Make A Wish By: Rorschach's Blot 19 *Chapter 19*: Back On The Home Fron

"Mrs. Longbottom?" A man in oddly formal robes asked. "My name is Hans Schisler, I'm the Legal Officer to the Austrian Emba.s.sy and I have a gift for you and your grandson."

"I suppose that you can prove that you are who you say you are and that this isn't a trick to kill my grandson?" The old woman palmed her wand, "it was a very near thing in the last war and I'm not going to allow another chance at him."

"I understand Madame," the man handed over some official paperwork. "I'm also willing to hand over my wand for the duration of our meeting should that be a requirement to have a meeting."

"That won't be necessary," the old woman stepped back and opened the door to allow entrance, "please come in."

"Thank you ma'am." the man nodded, holding out a large brown envelope. "On behalf of the Nation of Austria and its Magical Citizens, I am pleased to present this to you on behalf of your grandson."

"What are these?" Neville's gran asked with a frown as she examined the contents of the envelope. "They look like photos of a bunch of Aurors mopping up a puddle of red paint."

"Forensics have determined that the 'red paint' in those photos are all that remains of the Lestranges." The wizard grinned, "I wish that my department could take the credit but I'm afraid that all we did was the cleanup."

"You're certain that they're dead?" The woman's hands began to shake, "please tell me that you are absolutely certain."

"One hundred percent sure," Hans nodded. "They are dead, the monsters that did such terrible things to your family have been eliminated."

"Thank you," the old woman refused to take her eyes off the gruesome photos. "Who did this?"

"They were the fourth team of death eaters sent to kill a man named Black during his visit to Austria," Hans fought to keep his expression neutral. "One of them he captured and turned over to Magical Law Enforcement and the two others he eliminated in less . . . creative ways, for some reason he seems to have been annoyed at the Lestranges."

"Black?" The old woman paused, "that was Bellatrix's maiden name. Why would a Black want to do . . . something like this to one of their own?"

"This Black may not be related," Hans shrugged. "Reports say that he's killed a number of Death Eaters around Europe, he also virtually eliminated Germany's blood purists."

"I see," the old woman nodded. "I suppose that it could also be a man who likes to follow old customs."

"What customs would those be?"

"Bellatrix was like a mad dog," the old woman's face twisted into a smile. "And it's said that it's a man's responsibility to shoot his own dog, one does not abandon that responsibility to someone else, it's not something that should be 'farmed out.' Some families used to believe the same, that it was their responsibility to kill anyone of their members went on a rampage."

"I wouldn't be surprised if your idea had merit Ma'am," Hans nodded respectfully. "Rumor has it that Mr. Black is old . . . very old."

"I see," the old woman nodded. "If you'll excuse me, I'm afraid that there are matters that I must attend to personally . . ."

"And I really must be getting back to the emba.s.sy," Hans nodded taking the hint. "Goodbye Madame may fortune smile upon your house."

"Thank you," Neville's gran escorted the man to the door and watched him leave. She then turned and walked back into the house and threw a handful of Floo powder into her fireplace. "Alastor, I need to speak with you."

"What is it Agusta?" The scarred man's face came into view, "do you need something?"

"They're dead," the old woman's face lit up. "All three of them are dead."

"What happened?" Moody's face became expressionless, "did you do something?"

"No," the smile refused to leave her face. "They went up against a wizard named Black and he killed them all, a representative from the Austrian Emba.s.sy brought me pictures."

"Black?" Moody's eyebrows shot up, "Could you show me those pictures?"

"If you like," the woman agreed. "But I'm going to want them back, I'm thinking of having them framed."

"It's not healthy to live in the past like this Agusta," Moody sighed.

"I could say the same thing to you Alastor," the old woman retorted. "Take the photos, but bring them back."

"I will Agusta," Moody nodded taking the envelope.

"Goodbye Alastor"

"Goodbye Agusta," Moody stepped away from the fire and spent several moments looking through the photographs. "Guess he was feeling creative," Moody mumbled to himself.

Any further thoughts were cut short by another face in the fireplace. "Moody, are you there?" Remus's asked cautiously.

"I'm here," the old Auror confirmed. "What do you need?"

"We've got an emergency meeting," the werewolf replied calmly. "Snape has something that he wants to share."

"Alright," Moody nodded. "If you'll get your head out of my fireplace, then I'll be right there."

Moody stepped through the fireplace and let his roving eye search for threats, "what's all this about then."

"Severus has something he'd like to tell us," Dumbledore smiled. "With your permission, I'd like to hear it."

"Fine," Moody took a seat.

"Severus?" Dumbledore smiled.

"The Lestranges have disappeared," Snape didn't bother to stand up. "The Dark Lord is furious and he's been taking it out on the new recruits."

Moody began to chuckle, "bet it's not what they expected when they joined up."

"Alastor please," Dumbledore tried to diffuse the situation. "This is important, we have to start investigating . . ."

"Don't bother," Moody interrupted. "They're dead."

"Are you sure?" Dumbledore lost his grandfatherly look and became deadly serious.

"Sure as I can be with the information I have right now," Moody opened the envelope and dropped a couple of the photographs on the table. "This is what they look like now."

"What happened?" Dumbledore stared at the photos in horrified shock.

"Black," Moody replied calmly. "They went after him, and my guess is that he wasn't too happy about that."

"I see," Dumbledore nodded. "Do you know where Mr. Black is right now?"

"I have a pretty good idea," Moody nodded. "Why?"

"I'd like you to get a look at him, maybe even talk to him." Dumbledore gestured down at the photographs, "I don't like knowing so little about a man that's capable of doing this."

