diff --git a/docs/DEPLOYMENT.md b/docs/DEPLOYMENT.md
index ad0765f..c662bdc 100644
--- a/docs/DEPLOYMENT.md
+++ b/docs/DEPLOYMENT.md
@@ -238,6 +238,38 @@ for the delivery worker. A `4.7.5` deferral means the destination published a
 TLS policy that could not be satisfied — that is deliberate; the message is
 retried rather than sent in the clear.
 
+**"Delivery Delay Notification" with `dial tcp …:25: i/o timeout`.** This is
+step 1 of the prerequisites, and it is the single most common reason a new
+deployment cannot send anywhere:
+
+```
+Reason: dial tcp alt4.gmail-smtp-in.l.google.com:25: dial tcp 192.178.213.26:25: i/o timeout
+```
+
+A *timeout* rather than a refusal is the signature of a provider block —
+nothing is answering because the packets never leave. Receiving still works,
+and the queued messages keep retrying, so nothing is lost while you sort it
+out. Two ways forward:
+
+1. Ask the provider to unblock outbound port 25 for the host.
+2. Send through a relay, which needs no cooperation from them:
+
+   ```bash
+   RELAY_HOST=smtp.your-provider.example
+   RELAY_PORT=587
+   RELAY_USER=...
+   RELAY_PASS=...
+   ```
+
+   Delivery then goes to the relay for every destination, and the relay is
+   added to the published SPF record automatically — without that the relay's
+   IP is not authorised for your domain and everything it forwards fails SPF.
+   Credentials are only ever sent over STARTTLS; if the relay does not offer
+   it, the message is deferred rather than the password sent in the clear.
+
+Watch the backlog drain on the admin console's outbound queue screen, or with
+`make preflight` for the port check itself.
+
 **`/health` returns `X-LambdaMail-Health: degraded`.** The stack is running but
 a certificate needs attention: usually no certificate exists for
 `PRIMARY_MAIL_HOST` because no router was declared for it, or one is expiring
diff --git a/services/protocols/cmd/lambdamail-protocols/main.go b/services/protocols/cmd/lambdamail-protocols/main.go
index 45e617a..75fbe2d 100644
--- a/services/protocols/cmd/lambdamail-protocols/main.go
+++ b/services/protocols/cmd/lambdamail-protocols/main.go
@@ -165,9 +165,12 @@ func run(cfg config) {
 	// The webmail reads and sends through this service because the folder,
 	// UID, flag and blob logic already lives here; duplicating it in another
 	// service would mean two implementations of the same IMAP semantics.
+	// WithLocalFiling is what puts a copy of every sent message in Sent and
+	// lets drafts be stored at all. Without it the composer's mail left the
+	// building with no trace in the sender's own mailbox.
 	webmailUC := usecase.NewWebmailUseCase(
 		postgres.NewWebmailRepository(pool), blobReader, submissionUC, authRepo, cfg.PrimaryMailHost,
-	)
+	).WithLocalFiling(blobs, messages)
 
