Private message to Barty

[alt_antonin]

I am minded of a phrase of which an old bokor teacher of mine in New Orleans is inordinately fond: when you are up to your ass in alligators, it is easy to forget you came there to drain the swamp.

In service toward our varying swamp-draining efforts:

- Has there been any signs CM has taken the bait, or should we prod him? It is not that I am growing impatient, merely that we cannot move forward against him until he has been of use. And while revenge is a dish best served cold, if one allows it to chill too far, one's observers do have the most dreadfully difficult time in connecting the dots.

- TN is simmering nicely. After a few days' respite I stepped out briefly from supper with Auri on Wednesday to leave a grave-wreath on his doorstep; when I returned last night, he had stepped up his warding on the house, which I quite enjoyed breaking. (I decided simply breaking the wards would suffice for last night's taunt. Perhaps next time I will break all but the easiest.) He may come to make a report today: I was ostentatious enough in the breaking (and careful enough to mask my signature) that he may think it was a failed breakin attempt. The coins I have flipped say to give him peace today and tomorrow, but if you've any ideas for Sunday's little present, do let me know.

- No progress to report on unraveling whether the rot at Hogwarts goes deeper than Minerva and Snape. I will be dropping in unannounced for "casual chats" with the staff on their holidays as I've time, though, which ought give me a bit more information. At least the castle itself seems content with my leadership -- or that is how I am interpreting her eagerness to be of use. (I must apologise posthumously to Minerva for every time I gently mocked her conviction the castle has a personality. It's rather uncanny how different it is, being Head.)

- How goes your training with Hydra?

I am planning on spending today playing with Our Lord's toys. Assuming they do not eat me, I've let Narcissa know she should choose the menu for supper tonight, and we will dine en famille. Unless you are otherwise occupied, we will expect you around seven or so. I am afraid it must otherwise be an early night.

Comments

[alt_crouch_jr]

Yanks. Can't say I miss regular reminders of them.

As for alligators...

learned while sparring with LS-P: CM has booked Snowdonia and is inviting the nubile set--two weekends from now. Invitation came last night late. Take full credit for successful burglary, pj, and bait-laying. Was only yesterday noon PW made his second approach to TR. R seen with CM at Orpington's late afternoon--clearly not there for the tea cakes.

Re. Nott. Saw him when I came up from sparring. Suspect you're right. Have just sent you a parcel from Corde's. Suggest leaving it on doorstep, sliced through.

Training is off to a reasonable start. Bella's bred all visible response out of her, so she follows orders. Suspect it may prove a fault, but for the moment, it makes things easier. Laying regimen in place. Identifying first areas for study. Next week will throw her in with the department interns--using them as terriers in our annual subterranean flush. Expect she'll be more useful than most of the rest.

How is your pet? Proving more spaniel or terrier? Heard you prodded him out of the library for a session at the club.

Regret not being able to meet you today, but will make supper. No worries if you're delayed. Our guest won't be left to eat alone. (But do see you're not dinner for His new troops.)

[alt_antonin]

No trouble with PW's wards, then? Not that I expected there would be -- he does seem charmingly innocent as to the depth of the swamp he has stumbled into. Difficult to believe he would still be after so long with a ringside seat for our machinations, but then again, if he was stupid enough to announce his opening gambits to the entire readership of the Prophet, he's certainly stupid enough to have missed the fact he is on his own now.

The package for TN -- assuming it's one of Corde's decorative knots, which design did you choose? (Suspect I can guess, am curious if my instinct is accurate.)

Not that I believe you likely to succumb to such fallacy, but do not underestimate Hydra; the more I see of her, the more I see hints of steel hiding beneath that biddability, and I have not yet worked out what reliably causes it to surface. With a lifetime of Bella standing over her it is not surprising she has learned to keep her own counsel -- Bella's shadow looms large, and will for many years to come -- but I've the feeling she may surprise us all, someday.

And yes, F-F and I have set a standing appointment for the remainder of the summer. He's interning with IMR this summer, and Pontner was happy to let me have him Thursday mornings in exchange for some help with the Morocco situation, since I've some contacts there that I know through my Mastery with the Cairo Conclave. His showing last Sunday was respectable enough if undistinguished, but on Thursday morning two people made it a point of stopping us in the dining room after to compliment me (and him, of course) on the strength of his performance. He overthinks things dreadfully at the start, but once the spells start flying, intinct takes over soon enough.

(Mock my habit of luring them in with the library all you want: presenting matters as an intellectual exercise at first has allowed me to wear down those tedious scruples of his with great success. And I cannot say for certain, of course, but something -- watching his classmates being welcomed into Our Lord's service, perhaps -- seems to have lit a fire beneath him; I am actually beginning to ponder some form of less-controlled fieldwork for later in the summer.)

