Private Message to Lucius Malfoy and Barty Crouch, Jr

[alt_antonin]

Dearests,

After the week I have had, including putting my foot in it at least once and barely avoiding putting my foot in it several times over, I am afraid I must throw myself upon your collective mercies and beg for the extended bout of What The Bloody Hell I've Missed, including but not limited to the details of:

-- what the hell happened to Reg (Miss Padma Patil fed me a story that was more confused than not, with extensive backtracking the moment she realised Reg was one of mine, but from the impression I got, I believe I may have acquired a debt there);

-- a story I have half-heard of you dueling with Alecto, Lyoushka, and more specifics of her and Amycus's decline (as it is proving more relevant than I'd thought);

-- a rather garbled tale of your apparent death and resurrection, Barty, and who the hell would dare to strike against you (you can imagine the fierceness of my reaction when I heard; that is the sort of thing that should have prompted a message, for the record, dear one);

-- the true stories behind Warrington's and Travers' demise -- was not at all surprised to hear Warrington had displeased Our Lord (though must confess, was slightly shocked at the public nature) -- but Mal?

Realise this is undoubtedly opening a box of curses and could be best handled in person, rather than through journal -- Lyoushka, I believe you will be up the castle this week for a Governors' meeting? Would be most appreciative if I could claim a few hours of your time after. And Barty, I will be in New London this weekend, as I've mentioned, and would take it as a kindness if I could lay claim to your Saturday afternoon at very least.

Certain I could come up with some way to show my gratitude,
T

Comments

[alt_crouch_jr]

Wish I could say the reports of my supposed death were whole-cloth fabrications of the scandal sheets, but the truth is rather muddier. Can only claim I was otherwise engaged when I ought to have been sending you reassurances.

It was thoughtless, Toshenka. I'm sorry.

Suppose I didn't realise you'd find it so affecting. Given that you know it false.

Will accept whatever reprimand you see fit to impose. When I see you.

[alt_antonin]

I'm not angry, dearest, truly. It was just a shock to hear; of course I know you to be alive and well now, but --

Well. It made me think about what it would have meant if it had been true. And of course, with Reg, and after last night's talk with Aurora

A teacher should not outlive his

I would likely burn worlds to avenge you, you know

It shook me to hear, is all. I'm very glad to find you alive and well on the other side of it.

[alt_lucius]

To fully report and elucidate on all these topics, Tosha, would take much longer than a single evening's discourse!

Interested to know what Miss Patil imparted. Her family were told some of the necessary details following her brother's unfortunate demise but of course, the reality was more convoluted than they could know (or indeed ought ever to know, in truth). Reg had instruction from Our Lord but exercised ... questionable judgement ... in his choice of sacrifice. (That said, am exceedingly grateful you chose to ask me and Barty directly, and not Narcissa. The wound is still raw at times, despite the length of years since his disappearance. Even this much detail is more than she has ever dared ask, though surely she suspects more than she admits.)

Regarding Alecto, she insinuated to Miss Parkinson that she played a direct rôle in Tony's death, at Leicester. Then at my next visit to the school, she took it into her head to ambush me. Frankly, it was an embarrassment to have been caught out so off-guard. Have a new scar as a reminder but otherwise it was nothing.

For Amycus, in all honesty, one word will likely suffice to explain: Drink.

Barty can tell you his when he is in the mood (roughly, a few days after 31^st November).

So far as I am aware, Tosha, Warrington had not crossed Our Lord in any way. The Games were .... Well. Best save that for a conversation over a bottle of the Scotch you keep reminding me that I owe you. Travers, even more so.

Is it Raz who has been attempting to fill in the missing chapters for you, bratishka? Should have thought he could give you an accurate accounting of the siblings Carrow and other topics.

(Incidentally, has he also apprised you of the events that centred around Bella and Rod's daughter during her first year?)

[alt_antonin]

I've heard some of the details of Miss Lestrange's travails, but not all. I have her down for some one-on-one time this week (interviewing each of the little darlings to determine which placement they'd be best suited for) -- with luck I will be able to get a better sense of her after that. Though thus far I have found her an exceedingly self-contained young thing -- well, with Bella for a mother, one can hardly blame her.

I've been collecting bits and scraps of the story from multiple directions, actually. Razzer's been a help, of course, but there are bits of the story he can't fill in, having apparently been unconscious for large chunks of it. And Minerva -- well. Pomona Sprout has been most helpful in terms of factual detail as it pertains to the school, actually, though of course parsing her version of the story requires removing the overlay of moral outrage. And of course she can't give me the other end of the wand. Still, I would be a fool not to probe you for the detail: you see the interconnections more clearly than anyone else might.

Miss Patil -- I went into each interview asking the students for any prior experiences they've had with the Arts, good and bad. She told me of her brother's death, and that it had been at Regulus's hand, and intimated she had arrived at the conclusion Regulus was one of those for whom practise of the Arts was more damaging than uplifting, or that he had fallen into the same madness his brother had. (She stopped herself quickly when she realised what she was saying; believe I may have given too much of my reaction away, or I might have gotten more useful information out of her.) Am not surprised in the least to hear Reg was operating on orders -- I cannot imagine why he would have done so otherwise -- but if he made poor choices (and he obviously did) ... well. I must take at least some of the blame, I suppose, for that and for his other failures.

I will not mention it to Narcissa, and thank you for the warning.

Regarding the Games: am most interested in that conversation, yes. I can imagine half a dozen possible explanations. Some more ... comforting than others. Am most interested in your thoughts. There has to be a reason for

I am exceptionally glad Alecto did not get the better of you.