Barty Crouch Jr.

She was your plus-one last night? Would have appreciated warning.

Or did she have her own invitation?

Dammit. Is she making another bid for His notice? Playing a game of her own?


Don't say it. I know.

But if she's linking herself to Maule I need to know that. Before we spring the trap.


Sparring dungeon 2. Half-five.

Maebh.

I'm sorry, love, but I've just heard from Broome that Our Lord has asked that we wait until Friday to attend on Him.

I know that Fridays are much more difficult for your schedule, but it cannot be helped.

Today's change of plans may prove fortuitous on one front at least: I'm needed in Ipswich, as it happens, and now I'm free to attend to that matter.

I don't believe I'll be home tonight. I realise that if things were otherwise, you might have come ahead this afternoon despite the change in our Court appearance.

I hope you're not terribly disappointed. It's only a delay until Friday. And this will all be amusing one day. In retrospect.

Write here to let me know what arrangements you're able to make for Friday. An owl would need to chase me hither and yon, I'm afraid.

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.

Mother.

I've signed off on all of the parchmentwork for your fundraiser. You needn't worry any further about it. That's why I agreed to serve on your committee--so you wouldn't worry about legalities and fine print. If you persist, I will regret having gone to the trouble.

As to your other questions:

Yes. It is true that Maebh was here for the Ball.
Yes. It was an entertaining evening.
Yes. There was some 'high-spirited' and 'unrestrained' behaviour on some parts. And, yes, you likely do know some of those involved.
Yes. Maebh was beautiful. Very.
Yes. She went costumed as Grace O'Malley. The Prophet was correct. And, yes, she looked suitably formidable.
No. We did not give any of the other publications permission to photograph us.
No. I wouldn't call the event 'glorious', but I'm sure others have done. Why didn't you come, if you were so keen?
No. We did not, in fact, have time to visit you. I'm sorry you were disappointed. Perhaps next time Maebh's in town.

I am pleased you like her, Mother.

I have several questions for you, and I do wish you'd answer here. It's much more direct than waiting on owls to carry and return messages.

Have you sorted out the new girl or will she need to be replaced?
Have you reconsidered having at least one servant live in?
Shall I file your requests with the placement service?
Have you considered that it would be well to set an example in this regard?
What is the source of your reluctance?

It's unlike you to ignore your duty as a social leader. You have the rooms available to house full-time staff. We can see to any security concerns you might have.

Really, Mother, a properly trained Muggleborn girl can help with things an elf cannot. I'm only thinking that if you were ill at night, an elf would be inadequate. (And, of course, father is worse than useless for that sort of thing.)

I'm very busy this week, Mother, so you shouldn't count on seeing me. If you wish me to address your staffing needs, however, I'll be pleased to file the necessary requests. Do let me know.

Mother.

Yes. I'm here. In Snowdonia. Safely.

Yes. I waited to Apparate until I was able to do so. Safely.

Yes. I recognise that I was shamefully inebriated last night. And that I brought embarrassment to you. I regret that you were bothered.

Yes. I've apologised to Maebh. She was far less concerned than you imagine. What did she say to me? 'I'm sorry to have missed the festivities: I should truly have liked to see you beyond your limits. One day!'

No. I don't expect you to understand. Content yourself that I've found the right person in Maebh. I hope you can do that.

Yes, Mother. Pennifold took your owl while I was out this afternoon. I've only just returned.

Yes, Maebh's arrived.

Yes, we'll be on time to supper. No later than half-seven. I promise.

No, there's no need for you to prepare the guest room: Maebh's accommodations are arranged already. For that matter, you needn't have mine prepared, either. Really, I don't know why you've put yourself to such unnecessary trouble. I was certain I'd made this clear when we spoke last weekend.

Nonetheless, thank you, Mother. I do appreciate your wanting to have us. Maebh made a point this afternoon of saying how much she is looking forward to seeing you.

And she's most apologetic that she couldn't make it tomorrow on the actual day. Her work is unforgiving in that regard, but I assured her that you have long experience accommodating family members whose schedules must be worked around. I trust you will be as gracious about that as I've led her to expect.

Now. Don't spend the rest of the afternoon fussing. I don't want you exhausting yourself. I'm certain the new girl is quite capable of managing all the preparations. I had the strongest assurances not only about her cookery skills but her ability to handle many things at once. Please, Mother. If you tire yourself, you won't be able to enjoy the evening. And that will weigh on all of us.

So. We'll see you in a bit.