Chapter 3: To Italy We Must Go

            Harry and Diana ran as fast as they could to Moody's office, several older Ministry workers scolding them in the process.  They ignored them and continued to run.

            When they reached Moody's office, they heard him talking with someone else.  "Moody- we need those kids." A gruff voice said.

            Moody sighed and replied, "Armand, how many times must I tell you?  These things take time.  They wouldn't agree to do this unless there was a reason for them to go."

            "Look, I'm not paying you hundreds of Galleons to sit around and tell me you can't do this!  I've been waiting for weeks now, and you tell me that last night was the first time you brought anything up?"

            "I have to be careful.  I don't want then suspecting anything, for obvious reasons."

            It was then that Harry decided to knock on the door.  Diana gave him a murderous glare, but it was too late.  Moody opened the door.  "Oh, Potter, Drago, it's just you.  Come in, please."

            They slowly came in, unsure of what else to do.  The first thing they noticed was a rather tall, thin man with a thin mustache.  He had dark grey eyes and black hair.  He was looking at Diana with interest.  His small eyes turned to Harry and he sneered.

            "Allow me to introduce the Governor of Magic in Italy, Alan Cornfield.  He wished to speak with the two of you."

            "Yes, Potter, Diana.  I have heard many good things about you." He said, thinking.  "You two are one of the best Auror teams in the world.  We were recently told that there are some rather peculiar things going on in our forests.  People tie themselves to trees and burn themselves at the stake.  Would you like to help us find out why?"

            Diana grinned.  "I think you already know why.  It's a cult of some sort.  We think that people are manipulating them to do so, not realizing what they are doing in the process."

            Harry remained silent, looking at Moody, who was staring at Cornfield in a rather odd way.  "What do you need us to do?  Don't you want your own Aurors on the job?"

            "They are busy with other things.  And plus, I already stated that you two are of the best that the Aurors have ever known." He grinned.

            "Flattery isn't the way to go.  What do you want us to do?" Harry asked.  "Pardon for my rudeness, I still don't understand why you can't have other Aurors working on this case, too."

            Cornfield nodded.  "I want you two to go on a trip to our thickest forest, The Evergreen Woods.  This is where the murders are taking place.  Perhaps you can figure out why and stop them before something truly awful happens."

            Diana nodded.  "Sure.  I'm always up for an adventure.  Harry, don't you want to do this?"

            "Yes, I'm just thinking about what kind of cult this is.  Sir, if you have any information, any at all, please, give it to us now, so we can make our guesses and bring some mandatory supplies for that particular case."

            He shook his head.  "I know nothing."

            Moody then interrupted.  "Well, I guess you two had better get started.  Get packing and then leave.  We don't want any more murders."

            Harry nodded and said, "Good night.  Moody, we found some information as to what is going on, but we still need to investigate it.  If we are right, we'll contact you in the morning."

            "You will leave early tomorrow morning, so make the research quick.  You don't want to be so tired, you can't notice what's going on."  Moody replied.

            "Yes.  Goodnight." Diana replied, and the two strode out of the room.

            "He is SO lying." Harry whispered.  "Cornfield knows EXACTLY what's going on."

            "And did you see Moody?  He's completely changed!  I wonder what's wrong with him?" Diana replied.

            "Naturally, he's either possessed, or completely brainwashed." Harry replied.

            "So are we still going to go on the trip?" she asked nervously.

            "Naturally.  This could go way too far if we don't do something soon."

            "So what's the plan?"

            Harry sighed.  "And that's what I had in mind."

            "THAT is your plan?  And you thought my idea to attack them with rubber was dumb."

            "I never said that." Harry argued.  "I just said that wasn't practical enough."

            "But-we'll need-" Diana stuttered.

            "Only ourselves and our logic."

            "Yeah.  Right.  I can't believe I'm saying this, but all right.  Let's get ready for it."

            "That's a good Diana."

            "What did you call me?" she asked with a sneer.

            "Maybe I called you Diana.  What are you gonna do about it?"

            She smiled.  "Maybe I'm just going to walk away and not do anything.  Or maybe I'll tell you that you ought to call me that more often."

            Harry grinned, and they started walking to their rooms.

            "I can't believe we're doing this stupid plan you had." Diana said incredulously.

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