The priceless thoughts of Mr R.B. Lestrange

So is it going to be tomorrow, or not? The sooner you can let me know, the better, so I can make my way to Spencer House with minimal fuss and fanfare.

And any news on what happened his Mum?

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Tomorrow: undisclosed place and time (security). Apologies for the delay, but it seems that old man Crouch has refused any kind of involvement, claiming he's too gutted about the wife. He's been hounding Holcomb nonstop, asking if the body's been recovered, demanding to see witness statements and such. Bella is thisclose to dumping him headlong into the river himself.

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Can he really be expected to be cooperative, given the circumstances? Bloody Erebus...he's lost his son and (probably) his wife in one go.

So what kind of case has Holcomb piece together? Was she so distraught over her son's death that she offed herself, or something?

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I'm not sure that he has anything pieced together, just the pieces themselves. Witness statements are in a bit of conflict as to where and when Mrs Crouch was last seen, and it's also been reported that she was in quite ill-health. Right now, I suspect the primary goal is to determine what the connection is between Barty's death and his mother's disappearance.

Off course, it's possible she's just wandered off somewhere, like a barmy old bird, and there's no connection at all.

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If that's really the case, then it's dead strange they can find her. Barmy old birds tend to stand out a bit.

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They do at that. So she's probably just dead somewhere.

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Put a cheerful spin on it, why don't you.

I'll give you a fire call when I'm settled in at Spence.

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It's been excruciatingly slow, getting confirmation on this, but I think the services will take place some time tomorrow. Hooch agreed to cover my classes - it's all mostly agility drills so that's right up her pitch anyway. If that's the case, I'll probably be leaving for New London later tonight. Though I'd like to see you first, if we can manage.

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That's nice of Hooch, and you're right that it seems like a good fit for them.

I'm up in my office at the moment - had someone ask if I'd help with a chart due tomorrow while I was walking back after lunch - but I should be down in my rooms inside the next hour.

Anything else I can do to help you out? Have a drink ready when you get back from New London?

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Even though I'll probably want a drink, requesting that you be ready with one is a bit demeaning and house-elfish, isn't it? Though it rather depends on what you're wearing...

Soz, Roddy responded and says that it will definitely be happening tomorrow, so that means I will definitely be leaving tonight.

You know, I've been thinking a bit about our "traversing the castle" problem and might've hit on a solution. I think it might well be possible to connect our fireplaces for floo-travel. I could do it myself in a snap if this were a regular house, but since it's Hogwarts Castle I wouldn't want to mess about with it myself and risk rousing some ancient, angry magic. But I could ask Minerva about it. Only she'll want to know why I'm making the request, of course...

And then I suppose the new caretaker, that Milland bloke, will be given the job. Not sure I fancy him setting foot in my quarters - or yours, for that matter.

So yeah, forget that solution. Not sure it'll work. We'll just have to be extra-sneaky.

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Is it house-elfish if I offer first? Anyway, I was thinking along the lines of presentation, as well as alcohol. (We really should discuss fantasies you would like to be surprised with at some point, though it's the sort of thing I should not be writing about within line of sight of any student, thank you. I can feel myself going a bit pink already.)

On the floo: honestly, with everything I've heard about the design of this place, I'm not sure I'd trust it anyway. And certainly not to a new caretaker who's barely gotten to know the place (I haven't seen much of him, which I gather is fortunate. What makes you wary of him? Though I'm certainly not inclined to let strange men in my quarters anyway.)

As far as the actual problem, at least my rooms are in a less populated area than yours. You may just have to develop a reputation for stalking the hallways at odd hours of the day and night - heightened security measures and all - and ducking into mine when there's no one around. Or, of course, I can swing down by yours after observing hours, but before then's a bit trickier.

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That discussion should be easy: I like pretty much everything...school-girl, stern-librarian, healer-nurse...though not the posh society lady, thanks. Alright, enough of that, I'm in bloody mourning, I'll have you know, madam.

Fair point on the design matter, I'm just so enchanted by how easy it could be, if only.

The caretaker seems to have gotten to know the place well rather quickly, given how well-maintained everything is. Normally that would be all well and good, but his body language strikes me as off. A lot of evasive signals and the like, but at the same time very watchful. So, nothing utterly out of line, but I'm keeping an eye on him, just the same.

