(no subject)

[alt_narcissa]

That was perhaps the least pleasant match I've ever attended. And I am not referring solely to the weather.

What a shock for us all! We've only just arrived home after assurances from the school matron that young Mr Marvolo will make a full recovery. Lucius, Rabastan and at least a dozen others were quick on the draw and managed to control the fall but goodness, we've never had such a fright! Luckily, Madam Pomfrey was at his side in mere moments. But it was quite a long wait, while she checked him over, then in the hospital wing, where she saw to mending his injuries. And poor Razzer and Lucius, between their outrage at the Azkaban guards and feeling frantic for Harry's safety, it's a wonder either of them knew what to do first. It's over now, thank Merlin, and he's resting comfortably, or so we're told.

I'm looking at our agenda for tomorrow. Oh, dear.

Lucius will likely go back up to Hogwarts tomorrow. He'll want to make sure the security detail has been properly sorted, as well as check in on Harry and the rest of our young charges there - Hydra and Pansy were both quite as unsettled as could be - and I'm sorry, June, I'm sure I shan't half have the strength to face the annual veterans' honours luncheon alone. Please accept my regrets and find someone else to present the wreath.

It's too late even to concentrate on a simple game of cards, and yet I'm still much too rattled to sleep.

Comments

[alt_lucius]

I'll come across. I'm sure Fifi could heat some chocolate if you liked.

[alt_narcissa]

No, you've had a difficult week and you need to rest if you're going north again tomorrow.

I've already had far too much chocolate; I'm sure to come out in spots by Monday. But I've a pot of chamomile tisane to drive out the remnants of the cold and the wet.

[alt_lucius]

It's no trouble. And a hot drink sounds just the thing. Unless you don't want company?

[alt_narcissa]

When we first came in, I thought not. I've spent most of the day in the curious position of being surrounded by people - and then waiting outside the hospital wing with Draco, Pansy, Hydra and all the others. By rights I should have had enough company for three days. But no, I find that it's the last thing I want.

I rather think I'll be worse companionship for you than you for me, my love.

[alt_lucius]

I know. And I said, it's no trouble. I'll be over directly.

[alt_crouch_jr]

How miserable.

It sounds as though you had entirely too much excitement yesterday. And was the game later than usual or did it run long? Someone said something about its having fallen dark by the time Marvolo fell? If it really took all morning and afternoon, The Prophet will have to change what they're always saying about his preternatural quickness at finding the snitch.

Not that we want them trumpeting his resilience in the face of injury and near death, instead, which--blast it--I see is precisely the angle they are running this morning.

I'm just in from closing down the park festivities. Clearing away the malingerers and checking for any sign of malicious traps left behind. (All's clear.) At any rate, I hope you have had good rest over night and that you are feeling very much better when you rise this morning.

[alt_narcissa]

It was a later start than we were expecting. The Slytherin team lobbied to delay by an hour or so to see if the rain would lessen. Though I do suspect that Mr Marvolo found it more difficult than usual to spot his target owing to the torrents. Luckily his captain noticed and called a time-out to have an impervious charm cast on Marvolo's eyeglasses. After that, it was just contending with the lightning flashes, but at least his vision was not distorted by the rain!

And I am much recovered, thank you. Though at Lucius' urging I am still staying close to home with a liberal dose of Pepper-Up to accompany my morning tea. I came all over chills last night and since we'd been out of the ominous presence of those spectres for some time, I fear it might be something more like flu than a simple case of taking a fright.

[alt_crouch_jr]

Perhaps it was in the cards that you should lie low today. I'm certain Mrs Calderwood and the veterans will understand. The outdoors portion of that ceremony is likely to be drenching, and it would surely be foolhardy for you to go after spending so much of yesterday out in the storm.