Private message to Lucius Malfoy

[alt_selwyn]

Just got pulled off the dance floor to handle a minor crisis. At least, I hope it's a minor crisis.

Apparently a dozen or more people were trying to use portkeys to get home and wound up in some very odd locations.

I am absolutely certain that Magical Transportation was informed of the business surrounding Ireland this week, because I informed them myself. If Moira O'Connor couldn't be bothered to make the necessary adjustments -- well. I suppose there's been one dead O'Connor in the last week. I'll take care of the second one myself.

Comments

[alt_lucius]

Just how odd?

This O'Connor isn't related closely, is she? Would she have any reason to seek retribution for Kathleen?

[alt_selwyn]

She's about as closely related to Kathleen as I am to Dolores Umbridge, despite sharing a name.

If Barty wants to have someone ask that question, though, I've no intention of leaping to her defense. I told her what had been done and told her to call me immediately if she needed charts, the precise location of the rite, any of it.

[alt_selwyn]

Circe and Morgana, I just got a call about a pair of twin four-year-olds who were holding a portkey when it activated -- HOURS early -- and took them, not home, but off to the home of some elderly witch in Brighton. Who fortunately had the sense to floo them straight back to London and they've been reunited with their parents, but we clearly need to do something IMMEDIATELY.

[alt_lucius]

I was about to ask if you were confident they'll have the matter corrected by the time the majority of guests leave.

Sounds as if your answer would have changed, anyway.

How many incidents have been reported so far?

[alt_selwyn]

Fifteen Sixteen.

I got a firecall from a staffer in Magical Transportation. They're trying to fix it. Not sure if they'll manage it soon enough.

There's a way to deactivate the lot, apparently. That will inconvenience nearly everyone, but at least I'll be able to stop worrying about any four-year-olds getting dropped into deep water, instead of on the doorstep of a sensible old lady.

[alt_selwyn]

What the hell do we even say?

Any other week I'd simply say that Black's allies sabotaged the network, but we don't want to suggest we'd allow that sort of threat to touch those at Our Lord's celebration.

I really am going to have O'Connor's head on a platter after this. Though beheading is supposed to be a rather quick death (Nearly-Headless Nick excepted) and I think I'd like her to suffer.

[alt_lucius]

Calm, Dominic.

Set up a station near the cloak room and tell the guests that for everyone's safety, portkeys are to be checked for tampering.

We can issue new ones as people leave. Call in the Transportation staff. Or make it part of O'Connor's final act of contrition.