alt_regulus | Narcissa

Cousin, I couldn't help but notice that you've just expanded your plans for your holiday entertaining. I wonder if you could use help with any of the preparations. I seem to be less in demand at the moment, so I'd be glad if there were something I could do for you.

I had a bit of a surprise yesterday. I stopped into one of the little shops down my street for sticking plasters and several other things, and while they couldn't supply the plasters--can you imagine: they stock wound cream but not plasters and then were out of washing up liquid?--Sorry. The point is, who should be there behind the counter but our cousin Nymphadora? Says she took the job to supplement what she's earning at the Ministry. I hadn't realised she was working there, either, though I guess I wouldn't have done. If I hadn't just seen her at the funeral, I doubt I'd have recognised her at all; before we were all together that day it had been ages since I'd laid eyes on her.

She's just as I remember, though: well, I can't say whether the hair was purple back then (and, obviously it wasn't at the funeral), but it was always one sort of odd or another, and there's always been that same inability to pick up one thing without knocking something else over. Merlin's tiny pants, that girl was always hopelessly clumsy, wasn't she? Well she's just as awkward now. Fortunately, it was the tin of biscuits and not the bottle of lamp oil that she knocked off the counter and then stepped on. I thought she was going to overturn a whole table of fruitcakes when she bent to pick it up.

I wonder how long she'll keep the job, honestly. I'd think she might break more than she sells. On the other hand, she did persuade me to buy a quantity of cinnamon and several other things that were nowhere on my list. She plied me with spiced cider and a sample tray of cinnamon biscuits that tasted just like the ones Kreacher made when we were children.

I asked her about that, why even when you can get the ingredients, nothing tastes as good now as then, and do you know what she told me? She says you can't buy proper cinnamon these days. I had no idea! Says it's not really cinnamon at all that they're selling in the shops, but cassia, instead. I suppose it's to do with import restrictions and pricing issues, but the point of it all is that her shop's got the goods. They've got a supplier for true cinnamon--the packet says it's from Sri Lanka--and they've got marvellous-smelling, fresh cloves and nutmeg and candied ginger. And now I have, as well.

I couldn't wait for Fifi to come round on Monday, so I summoned Kreacher last night and set him to baking. My flat smells a treat, I can tell you!

I suppose that was entirely more than you wanted to know, wasn't it, cousin?

Clearly, I need something more to occupy myself with than writing things in this book. Do, please, tell me you have some task I could do for you. Or at least agree to have tea with me some afternoon this week. Otherwise I may go mad and begin putting up fairy lights and pine boughs and baking mince pies. It won't be pretty, I can assure you.

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Remus, love, did you see this? Did you catch a glimpse of him at all?

If you need to make a quick getaway, you come right here as fast as you are able.

I'm worried. I suppose if we can fool customs, we stand a fair chance, but he's far smarter than a customs agent, and he's so unpredictable. Was he just remarking, or did it mean something more?

~~Bugger.~~

I think it's high time we either tested the water with Tonks, so she knows what is riding on her discretion, or let her go so she won't be hurt if it all falls down round our ears. Arthur, Minerva, it's up to you, but I think we should move quickly. I've said it before, but we don't want to wait until an emergency to tell her everything.

I'm with Al on this one, you lot.

I hope to merlin the fact this happened right after Sirius's incident is coincidence, but at this point, I don't know. someone very high up could be checking in on lazlo, and everyone associated with it.

tread careful, everyone. and stay safe, remus and sirius. Al will have your heads if you don't.

I was going to suggest that Remus might find it advisable to keep a supply of polyjuice on hand that he can swallow quickly in case Narcissa or anyone else dangerous comes calling. However, that wouldn't work very well if Tonks is still in the dark.

On the other hand, that's another strong reason to bring her in.

I did see him, Alice, yes. Fortunately I spotted him before he spotted me, so I was able to keep out of sight in the back while he spoke to Tonks.

It may be best, for now, to keep Tonks in the dark. She already gets quite nervous around her so-called family members. I'd rather not give her any additional cause for anxiety.

I don't think there's any need to leave just yet, although if Her Highness Narcissa Malfoy shows up in my tatty little shop, I may have need of an escape route after I hex her into oblivion!

It's all okay, Alice. No need for worry. How's my little godson doing?

Sorry, didn't see this before I replied to Alice. Of course, you must be willing, too, before we tell her.

You're right, of course. You're all right, it is time to bring her in. She's more than proved herself both loyal and capable, and beyond that, I do feel like I owe her the truth.

If we're all agreed, then - Arthur, does Wednesday suit you?

I agree, I do think she deserves to hear the whole story from both you and Arthur.

Did I ever tell you about when Frank recruited me to the Order? I was still in training, and we'd been dating for a few months. When he told me about the Order, I was a bit angry with him for not being open with me, but I gave it some thought, and recognized that it was about something more than just me and him -- he'd done it because he had to, not to hurt me. And, in the end, it made us so much closer, because we didn't have those secrets hanging between us.

I know she'll understand why you didn't tell her right off. I really do.

I'm sure she'll be a bit angry too. It's a big secret to keep from someone, not just the Order but something as basic as who I actually am. I hope you're right, and that she'll understand why it had to be that way.

I mean, not that there's anything like that going on, of course. She's just a friend. Or a colleague. A colleague and a friend. That's all.

Well, yes. And although she might be a little taken aback once you tell her the truth, it's precisely because she's a friend that she'll come back round again and see why it had to happen the way it did.

And it can be hard having to pretend to be someone you're not. We all know how much easier it is to have someone to share that burden with. And I'm fairly sure she feels the same way, and will be happy to finally have people she can really speak her mind to.

I hope you're right.

Wednesday will work well. I'll pop by during my lunch hour, and I'll let it be known I have a meeting out of the office in the early afternoon so I can take a little extra time if necessary.

Of course, you're the best judge of what is safest for you. I just worry about you!

And I do think, love, that if she's already nervous, it wouldn't change how she would react around her relatives -- it'd be trickier if she all of a sudden became nervous where she wasn't before. Just a thought.

Kevin is fat and happy, and constantly chuckles at everything. Frank can make him laugh just by looking at him. I'm afraid he's got a bit of an identity crisis, though, because Frank insists on calling him Tiny.

I'll say it for you.

Bugger, bugger, bugger.

I think it would be good to bring her in. I've been talking to her for over a year. She kept the secret about my request to pinch Dean Thomas' file, even when it got her into hot water at the Ministry. She is cautious about what she says to other people, but it's clear her sympathies are aligned with the Order's goals, and she's frustrated over the impediments in her way because she's a half-blood.

Minera, the final decision is yours, of course, but if you agree, I might suggest that Remus and I sit down with her together. I agree with Alice; it's hardly fair to expose her to more danger without letting her know the risk she's running. Especially when she's run a risk for the Order before and proved trustworthy already.

I do agree, Arthur.

I must ask, however, that you keep my role secret - at least at first. I grow particularly wary around holiday-times; there are so many more opportunities for people to brush up against those they usually ignore, so many more chances for spying, for eavesdropping, even subtle Legilimency.

Narcissa

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