I remain undigested. Unfortunately, I also remain unsuccessful: none of our theories are proving fruitful.

[alt_crouch_jr]

The wards on that flat might as well have opened with Alohomora. Or Pretty Please. Honestly.

The gift for Nott? Exactly as you guess: one of those 'Gordian Ouroboros' pieces that were so stupidly popular last Christmas. (Shame we threw them all away. Now it's clear what they're good for.) The symbolism (surprised Magical Commerce didn't impose a fine for the insult to Our Lord) fits this circumstance perfectly.

Speaking of things ludicrous, this will amuse: Rowle was just here wanting me to join him for lunch to hear a tale sure to amaze me about one of our newest brothers and his outsized, entirely misdirected ambition. Must go meet him to hear his account of the meeting I took with him yesterday: seems my performance was not only convincing but highly entertaining. (At least it amused him. Says Mulciber was far from tickled when R told him the story.)

Expect to enjoy this, but promise I won't let the reviews go to my head.

[alt_antonin]

And once again I must wonder what the hell Alecto Carrow thought she was teaching. And why Our Lord left her there so long. Any one of my third-years could do a better job. Honestly, it's embarrassing. It's no wonder Lyoushka kept declining to put his name forward for sponsorship; if PW hadn't earned his spot on my Little List I would no doubt be beating my head against the wall in trying to teach the dunderhead how the world works.

(Actually, I may stop by this weekend for a 'casual chat' and offer my assistance, come to think about it; we've obtained what we needed; wards cast by Yours Truly would be another piece of evidence that PW is looking for the next set of boots to lick. Although, no, strike that, if you're meeting with Rowle about your meeting with Mulciber, having me show up at Weasley's flat afterward would be tantamount to declaring sponsorship... although come to think of it, that might light even more of a fire under CM, and make him think he'd scored a point against us, which might be useful later. Think a bit about what message we want to send there, I suppose.)

It does amuse me to think of Molly Prewett's furious gnashing of teeth about this whole business, though. How appalled her dear, departed brothers must be in the worlds beyond.

Ah, well. At least the youngest son seems to have received all the common sense his elder brother lacks. You lot have him as an intern this summer, no? Have they beaten that tendency towards sloth out of him yet? If he were at all more ambitious I would have adopted his cause, but alas, he's seemed content to stumble through life thus far. (Pity; he's a knack for the Arts, and it would so amuse me to woo him out from under his mother's ample sheltering bosom.)

Yes, the symbolism does work for Nott, but the doorstep is entirely too tame for something that delicious, I believe. His kitchen table, perhaps? Or his bed.

Do let me know what Rowle has to say. And I wish you luck in keeping a straight face.

(Still not eaten. It is so damnably disquieting here. And I can't help but wonder who each of these poor bastards are.)

[alt_crouch_jr]

Carrow was teaching them blood-letting and evisceration. And turning-coat, apparently, judging by Weasley. Nothing about security or discernment.

Lunch was delicious, by the way.

Rowle v amused by W's boasting his new appointment in the press one week, and then begging something better from a new benefactor the next. Apparently W thinks the position he's been given in Fudge's office is too menial. Thought perhaps something near the top of Protectorate Security would be more appropriate and would allow him to contribute more significantly to Our Lord's service. (Expect W really has no such thoughts. Probably believes himself on course to become the next Minister. As though that were a position of worth or power.)

Rowle does a dead-on imitation of my imitation of W's priggish diction. (You would not have kept a straight face.)

Absolutely think you should make a show of adopting W. You could write him, but it would be far better if he were seen writing you. A light compulsion should do for that. Next time I stumble across him.

Then we can stage his appointment with you. Somewhere M's bound to hear about it.

[alt_antonin]

That sounds like a delightful plan. I do deeply enjoy shaping and moulding the Protectorate's youth, after all. One might even call it a calling. Certainly it would be odd were I not to answer a sincere request for tutelage in the spirit it was intended, would it not be?

I have so few opportunities to amuse myself these days; it will be a pity when this one draws to its sadly-inevitable conclusion.

And I am perfectly capable of keeping a straight face when a straight face is called for. You'll have to re-enact the best bits over supper; Narcissa should find it a comfort. (Or at very least an amusement.)

Still not eaten. Though, come to think of it, I have missed lunch myself. If only I had the slightest fucking clue where I am. I could ask Berry to bring me a hamper, I suppose, but Our Lord's Little Abominations would not make the most cheerful dining companions, and I've only just got them to stop trying to eat each other. To say nothing of the smell.

(Theories on quartzite amplification not appearing promising, by the way.)

[alt_crouch_jr]

Agree there's no rush to end it. The anticipation, really, is its own reward. Not to be cut short.

Don't risk Berry.

Would bring you food myself, but have Bella next. Apologies.