Hullo, everyone,
I hope you've all had a pleasant Christmas, or as pleasant as possible under the circumstances. Christmas with the Jugsons was good, if a bit odd now and then, as it's bound to be.
But this has been a bally well interesting afternoon!
As Malfoy mentioned earlier, the Jugsons, Lestranges, Malfoys and Pennifolds have a luncheon every year on Boxing Day and the Jugsons brought me along. I say, it was quite a surprise to see Professor Dolohov, what! We were expecting Professors Lestrange and Sinistra but I'd rather believed it to be a family affair. I suppose Mr Malfoy does consider Professor Dolohov to be family. Mr Rosier was there and asked me how I've found the Protectorate as a citizen, what, but I noticed that he wasn't really listening to the answer. Also, apparently Finnigan usually comes as his ward but he wasn't along today. Mr Rosier said he's not been feeling well. That's not entirely true, we learned. Let me explain:
After luncheon, Hydra took me on a tour of her grandmother's house, mostly as an excuse to be alone together for a while. We got to the library, which is a snug little round room with a fireplace and a cosy sort of sitting area. And we thought we'd be safe there for a bit if we wanted to--well, to pass the time for a while, what.
But then we heard people approaching and Hydra pointed to the study off the library as a good place to go and collect ourselves. Only once we were inside, we realised two things: First, that there isn't any other door out except into the library; and second, that everyone on the other side of that door was a Councilwizard (or witch, her mother was along, too).
So we stayed and listened.
First off, as I said, it seems Finnigan's not ill, but Mr Rosier has been keeping him secluded at home, under some sort of potion. It sounded like a drugged sleep, Hydra said probably Dreamless Sleep but it could be even stronger than that, what, from the sound of it. No idea why, except that we thought we heard Mr Rosier say 'Only another day'--but that might have been two days, there was a pause and we couldn't hear. Then Professor Dolohov said--it had to have been him, what, because of the accent--that it was a terrible idea, as he'd never be 'ready' to do what was 'required of him' if he isn't properly prepared.
Well, then one of the other men asked if he could even do it if he were properly prepared, and they laughed. But Professor Dolohov and (I suppose it must have been Mr Rosier) said yes, they think he's capable, and anyway 'he'll have to be.'
Oh, someone asked if Mr Malfoy had had any more dealings with the Yaxleys. He said he spoke to Mr Yaxley and there aren't going to be any 'repercussions' - I say, I've no idea what was the matter between them but he seemed confident there was nothing to worry about - only then he added something like, 'except, of course, that he is even more fervent to do Our Lord's bidding.'
Well, Auror Lestrange said, 'He should have been in the first place!' and then they all started speaking and it was hard to hear but eventually Professor Dolohov asked Mr Malfoy if he were still willing to be his first acolyte for the ceremony, because he would think it no dishonour if he were not up to it and preferred 'Barty' (Auror Crouch, that must be) to assist in the primary and he’d get another second. Then Hydra recognised her uncle's voice (Professor Lestrange, I mean to say) and he said something that made them all laugh, and Professor Dolohov said, 'I can still out-duel you any day of the week,' and something in Russian that made them all laugh again. Mr Malfoy said no, that if he thought it would weaken him (meaning Professor Dolohov) too much, he ought to have Barty be the...something (Magus?)--and that he'd probably enjoy it more, anyway, which ought to make the ceremony that much more effective.
Then Auror Lestrange said that if that were the case, she and Barty ought to do it with Professor Dolohov assisting them, and make everyone ashamed to be in Our Lord's company.
They got quiet then. Eventually, Mr Lestrange asked if they thought He was serious about bringing in new blood, such as Pennifold or some of the others who've been looking for favour. They mentioned several people but no one was sure what He would do about them. Then they got on to the topic of people currently at school, what! We heard Draco’s name and Pansy’s, and we tried to listen to what Mr Malfoy had to say but he must have quashed the discussion about both of them, because the next name we heard them mention was Zabini, and after that whether Warrington or Montague were ready for it.
Of course, that put Professors Lestrange and Dolohov onto the whole duelling club mess, what, and Professor Dolohov in particular was flatly against any sort of recommendation for most of them, especially Teddy Nott, and including Crabbe and Goyle, at present. Sally-Anne, he did mention that he’s got his eye on you--and me, dash it, as potential recruits (though, I say, Auror Lestrange didn’t think much of either suggestion, which I thought bally well comforting).
Mr Lestrange changed the subject. He seemed to think that someone named Strangeweale might have had something to do with the attack, that there was an article in the paper that suggested it could have been someone who worked for him who levelled the platform. But Auror Lestrange said that was just nonsense made up to cover up for the Irish making it to British soil.
Mr Malfoy said yes, but that didn't change the fact that Strangeweale's a right plonker (he, er, didn't use those words, precisely) and that he feared for the realm if He couldn't be brought to see that Strangeweale's not trustworthy. He also mentioned that Glendower's an idiot and said something about Mr Thicknesse, but Mr Rosier defended him and said besides that now wasn't the time to be fragmenting among themselves.
Mr Malfoy told him that it wasn't that simple, when the 'new lot' were circling every day. He also said that these days, going to Court could be--something, but we think maybe it was 'as dangerous as'--being in the field fighting the 'insurgents.'
That was well shocking enough, but that got them on to the graffiti that had been scrawled on the Protectorate Hall at Mr Weasley's memorial service (did anyone get a look at it?) and how it was disgraceful and disrespectful and so on. (Mr Malfoy said something, and I'm sorry, Pansy, Ron, it wasn't altogether kind to Mr Weasley, what. I'll not repeat it here but--well, it's enough to say that we all know they didn't get on well.)
Just about then there was a knock and it was Mrs Malfoy and Mrs Black, coming to tell them it was time for pudding and brandy. So they all left, and we waited to make sure they were gone but then we had to leave, too, to come back to the table.
I say. Hermione, it sounded like the sort of thing the Wand Smugglers ought to hear, so I've tried to write it all down as soon as ever I could do. (Which took quite a long time, as you can see!) Hydra, have I left out anything we ought to include?
-Justin
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