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[alt_draco]

Our news outlets are reporting that Barty Crouch Jr. was the subject of a 3-day manhunt that culminated in his being pursued and killed by Auror Hydra Finch-Fletchley.

Their news outlets (what's left of them) are reporting that "the recent crime spree has met its end thanks to the hard work of Protectorate MLE forces." No details beyond that.

Hydra had Crouch's wand on her last night, so I snapped it and sent it to Bellatrix, along with a note that said "from your daughter" (Bellatrix will know it's my handwriting, but that's fine. Better, actually). It's possible that Bellatrix thinks that Hydra is dead, too, based on Hydra's open journal post last night, and the fact that I was the one who sent her the wand and not Hydra herself.

I went with Unit 3 to do a sweep of the Forest this morning before returning to my assignment in New London. In the North-West quadrant we found the body of a Unicorn. It had been killed with ritual dark magic - sacrificed, basically. Crouch's last victim, we think.

Hydra's still in the HW with a persistent fever and other injuries, and F-F is with her. She's not allowed any other visitors.

Comments

Private message to Malfoy

[alt_macnair]

The creature wasn't Crouch's victim. You cousin was asking me about Unicorns yesterday.

Re: Private message to Malfoy

[alt_draco]

Yeah, that possibility crossed my mind.

Crouch had been performing ritual magic for three days, so she must have decided she would need something extra to give her a chance.

I would have done the same.

Re: Private message to Malfoy

[alt_macnair]

Ritual dark magic performed on a creature like a Unicorn transfers a huge amount of energy, but when it's expelled, there's a potentially deadly withdrawal effect. Might want to tell the healers that the fever is one consequence of that particular act. No magical remedies for it, just have to let it run its course.

Re: Private message to Malfoy

[alt_draco]

I'm not at the castle anymore, but I'll write to Sally Anne and Madam P.

Private message to Sally Anne and Madam Pomfrey

[alt_draco]

Just learned from Macnair that if one performs a dark ritual sacrifice on a Unicorn, there are consequences (no surprise).

Hydra's fever is likely linked to that. He says there are no magical remedies other than letting it run its course.

And yeah, he also confirmed for me that she was asking him about Unicorns yesterday, so it was her who killed the one we found, not Crouch.

Re: Private message to Sally Anne and Madam Pomfrey

[alt_poppy]

Thank you. That is most helpful.

And concerning, indeed.

[alt_luna]

Thank you so much for finding her, Draco. For bringing her home.

[alt_luna]

I wish...it seems strange, and almost wrong to worry about it, when Mr Crouch killed so many people. But I wish there was something that could be done for the unicorn. Bury it, or dispose of its body in whatever way the other unicorns would think would be honouring it. We--Colin and Evelyn and Neville and I--went out to the Forbidden Forest several times, you know, looking for wand supplies, and we were grateful when they left hairs for us. We only caught glimpses of them once or twice, but we came to think of the unicorns as our friends. Just leaving her there where Mr Crouch killed her feels disrespectful somehow.

What would the unicorns want us to do? I suppose that they wouldn't want people coming into the Forest now. The centaurs certainly won't!

[alt_draco]

We thought about harvesting some of the hair, but finally decided that hairs from a Unicorn that's been desecrated should probably be left alone.