The Death Eaters held a routine meeting that day at the Pure-blood Association's Dark Castle.
The hall's original round-table arrangement for the twenty-eight pure-blood families had been replaced with a traditional long table.
The silver chair at its head stood empty.
The first seats on either side were unoccupied as well.
Lucius had recently earned considerable trust from the Dark Lord, so he occupied the second seat on the left.
Present were the heads of pure-blood families such as Goyle, Crabbe, Acrylics, Flint, Selwyn, Travers, and Avery.
There was also the Nott family's new Death Eater, Gloria Nott, who had left school a year early.
Another new Death Eater was the slick, treacherous Borgin and Burkes.
Some Ministry of Magic personnel who had been brought under control or had defected to the Dark Lord's camp attended as well, sitting at the far end of the table.
They included Pierce, deputy head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement; Augustus Rookwood, an Unspeakable from the Department of Mysteries; and Mrs. Edgecombe, a Floo Network employee.
The representatives of the werewolves and vampires, who occupied the bottom rung of the wizarding hierarchy of prejudice, could not sit at the main table, but had seats along either side.
The "new" Death Eaters had already become a sizable force.
Dressed in luxurious ceremonial robes, Lucius lifted his chin slightly and slowly summarized recent affairs in a lilting drawl.
"The Floo Network is vital. Increase our leverage and have Mrs. Edgecombe appointed directly as supervisor.
Fenrir Greyback, continue searching for scattered werewolves and that Lupin. Offering Werewolf Potions as payment for joining us is enticing, but still lacks something. I'll consult our master later about adding some Galleons.
Continue persuading the Greengrass family. Their family's position already aligns with the Death Eaters. I'll follow