Actually, keeping an eye on the new caretaker would be a good reason for making extra security rounds all the way to the seventh floor. At which point I will find myself far too exhausted to tramp all the way back down to the second.

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Distractions have their uses - and besides, it's quite handy to have the information for other points later, you know. One never knows when that kind of thing might come in handy, and you know I'm nothing but diligent in my research.

I do, of course, trust your instincts, though I've nothing like your eye for the details of how people behave. Glad you're watching, anyway. It does seem odd I haven't heard much about him - normally, there's more, well, gossip about someone new on the grounds, whether or not people like him. But now you mention it, I've heard less of that, too, which is curious.

I approve of your plan to make extra, especially thorough security rounds. And of course, if I were to find you at my door, I'd have to make sure you could rest and recuperate.

Though, that reminds me: I should show you the counters to the various protections on my various doors, or rather the ones you don't already know about. (A woman has to keep a couple of tricks up her sleeve, after all.)

Anyway, we're almost done here - you could let yourself in, if you didn't mind purple eyebrows for half an hour - or I'll be down shortly.

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Purple eyebrows wouldn't be quite the look I'm going for, no, so I shall bide my time until I know you're safely ensconced in your quarters.

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Oh, it's a short-term hex on purpose, wears off in under thirty minutes - on the door handle, in case anyone tries coming in when I'm not there. (I've got a stone charmed to vibrate if anyone actually manages to get the door open, and a few other such things, of course.)

I'd say it would make you look fetching, but then I'd start laughing, so perhaps not.

Anyway, done here now, and as a bonus, I've done all my set up for tomorrow night, so I just need to pop up right before observing and lay everything out. (Assuming the weather improves. Normally I'd be complaining about it, as you know, but this weekend, I find I really don't care if it stays cloudy for days)

Will be down in 5, and ready to let you sneak in whenever you appear.

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alt_lucius

Raz, understand that you've come down for to-morrow's solemnities. May need to prevail upon you to speak to Narcissa. Have been trying most of the day to bring her to Kensington so that we are similarly close by - and so that I may monitor the situation at Court more closely as well. As your brother can attest it has been a ... trying last few days. Know that you are bored by politics but under the circumstances it might behoove you to pay them some attention; there has been a great deal of consternation, as you may imagine, and not all of it as complimentary of Barty's career as we might wish.

But the tasks associated with the Council, as well as the sad necessity of arrangements and of course, our sister-in-law's investigations, have been made much more difficult for me to maintain, owing to Narcissa's failure to accept the evidence. The news of Norah's disappearance and likely death came as another blow, of course - but one that has merely caused her to withdraw into herself. She cannot continue in the delusion that there is more to the tale; I confess I have run out of ways to implore her to see reason without seeming heartless as well as cruel - which pain I think you know I would never willingly cause her.

Amanda has been with us most of the day, with no more success than I. I would not loose Bella on her at present - by comparison to her brusqueness, my ministrations would seem to be coddling! - but .... I cannot think of any way to breach the walls she has erected to protect herself from hard reality.

I would not ask were I not at a loss otherwise. Razzer, you have always been able to cajole her. I do not wish to intrude on your own grief but -

~~She's everything to me~~ Her health is all that matters at the moment.

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That's right, Lucius, I just got to Spence a bit ago.

Politics, well, I thank you for the warning, and shall take your advice to heart. That is part of my reason for coming down tonight instead of waiting for tomorrow.

As for Narcissa, I...well, of course I will try. Anything for our girl. Just say when and where.

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alt_lucius

The sooner the better, I think. Rod, if you'd like to come as well, perhaps the obligation of a hostess will convince her to quit her apartments, if nothing else.

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Certainly.

Raz, I'll leave for Spencer shortly and we can depart together.

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Get here fast, I might need your help.

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Whatever with?

Nevermind, I'm leaving.

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Lucius

Lucius you won't believe this.

All right. Yes.

BLOODY BARTY CROUCH IS STANDING IN ONE OF MY MANY DRAWING ROOMS RIGHT NOW, and it's definitely him because he's just told me everything I got up to at Pseudonymity this summer, right down to the last detail.

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alt_lucius

WHAT?!

~~And are you sure you remember~~

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It's him.

He remembers some of my...specialties. The kind very few have been witness to.

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alt_lucius

~~But~~

~~Then~~

~~Who was~~

What has he to say for himself?

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alt_lucius

He must go to Buckingham immediately.

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