Cicatrices- Marks That Remain

To the Moon and Back

Hi friends :) I got you a chapter early! As a thanks for waiting so long for the last chapter. Things are picking up fast, story-wise. I am trying to get things written quickly so I can sort through/organize/plan, and that might mean that y'all get some sort of semi-normal publishing out of me for the next few chapters... yay!

I want to also remind readers that Harry's auror team consists of Mordecai Berrycloth (the head of the murder case), John Dawlish (part-time watching over Draco), and Harry and Ron (obviously). Just because a lot of first and last names get thrown around in this chapter, and I want y'all to be able to keep up, since I know it's been a while since our team has the spotlight (and I had to even remind myself of which first name goes with which last name). Also a reminder that Robards is the head of the DMLE, making him their supervisor... Yeah.

Anyway, please let me know what you all think. And, as always...

Enjoy!

"Mate, you'll never believe who the bastard got this time." He held the camera up to his face and took a snapshot of the wall, where Harry found the now-familiar christogram in blood.

Then Mordecai. "He's actually helped us out with this one. It's Rodolphus Lestrange."

Harry blinked. Ron continued. "No doubt the department is going to be all over this." Harry walked over to uncover the body and take a look. Ron continued. "Dawlish's team has been after Lestrange since before you and I were even hired, Harry. As soon as the war ended and he got away, really."

Lestrange's face did not look very face-like, Harry thought. More like a grotesque mass of muscle and bone. This was mostly due to, as Harry soon realised, a severe disfigurement of the mouth. There were cuts all over the surrounding skin of his jaw, which looked broken or dislocated. And his tongue was- well, there was none. Just a pool of blood, which had been spilling out of one side.

Harry covered the body again before he could get the chance to vomit on it.

"Have we found his tongue?" Harry asked, trying not to sick up around the phrase.

"No," Ron responded. "We reckon it's the same situation as all of the others' missing parts."

"God's Wrath made neat work of him, too. Look over there and you'll find some... interesting stuff," said Mordecai. Harry stepped around the body, steeling himself from the stench, and peered around where Mordecai pointed. Several bits of parchment were scattered across the floor. With a protection charm over his hands, so as not to ruin anything, Harry knelt down and picked them up, reading.

There's a place I know. The one we spoke of, all that time ago. Go there. I'll transfer what I can before the ministry takes my accounts. They won't find you there. Stay low. They're rounding us up. I got lucky, you might not be.

Harry furrowed his brows, wondering who would have helped Rodolphus lestrange escape. Then, the closing note gave it away.

-L.A. Malfoy

Harry's mouth formed a thin line. Even at the end of a war, Lucius Malfoy can't keep out of trouble. He flipped through a few other pages of parchment.

Thank you. And, not to worry. They'll see soon. 'Tolerance' and 'integration' will only destroy the Wizarding World. I am going North tonight. Do not contact me until next I send you an owl.

-R. Lestrange

The murderer must've taken Lucius' side of these letters from the manor. That's the only way that Harry could imagine the team having missed it.