Private Message to Percy Weasley

[alt_ron]

Wanted you to know that I meant it when I congratulated you yesterday. I mean, I'll admit I was disappointed not to have been chosen myself, and it was, well, it was a bit painful to be there to hear congratulations but not be selected. But I'm chuffed it happened for you, cause I can't think of anyone who's worked harder to show how much you have to offer Our Lord and His Council.

And how great is it that you were able to earn Mr Mulciber's sponsorship? You couldn't have found a more powerful person to ally with. I guess he'll have helped you with increasing the warding at the flat, yeah? Or has he found you more suitable rooms somewhere more convenient?

(I don't want to sound paranoid or anything, only, today at work, there was a lot of talk about how yesterday's ceremony's heating up the competition and rivalry inside the Council. I mean, yesterday afternoon, even I could tell that there were a lot of people on edge about who was chosen and who sponsored whom and all. Obviously, I hope Sandoval-Pennifold's got good security, too, because people are definitely jealous of her. And Patil and Hydra Lestrange. So it's not just you, but what I mean to say is, I actually heard people talking about you today while I was at work. And they were saying they hope you've got decent warding and that you're looking sharp when you go out. And maybe it's all just big talk, Perce, but it made me worry. A bit.)

Comments

[alt_percy]

Thanks for the congratulations again, Ronald. Of course I can understand your own personal disappointment. It's natural to have had your hopes up since you did so very well during the Challenge competition (and may I add how much that pleased me in turn. It's been very gratifying to see how much your involvement with the CCF has helped you rise above our unfortunate mutual background). Never fear, I am confident that your turn will come, too, eventually! Your summer internship can only help.

As for Mr Mulciber, yes, well. I have not known him personally for very long, so his sponsorship was rather a surprise as well as, of course, an honour. He and Mr Malfoy were not close at all, but with recent events--young Master Draco, you, know, such a tragedy--Mr Mulciber and I have had some conversations, and he took a quite a personal interest in me.

The sequence of events that led to Mr Mulciber taking me under his wing, well--I won't bore you with the particulars. (Perhaps you might have drawn an entirely mistaken impression from the story in the Prophet today. I must confess I am rather irritated with it; Rita Skeeter must have taken extraordinarily poor notes during our conversation. Really, one of the first things I intend to do now that I am on the Council is to make it clear that Our Lord will not tolerate...journalistic excesses.)

Forgive me, I am wandering from my point. With your internship, understandably, you are alive to security concerns. I imagine they must hammer on that point continually, don't they? Of course they are teaching you to see threats everywhere, and I imagine new recruits to MLE start out by jumping at every shadow. I will take precautions, of course, though, so you needn't worry. Things have happened so quickly--I was almost as surprised by my elevation to the Council as you--that there simply hasn't been time for me to receive a proper security briefing. I suppose such a thing must be standard for all new members of the Council and so I expect I will be hearing from MLE on the matter very soon.

Meanwhile, I am sure I will be quite busy. It will take awhile for me to assimilate all that I need to know in connection with my new position with the regime. I will be taking a job in the Minster of Magic's office, although what the exact position will be hasn't been entirely settled yet. (Rest assured that the Minister's office is very well secured.) I imagine I will be moving my residence, soon, too, something more appropriate to my new status, and you may be sure I will take care when setting the wards.

Thank you for writing. It was rather pleasant to see one fami very familiar face in the crowd yesterday, to help me celebrate as I take this momentous step.