 	router := httppresentation.NewRouter(usecase.NewIngestReportsUseCase(reportRepo), func() error { return pool.Ping(ctx) })
 	if cfg.JwtSecret == "" {
diff --git a/services/protocols/internal/application/usecase/inbound_system_message_test.go b/services/protocols/internal/application/usecase/inbound_system_message_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..904eb5f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/services/protocols/internal/application/usecase/inbound_system_message_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,110 @@
+package usecase
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"context"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/google/uuid"
+
+	"lambdamail/protocols/internal/application/port"
+	"lambdamail/protocols/internal/domain/valueobject"
+)
+
+// junkingScanner files everything as spam, standing in for the real scanner
+// scoring a bounce-shaped message with no SPF result.
+type junkingScanner struct{ called bool }
+
+func (s *junkingScanner) Scan(_ context.Context, _ port.ScanInput) (*valueobject.ScanResult, error) {
+	s.called = true
+	return &valueobject.ScanResult{
+		Verdict:      valueobject.ScanVerdictSpamJunk,
+		Score:        12.0,
+		Symbols:      map[string]float64{},
+		HeadersToAdd: map[string]string{},
+	}, nil
+}
+
+// A delivery status notification this server wrote itself must never be
+// spam-filtered.
+//
+// The report goes through the same inbound path as mail from the internet, but
+// it is injected with no client IP, so SPF can only be "none" and the content
+// looks exactly like a bounce. The result was that "your message to X was
+// delayed" arrived in the sender's own Junk folder - the single notification
+// they most need to see, filed where they will not look.
+func TestSystemGeneratedMessageIsNotSpamFiltered(t *testing.T) {
+	blobs := &stubBlobStorage{ref: port.BlobRef{ID: uuid.New(), SHA256: "dsn", SizeBytes: 10}}
+	messages := &recordingMessageRepository{}
+	scanner := &junkingScanner{}
+
+	uc := NewProcessInboundEmailUseCase(nil, blobs, messages)
+	uc.SetScanner(scanner)
+
+	err := uc.Handle(context.Background(), ProcessInboundEmailInput{
+		Sender:             "postmaster@mail.example.test",
+		Recipients:         []port.MailboxRecord{{ID: uuid.New(), MaxMessageBytes: 100000}},
+		RecipientAddresses: []string{"user@example.test"},
+		Body:               bytes.NewReader([]byte("Subject: Delivery Delay Notification\r\n\r\ndelayed\r\n")),
+		SystemGenerated:    true,
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Handle: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	if scanner.called {
+		t.Error("the scanner ran on a message this server generated itself")
+	}
+	if len(messages.persisted) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("want 1 persisted message, got %d", len(messages.persisted))
+	}
+	if folder := messages.persisted[0].TargetFolderName; folder == "Junk" {
+		t.Errorf("a postmaster notification was filed as Junk")
+	}
+}
+
+// The exemption must be narrow: anything actually received from a peer is
+// still scanned, or marking a message "system generated" would be a way past
+// the spam filter.
+func TestOrdinaryMessageIsStillScanned(t *testing.T) {
+	blobs := &stubBlobStorage{ref: port.BlobRef{ID: uuid.New(), SHA256: "x", SizeBytes: 10}}
+	messages := &recordingMessageRepository{}
+	scanner := &junkingScanner{}
+
+	uc := NewProcessInboundEmailUseCase(nil, blobs, messages)
+	uc.SetScanner(scanner)
+
+	err := uc.Handle(context.Background(), ProcessInboundEmailInput{
+		Sender:             "stranger@spam.test",
+		Recipients:         []port.MailboxRecord{{ID: uuid.New(), MaxMessageBytes: 100000}},
+		RecipientAddresses: []string{"user@example.test"},
+		Body:               bytes.NewReader([]byte("Subject: buy pills\r\n\r\nspam\r\n")),
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Handle: %v", err)
+	}
+	if !scanner.called {
+		t.Fatal("an ordinary inbound message skipped the scanner")
+	}
+	if messages.persisted[0].TargetFolderName != "Junk" {
+		t.Errorf("a message the scanner called spam was not filed as Junk, got %q",
+			messages.persisted[0].TargetFolderName)
+	}
+}
+
+// A DSN announces itself as automatic so the far side's vacation responder
+// does not answer it. RFC 3834 section 5 distinguishes the two values, and
+// filters read the header.
+func TestDsnDeclaresItselfAutoGenerated(t *testing.T) {
+	payload, loop := valueobject.BuildDsnReport(
+		valueobject.DsnActionDelayed, "mail.example.test",
+		"sender@example.test", "far@remote.test", "abc", "timeout",
+	)
+	if loop {
+		t.Fatal("unexpected loop prevention")
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(string(payload), "Auto-Submitted: auto-generated") {
+		t.Errorf("a delivery report is auto-generated, not auto-replied:\n%s", payload)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/services/protocols/internal/application/usecase/outbound_worker.go b/services/protocols/internal/application/usecase/outbound_worker.go
index a33ab31..235fb11 100644
--- a/services/protocols/internal/application/usecase/outbound_worker.go
+++ b/services/protocols/internal/application/usecase/outbound_worker.go
@@ -256,6 +256,9 @@ func (w *OutboundWorkerUseCase) sendDsn(ctx context.Context, action valueobject.
 		Recipients:         targets,
 		RecipientAddresses: addresses,
 		Body:               bytes.NewReader(dsnBytes),
+		// This server wrote this message a moment ago; scanning our own
+		// postmaster notification only ever files it as Junk.
+		SystemGenerated: true,
 	})
 }
 
diff --git a/services/protocols/internal/application/usecase/process_inbound_email.go b/services/protocols/internal/application/usecase/process_inbound_email.go
index 63085fc..a789b47 100644
--- a/services/protocols/internal/application/usecase/process_inbound_email.go
+++ b/services/protocols/internal/application/usecase/process_inbound_email.go
@@ -40,6 +40,16 @@ type ProcessInboundEmailInput struct {
 	// produce a "none" verdict.
 	ClientIP   net.IP
 	HeloDomain string
+	// SystemGenerated marks a message this server produced itself - a delivery
+	// status notification, for instance - rather than one accepted from a peer.
+	//
+	// Such a message must not be spam-scanned. It is injected without a client
+	// IP, so SPF can only come back "none", and its bounce-shaped content then
+	// scores highly: the effect was that a "your mail to X was delayed" warning
+	// landed in the sender's own Junk folder, which is precisely where the one
+	// notification they need to read must never go. It also has no envelope
+	// sender to greylist and nothing to quarantine.
+	SystemGenerated bool
 }
 
 // ProcessInboundEmailUseCase implements the inbound half of PLAN.md section
@@ -196,7 +206,7 @@ func (uc *ProcessInboundEmailUseCase) Handle(ctx context.Context, input ProcessI
 		}
 	}
 
