited the trap. Contrived an exchange with Fleet in which we planted the suggestion that Maule's downfall lies in his illegal practice of collecting samples of hair from incapacitated patients, for sale in the seedier dens of Knockturn and Carne Alleys.

Rubbish - at least I fervently hope so. Crispin did forward the real evidence to Holcomb per my instruction.

Shall see how long it takes for the rumour to circle back to its source.

Barty, I've those tickets to give back to you, as well. Forgot yesterday.

Hooper, did you manage to accomplish anything in the last week or have you, as I suspect, taken the opportunity simply to sleep in, empty the larder and leave after luncheon? The point was to cover for my being out of the country - not to make it clear to all and sundry by your behaviour that I have been away. Should not have to impress upon you the delicacy of both sets of negotiations with countries, schools and leagues involved in these endeavours. Even Bagman's people understood the need for absolute secrecy until such time as all parties agree to the terms. How is it possible that you have failed where they succeeded?

Moreover, explain to me the dereliction of your duties that occurred whilst I was gone. You led me to believe all was in control. I specifically left documents to be completed and forwarded to Scrimgeour prior to my return. I've just seen him and he claims not to have received the parchments. What have you done with them?

I trust the parcels for Hogwarts, at least, were delivered as requested.

Make yourself useful, if you can, and kindly see if Cornelius and Dominic have ten minutes before day's end - before four o'clock, if you please. To-day of all days I have no intention of leaving Mrs Malfoy to dine alone. Under no circumstances interpret that to mean you may also pack in before you have completed your tasks.

Speaking of which, I came across your request for time away over the summer. Presume this means you intend to acquire coverage in your absence. Perhaps if, in future, you intend to bring all the business of my office to a halt when I am not present, it would be better to assure that your holidays co-incide with mine. As for the current request, out of the question. Shall need you at the very least to be on-call during the event, should anything untoward occur. With so many visitors and dignitaries on all sides it would be disastrous. You will be afforded an excellent seat for the match itself, never fear. Provided you can fit into it.

Bagman ought to be invited to meeting next week. The one on Tuesday. See to that, as well, before you take your luncheon. And kindly contact Clarriker to replace anything you have consumed these last days - garnish your wages to settle the account, if you please.

If you've the reports on Bradford and Llanfyllin, bring them to me at your convenience.

Heard from Cornelius and Rufus this morning that MLE have arrested the two suspects in the Beadell murder? Evidently, review of the Private Messages has borne fruit. Rufus also mentioned a droll little fellow by the name of Rapley - apparently there was nothing of too much note, after all, once the enforcer heard his response. Trust they shall keep an eye on him in future, however.

No further reaction to Snape's entry, then? Rufus mentioned Bella has someone preparing a few entries to be posted in a similar manner, with mis-information calculated to entrap the traitors who follow the posts' advice. Not sure if she has communicated with you or with Massopust directly regarding the creation or appropriation of the journals for the project.

We were interrupted this morning by Bagman, of all people, with news that I took to be of some importance to him. To Cornelius as well, more's the pity. More work for International Affairs. Suspect you'll hear about it at Fudge's staff meeting but .... Allow that it could be a morale-boosting endeavour for the whole country, if handled correctly. If botched, potentially staggering breach of national security, however.

In any event, added to the burden on Hogwarts next year, should make for a busy summer for us all.

Oh, Narcissa asked me to tell you she's planning a small supper in a week or two at Kensington and wanted to be sure you and Chloe are free. The ... 22nd April, in point of fact. Check with Chloe (if your marriage is anything like ours, I know it's she who'll keep the diary!) and let me know so I can tell her? (She's still dividing her time between St Mungo's and Kensington, for the moment. Gather Barty tried to check himself out of St M's this morning, against Healers' advice, and she cast a sticking charm to fix his pyjamas to the hospital bed! Expect I shall hear any moment that she wishes to install him in Kensington rather than allow him to return to Marlborough. Because they are so very far removed from one another, after all. I do try to give her the benefit of the doubt - after all, we have had a trying year of losses and they have taken more toll on her than anyone - but have no wish to see Barty chafe under the iron rule of another Black matriarch. On the other hand, her presence did make the Prophet's article a much stronger piece, as she was able to keep Norah monopolising the reporters and simultaneously help Barty maintain his dignity under their scrutiny. Apparently he was still quite drugged when they came to call.)

Well - ought to be getting on and you as well. Congratulations again and compliments to Massopust's staff on their diligent review.