Chapter 44 - Hallows Eve Ⅲ (2/2)

Alastor nods at Gideon, who bends down and ruthlessly rolls Oswald's robe sleeve up to reveal a skull eating a snake. The tattoo is dark as something poisonous is withering underneath. ”It's a trap,” Alastor flatly said. ”By saying, their leader's name, Oswald's colleagues can track him.”

Percius eyes narrow with anger as he cursed, ”Bloody Bastard!”

”Then what do we do know>” Sara coldly said.

”We cast an unforgivable curse,” Alastor emotionlessly stated. In turn, the Auror's go silent with the knowledge if they were caught, they would be sent to Azkaban.

”I'll do it,” Alphard stiffly said as he rose to his feet. ”As a valued member of the Department of Mystery, they won't touch me even if I'm discovered.”

”Are you sure of this?” Fabian quietly asked.

”It's too late, I've already used the killing curse on Augustus,” Alphard sadly replied. The room goes silent as they step back as Oswald sensed that something is very wrong as Alphard stepped closer.

”Aveda Kedavra,” Alphard whispered as a green light shot out of his wand and fell onto the terrified Oswald. Oswald tried to speak but was unable to as the light and breath in his body were utterly extinguished. A heavy silence falls over the room as death's presence was keenly felt in the room beside them.

”We must go now,” Fabian urgently said breaking the silence. Turning towards the fireplace the fire begins to burn as Fabian instantly steps through and vanishes. Each one of them quickly does the same with Alastor being the last to go through as the fire instantly goes out the second Alastor passes through.

Only minutes after, the door of the safe house is blasted open as a group of Death Eaters enters with glowing wands held high. The group is stunned to find the room is utterly empty and dark. The tall figure of Bellatrix steps forward and takes a single step until she notices the terrified face of Oswald Buford dead on the ground.

A thin Death Eater raises their wand high as a bright light emerges from the wand tip illuminating the room. Another more experienced Death Eater with a long nose leans over and studies the body and says, ”There are no sign of obvious torture.”

Bellatrix purses her lips and flatly says, ”Could Oswald be the traitor?”

”Possibly,” the experienced Death Eater croaked. ”But what puzzles me is that this wasn't done by the Ministry of Magic.”

”Excuse me?” Bellatrix said as her eyes fluttered in surprise.

”Auror's are unable to use killing curses unless they are authorized to do so under very specific circumstances. Our spies in the Ministry of Magic heard no word of a planned Ministry attack and the Ministry of Magic would never kill Oswald. For the Ministry of Magic would imprison Oswald and hold him for trial. No, this was done by another third party,” The long-nosed Death Eater croaked.

Bellatrix bites her lips in concentration. ”Nevertheless, could you say, that this was our traitor?”

”That is always a possibility,” The long-nosed Death eater carefully answered. ”But that still doesn't explain, who he was selling our Dark Lord out too.”

”I believe it is another dark wizard,” a burly figure Death Eater said. ”Our Dark Lord has made quite a few enemies in his quest for power. And this kind of killing is in tune with them.”

”Then that is what we shall report,” Bellatrix said with satisfaction. ”Bring the traitor's body back, we must let the Dark Lord see the traitor's body.” The Death Eaters quickly depart with the body in tow as a fire is set behind them to burn the house down. By the time the ordinary muggle firemen arrive the majority of the house had burned down leaving nothing but smoky remnants behind.

However, back in the dark lair of Lord Voldemort, loyal Death Eaters stand before him. ”Are you certain this is the traitor?” Lord Voldemort crisply asked leaving no room for error.

”Yes, Dark Lord,” Bellatrix fervently answered.

”I want the treacherous traitor's accomplice found!” Lord Voldemort icily declared.

”Yes, Lord Voldemort,” the Death Eaters said in unison. The Death Eaters depart in a fury of movements as they all swiftly apparate like winged bats from hell. An eerie silence once more reigns within the icy lair as Lord Voldemort thoughtfully ponders in silence dark malevolent plans.