-	if uc.scanner != nil {
+	if uc.scanner != nil && !input.SystemGenerated {
 		recipientAddr := ""
 		if len(input.RecipientAddresses) > 0 {
 			recipientAddr = input.RecipientAddresses[0]
diff --git a/services/protocols/internal/application/usecase/webmail_compose_test.go b/services/protocols/internal/application/usecase/webmail_compose_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0ae2a1f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/services/protocols/internal/application/usecase/webmail_compose_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,114 @@
+package usecase
+
+import (
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+// Every one of these reproduces a way the composer's mail was being mangled or
+// lost between the browser and the queue.
+
+func TestComposedMessageCarriesTheBody(t *testing.T) {
+	// The HTTP layer read a field called "body" while the composer had always
+	// sent "html", so the message that reached this function had an empty body
+	// and every mail sent from the webmail arrived blank.
+	payload := string(buildMimeMessage(ComposeInput{
+		From:    "me@example.test",
+		To:      []string{"you@example.test"},
+		Subject: "Hello",
+		HTML:    "<p>Real content</p>",
+	}, []string{"you@example.test"}, "mail.example.test"))
+
+	if !strings.Contains(payload, "Real content") {
+		t.Fatalf("the body is missing from the message:\n%s", payload)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestHtmlIsSentAsHtml(t *testing.T) {
+	payload := string(buildMimeMessage(ComposeInput{
+		From:    "me@example.test",
+		To:      []string{"you@example.test"},
+		Subject: "Formatted",
+		HTML:    "<p>Hello <b>there</b></p>",
+	}, []string{"you@example.test"}, "mail.example.test"))
+
+	if !strings.Contains(payload, "multipart/alternative") {
+		t.Errorf("want multipart/alternative for an HTML message, got:\n%s", payload)
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(payload, "Content-Type: text/html; charset=utf-8") {
+		t.Errorf("the HTML part is not declared as text/html:\n%s", payload)
+	}
+	// A plain-text alternative must exist and must not be empty: an
+	// HTML-only multipart message scores badly with every spam filter.
+	if !strings.Contains(payload, "Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8") {
+		t.Errorf("no plain-text alternative:\n%s", payload)
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(payload, "Hello there") {
+		t.Errorf("the plain-text alternative did not get a readable fallback:\n%s", payload)
+	}
+	// text/plain must come first - least preferred first, RFC 2046 5.1.4.
+	if strings.Index(payload, "text/plain") > strings.Index(payload, "text/html") {
+		t.Error("text/plain must precede text/html in multipart/alternative")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPlainTextOnlyMessageStaysSimple(t *testing.T) {
+	payload := string(buildMimeMessage(ComposeInput{
+		From:    "me@example.test",
+		To:      []string{"you@example.test"},
+		Subject: "Plain",
+		Text:    "just words",
+	}, []string{"you@example.test"}, "mail.example.test"))
+
+	if strings.Contains(payload, "multipart") {
+		t.Errorf("a text-only message should not be multipart:\n%s", payload)
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(payload, "just words") {
+		t.Errorf("body missing:\n%s", payload)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestBccNeverAppearsInTheHeaders(t *testing.T) {
+	// Bcc belongs to the envelope alone. Leaking it into the headers would
+	// show every recipient who else was blind-copied.
+	input := ComposeInput{
+		From:    "me@example.test",
+		To:      []string{"you@example.test"},
+		Bcc:     []string{"secret@example.test"},
+		Subject: "Quiet",
+		Text:    "hi",
+	}
+	recipients := normaliseRecipients(
+		append(append(append([]string{}, input.To...), input.Cc...), input.Bcc...))
+
+	// It does reach the envelope, or the blind copy is simply not delivered -
+	// which is what happened while Bcc was not read from the request at all.
+	found := false
+	for _, r := range recipients {
+		if r == "secret@example.test" {
+			found = true
+		}
+	}
+	if !found {
+		t.Fatalf("bcc recipient missing from the envelope: %v", recipients)
+	}
+
+	payload := string(buildMimeMessage(input, recipients, "mail.example.test"))
+	headers, _, _ := strings.Cut(payload, "\r\n\r\n")
+	if strings.Contains(strings.ToLower(headers), "bcc") ||
+		strings.Contains(headers, "secret@example.test") {
+		t.Errorf("bcc leaked into the headers:\n%s", headers)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestHtmlToPlainTextIsReadable(t *testing.T) {
+	got := htmlToPlainText("<p>First line</p><p>Second &amp; last</p><br><ul><li>one</li><li>two</li></ul>")
+	for _, want := range []string{"First line", "Second & last", "- one", "- two"} {
+		if !strings.Contains(got, want) {
+			t.Errorf("plain-text fallback missing %q, got:\n%s", want, got)
+		}
+	}
+	if strings.Contains(got, "<") || strings.Contains(got, "&amp;") {
+		t.Errorf("markup survived into the plain-text part:\n%s", got)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/services/protocols/internal/application/usecase/webmail_mail.go b/services/protocols/internal/application/usecase/webmail_mail.go
index 98dab87..718fc88 100644
--- a/services/protocols/internal/application/usecase/webmail_mail.go
+++ b/services/protocols/internal/application/usecase/webmail_mail.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	"log"
 	"mime"
 	"net/mail"
 	"strings"
@@ -31,6 +32,12 @@ type WebmailUseCase struct {
 	submission *ProcessOutboundEmailUseCase
 	auth       port.AuthRepository
 	localHost  string
+	// blobStore and messages file the sender's own copy into Sent, and hold
+	// drafts. Both are optional: when either is nil the copy is skipped rather
+	// than the send failing, because a message that has already been queued
+	// for delivery must not be reported as an error.
+	blobStore port.BlobStorage
+	messages  port.InboundMessageRepository
 }
 
 func NewWebmailUseCase(
@@ -46,6 +53,13 @@ func NewWebmailUseCase(
 	return &WebmailUseCase{repo: repo, blobs: blobs, submission: submission, auth: auth, localHost: localHost}
 }
 
