Private Message to Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy

[alt_crouch_jr]

Lucius. The intel from Magical Commerce re. Maule served us well: we've been watching for permit requests, Bankside and in Blackfriars. You'll be interested to hear that a veritable avalanche of parchment hit in various offices today: requests to level, gut, alter, and redesign existing structures; requests for permission to build on vacant properties; requests for reissuance of deeds and for recertification to allow alterations in the approved use of existing structures; petitions for blanket writs disallowing any complaints by owners or tenants of adjoining properties; requests for blanket approval of all magical enhancements--external or internal--of buildings, soil, surface, and clearance above the properties for no less than ninety-nine years regardless of any subsequent transfer of ownership; a petition for unlimited permission for any and all magical transactions that might be used in the pursuit of commerce conducted in premises--existing or subsequently constructed--at any of the properties; and, finally, a request to MLE for a security sweep and certification at several, but not all, of the properties owned by the petitioner, Sebastian Maule of Austin Friars, New London.

All that in one morning. It must have taken a platoon of owls to deliver all that parchment.

Needless to say, he has our attention.

Brilliant weekend, by the way. I was only sorry to have missed the moment of your surprise.

I heard Mulciber tell Maebh that he thought it the most challenging hunt he'd attempted since the war. It certainly pleased her to hear he thought so.

Jugson no doubt thought so, too. He's lucky he rallied in time to save himself--from humiliation if not from death. I wasn't on the scene when it began, but from my vantage as I entered the clearing, it appeared that he had a very close brush with disaster.

Comments

[alt_lucius]

Indeed, my sincerest compliments to Maebh for her excellent preparations. Narcissa has already decided that we must return over the summer holidays with Draco - and Harry, of course, if he is allowed to leave his Father.

Considering Mulciber's portfolio during the war and since, that is high praise. Given what happened to Jugson, I'm sorry you missed the opportunity to profit from his over-confidence. Perhaps next time he'll remember that a graphorn is a far cry from a common aurochs. Suspect that the extra round of drinks he bought were partly responsible for Monty's ... playfulness with Aurelia (in itself its own form of entertainment!).

Is Yaxley recovered yet? Seemed to me that he really ought to have known better, turning his back on that mudblood. Must remember to contact Nott, as well, and make sure he is suffering no further ill effects. Unfortunate that if anyone had to turn back it was him, since I understand we caused him to put off his own plans for a hunting party.

But regarding Maule: Seems entirely too convenient that this raft of permit applications should arrive just after the Magical Commerce meeting for the month. Has Mafalda made any progress on infiltrating his existing salons? Should like to know more before he gains additional licences.

Croaker is preparing a report on the properties of this brassicrose stuff as well. Should be enlightening.

In any event, you must be looking forward to to-morrow. As are we all.

[alt_crouch_jr]

I'm certain Maebh could design a memorable holiday of wilderness experiences the boys would particularly enjoy.

Re. Monty and Aurelia's antics. Inspiring, I thought.

Re. Yaxley. He's merely playing for attention and working it as an excuse.

Re. Maule. Yes, Mafalda's assigned several people who see too little action--all of them soft from sitting too long behind a desk, doing little more than pushing parchment.

Re. Croaker. Good. I look forward to his report.

MLE had another bizarre vandal-burglary at a bakery over the weekend. Didn't catch the perpetrator, but said that whoever it was had placed trays of cream pastries on the floor and rolled in them. Nothing else had been disturbed.

Zuckerman's floated the theory that these incidents might be related to this brassicose substance. Can't test her hypothesis until we make an arrest, of course.

No one seems to know anything about the stuff. Wouldn't be the first time a quack substance turned out to have chaotic side effects.

Re. tomorrow. It can't come soon enough.

[alt_narcissa]

Absolutely. She could not have hoped for a better introduction to the lot of us.

And I don't think we need worry about Theo Nott, dearest. From what I understand Amara Lindorm made sure he was quite comfortable for the rest of the weekend.

Hm. Perhaps we ought to worry about him, after all.

I've my own appointment at Ardenia's tomorrow, but I should be properly smartened up by the end of Court. Lucius, do let me know if celebration is in order and I can meet the three of you for drinks afterward.

Unless Barty and Maebh would rather jubilate in private.

[alt_crouch_jr]

I rather think Nott can look out for himself. Even if Mrs Lindorm is as dangerous as slander and rumour would have us think.

Of course, we'd be pleased to meet you for drinks tomorrow. We've promised Mother we'll dine there, but I believe we've settled on seven o'clock for that.

And there's time enough for jubilating later.

[alt_narcissa]

Well, I will say that if Amara has truly ensnared him, I expect the tabloids to make more than a meal of it. (Still, I'd rather she match up with him than Stephen, on the whole.)

I'll reserve our table at White's, then.

[alt_crouch_jr]

I did think Rosier looked rather relieved for a man whose plus-one has taken up with someone else at a party. (I agree that he's well out of it.)

Thank you. Maebh's pleased it will be White's. She says she's not been there for ages.

(Probably seven or eight years--since she broke off with Runge.)

(Oh. No, then. I stand corrected. She says she was there three years ago for a business meeting. But, she says, it will be altogether a pleasure to meet at White's for a true celebration with friends.)

(And if she wishes to tell you more, she'll have to message you in her own book. Later.)