"No offense taken, sir," Percy answered with equal sincerity. "I simply find it best to keep matters that don't pertain to the Ministry out of this office."
He sat back, rather relieved all in all. Malfoy, for whatever respect he had lost in the last few months, was still a dangerous and powerful man. Percy wasn't fool enough to think otherwise. Even if he had nothing else, he was still rich. And money was power.
But he didn't only have money. Even if his position was as tenuous as auror rumors and reports suggested, it would not due to underestimate him. Percy couldn't help if the man regarded him as an enemy: his last name insured that. But he wasn't foolish enough to paint a target on his own forehead.
"Very well then." He reached out to retrieve the forms, glancing them over as he talked to make sure they were properly executed. "I'm sure it will come as a shock for you to hear that an auror who attempted to open the jewelry box taken from your home had to be subdued to keep from performing the killing curse on herself." Since he knew it wouldn't be a shock at all he didn't bother looking up to catch Malfoy's reaction.
"No doubt an old family hex forgotten about generations ago, but it's my duty to warn you to protect yourself and anyone else who may come into contact with the box."