Order Only: An unexpected visitor

[alt_arthur]

I just had an unexpected visitor drop by. My goodness, this is a first. I looked up from my reports to discover Lucius Malfoy looming over my desk.

I was so startled I almost upset my tea.

After a confused moment, I invited him to sit and excavated a few piles of parchment from a nearby chair. He shook his head and stayed standing, his lip curling a little as he glanced around. He only had a moment, he said, but he had come to see me on the matter of the Prophet article.

That made me flush rather red. I fumbled for a response, something to the effect that I'm sure I didn't have to tell him that the article contained gross inaccuracies. He nodded, and then, to my astonishment, said that he simply wished to deliver a small token of appreciation to 'your youngest son' for the service he rendered to Miss Parkinson. 'If he's likely to be at the centre of catastrophe,' he said, 'you might want to ensure he can at least properly defend himself - and those around him.' He gave me a wintery smile and then placed a small bag on my desk with a clink, and he left before I could think of a response.

I opened up the bag and discovered it held a tidy pile of gold, along with a new wand permit.

...

I just finished writing the entry above, but was interrupted by an emergency call. Barty Crouch, Jr. said something in his post about unrest in Ashfield, Dacorum and Wyre. Some the barracks in Dacorum have been set on fire, and the whereabouts of several administrators at Ashfield is unknown. It is feared they may have been taken hostage. The standard security apparatus seems to be overrun, and MLE enforcers are being called out as reinforcements.

Comments

[alt_frank]

I don't give a bloody fig about the papers

those goddamn MLE idiots will stun everything that moves

and that mob can't tell the difference between good wizards and bad ones, they'll just see a witch and go to town

and if my baby is in the middle of that

[alt_alice]

You're in the Potions room, aren't you?

I'm coming, Frank. Just stay there.

Please.

[alt_frank]

fine.

but if kingsley finds an empty house I'm bloody going no mistake.

[alt_arthur]

Alice. Sit on him, hex him, bind him, do whatever you have to do to keep him there. Let Kingsley make sure they're safe; he's perfectly capable of doing so.

Frank, don't lose your head, man.

[alt_alice]

Oh, he's not going anywhere.

Trust me.

[alt_lupin]

Good grief, you nip out for a quiet afternoon walk and all hell breaks loose.

Are you still in the potions room? We're on our way.

[alt_alice]

yes. we're still waiting to hear from Kinsgsley.

Oh dear.

This isn't

Tonks, sweetheart, he's not always like this.

I'm sorry.

[alt_frank]

sorry, arthur mate.

I guess I did for a little there.

but it's back on solid now.

[alt_kingsley]

I trust you saw my reply to Alice, that they're safe.

You're mum's a rare woman, Frank.

I managed to get a private word with her out of Evelyn's earshot and told her Kevin's dad asked me to check to see she was safe, given the outbreak at Wyre. She sniffed and told me tartly it was a mum's job to worry after the son, not the other way around.

Then she added I should remind you wear your wellies when you go out in the rain. 'But I imagine he doesn't have the sense to do so.'

[alt_frank]

thanks for checking mate.

much appreciated.

[alt_frank]

and that sounds like my mum for you.