[HPforGrownups] Who owns this silly house?

[kaesaauralia at cs.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 49750

Melody said:
<<Would Malfoy have that much heart?  He is not letting Bryce stay there 
because he is a good gardener and fixer.  If he just wanted a guy to keep the 
place acceptable, then he would of fired Bryce and hired some other chap.  So 
then, why keep Bryce?  Not like Voldemort commanded Malfoy to do it.  Why 
would Voldemort want Bryce around that long?  He
killed him pretty fast in the first chapter.  No pity there.>>

Assuming he owns the house, he has a few options as to what to do with Frank. 
 He could fire him, thus saving money, but supposing Frank got angry?  He'd 
have every right to, especially since no new gardener would be hired in his 
place.  Frank also has a key to the house (and sure, Malfoy could *make* him 
give it back, but that would necessitate blatant magic useage and nasty loose 
ends) and could go in and do whatever he likes.  I don't know about you, but 
if I were a minion of Lord Voldemort, I would not want to risk my neck like 
that for the sake of a little money, even if the Muggle in question doesn't 
seem like a hooligan.

Option two is more Death Eater-ly: Avada Kedavra, or something similar.  But 
people would ask questions, even if Frank isn't particularly popular in the 
village.  More loose ends.  (By that scene in GoF, of course, he'd seen way 
too much to do much else about, and Lord Voldemort is not exactly the sanest 
person around, is he?)  Killing Frank is more trouble than it's worth, 
monetarily, at least.

Option three is, of course, keep paying Frank.  He doesn't cause trouble.  He 
doesn't poke around.  He's an old guy who can't even get around very well, 
and a Muggle to boot.  Harmless.  And I doubt Lucius Malfoy is suffering.  :-)

~Kaesa, newbie to the list, who ought to shut up now.


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