+// WithLocalFiling enables the Sent copy and draft storage.
+func (uc *WebmailUseCase) WithLocalFiling(store port.BlobStorage, messages port.InboundMessageRepository) *WebmailUseCase {
+	uc.blobStore = store
+	uc.messages = messages
+	return uc
+}
+
 // MailboxIDFor resolves a session's address to its mailbox, which the event
 // stream needs so it can filter pushes per account.
 func (uc *WebmailUseCase) MailboxIDFor(ctx context.Context, address string) (string, error) {
@@ -114,8 +128,16 @@ type ComposeInput struct {
 	From    string
 	To      []string
 	Cc      []string
+	// Bcc reaches the envelope but never the headers - that is the whole
+	// point of it. It used not to exist here at all, so a blind copy typed
+	// into the webmail was silently dropped and nobody received it.
+	Bcc     []string
 	Subject string
-	Body    string
+	// Text is the plain-text body. HTML, when present, is what the composer
+	// produced; both are sent together as multipart/alternative so a reader
+	// that cannot or will not render HTML still has something to show.
+	Text string
+	HTML string
 }
 
 // ErrNoRecipients rejects a submission with nobody to deliver to, before it
@@ -126,7 +148,10 @@ var ErrNoRecipients = errors.New("webmail: at least one recipient is required")
 // case the SMTP ports use, so webmail mail gets the identical treatment:
 // send limits, DKIM signing and the durable queue.
 func (uc *WebmailUseCase) Send(ctx context.Context, input ComposeInput) error {
-	recipients := normaliseRecipients(append(append([]string{}, input.To...), input.Cc...))
+	// Bcc joins the envelope here and is left out of buildMimeMessage, which
+	// is what makes it blind.
+	recipients := normaliseRecipients(
+		append(append(append([]string{}, input.To...), input.Cc...), input.Bcc...))
 	if len(recipients) == 0 {
 		return ErrNoRecipients
 	}
@@ -141,16 +166,111 @@ func (uc *WebmailUseCase) Send(ctx context.Context, input ComposeInput) error {
 
 	payload := buildMimeMessage(input, recipients, uc.localHost)
 
-	return uc.submission.Submit(ctx, ProcessOutboundEmailInput{
+	if err := uc.submission.Submit(ctx, ProcessOutboundEmailInput{
 		MailboxID:            account.ID,
 		SenderAddr:           account.EmailAddress,
 		DomainName:           account.DomainName,
 		Recipients:           recipients,
 		Body:                 bytes.NewReader(payload),
 		MaxRecipientsPerHour: account.MaxRecipientsPerHour,
-	})
+	}); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	// Only after the message is durably queued. Filing it first would leave a
+	// copy in Sent for a message that was then rejected by the send limit.
+	//
+	// A failure here is logged and swallowed: the mail is already on its way,
+	// and telling the composer the send failed would invite a duplicate.
+	if err := uc.fileLocalCopy(ctx, account.ID, account.EmailAddress, "Sent", payload); err != nil {
+		log.Printf("webmail: could not file the Sent copy for %s: %v", account.EmailAddress, err)
+	}
+	return nil
 }
 
