alt_ptolemy

Follow-up from yesterday's excitement:

• Agree with general belief that young Marvolo must be with Malfoy, likely with Black and Snape as well, since he mentioned them specifically. As such, undoubtedly they are at Grimmauld Place and further search unnecessary. Trust your MLE operatives are on round-the-clock surveillance but equally unlikely that any of them would be so foolish or so brazen as to make a mistake there. Will have to draw them out.


• Better news on that score: the Rookwood post gained a reply. Continuing to monitor closely. Authorising additional details once MLE give the go-ahead.


• RE: Narcissa. Haven't written yet but will shortly. Preference as to tone? Know the rumours are flying that she's known all along. Can't deny it looks...less than optimal. But she did have reason to believe Bellatrix was dangerous. Mafalda was the proof enough of that. Plan to take conciliatory stance, there. Any sense of the chance of clemency if she should provide needed intelligence that will help recover Marvolo or trap young Malfoy? With permission will send owl rather than over journal; even if she does think she can trust me, she's too clever to slip anything where others might see and she'll know we'll be reading her posts carefully, now. Her pustule of a son left us no choice.


• Journals at Hogwarts: About what you'd expect. Recommend Enforcers further discourage assembly--anything we can do to force communication by observable methods will help. Much more difficult to catch when they can whisper in corners. In fact, suspect some may have...communication channels outside of the journals altogether. No evidence, really. Just a hunch, based on recent experience. Wasn't too long since Ned and I were there ourselves, after all.


• Oh, on Ned: Wife's been giving him the cold shoulder since mid-April (you'll recall the date). Can't tell from her other communications, since there's no love lost on either side, there, but it's not leaving him in much of a mood for...collaboration. X-ref her communications with R Lestrange. Interesting reading there. Not sure if it's anything you can use. But he's in agreement with me about Narcissa, at any rate, that the timing of her Fidelius was more likely coincidence than collusion.

Will fwd complete list of Marvolo-Malfoy related traffic external to Hogwarts. It's a lengthy list. Hope you've got enough teams to make the rounds.

Are we forgiven for invading yesterday? I didn't want you to be alone on Lucius' birthday.

I hope you'll consider coming with us tomorrow evening. Karo's newest is a triumph and she does so want you to hear it in person.

Dido said you came looking for me yesterday, after the Wizengamot meeting. Meant to write earlier but more pressing matters took priority.

Well, what is it? Hope you're not thinking I ought to ask Our Lord to promote me over to one of the other offices. This position is fairly important, if for no other reason than it keeps certain secrets out of unwanted hands.


Oh, speaking of secrets: Thicknesse isn't going to back the play you're planning. Don't embarrass yourself by trying.

You see? It's important to stay where we are, Ned and I.

You'd do better to come along when Aunt Narcissa petitions Our Lord again. Had an owl from her this morning. Seems Uncle Lucius is weathering Azkaban a bit worse than expected. You might try your influence within the Wizengamot to get him a proper respite from the Dementors, if you're so contrite about things. Or at least see if you can arrange to have a proper barber in.

It might help if Our Lord realised that even you find the circumstances beyond the pale. Don't think He knows you and Lucius had begun to reconcile. At present, that may well work in our favour, so keep it that way, do.


Oh, by the way, checked with Karo and yes, we can stop by on Antonia's birthday. Just for a while, that is. We sent Malcolm and Lucy care parcels, so that ought to hold them until Christmas, don't you think?