The following night, Will received a letter from Lucius and opened the envelope. Lucius's handwriting was elegant and restrained, but the questions and Voldemort's orders conveyed between the lines were unmistakable. Old Malfoy was actually quite competent; otherwise, he would never have retained Voldemort's trust for so long.
"He's asking whether I planned the business with Peter, and offering assistance... They've already gotten wind of what Fudge and his people are doing. The Ministry of Magic must be thoroughly infiltrated. No, that's not quite right. Politics in the wizarding world can hardly function without these pure-bloods."
Having finished the letter, Will considered how deeply these pure-blood families had infiltrated the Ministry of Magic while thinking about his reply.
A few minutes later, Will took out a sheet of parchment, dipped his quill in ink, and began writing in smooth strokes:
"Dear Lucius Malfoy: The matter concerning Peter is indeed part of my plan. The Ministry of Magic's actions are connected to the current situation and are another indispensable part of that plan.
The aim is to remove obstacles, sow confusion, and then do the Ministry a convenient favor. This will facilitate my dealings with the Ministry and serve as a small first step into wizarding politics. There is no need to interfere with the Ministry's actions; simply let events run their course. Remember to lie low and avoid arousing their suspicions. Should I require assistance later, I will write to you. Everything is under control. —W.B."
Having dealt with the Death Eaters' inquiry, Will took out a fresh sheet of parchment, thought for a moment, and began another letter.
This time, his tone and choice of words were entirely different:
"To the Honorable Minister Cornelius Fudge:
In light of the extraordinary efforts the Ministry of Magic has recently made to