Lucius S Malfoy

Think it's high time we hosted a reception for Our Lord's newer initiates. Perhaps shortly after Tosha and Savitha finish with the CCF students and Draco and the others are home.

Will you see to the arrangements? Up to you whether it's at Kensington or the Manor.

Be sure to include Julius Avery. With any luck we can make sure of his support before anyone else - though given who witnessed his Mark, it seems unlikely.

That parcel you left on my desk this morning. Have no use for it. Cannot return to Garrard's; perhaps you can think of a suitable destination. In any event, come and get rid of it - discreetly, if you please.

Also have several letters to be copied out and addressed when you have a moment. And find the file on Branstone; if I am to suffer through a parade of Gallerinas such as Selma Hawkins is likely to invite, may as well attend to a matter or two of business.

Received word that the referendum on muggleborn registration passed through the French Confederation to-day. Over the next sixty days, all mudbloods residing within the country shall be required to submit their wands to be registered. Any mudblood using an unregistered or unmarked wand shall be subject to arrest or fine. Have already sent congratulations to Dideron and Minister Rousseau. This marks a vital step in their campaign to align themselves more closely with the Protectorate - and a necessary one if our borders and countries are to become linked more openly than they have been.


As if to demonstrate this commitment, this month's Muggleborn Labour Committee came to complete agreement regarding the need for a decennial census within the camps. What the Committee could not determine with any consensus was whether or not to grant Carpenter's request for a hundred test subjects. His proposal showed merit, but some fundamental misunderstandings of the challenges facing their adoption as domestics. Although if successful, his method would virtually ensure the obedience of said servants. Nonetheless, until such time as he can prove to the committee's satisfaction that he adequately understand and has prepared for the risks, a one-hundred subject study is far too ambitious. Recommended he revisit the feasibility of conducting a five-person pilot instead, to be reviewed next quarter.


Excellent bit of sparring, however, on Wednesday. Ouroboros has revamped its course, which brought our party back to square one and led to some unintentional humour. I daresay Cadmus had grown entirely too used to the left turning after the third obstacle on the old course; it's now a right followed by a swift vault left onto the balance bridge. He saw it a split-second too late and bounced off the corner - right into my stunning spell (and thence into the water trap). I think the whole episode added perhaps ten seconds to the side's overall time. I very much doubt we can count on the same again, however.


Continue to note with interest how the newest feature of Our Lord's beneficence - Private Messages - has been adopted with both success and, it would seem, its own etiquette regarding appropriate use. Urquhart's misguided choices aside, it seems there are some topics still sensitive enough to warrant the formality of an owl. Though one wonders, in some cases, why it would be worth the bother. For example, if one addresses a private message, the contents are hidden but the recipients are named plainly for all to see. What then, one wonders, is the logic in using an owl to apologise for sending the first message? Particularly when to do so draws more attention than simply leaving the first message lie, and moreover when the matter had been concluded with no special need for additional communication? Believe the reasoning must either rest in the author's youth and inexperience, in her lack of exposure to any semblance of polite society or perhaps simply owing once more to her determination to prove that her complaint and request had no basis in validity in the first place. It could be a simple side-effect of residing in Gryffindor House - but one is acquainted with some Gryffindors who do have more sense than a transfigured turnip. Few of them, for certain, but it is possible. Well. No matter; this is why one has a competent clerk.


Another week-end of social obligation awaits: I believe it's to be an anniversary and a house-warming? Oh, and Narcissa has a shower or two on Sunday, I think, though thankfully I may count on those hours to catch up on manuscripts for Obscurus and new applications for entry into the Protectorate.

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.

It is dizzying to reflect that Minister Fudge has been in office for a full three weeks already.

Not all of the transitional activities are concluded, but thus far it seems he has made some progress, particularly in the direction of the investigation into the security breaches that enabled Black and his spies to exacerbate the medical crisis.

(Dominic, you may have heard by now but I'm pleased to tell you that you were spot-on regarding Miss Robins; Cornelius has re-arranged his personal staff somewhat and recognised her ambitions with a promotion much more suited to her at this time. I believe the young lady will go far - but this ought to appease her as an interim step!)


The travel restrictions have made several meetings difficult. At Nimbus and Presto, there have been no need for changes to the procedure but Muggleborn Labour and Magical Commerce each have a member or two who happen to be halfbloods. Consequently the boards have made allowance for their absence by means of providing the agendas early so that they may register their opinions and recommendations via owl. Tedious, but it gives them their fair say without requiring them to violate the terms of the edict. The Daily Prophet has simply replaced those Board members who cannot attend in order to ensure quorum. The Hogwarts Governors, of course, cannot meet at the school owing to the quarantine, but have communicated directly to Peakes who shall extend the decisions to the Headmistress.

Despite the increased limitations and precautions, we have continued to enjoy a pleasant winter between home and London. Last week-end, of course, we went to the theatre with Barty; mid-week there was a reception at the Dulwich to unveil the newest exhibit on early Reformation portraiture; last night we attended Lady Percy's annual winter ball. To-day we shall be celebrating young Rigel's six-month anniversary with Bella and Rodolphus and the rest of the family.


Narcissa had a commitment arise that prevents her from her St Mungo's volunteer activities. Not sure when she will return to the Auxiliary, though it seems at least not for the next several weeks. Some sort of course she agreed to lead for the Witches' Institute, I believe, conflicting with her ordinary St Mungo's time - and of course it is impossible for her to switch with someone else indefinitely. So for the time being, we continue our support for the dedicated Healers of that fine institution through our regular donations and other means.


Rookwood insisted I stop into the DoM to-morrow. Suspect I know what it regards. Although as this is the third time in as many months he has been 'convinced' he has achieved breakthrough, I remain skeptical.