"I can't," Moody held up his hand. "I said can't not won't, I was talking to a friend in the Austrian Ministry last night. I wanted to get an idea of what was happening and my friend wouldn't tell me a thing, I've known her for forty years and the only thing I learned was that Black did something for them that put them in their debt."

"Do you have any idea what that might have been?" Molly asked with a thoughtful frown.

"I have an idea," Moody nodded. "But it's not something I can share with any of you, if you know then you know why, and if you don't then it's better you never know."

"Thank you Alastor," Dumbledore spoke up. "Does anyone else have anything to add?"

IIIIIIIIII

"LUNA"

"FATHER"

"LUNA"

"FATHER"

"LUNA"

"FATHER"

"LUNA"

"FATHER"

"LUNA"

"FATHER"

"LUNA"

"FATHER"

"LUNA"

"FATHER"

"LUNA"

"FATHER"

"LU . . . I'm sorry, but it's just not the same without the ducks."

"I'm sorry Father," Luna patted his arm sympathetically. "But you know that the man at the shop won't sell us anymore since the . . . incident."

"I suppose," he sighed. "Maybe if we were to get some geese?"

"He told me that he won't sell any geese either," Luna frowned. "Some people are just so narrow-minded sometimes."

"I know, and that's why I have another a.s.signment for you."

"What is it Father?" Luna perked up, "did you finally get the location of the great missing sock depository? Or evidence of the underpants gnomes?"

"No, nothing so important I'm afraid." Luna's father shook his head, "I want you to do a few more human interest stories on Mr. Black."

"But father," Luna protested. "I wanted a chance to report some real news."

"I know dear," her father nodded. "But I'm afraid that I don't have any real news to report, and these human interest stories on Mr. Black have been quite popular."

"What did he do now Father?" Luna tried to look on the bright side, "did he discover evidence that another species exists?"

"I'm afraid not," Luna's father shook his head. "Just a few groups of Death Eaters in Austria."

"I'll get right on it Father," Luna nodded. "Maybe if we got a picture of a duck?"

"I'm afraid that we wouldn't be able to pull off the big dance number at the end then," he sighed. "But I'm sure we'll think of something."

IIIIIIIIII

"Ambushed and killed you say?" The man behind the counter at the portkey shop asked with a frown, "I'm afraid that your warranty doesn't cover that."

"The Dark Lord begs to differ," one of the younger death eaters tried to threaten.

"Really?" The nerdy-looking man fought hard to suppress his laughter, "well I suppose that if the Dark Lord begs then it would be rude to disagree."

"That's right," the death eater nodded. "People who disagree tend to . . . disappear."

"Only . . ."

"Only what?"

"I thought you people worked for the ministry?" The portkey seller was having the time of his life, "that's what you told me anyway."

"Um . . ." the death eater stammered, "we do. The Minister likes it when we refer to him as . . . snark board?"

"Snark board?" The portkey seller frowned, looked like all the deaths were affecting the quality of the recruits. "I could have sworn you said, a dark lord."

"No, you must have misheard me." The death eater looked smug, "I said snark board."

"Ok," the portkey seller shrugged. "Why was there an ambush if you work for the ministry?"

"Because . . ." the death eater stopped to think, things were so hard now that the inner circle had been reduced. "That's a ministry code word for an accident?"

"Oh," the portkey seller nodded. "If it was an accident then your warranty is valid, do you have a receipt?

"Receipt?" The death eater asked, "what receipt?"

"You need a receipt to get a full warranty," the shopkeep explained. "Unless of course you're willing to take store credit?"

"Um, yeah store credit."

"Ok," the shop keeper nodded. "I had some experimental charms I wanted to try anyway."

"What experimental charms?" The death eater asked suspiciously.

"Oh, just a few charms I whipped up to keep you from dying in another bizarre and improbable accident."

"Oh," the death eater nodded. "That's alright then."

IIIIIIIIII

"Just take him the letter Hedwig," Hermione pleaded. "You saw me write it, so you know it doesn't have any tracking spells."

The owl hooted sadly but refused to move.

"Come on Hedwig," Hermione

e tried to reason with the bird. "I just want him to know that I'm worried about him and Ron said that none of the other owls could find him, I know you could do it."The owl gave another melancholy hoot.

"I'm sorry Hedwig," Hermione began stroking the owl's feathers. "I didn't mean to imply that I thought you were deliberately shirking your responsibilities, I'm just worried about Harry and it's making me say inconsiderate things."

The owl gave a slightly less depressing sounding hoot.

"Why don't we do some reading?" Hermione suggested, "I've got several new books on charms and defense against the dark arts. Why don't we look over those to see if there might be something we can use to help Harry when he comes back?"

IIIIIIIIII

Harry woke up late the next morning and started to pack, Austria was great and nothing odd or dangerous had happened but he was starting to think that it was time to move on. While staying in one place for the remainder of his vacation was tempting, he couldn't force himself to stay when there were still new places to see and things to do. After all, it wasn't like he was going to have an opportunity to do this later in life. Shouldering his pack, Harry took one last look around the room and smiled. It was nice to have a chance to relax and enjoy the peace for a change, he had no doubt that his next destination would not be so sedate . . . ah well, he could still hope for the best.

AN: I almost had Voldie send in several teams after the Lestranges so that the drink machine would explode and when Law Enforcement arrives, they find a hall full of dead death eaters, but I decided that enough was enough. This chapter was mostly to give an update on what's been happening to everyone else back in England, enjoy or don't. Harry's next destination is Hungary.