Private message to Bellatrix Lestrange and Cadmus Mulciber

[alt_corax]

So far the lad's story hasn't changed. He's utterly indignant at the accusations and says Nott Jr made everything up out of jealousy. They're both in the Challenge, of course. I haven't checked the standings but Nott Sr insists Jr had no reason for jealousy.

Let's see. Young Malfoy further accuses Nott Jr of obsession with the mudblood girl. Said he wanted to see her naked, touched her things, etc.

Nott Sr wants to try some physical pressure. Your thoughts on this? I'm not averse to the idea, mind you, just not sure there's a good reason for it yet.

Comments

[alt_corax]

And a wand. A true wand, not some sort of fraud or plaything?

HOW?

[alt_bellatrix]

I've tested the wand. It's authentic.

Now the creature is insisting that "Master Nott" told her to take the wand and wear the bracelet, and that she was only following his orders.

I'm not sure I believe the words it says. The mind would tell more, but ugh, such a dirty place.

Search Draco. Tell me if you find anything of note.

[alt_corax]

He's got a very attractive antique pocket watch and he was wearing two rings. One's heavy silver, has a dragon engraved on it. The other's got a little compartment. He says that one's for passing things to Harry.

He was also carrying three galleons, four sickles, and a knut, and a packet of ice mice.

[alt_corax]

Maybe you want a look in Draco's mind, eh?

He's not changed his story. 'Wand? The mudblood had a wand? Merlin, that's horrifying. She slept in the Slytherin common room!'

[alt_bellatrix]

As to your findings - he and Harry do own a pair of boxes for such purposes, and the watch was a birthday gift from Lucius.

Yes, let's swap. Don't mind the creature's missing finger. There was something peculiar moving there, so I removed it. It, too, was a ring. Very plain, but something magic about it.

Quite a collection of jewelry for a mudblood to be wearing.

[alt_corax]

I suppose she claimed that, too, was a gift from the Nott boy. Maybe we should bring him in for a chat next, eh?

I'll be over straight away. Any spells I shouldn't use on the creature? Other than anything that could be prematurely fatal, obviously.

[alt_bellatrix]

Theo insists on speaking for him, for now. I think he's aware that the boy has, historically, not presented himself to authority figures in the most favourable of lights.

Keep it alive and reasonably able to speak. Anything else is acceptable.

[alt_corax]

Understood.

[alt_corax]

Antonin wants to try to be the 'good Auror' -- so I'm letting him wipe the creature's tears for a minute, nauseating though that is.

Any news on your end? Did Draco prove enlightening?

[alt_bellatrix]

Not as hoped. Far more skilled at occlumency than I would have anticipated. And yet, if his story about young Nott setting him up is true, what could he possibly have to hide from me?

I'd rather hoped I'd not have to use enhanced techniques, but so be it.

[alt_corax]

Draco knows how to occlude? Fascinating. Did you teach him?

[alt_bellatrix]

I did not. My daughter is a legilimens, however, and she and Draco have worked closely on the council challenge. I believe he asked her some time ago to help him learn occlumency, in addition to spell-cast legilimency, under the pretense that it would help him to better serve our Lord.

Of course, he may have had other reasons for wanting to learn.

Though it pains me to cast suspicions upon him, he'd hardly be the first decent, pureblooded man to be seduced by a conniving, filthy mudblood.

[alt_corax]

He might be the first to go to the trouble of learning occlumency in order to cover up his unnatural lusts, though.

[alt_corax]

Any success with your 'enhanced techniques'? By all means let me know if you'd like to let someone else soften him up a bit, Auror Lestrange.

[alt_bellatrix]

Lusts? And just when I was beginning to think you were more clever than the typical man.

Seduced into teaching her magic, Corax. Which comes with camp internment at best, execution at worst, and Azkaban somewhere in the middle. And he's of age now.

I always knew my sister was too soft on him. For all that, he does take Cruciatus quite well. The sight of blood tends to inspire more willingness - keep away from his face, though. If we can get a confession, he may not be ruined.

Raz is getting anxious. Ignore him.

[alt_corax]

I'll keep well away from your nephew's pretty, pretty face.

Blood, eh? That's easy enough to arrange.