+// fileLocalCopy stores a message the user themselves composed into one of
+// their own folders. It reuses the inbound persistence path so the copy gets a
+// real IMAP UID and shows up over IMAP as well as in the webmail.
+func (uc *WebmailUseCase) fileLocalCopy(
+	ctx context.Context, mailboxID uuid.UUID, address, folder string, payload []byte,
+) error {
+	if uc.blobStore == nil || uc.messages == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	blob, err := uc.blobStore.Store(ctx, bytes.NewReader(payload))
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	headers := ExtractMessageHeaders(payload)
+	_, err = uc.messages.PersistAll(ctx, []port.PersistInboundMessageInput{{
+		MailboxID:        mailboxID,
+		Blob:             blob,
+		SenderAddress:    address,
+		RecipientAddress: address,
+		TargetFolderName: folder,
+		Subject:          headers.Subject,
+		Snippet:          headers.Snippet,
+		FromDisplayName:  headers.FromDisplayName,
+		MessageIDHeader:  headers.MessageID,
+		HasAttachments:   headers.HasAttachments,
+	}})
+	return err
+}
+
+// SaveDraft files the message being composed into the Drafts folder.
+//
+// Nothing did this before: the composer displayed "draft saved automatically"
+// from a setTimeout, with no request behind it, and closing the tab lost the
+// message. Drafts are whole RFC 5322 messages like any other, so they are
+// readable over IMAP too.
+func (uc *WebmailUseCase) SaveDraft(ctx context.Context, input ComposeInput) (uint32, error) {
+	account, err := uc.auth.FindByAddress(ctx, input.From)
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0, err
+	}
+	if account == nil {
+		return 0, ErrNoSuchMailbox
+	}
+	if uc.blobStore == nil || uc.messages == nil {
+		return 0, ErrDraftsUnavailable
+	}
+
+	// A draft has no envelope, so recipients may legitimately be empty here -
+	// unlike Send, this must not reject a half-written message.
+	recipients := normaliseRecipients(
+		append(append(append([]string{}, input.To...), input.Cc...), input.Bcc...))
+	payload := buildMimeMessage(input, recipients, uc.localHost)
+
+	blob, err := uc.blobStore.Store(ctx, bytes.NewReader(payload))
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0, err
+	}
+	headers := ExtractMessageHeaders(payload)
+	uids, err := uc.messages.PersistAll(ctx, []port.PersistInboundMessageInput{{
+		MailboxID:        account.ID,
+		Blob:             blob,
+		SenderAddress:    account.EmailAddress,
+		RecipientAddress: account.EmailAddress,
+		TargetFolderName: "Drafts",
+		Subject:          headers.Subject,
+		Snippet:          headers.Snippet,
+		FromDisplayName:  headers.FromDisplayName,
+		MessageIDHeader:  headers.MessageID,
+		HasAttachments:   headers.HasAttachments,
+	}})
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0, err
+	}
+	if len(uids) == 0 {
+		return 0, nil
+	}
+	return uint32(uids[0]), nil
+}
+
+// ErrDraftsUnavailable reports that this deployment cannot store drafts,
+// rather than accepting one and dropping it.
+var ErrDraftsUnavailable = errors.New("webmail: draft storage is not configured")
+
 func normaliseRecipients(raw []string) []string {
 	seen := map[string]bool{}
 	out := []string{}
@@ -172,13 +292,25 @@ func normaliseRecipients(raw []string) []string {
 // buildMimeMessage assembles the headers a receiver expects. Date and
 // Message-ID are set here because a message without them is scored as spam by
 // most receivers (PLAN.md section 5).
+//
+// Bcc recipients are deliberately absent from the headers: they are carried in
+// the envelope only, which is what "blind" means.
+//
+// A message with HTML goes out as multipart/alternative with a plain-text part
+// first, in ascending order of preference per RFC 2046 section 5.1.4. Sending
+// the composer's HTML under a text/plain header - which is what this did while
+// the body was being dropped anyway - shows the recipient raw markup.
 func buildMimeMessage(input ComposeInput, recipients []string, localHost string) []byte {
 	var b strings.Builder
 	b.WriteString("From: " + input.From + "\r\n")
 	if len(input.To) > 0 {
 		b.WriteString("To: " + strings.Join(input.To, ", ") + "\r\n")
 	} else {
-		b.WriteString("To: " + strings.Join(recipients, ", ") + "\r\n")
+		to := normaliseRecipients(input.To)
+		if len(to) == 0 {
+			to = recipients
+		}
+		b.WriteString("To: " + strings.Join(to, ", ") + "\r\n")
 	}
 	if len(input.Cc) > 0 {
 		b.WriteString("Cc: " + strings.Join(input.Cc, ", ") + "\r\n")
@@ -187,16 +319,84 @@ func buildMimeMessage(input ComposeInput, recipients []string, localHost string)
 	b.WriteString("Date: " + time.Now().Format(time.RFC1123Z) + "\r\n")
 	b.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf("Message-ID: <%s@%s>\r\n", uuid.NewString(), localHost))
 	b.WriteString("MIME-Version: 1.0\r\n")
-	b.WriteString("Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8\r\n")
-	b.WriteString("Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit\r\n")
-	b.WriteString("\r\n")
-	b.WriteString(strings.ReplaceAll(input.Body, "\n", "\r\n"))
-	if !strings.HasSuffix(input.Body, "\n") {
-		b.WriteString("\r\n")
+
+	text := input.Text
+	if text == "" && input.HTML != "" {
+		text = htmlToPlainText(input.HTML)
 	}
+
+	if input.HTML == "" {
+		b.WriteString("Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8\r\n")
+		b.WriteString("Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit\r\n\r\n")
+		b.WriteString(normaliseEOL(text))
+		return []byte(b.String())
+	}
+
+	boundary := "=_alt_" + uuid.NewString()
+	b.WriteString("Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary=\"" + boundary + "\"\r\n\r\n")
+
+	b.WriteString("--" + boundary + "\r\n")
+	b.WriteString("Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8\r\n")
+	b.WriteString("Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit\r\n\r\n")
+	b.WriteString(normaliseEOL(text))
+
+	b.WriteString("--" + boundary + "\r\n")
+	b.WriteString("Content-Type: text/html; charset=utf-8\r\n")
+	b.WriteString("Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit\r\n\r\n")
+	b.WriteString(normaliseEOL(input.HTML))
+
+	b.WriteString("--" + boundary + "--\r\n")
 	return []byte(b.String())
 }
 
