alt_narcissa | (no subject)

Well, let it never be said that our parties are the sorts of affairs one can afford to miss for lack of excitement! One would prefer a different sort, however, in future. How frightful!

Young Mr Weasley, thank you in particular for your calm and swift reaction to the crisis. I daresay your experiences at Hogwarts have already taught you how to maintain order in an emergency. (From the look of things, we were not the only ones impressed by your presence of mind. Do tell your enchanting companion that her own rôle in directing guests away from the scene did not go unnoticed - or unappreciated.)

Mr Malfoy and I went to St Mungo's this morning to pay a visit to the young man who so tragically collapsed on our lawns - I'm quite sorry to report that the Healers hold out little hope for full recovery. Clearly someone took advantage of his recent dismissal from our household and attempted to discover privileged information from him. I hope we can say that the damage was done to him out of his captors' desperation and that the young man resisted revealing anything that might present a danger to Our Lord's tranquil realm. Mr and Mrs Hooper, please accept our condolences. I've no idea who abused your son so horribly but I do assure you Mr Malfoy is as perturbed as either of you that his former clerk should be so beset by enemies of the peace. He has already told me he has his theories and if I know my husband, he shall be sure to investigate the truth of his beliefs and avenge this slight for all our sakes. As a mother myself, I can only imagine how this ordeal must be affecting your family. If there is anything I can do, please, you have only to ask.

Speaking of motherhood, Draco: Do enjoy yourself this week. But don't you boys all make yourselves ill with too much sun and training. Be sure to take care as well and don't overdo it. We shall see you next weekend for the Freedom Day celebrations and I'm sure you and Harry shall have dozens of stories to tell.

Oh, and Raz, it's too bad that your guest couldn't disentangle herself for the evening but I do understand. But now, you really must bring her to lunch on Saturday next; I will brook no argument! Mother and Pascoal will be bringing some of their friends along as well so it's sure to be a jolly affair. There are even plans afoot to take in some of the street performances along the river. I promise no one shall ask impertinent questions: We know our itinerant bachelor is in no danger of losing his heart! His solitude, perhaps, but that can hardly be a bad thing. Rodolphus, you'd best come along whether Bella extricates herself from her work or not, and see what your baby brother has been up to all this time.

And now, Sisters in Witchcraft, I shall see you very shortly! I hope you are all prepared for today's activities. I quite look forward to hearing about your summers thus far.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

alt_crouch_jr

Thank you for the enjoyable evening.

Mother asks that I communicate how sorry she was to leave early; she promises to send a proper note as soon as she's able to manage it. I don't believe it had anything to do with the excitement of Hooper's lurching out of the hedges; she's had a low week is all and would have done better to stay in last evening.

Fortunate that she saw sense and resigned her role on the Freedom Day committee. Are you involved with that, Narcissa?

Have wrapped things up here for the afternoon, apart from an hour or two on the sparring floor. I've managed not to murder Holcomb yet, but if he's smart he'll not choose this afternoon to cross wands with me. I'm giving him until Monday first thing to find one shred of solid evidence we can use against Maule. Or one witness with a credible account of his dealings.

From:

alt_narcissa

I am glad that your mother recognised her limits before we had two collapses in our midst. Has the girl you engaged for her done nothing to ease her burdens at home?

As for Freedom Day, given the involvement of certain persons, I am pleased to be able to say I am not in any way involved this year. If I had been, I should have had to think carefully about resigning, myself. Though I suppose that wouldn't have looked well. I suspect it shall only be a matter of time before someone asks me to serve on Our Lord's birthday celebration committee or some similar activity. As it is, I have quite had my hands full with the Sisters in Witchcraft today.

I'm surprised Master Gibbon has not approached you for the boys, in fact. Perhaps he's aware that it's not a good time for you at present.

And now on top of everything, I've Mrs Sewell's book to bring to the Witches' Institute next month. She was undoubtedly helpful with the girls' genealogy charts but if the price for her services is buying her a speaking engagement at the WI - well. I've only had a bare glance at the section on the Blacks of the 15th century and believe me, she leaves no boggarts in the cupboards. I can practically see Ganymede Bobolis wishing a section of the Londinarium on her, fraught with torrid tales of old family history, no doubt.

