Who owns this silly house?

[Melody <Malady579@hotmail.com>]

No: HPFGUIDX 49758

Kaesa wrote:

>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.

Ok, let's assume Lucius Malfoy bought the Riddle house.  He has this
old house and an old gardener.  Frankly it is the grace of the past
owners that has kept this old gardener in a job in the first place.
Why should Bryce think he would keep his job now?  New owner, new
servants.  Is it a common practice in England to let old house staff
stay on if the old owners do not take them?  Maybe this is cultural,
but in my American eyes, Bryce has no reason to be upset if the new
owner does not need, desire, or even want his services no matter how
long he has been there.  He is after all, the *servant*.


>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.

Frank Bryce is an old man with a bad leg.  How could a rather younger
Lucius have any problem "wrestling" that key away from Bryce?  He
would not have to result to magic.  And again, if you have been let go
from a job, it is your duty to turn in the keys.  It is only right.
Bryce was not born in that house.  He just worked there.  Maybe I am
being a bit harsh, but life moves on.  Bryce seems to be a reasonable
man.  He knows he is not that great of a gardener.  He has to know
that he is not "up to snuff" with the other nibble younger gardeners.
 He should retire and go fish.


Kaesa wrote:
>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.

Do you really think Lucius, Mr. Head of Muggle Torture, is that
worried about what some silly muggles would think?  Come now - they
did not even figure out magic was involved the last time three people
died by Avada Kedavra.  Why would they now go, 'hey this is odd.  This
old man is dead too.  Maybe there is something odd going on in that
house.'  They already *know* something is odd there.  They think Bryce
is a part of it all, so then, why would Bryce's death, with his body
in that same frozen state as the Riddles, think anything more than
that mansion is cursed?

And to go back a bit, this *is* Lucius we are talking about.  He
tortures muggles for fun.  Think he is that worried about killing one?


Kaesa finally said:
> 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.  :-)

No, Lucius would not suffer.  You are right.  But I know few rich
people that throw money away just because they have a crisis of
conscience.  Generally people keep money by being observant on how
they spend it.  Though, Lucius did spend that much on brooms for
Slytherin.  Hmmm, I guess he thought that a worthy investment.  You
know - get all those Slytherin parents on your good side.  All those
potential student DE's too.  A sly thing to do really.  Also allows
his son in a position of prominence even if Draco can't carry that
weight himself.

So would muggle hater Lucius pay to keep Bryce around?
Yes he can afford it.
Yes, Bryce would probably continue to keep to himself.
Yes, it is harmless really.

But that is not the way Malfoy's mind works.
It is a waste of money.
Keeps a muggle happy.  (heaven forbid.)
*Is* a threat.

After all.  Bryce did poke his nose into Voldie's affairs.  Had Voldie
not killed him, Bryce would have run for the police.  Whether or not
*they* believed him, the press would get a hold of the story.  Then,
Dumbledore would read between the lines and *know* Voldie is in fact
there.  The death alone cause Dumbledore's attention.  Seems he knew
enough to know Bryce was a weak link.

So it seems to me, if Lucius did in fact buy the house, he should have
dismissed Bryce quietly.  That would have been the wise move, though
Lucius *is* far from wise.


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

Welcome Kaesa.  And don't be afraid to speak you HP mind here.  We all
quite like the sound of our own voice.  <grin>


Melody
who, while watching the American Music Awards on tonight, is wondering
why Christina Aguillera insists on doing that to her hair.  Honey, I
know you can afford shampoo *and* conditioner.