+// normaliseEOL converts to CRLF and guarantees the trailing break a MIME part
+// boundary must be preceded by.
+func normaliseEOL(s string) string {
+	s = strings.ReplaceAll(strings.ReplaceAll(s, "\r\n", "\n"), "\n", "\r\n")
+	if !strings.HasSuffix(s, "\r\n") {
+		s += "\r\n"
+	}
+	return s
+}
+
+// htmlToPlainText derives a readable fallback from composed HTML.
+//
+// Deliberately crude - block elements become line breaks, tags are dropped,
+// the handful of entities a contenteditable actually emits are decoded. It
+// exists so the text/plain part is not empty, which is what makes a
+// multipart/alternative message look like spam to a filter.
+func htmlToPlainText(html string) string {
+	replacer := strings.NewReplacer(
+		"<br>", "\n", "<br/>", "\n", "<br />", "\n",
+		"</p>", "\n\n", "</div>", "\n", "</li>", "\n", "</tr>", "\n",
+		"<li>", "- ",
+	)
+	s := replacer.Replace(html)
+
+	var out strings.Builder
+	depth := 0
+	for _, r := range s {
+		switch {
+		case r == '<':
+			depth++
+		case r == '>' && depth > 0:
+			depth--
+		case depth == 0:
+			out.WriteRune(r)
+		}
+	}
+
+	text := strings.NewReplacer(
+		"&nbsp;", " ", "&amp;", "&", "&lt;", "<", "&gt;", ">", "&quot;", "\"", "&#39;", "'",
+	).Replace(out.String())
+
+	// Collapse the runs of blank lines the block replacements leave behind.
+	for strings.Contains(text, "\n\n\n") {
+		text = strings.ReplaceAll(text, "\n\n\n", "\n\n")
+	}
+	return strings.TrimSpace(text)
+}
+
 // encodeHeaderValue RFC 2047-encodes a subject that is not plain ASCII, so an
 // accented subject does not arrive as mojibake.
 func encodeHeaderValue(value string) string {
diff --git a/services/protocols/internal/domain/valueobject/dsn_bounce.go b/services/protocols/internal/domain/valueobject/dsn_bounce.go
index 71490c2..a5ed47d 100644
--- a/services/protocols/internal/domain/valueobject/dsn_bounce.go
+++ b/services/protocols/internal/domain/valueobject/dsn_bounce.go
@@ -58,7 +58,12 @@ func BuildDsnReport(action DsnAction, reportingMTA string, envelopeFrom string,
 	// RFC 3834 section 5: an automatic notification has to say so, or a
 	// vacation responder on the other side answers it and the two bounce back
 	// and forth forever.
-	sb.WriteString("Auto-Submitted: auto-replied\r\n")
+	//
+	// "auto-generated", not "auto-replied": the latter is for a message sent in
+	// response to a specific message (a vacation notice), while a DSN reports
+	// on a delivery attempt. Spam filters read this header, and the wrong value
+	// on a bounce-shaped message counts against it.
+	sb.WriteString("Auto-Submitted: auto-generated\r\n")
 	sb.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf("Content-Type: multipart/report; report-type=delivery-status; boundary=\"%s\"\r\n\r\n", boundary))
 
 	// Part 1: Human-readable narrative
diff --git a/services/protocols/internal/domain/valueobject/dsn_bounce_test.go b/services/protocols/internal/domain/valueobject/dsn_bounce_test.go
index 1b501f5..1f60d3d 100644
--- a/services/protocols/internal/domain/valueobject/dsn_bounce_test.go
+++ b/services/protocols/internal/domain/valueobject/dsn_bounce_test.go
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ func TestBuildDsnReport_UsesTheConfiguredMailHost(t *testing.T) {
 func TestBuildDsnReport_MarksItselfAutomatic(t *testing.T) {
 	payload, _ := BuildDsnReport(DsnActionDelayed, "mail.example.test", "sender@example.test", "recipient@remote.test", "job-1", "451 deferred")
 
-	if !strings.Contains(string(payload), "Auto-Submitted: auto-replied") {
+	if !strings.Contains(string(payload), "Auto-Submitted: auto-generated") {
 		t.Errorf("the report is not marked as automatic: %s", payload)
 	}
 }
diff --git a/services/protocols/internal/presentation/http/mail_api.go b/services/protocols/internal/presentation/http/mail_api.go
index 3b1ff71..29bc391 100644
--- a/services/protocols/internal/presentation/http/mail_api.go
+++ b/services/protocols/internal/presentation/http/mail_api.go
@@ -246,32 +246,80 @@ func (m *mailAPI) handleSend(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		return
 	}
 
+	input, ok := m.decodeCompose(w, r, session.Email)
+	if !ok {
+		return
+	}
+
+	if err := m.useCase.Send(r.Context(), input); err != nil {
+		m.fail(w, err)
+		return
+	}
+	writeJSON(w, http.StatusAccepted, map[string]bool{"queued": true})
+}
+
+// handleSaveDraft stores the message being composed in the Drafts folder.
+func (m *mailAPI) handleSaveDraft(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	session, ok := m.authenticate(w, r)
+	if !ok {
+		return
+	}
+	input, ok := m.decodeCompose(w, r, session.Email)
+	if !ok {
+		return
+	}
+
+	uid, err := m.useCase.SaveDraft(r.Context(), input)
+	if err != nil {
+		m.fail(w, err)
+		return
+	}
+	writeJSON(w, http.StatusOK, map[string]any{"saved": true, "uid": uid})
+}
+
+// decodeCompose reads a composed message off the wire.
+//
+// "html" and "text" are both accepted, and both are new: the field was called
+// "body" while the composer had always sent "html", so every message sent from
+// the webmail was delivered with an empty body. "bcc" was likewise never read,
+// so blind recipients were silently dropped.
+func (m *mailAPI) decodeCompose(
+	w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, sender string,
+) (usecase.ComposeInput, bool) {
 	var body struct {
 		To      []string `json:"to"`
 		Cc      []string `json:"cc"`
+		Bcc     []string `json:"bcc"`
 		Subject string   `json:"subject"`
-		Body    string   `json:"body"`
+		Text    string   `json:"text"`
+		HTML    string   `json:"html"`
+		// Accepted so an older client - or a script written against the
+		// previous shape - still sends a readable message rather than a blank
+		// one. Only used when neither text nor html is present.
+		LegacyBody string `json:"body"`
 	}
 	if err := json.NewDecoder(http.MaxBytesReader(w, r.Body, maxComposeBytes)).Decode(&body); err != nil {
 		writeError(w, http.StatusBadRequest, "BAD_REQUEST", "Invalid JSON")
-		return
+		return usecase.ComposeInput{}, false
+	}
+
+	text := body.Text
+	if text == "" && body.HTML == "" {
+		text = body.LegacyBody
 	}
 
