Well, that's interesting. I'm glad to know where he's gone off to this afternoon. We were all expecting him to be here in our seminar this afternoon, ready to harass the poor souls assigned to give presentations. He's been horrible--especially to the youngest of the witches in the group, which I know will surprise you no end. Several of them have begun talking about giving up and breaking their contracts here. They just don't see that he'll allow them to enter the profession with their dignity intact. And I don't blame them a bit.

We're to have a drinks 'party' this evening, and lunch was nothing but whispers about hexes that could be useful if he or one of the others presses his advantage too far. And it's not just the witches who are feeling the ugliness of his power games.

But, I'm sorry. I'm rather missing the thread, aren't I? What's he up to with your lot? It must be something he finds important for him to leave the sport he's been enjoying here.

I don't need to tell you to keep your ears and eyes open, of course. Do you think, after all, you've enough to make having a word with Lucius Malfoy, a wise precaution? Or is there a chance he's somewhere behind whatever it is that Umbridge and Stint are engineering against you?