where: malfoy manor who: @itsluciusmalfoy
The Ministry's answer to a missing Minister had been to lock everyone inside before nightfall. Predictable.
Sabrina had spent the better part of the morning reading every edition of the Daily Prophet she could get her hands on, only to find page after page filled with speculation instead of substance. Curfews, tighter security, reassurances that sounded convincing only if one chose not to think too hard about them. Whoever had orchestrated the letters at the Burke Gala had managed to unsettle half of wizarding Britain in a single evening, and yet those supposedly in charge seemed determined to treat the symptoms rather than the disease. If anyone shared her irritation, it would be Lucius.
It was why she found herself at Malfoy Manor that afternoon, announced by the house-elf before being shown into one of the sitting rooms as though she scarcely needed an invitation anymore. Familiarity had long since replaced formality between them.
"Someone managed to embarrass the Ministry and unsettle half the room in a single evening." She arched a brow. "I'm far more interested in how they managed it than in being told to stay home." A small smile followed as she settled into the chair opposite him. "I came because I was growing tired of reading other people's theories, and yours darling, tend to be better."
lucius had been in the sitting room, reading over his letters and notes, since he finally managed the time. there was a lot to be done and already people were mumbling about what could have possibly happened to the minister. lucius hoped that it was inspired by the dark lord, commissioning all of the tension and worry only to pluck the minister in public. it was genius if it were true. there hadn't been this much tension since the beginning of the war before death became a shared word between everyone and was too normalized. lucius enjoyed seeing everyone scatter and panic, it was the kind of torture done without lifting a finger. but he hated how much inconvenience it caused. due to businesses closing early, no one wanted to discuss work after their set hours. lucius thought the people were spineless and lazy if they shortened their work just because the law told them.
he raised his eyes when sabrina was led into the room. she was most likely one of the few people who could walk into malfoy manor without a social hour set and no one would be upset. he was relieved that narcissa liked sabrina as much as he did. "ah, yes. here i thought it would be narcissa's estranged sister who would unsettle the room. leave it to a higher power to do it better." lucius folded the prophet and shoved it away from his attention. "theories? well, clearly the dark lord did this, didn't he? i think the minister is many things: a coward, a cheat, poor. but he doesn't ever drink heavily enough to stumble out by himself. the poor man hopefully apparated out of the country and abandoned ship. if not, i hope that the dark lord is behind it and will tell us what to do next. though i'm not holding my breath. please," he said and gestured for her to sit, snapping his fingers for his house elf to arrange a tea tray. "you came all this way to discuss conspiracies? how bored are you?"