 	// The sender is the session's address, never a field in the request:
 	// letting the body choose From is how a webmail becomes an open relay for
 	// spoofed mail.
-	err := m.useCase.Send(r.Context(), usecase.ComposeInput{
-		From:    session.Email,
+	return usecase.ComposeInput{
+		From:    sender,
 		To:      body.To,
 		Cc:      body.Cc,
+		Bcc:     body.Bcc,
 		Subject: body.Subject,
-		Body:    body.Body,
-	})
-	if err != nil {
-		m.fail(w, err)
-		return
-	}
-	writeJSON(w, http.StatusAccepted, map[string]bool{"queued": true})
+		Text:    text,
+		HTML:    body.HTML,
+	}, true
 }
 
 // fail maps domain errors onto status codes without leaking internals.
@@ -285,6 +333,8 @@ func (m *mailAPI) fail(w http.ResponseWriter, err error) {
 		writeError(w, http.StatusTooManyRequests, "SEND_LIMIT_EXCEEDED", "Hourly recipient limit reached")
 	case errors.Is(err, usecase.ErrSenderNotOwned):
 		writeError(w, http.StatusForbidden, "FORBIDDEN", "Sender address does not belong to this account")
+	case errors.Is(err, usecase.ErrDraftsUnavailable):
+		writeError(w, http.StatusServiceUnavailable, "DRAFTS_UNAVAILABLE", "Draft storage is not configured")
 	default:
 		writeError(w, http.StatusInternalServerError, "INTERNAL_ERROR", "Request could not be processed")
 	}
diff --git a/services/protocols/internal/presentation/http/router.go b/services/protocols/internal/presentation/http/router.go
index ca088b7..083c380 100644
--- a/services/protocols/internal/presentation/http/router.go
+++ b/services/protocols/internal/presentation/http/router.go
@@ -84,6 +84,7 @@ func (r *Router) registerRoutes() {
 	r.mux.HandleFunc("/api/v1/mail/message/", r.handleMailMessage)
 	r.mux.HandleFunc("/api/v1/mail/seen", r.handleMailSeen)
 	r.mux.HandleFunc("/api/v1/mail/send", r.handleMailSend)
+	r.mux.HandleFunc("/api/v1/mail/draft", r.handleMailDraft)
 	r.mux.HandleFunc("/api/v1/reports/dmarc", r.handleDmarcIngest)
 	r.mux.HandleFunc("/api/v1/reports/tlsrpt", r.handleTlsRptIngest)
 }
@@ -297,3 +298,13 @@ func (r *Router) handleMailSend(w http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {
 		r.mail.handleSend(w, req)
 	}
 }
+
+func (r *Router) handleMailDraft(w http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {
+	if req.Method != http.MethodPost {
+		writeError(w, http.StatusMethodNotAllowed, "METHOD_NOT_ALLOWED", "POST required")
+		return
+	}
+	if r.mailReady(w) {
+		r.mail.handleSaveDraft(w, req)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/services/webmail/messages/en.json b/services/webmail/messages/en.json
index ba2f2c6..ffa0fb7 100644
--- a/services/webmail/messages/en.json
+++ b/services/webmail/messages/en.json
@@ -138,7 +138,9 @@
     "bulletList": "Bulleted list",
     "compose": "Compose",
     "discard": "Discard",
+    "draftSaveFailed": "Draft could not be saved",
     "draftSaved": "Draft saved automatically",
+    "draftSaving": "Saving draft...",
     "drafts": "Drafts",
     "forward": "Forward",
     "hideCcBcc": "- Hide Cc/Bcc",
diff --git a/services/webmail/messages/es.json b/services/webmail/messages/es.json
index cd581ce..2e0b861 100644
--- a/services/webmail/messages/es.json
+++ b/services/webmail/messages/es.json
@@ -138,7 +138,9 @@
     "bulletList": "Lista con viñetas",
     "compose": "Redactar",
     "discard": "Descartar",
+    "draftSaveFailed": "No se pudo guardar el borrador",
     "draftSaved": "Borrador guardado automáticamente",
+    "draftSaving": "Guardando borrador...",
     "drafts": "Borradores",
     "forward": "Reenviar",
     "hideCcBcc": "- Ocultar Cc/Cco",
diff --git a/services/webmail/messages/pt-BR.json b/services/webmail/messages/pt-BR.json
index c4e22fa..6a96c4c 100644
--- a/services/webmail/messages/pt-BR.json
+++ b/services/webmail/messages/pt-BR.json
@@ -138,7 +138,9 @@
     "bulletList": "Lista com marcadores",
     "compose": "Escrever",
     "discard": "Descartar",
+    "draftSaveFailed": "Não foi possível salvar o rascunho",
     "draftSaved": "Rascunho salvo automaticamente",
+    "draftSaving": "Salvando rascunho...",
     "drafts": "Rascunhos",
     "forward": "Encaminhar",
     "hideCcBcc": "- Ocultar Cc/Cco",
diff --git a/services/webmail/src/app/(user)/user/compose/page.tsx b/services/webmail/src/app/(user)/user/compose/page.tsx
index bc8f787..c00b582 100644
--- a/services/webmail/src/app/(user)/user/compose/page.tsx
+++ b/services/webmail/src/app/(user)/user/compose/page.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 "use client";
 
