Some months ago, Martel hired Master Snape to handle the full warding of his Valdis property; to protect it, and to hide it from prying and unfriendly eyes. To put not too fine a point on it, between the two of them there is enough paranoia and sheer power to arm a small country, and when - after many weeks and much work - the wards are complete, they are no small feat.

They are, as a matter of fact, very, very good. It's sort of the point. There are plenty of reasons for that, and some of them Martel might even be persuaded to share with his friends and acquaintances, such as they are.

What's interesting, however, is the fact that despite this one Brody McAdams and one Lucy McClane found their way into the castle, wholly unimpeded in their quest to affix Lisa Frank stickers to a chosen wall. (Just like they went unbothered in their previous plot to attach a selection of My Little Ponies, before the wards went up:

"Sir-"

"Mm, leave them be. Have Langler go take those down in the morning.")

The people Martel becomes fond of get away with some very strange things.