Chapter 113: Break Brokered?
"Can you believe this?" the Italian Auror asks his partner as they slowly walk through the Courtyard of the Vatican. The repairs had begun almost immediately to preserve the ancient architecture of the building, and they'd been forced to leave behind the layer of blood now staining the walls, windows, and doors in order to give the Italian Ministry a better chance of tracking the one responsible.
The Pope had already put out a bounty for some cultist that was believed to be the attacker, but the description of the man was less than satisfactory. Add the fact none of the priests was willing to allow a Wizard to extract a memory to have a better idea of who it was, they were almost left flailing in the dark.
Indeed, were it not for the many restrictions the Vatican had previously put in place, a hundred people would not have been murdered by those undead puppets... Sure, a few people had managed to fight back by simply decapitating them through mundane means, but it was far less effective than simply burning the with magic.
"Well, they do say 'God' works in mysterious ways. Maybe this is his way of objecting to the church?" Barthold chuckles.
Marcus shakes his head, "I wouldn't let anyone hear you, we're walking on eggshells as it is, no need to push them into burning witches and wizards again."
"Pfft, as if they could. We're not as weak as we once were. Modern armaments or not, magic is the greatest tool and weapon."
"Whatever, let's just get this investigation finished before the ICW decides we're not fit for duty."
"Maybe after this we should go hunting for this 'Cultist', the Pope's bounty could make us both very, very rich."
Marcus sighs and pulls the folded-up bounty from his pocket and pointed at the hastily drawn man, he was pale, had dark circles around his eyes and seemingly had blood-red eyes. But that was literally all the identifying marks. "You think we can find this guy? Who looks almost exactly like every pensioner barring his eyes, and might be two countries now? The Church doesn't even know his name, let alone any other trail he might've left..."
"Well, other than the reward, do you really want to let that guy go free?" Berthold gestures around at the dried blood painting the walls, "What if he turns up near where we live next? You wanna chance him coming near your family?"
Marcus pushes him lightly, "Look, I know you want the cash reward, but blackmailing me with my family is pretty shitty..." he shakes his head, "But yeah, I guess we can have a look around."
"Nice! Come on, we need to get those bone samples and then we're done!"
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Emma Granger steps around the corner with arms filled with freshly washed clothing but almost falls over herself as she starts moving up the stairs... "Really Hermione, this again?" she questions, looking at her daughter who somehow had her head in her new 'Occlumanty' book or however she called it, while remaining her glare at the landline telephone.
Upon not receiving an answer from her daughter, Emma lays the clothes down and gently lowers the book, only now attracting her attention.
"W-what...? Mum?"
"This is the third time I've caught you reading on the stairs and staring at the phone..." she sighs, "It's that boy again isn't it?"
Hermione flushes lightly, "N-no! I just like sitting here... I think..."
"It's been a week already, if he was going to call he would have already. You said he's over in Italy, I can only imagine he's trying to avoid the cost of international calls. I would too, given how outrageous their rates are!"
"But Mum-"
"None of that, sweetie, why don't you take a break from studying and help me hang up these clothes? I know you're excited to learn magic but there are still things outside of it."
Hermione blinks, "R-right! I almost forgot! Could you arrange some non-magical studying material? Harry made me realise that I was neglecting my mundane education!"
...
Emma sighs aggrieved, "Sometimes it feels like I'm talking to a brick wall. But fine, I suppose it is important for your future. Now, help me with these clothes or I'll be confiscating that book until you return to school." she says, and is surprised at how quickly Hermione could move when motivated... Considering her sedentary lifestyle, the girl might not even notice if she was bound to a wheelchair...
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"Father..." Malfoy quietly asks after working up the courage to finally request something from the elder Malfoy.
"Yes, Draco?" Lucius asks, looking up from the many papers on his desk.
"I-I was hoping to ask for some help... You know Harry Potter? He's in my year and, well, he's made himself not just my enemy, but the enemy of most of Slytherin."
Lucius frowns and locks his son in a glare, "Then deal with it as befits your status, he may be famous but he is still just a Half-Blood." he waves him off, but scowls harder when he notices that his son hadn't moved. "What!?"
"He isn't just a Half-Blood, father... The Daily Prophet isn't lying, even wandless he is far stronger than anyone else in his year, or perhaps even two years above him. Before Christmas Break, he poisoned my group with worms that... Completely humiliated us. I'm sure you've heard about it?"
Lucuius drops his quill, "You mean to tell me that what I was hearing was not just slander perpetrated by those who would see our family low... That you-, defecated in front of the entire school!?"
"Y-yes..."
"CRUCIO!" Lucius roars, slamming Draco with the torture curse and sending him sprawling to the floor screaming. "HOW DARE YOU! To soil our family name, to fall prey to some cowardly Half-Blood's tricks!? Was everything I taught you for nought!?" he applies the curse harder, causing the boy to scream even louder.
"HUSBAND!" Narcissa Malfoy exclaims as she runs into the room, immediately clutching Draco and glaring at Lucius, "CEASE YOUR CURSE NOW OR I SWEAR ON MAGIC YOU WILL REGRET IT!"
"You coddled the boy. Now he is this weak, thing." he states, releasing the curse. "Take him, hear what he told me. It appears his education is stunted, you will rectify this or we will need another heir, for this one has proven thoroughly unsatisfactory."
"Yes... Husband." Narcissa hisses through gritted teeth as she pulls Draco away.
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