Blood of Mud, Wing of Bat

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Chapter 12: Rudy's Owl Rodeo

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Mr. Nesbitt,

Mr. Jackowitz forwarded a complaint the Department of Owls thought we might be interested in. It's from the Daily Prophet's operations center. They claim they have twice sent owls to Draco Malfoy that have returned all bloodied up and nearly dead. They think he set his eagle-owl upon them deliberately. Can you use this at all?

Maisie Chic
Aur Central

P.S. Where's my bribe? I thought you were going to buy me flowers once a week if I gave you extra information. Pay up you big hunk you!

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Rudeo,

I keep hearing these rumors that Malfoy's next charity case will be Amexia Brandt again. Can this possibly be true? If so, is someone dealing with trying to get her on board? We need someone on the inside at Malfoy Manor. Badly. Otherwise Covert Operations is going to steal all the glory.

-- Nev

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Mr. Nesbitt,

Sorry to intrude on your time, but Mole #2 has corroborated #1's report that Malfoy knows about the coming raid. Neither of them could say for sure how he learned it, though they both think he was owled at the Ministry with the info. Does Arthur want to cancel, go ahead with it at the planned date anyway, or should we bump it up sooner and try to catch Malfoy by surprise? Let us know ASAP.

Codename Angel Dust
Cov Ops

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Mr. Nesbitt,

Me again. Just wanted to let you know that we received twelve anonymous tips about you manhandling that Malfoy creep at Batwing this morning. He may not be popular over there, but apparently Aurors aren't either -- at least among the assembly personnel. Do try to be less public about it, would you? I'm going mad trying to burn all this mail during moments when Arthur isn't looking.

Maisie Chic
Aur Central

P.S. You really owe me now!

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Mr. Nesbitt,

We just received a howler from Draco Malfoy that was so bad all the office ladies were in tears when it was finished. He said you took his wand, his spare, and papers and crystal media he needed for his legitimate work, threw him up against the wall, and ransacked his boat. He also claims you had no valid search warrant, as he hadn't actually violated his parole. Is this true? Daschel seems to think the charm went off while Malfoy was asleep. Even Malfoy might be able to win a lawsuit on that basis if that is the case and he can somehow prove it. And you can be sure he'll try. I think you and I are going to have to have a talk about how you treat the suspects during face to face interactions. How about tomorrow morning at 10AM?

Arthur Weasley
Director of Auror Affairs

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Nesbitt,

You're not going to believe this, but Malfoy brought Hermione Weasley to that dive he's been hanging out at over in Stoneyrie. Bancroft and his boys were there in full force and wouldn't you know it, somebody's itchy hex reflex went off and now they have a Wrongful Use of Force situation over there. I'm still trying to get the details but it sounds really messy. Weasley swears up and down he didn't do anything to her, and the Tannies swear up and down they were defending her from an attack. Someone told me on condition of anonymity that a Prior Incantatum on his wand produced about sixty-six beautification charms, ten Apparates, and half of a sucre deliciae. Yes, you got it, the coffee sweetening charm. Guess which one he was in the middle of performing when they stunned him. Anyway, get your arse over there and make sure they don't take any important evidence. If he has any dark items on him, we don't want them getting tied up in those incompetents' evidence vault while lawsuits and investigations are flying. And make sure that Weasley is all right. Arthur will have our guts for garters if anything's happened to her.

Daschel Duncan
Supervisor, Special Ops

P.S. I have already received an owl from Malfoy's lawyers about this morning. Watch your step over there…we don't need to give him any more ammunition.

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Dear Mr. Nesbitt,

The Daily Prophet has been following your work with great interest and we would just love to do an article about you. We believe our readers should know everything about you… from your bravery and duelling skill to your willingness to tackle the dirty jobs that nobody else seems to want to do. What do you say? It could be fabulous. Owl me.

Reeta Skeeter
Reporter/Writer

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Rudy,

Where are you? What on earth is going on? I've been bombarded by owls for you, from everybody from Arthur and Daschel to press, media, and people with code names like "Crouching Tigress." I certainly hope that last one is business related. Anyway, I thought you'd like to know.

--Leela

P.S. Can you bring home bread, milk and chocolate frogs when you come? Thanks.

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