*Rightly so; Lucius knows exactly what that means, and in an instant he's on his feet and crossing the room, snatching up an ancient, twisted dagger lying on the mantlepiece. It's goblin-made and illegally obtained, to say nothing of cursed. He only keeps it around because he rather likes keeping it around, he's never used it, but that will mean nothing to the Ministry.

Quickly striding about his study, he collects a small armful of artefacts that he'd rather not be seen, and sets about stashing them in a vault hidden behind a portrait. As he does he snarls over his shoulder, furious.*

This never would have happened before Crouch took office.