From:

alt_crouch_jr

THE girl has become two girls. One a kitchen drudge, the other meant to be a personal attendant, except that Mother won't allow her in her room, so that one's become a laundress.

I'm on the verge of hiring a healer to provide the necessary attendance. Mind you, Mother says she's fine, but that's patently untrue. She's failing.

And beneath the steely shell this has Father in a panic. I hadn't realised he ever noticed her presence, but he's going daft, presumably at the thought of losing her. Stares at her. Follows her room to room. Shouts when she announces her intention to leave the house for an engagement. Repeats her healer's orders as if she can't remember herself.

Come to think of it, we'd all be well served if he'd give up his post with the Wizengamot and sign on as her full-time carer. Well. The Protectorate would be well served; Mother, less so.

From:

alt_lucius

As bad as that? Forgive me, Barty, far be it from me to intrude on such a personal matter. I know you've had discussion with Narcissa before about your mother's health; out of deference to the sensitivity of the information, she has shared only the barest details with me. But it sounds as if your father could use a consultation at St Mungo's himself.

From:

alt_crouch_jr

Indeed. And I'm sure that was more than you really wished to know. For what it's worth, I do not believe my Mother's health merits such dramatics.

I do apologise for her performance at Kensington. Apparently I was wrong to think it had nothing to do with Hooper's appearance, though, and this may entertain you: she informed me this afternoon that when he staggered into view, she was seized with the notion that he was a Dogstar assassin come to murder me. As though that pathetic lump could have been any threat at all.

From:

alt_lucius

I should hope I have more sense than to keep in my employ someone who could be bought by Dogstar.

From:

alt_narcissa

That does sound particularly dire. I feel terrible that our schedules have been so hectic this season that we've not had more of a chance to talk.

Do promise me you'll come to luncheon - Tuesday? I'll book Monteith; we shan't be bothered there.

From:

alt_crouch_jr

I can hardly tell whether it's dire or not. Do you know that Mother thinks I'm going to be murdered any day. That's apparently what unbalanced her the other night: she thought Hooper was sent to assassinate me. Honestly. As though he could have lifted a wand, let alone cursed anyone.

Father blames me, of course. For everything that's befallen them. Thinks the mudbloods are spies I've put in the house. I suppose he imagines I'm plotting patricide and mean to use scullery maids to do it.

Yes, Tuesday, then. Thank you. I know you're busy, but I've missed you.

From:

alt_narcissa

Well, knowing you as I do, you're father's probably not far wrong - at least about the mudbloods. I'm not so sure about the patricide. Though if you've shown restraint up until now it's hardly likely.

And your mother is not the only one who has noticed that you've been making yourself scarce, working all sorts of cases that don't call for your personal involvement. I've not been nearly as busy as you've been unavailable.

Between you and Bella it's a wonder I get any sleep at all, for worry. That's not to say I take anything as pessimistic a view as Norah of your ability to stop anyone who might attempt to trouble you.

I've seen your skills in action, after all.

Tuesday. I'll book a private chamber - half-twelve, all right?

How long will you have, afterward?

From:

alt_crouch_jr

I'll clear my schedule from noon on.

From:

alt_narcissa

Good.

From:

alt_penelope

Mr Weasley was rather brilliant, wasn't he? Thank you so much for including us, Mrs Malfoy - even with the unfortunate disruption. I'm sure he was happy to be of assistance to you and Mr Malfoy. Percy's extremely fortunate that Mr Malfoy asked him to clerk for him. We're both excited by the opportunities it affords us both to serve Our Lord and the whole nation, of course.

And thank you for saying I was a help, as well. I'm sure we were just doing what was necessary to keep Mr Hooper's sudden appearance under control.

From:

alt_narcissa

Not at all, Miss Clearwater. Had you not been helpful, rest assured I should not have said otherwise.

Mr Malfoy has been, on the whole, more pleased with Mr Weasley than he cares to let on. Especially early in a new employee's tenure, he never likes to praise too highly lest it set a low standard.

If I were you, though, dear, I should remind him that Mr Hooper's chief fault was complacency. Don't let him think that because Mr Malfoy is pleased, he has secured his position. I should also take note of Mr Hooper's fate - your Mr Weasley is subject to privileged information and as such ought to take care with his person so that he, too, does not become a target to Our Lord's enemies.