Private Message to Barty Crouch, Jr.

[alt_narcissa]

Well, I've heard the explanation, now, though I'm not sure I believe all of it. Parts are too extraordinary not to be true - and they've been corroborated by other sources. And other pieces seem...conveniently coincidental.

I suppose I should have waited longer to call on your assistance. But thank you. There was the distinct possibility that she'd used one of Bella's delayed curses or some other trick that he wasn't able or aware of needing to counteract. If he'd been alone at St James', for example, working....

But he says it was a simple, if maddening, matter of his journal being collected by Broome at Court, and then not being able to trace it back right away to the point where it went missing. I suppose it's plausible. I don't think he'd have deliberately ignored my post, not for so long, if he really hadn't mislaid the book. Easy enough to check whether his clerk really has been searching for it high and low.

At least he didn't bother to ask how you came to be at the Manor. I do feel foolish for asking you to come, now. And not a little ashamed of the way he sent you home - though of course we did need to talk privately, but he might have been more appreciative of your efforts and the intent behind them.

I hope I didn't ruin any plans you had for the evening. Or Travers, either.

I've other replies to make.


Have you given any thought to yesterday's conversation, by the way?

Comments

[alt_crouch_jr]

Narcissa. You were quite right to be concerned. Lucius could quite well have been suffering a delayed curse; your sister is not the only one to have made them a specialty.

The matter of his journal is an interesting thing, actually. I've just been talking with Travers, who confirms that he went first of all to Lucius's clerk and found him at home in his slippers with his supper on the table, half-eaten. Hooper was quite surprised to learn we thought Lucius might have gone missing: said he'd been fine, if a bit less genial than usual, throughout the morning. As far as he knew, Lucius had gone on to a meeting at Presto and then to court, and while he hadn't heard from Lucius before leaving at the usual time, he'd thought nothing out of the ordinary.

Searching high and low for Lucius's journal was not among the evidence he offered for knowing his employer to be well and accounted for in the interval, you'll note.

As for ruining my plans--or Travers, for that matter--you needn't worry. This is the work we do, Narcissa. We were very glad to assist you. I'm neither surprised nor terribly concerned that Lucius was chagrined on learning his absence had set a search in motion. His treatment of me was well within bounds under the circumstances.


I'm mulling yesterday's other conversation, yes.

[alt_narcissa]

Well, really, I could have contacted Mr Hooper myself and learned as much, instead of using the distress signal. Though it is odd that he didn't tell Travers about looking for the journal. From what Lucius said, he realised it was missing before I summoned you. But perhaps he was simply looking for it on his own. You know how you boys sometimes are about admitting you've misplaced something. He may have wanted to avoid involving anyone else.

The days are running together for you, aren't they? You did that last week as well, saying 'today' when you meant 'yesterday' - now it's 'yesterday' when you meant 'Thursday.' Perhaps it really is love.

[alt_crouch_jr]

We assumed you had contacted Hooper, actually, but he was still Travers' first stop in reconstructing Lucius's movements.

True enough and literally so. I suppose it's a sign that I should go home and sleep this afternoon as I'm on again tonight.