-import React, { useEffect, useRef, useState, use } from "react";
+import React, { useCallback, useEffect, useRef, useState, use } from "react";
 import Link from "next/link";
 import {
   Send,
@@ -21,6 +21,14 @@ import { useTranslations } from "../../../../i18n/provider";
 import { Card, CardHeader, CardTitle } from "../../../../components/ui/Card";
 import { Button } from "../../../../components/ui/Button";
 
+/** Splits a comma or semicolon separated field, dropping empty entries. */
+function splitAddresses(value: string): string[] {
+  return value
+    .split(/[,;]/)
+    .map((entry) => entry.trim())
+    .filter(Boolean);
+}
+
 interface AttachedFile {
   id: string;
   name: string;
@@ -45,6 +53,7 @@ export default function ComposePage({
   const [sending, setSending] = useState(false);
   const [undoSeconds, setUndoSeconds] = useState<number | null>(null);
   const [draftStatus, setDraftStatus] = useState<string>("");
+  const [sendError, setSendError] = useState<string | null>(null);
 
   const editorRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
 
@@ -55,13 +64,39 @@ export default function ComposePage({
     }
   }, []);
 
+  // Saves the draft for real. This used to be a setTimeout that set the words
+  // "draft saved automatically" and nothing else - no request, no storage - so
+  // closing the tab lost the message while the screen had just said otherwise.
+  const saveDraft = useCallback(async () => {
+    const html = editorRef.current?.innerHTML ?? "";
+    if (!to && !subject && !html.trim()) return;
+    setDraftStatus(t("mail.draftSaving"));
+    try {
+      const res = await fetch("/api/v1/mail/draft", {
+        method: "POST",
+        headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
+        body: JSON.stringify({
+          to: splitAddresses(to),
+          cc: splitAddresses(cc),
+          bcc: splitAddresses(bcc),
+          subject,
+          html,
+        }),
+      });
+      setDraftStatus(res.ok ? t("mail.draftSaved") : t("mail.draftSaveFailed"));
+    } catch {
+      setDraftStatus(t("mail.draftSaveFailed"));
+    }
+  }, [to, cc, bcc, subject, t]);
+
+  // Debounced so a draft is written after a pause in typing rather than on
+  // every keystroke. Skipped once the message is on its way out.
   useEffect(() => {
+    if (sending) return;
     if (!to && !subject) return;
-    const timer = setTimeout(() => {
-      setDraftStatus(t("mail.draftSaved"));
-    }, 2500);
+    const timer = setTimeout(() => void saveDraft(), 2500);
     return () => clearTimeout(timer);
-  }, [to, subject]);
+  }, [to, subject, cc, bcc, sending, saveDraft]);
 
   const executeFormat = (command: string, value: string | undefined = undefined) => {
     document.execCommand(command, false, value);
@@ -104,20 +139,28 @@ export default function ComposePage({
 
   const sendActualMessage = async (htmlBody: string) => {
     try {
-      await fetch("/api/v1/mail/send", {
+      const res = await fetch("/api/v1/mail/send", {
         method: "POST",
         headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
         body: JSON.stringify({
-          to: to.split(",").map((s) => s.trim()),
-          cc: cc ? cc.split(",").map((s) => s.trim()) : [],
-          bcc: bcc ? bcc.split(",").map((s) => s.trim()) : [],
+          to: splitAddresses(to),
+          cc: splitAddresses(cc),
+          bcc: splitAddresses(bcc),
           subject,
           html: htmlBody,
-          attachments: attachments.map((a) => a.name),
         }),
       });
+      if (!res.ok) {
+        // Reporting success on a refused send is how a message silently
+        // disappears: the composer used to navigate away regardless.
+        const data = await res.json().catch(() => ({}));
+        setSendError(data.message ?? t("errors.serverError"));
+        setSending(false);
+        return;
+      }
       window.location.href = "/user/mail/sent";
     } catch {
+      setSendError(t("errors.serverError"));
       setSending(false);
     }
   };
@@ -143,6 +186,12 @@ export default function ComposePage({
           )}
         </div>
 
+        {sendError && (
+          <div className="p-4 rounded-xl bg-rose-500/15 border border-rose-500/30 text-rose-300 text-xs">
+            {sendError}
+          </div>
+        )}
+
         {undoSeconds !== null && (
           <div className="p-4 rounded-xl bg-indigo-600/20 border border-indigo-500/40 flex items-center justify-between text-indigo-300 text-xs">
             <div className="flex items-center gap-2">