Narcissa Malfoy

How have you been, today, tonight, amid the frivolity?

(If you find a way to tell Draco: I saw what was happening and hid Lucius' journal for the night. He's doing his best, but he is still only a man, and--it was our home. It was where he grew up. He'll cope with the commentary much more easily when it's a few days removed.)

And I suppose you knew something of his scheme to pack me off without so much as a by-your-leave?

If either of you think for a MOMENT that I would abandon them, especially now, you are out of your minds.

Tosha, too, if he'd had anything to do with it.

Why does Our Lord surround Himself with such - children? No, worse than children. You are all little boys.

Are you sure you're all right for the evening? You're welcome to come here if you're looking for company.

Lucius has been working to resolve the outstanding questions surrounding the events of Saturday. And now there was an incident at the Ministry this morning, or so he's said, and he might go there tomorrow to see if he can find out whether it had any relation to the other matters.

I cannot believe any of the accusations have even the barest basis in truth. But we've heard nothing else from his kidnappers and -

I'm sorry. I don't mean to burden you. Quite the opposite, in fact.

Perhaps you're wisest to retreat to your workshop, dear. Only, I do worry about you all alone there, when you surface. Please do come to the Manor anytime. I do not plan on leaving for a while, except to come to Le'Strange Hill for the interment, of course.

But if there is anything else you need, please say the word.

How are you both holding up?

I've been so tempted to send you both hampers like I used to do when you were younger but I suspect I shall be told you're too mature for that sort of thing, and particularly with the additional scrutiny on you both at present.

But if there's anything you should need or want, I hardly think an aunt or a mother could be accused of interfering with due process.

Everything here has been perfectly uninteresting of late; it seems everyone else is hibernating through worst of winter this year and simply waiting for either Valentine's or the first breath of spring. Oh, and of course last night was the Ministry 'holiday party,' which one could not quite decline to attend but which was just as dreary as one could possibly imagine. I shouldn't be surprised if there had been no one left in the banquet hall by half-ten! As it was, we left after only 45 minutes and believe me, if we could have departed earlier, we would have done.

Oh, and Hydra, Rigel wanted me to tell you that he hopes you will 'beat everyone' (though presumably not everyone including you, Draco, dear) and that he's very proud of his big sister.

All my love to you both.

There's a sudden bite to the air today, already.

It's as well that our card party meets at yours on Wednesday, Diana; I'm expecting Mr Cooper tomorrow afternoon to check his installation before the rains start in earnest. I'm sure we'll only have another scant week or 2 of pleasant weather and then it will be time to bed the summer gardens for the winter ones.

Speaking of cards, in a way, Aurora, I ran across the names of two engravers whose work might interest you. I'll send them along. (As for the other kind, my dear, I'm sure by next summer we'll have you playing Spite and Malice with the best of us. It does take practice for the strategy to become second-nature.)

Antosha, love, I've taken the liberty of helping you keep current. Since we can't meet for a regular chat to catch up on all the happenings of the world outside Hogwarts, you can look forward to a weekly dose from other sources. (It's only fair, since you doubtless were the one to blame for Barty's addiction. I'm surprised you hadn't already taken care of the matter yourself, Toshenka dear.) Expect the first owls within the week. And no, this is not an early birthday present.

Draco, we received your letter. I think Prefecture agrees with you, son, since you've already remembered to write twice! Don't worry. I shan't take it amiss if your Prefect and YPL duties, classes and Quidditch schedule mean that this early attention to your correspondence crosses from an overabundance to a deficit as the term continues.

Our own social calendar has quite overrun itself and once again, we shall likely see no more than a handful of weekends without some gathering or other. I've a flurry of owls to send with our acceptances - and our regrets, of course. And a few notes below.

It was an exciting end to a year full of extraordinary thrills. Harry, Mr Malfoy and I extend our heartiest congratulations, again. Very well done, indeed. I cannot be prouder of how you've grown and developed in your magical skills. You've been a credit to us all. I'm sorry to have missed you in the clamour afterward but I understand you are recovering from your minor wounds with no lasting trauma.

We're very much looking forward to having you and Draco home again for a short time, until the YPL calls you to share your skills with your younger charges. We've a celebration planned, of course, in honour of Draco's birthday and now your unsurprising but no less welcome victory.

And bienvenue, M Finch-Fletchley, to the Protectorate. May you find everything you are looking for here. It's most gratifying to see that Our Lord's efforts are not in vain, if young people such as yourself respond to His promise for a better future for us all. One hopes you are right and the time shall not be long away when France and England share more in common than ever before.

The last few days have been so eventful it's hard to settle down to business, I daresay. But there are obligations which have to be met, if not today, then tomorrow, certainly. It's hard to believe June is nearly half over already! Still Witch Weekly's columns cannot wait, nor do they write themselves.

From the sound of things here in the Witch Weekly office, dutiful children all over the Protectorate remembered Mothering Day in all sorts of creative and clever ways. I am most happy with Lucius' gift - a set of gold cuffs I had admired not too long ago - and as always a romantic supper in some previously undiscovered corner of the realm. This time it was Winsford and the externally unremarkable Salamander's Nest, which turned out to feature a truly cosy interior and a perfectly superiour rack of lamb. (They've a charming sort of farm as well, which we toured, and saw the darling little creatures awaiting their first shearing - not for another few weeks, I'm told!)

It has been just the sort of restorative we both needed, now that the Faire's vestiges have been cleared away fully and New London's streets are no longer clogged with peddlar's booths of every shape and description. Even returning to the Manor has done little to please me these last few weeks; the grounds have been as grey as Merlin's beard and thoroughly drenched. We shall be glad for it when the gardens flower but for now all one can do is stare out the window into a dreary sort of fog. Winsford's weather was hardly an improvement but at least the scenery was new.

I've been asked to assist with the St Mungo's Jr Auxiliary luncheon but I understand that its project is to be combined with the third and final Tri-Wizard task and that Miss Kendra Carmichael is to provide her expertise on their fundraiser. I can't wait to hear more about it at the luncheon. Or perhaps at the planning committee on Wednesday I might be able to tease some intelligence from the ladies.

But I must say that I quite look forward to the school holidays and time with Draco and Hydra, and Harry, we hope. I daresay this year was preferrable to previous ones in that we were at least able to see them over the Christmas holidays but I do think 7 months is too long to go without spending time together. One grows apart.

Oh, Barty, before I forget: We were so pleased to run into you last week at Hatchard's. Such a surprise, but it was an excellent opportunity to confirm that you'll be at the unveiling. Now, are you still considering Mrs Lindorm's invitation to the wedding? I really think you ought to go, dear; Amata always holds marvellous parties. It's been years since we attended one of her weddings. And just think, you even know the groom again.

Speaking of which, I understand Ned has asked you to stand up for him at his approaching nuptials. It's touching how devoted he's grown to you. So far from his ambition of a few years ago. I daresay MLE is much more exciting than the import and export trade, however.