Milan Babic

"You're both speaking English?" Frank asked slightly surprised. He had always believed that their language wasn't so commonly known in this part of the world.

"It is very advisable for an Auror to speak the language of the country with the highest number of dark wizards in Europe," Afrim Ristani said.

"Very true," Nada Zoric added. "And lucky for you. And for Andela, she won't have to translate all the time."

Frank couldn't deny that it was convenient but he felt more shame than relief. Did Voldemort and the Death Eaters even know how much disgrace they had brought upon their country? In the days before Voldemort, Great Britain had not been one of the countries with the highest number of dark wizards in Europe, quite the opposite. They had been known for their strong stance against the Dark Arts which had never been tolerated, something many other European countries couldn't claim. As a boy and young man, Frank hadn't been able to imagine that this might change soon. He had been wrong. One single madman had been enough to destroy so much, including the reputation of his home country.

"So you are one of the few Englishmen who still resist You-Know-Who's regime?" the Albanian Auror wanted to now.

Frank looked towards the door.

"I assure you that our conversation is private," his Serbian colleague added. "We know how precarious your situation is, Mr Longbottom."

"Well, yes, I assume so," Frank said. "I've been out of touch with the British wizarding society for the last years."

"You've been living abroad?" Ristani asked.

"I've been living among Muggles," Frank said. "Under a false name."

"That's probably how you got to Serbia unnoticed, am I correct?" Nada Zoric wanted to know.

"You should be more careful," Ristani told her. "If he can get into the country this way, others will be able to do the same. We've been forced to tighten security strongly after a few unpleasant incidents involving British dark wizards who seem to labour under the delusion that our country is a playground for their dark activities."

"We're trying our best to close this security leak," Zoric said. "But that's not what we're here for. You've been living like a Muggle for the last years and have decided to take action now, do I understand this correctly?"

"You do."

"You used to work as an Auror but you've never had a part in the new British regime's law-enforcement?" Ristani wanted to know.

"That's correct," Frank said, feeling slightly annoyed by their questioning. They were acting as if he was a potential Death Eater himself.

"Very well," Ristani said. "Andela Jovanovic told me that you suspect some dark activity by the British Dark Lord in Albania. Is that correct?"

"It's only a very vague suspicion," Frank said. "You-Know-Who was hiding in Albania when he was severely weakened after receiving a backfiring killing curse. It's quite possible that he's used this hiding place again to keep a dark artefact safe."

"Possible but not very likely," Ristani said. "His hiding place is known to others by now and we're doing our best to detect any dark activity in our country now. The times where wrongdoers could be more hopeful to get away with this kind of thing in Albania than elsewhere are over."

"That doesn't mean it's impossible though," Zoric said.

"Do you think you could send someone to check the place in question or let us do so?" Frank asked.

"I could but I need to know more about the nature of the artefact to do so," Ristani said.

Frank suppressed a sigh. "The number of people who know about this should be as small as possible but I think I have to trust your judgement."

Frank didn't really feel like doing so but he probably wouldn't achieve anything if he did not. The way this Albanian Auror spoke he'd probably have him arrested if he tried to enter his country without an authorisation.

"The object I'm looking for is a Horcrux."

Madam Jovanovic flinched as she heard the term, Auror Zoric's eyes narrowed while Ristani frowned. "I'll make sure that the matter is being investigated immediately," the Albanian Auror said. "If it should prove true, the British will have to answer at the next meeting of the International Confederation of Wizards. We will not tolerate the introduction of this kind of devilry into our country."

Frank felt slightly awkward at the cold anger in the Auror's voice. He had gotten so used to the idea of Voldemort's Horcruxes that it didn't shock him anymore.

"If the object is indeed to be found, it will be destroyed immediately," Ristani said.

"Are you in possession of the necessary means?" Zoric asked. "We could provide you with a basilisk tooth."

Frank wasn't quite sure what they were on about now. He knew that Horcruxes existed and that they contained a split piece of a dark wizard's soul but that was about it. It looked as if he really needed help in this.

"That would be helpful indeed, thank you," Ristani said. "Fiendfyre's always an option of course but better avoid it if you can."

When this was settled Ristani asked Frank about the exact location where he suspected the Horcrux. Frank told him as much as he could.

"You excuse us, Madam Zoric, Mr Longbottom, Madam Jovanovic," he said as soon as Frank had finished."I wish to get this over with as quickly as possible. I'll return as soon as possible and share the results with you of course."

Frank had hoped that Ristani would take him along when he was looking for the Horcrux but the Albanian Auror had no reason to do so of course.

"Remember what we've discussed," Madam Jovanovic said, probably referring to Frank's weakened magic. He had started to practice in the wandmaker's guestroom where he was staying now and there was some improvement but it wasn't anywhere near the level it had been before.

He could do nothing but wait and hope that the Albanian Aurors would really be up to the task and free of traitors.

The next day, Auror Zoric visited the wand shop. Frank expected the worst right away. "Has something happened in Albania?"

"I haven't heard of Ristani so far," Zoric told him. "No, it's a different subject matter. As much as I hate to admit it, there's a connection between You-Know-Who and this country as well."

Frank felt curious and worried at the same time. "What do you mean?"

"You know about the group called the Red Lethifold?"

"Yes, of course," Frank said. "They killed one of our colleagues."

"You'll be pleased to hear that we've apprehended them. Anyway, one of them kept bragging about how his father had taught the British Dark Lord how to use Legilimency for torture and how to possess people as well if I remember correctly. The father's dead, the man only knows it from narrations but it's still a trail we could follow. And the father's taught him English because he had great hopes in your Dark Lord. I could arrange a meeting with this prisoner, Milan Babic if you're interested."

Frank was glad about anything he could do. He surely wouldn't refuse this offer.

"This could prove interesting," he said. "How long has this man been in prison? Is he in a state to testify?"

"I'm not sure what the one has to do with the other but he's been in prison for about fifteen years now and he should be able to testify well enough." Understanding dawned on her face. "Ah, I see what you mean. We're not using Dementors to guard our prisoners; we've never felt secure with them. They're given a potion that makes them unable to use any magic instead. This has no effects beyond that."

"Alright," Frank said. Dumbledore had always demanded that the Ministry should look into alternatives to the Dementors for guarding Azkaban but the Ministry hadn't been interested in changing a proven system. If they ever managed to defeat Voldemort, they had to look into various alternatives. Only after thinking that did Frank realise that there was no "they" so far. No one else seemed to oppose Voldemort at least not openly.

A few moments later, apparition worked well again for Frank, the two Aurors stood in front of the Serbian magical prison, a high tower in the middle of an almost desert-like countryside which was hidden from the Muggles by various spells. The tower was surrounded by high walls as well as various bane circles and protective spells.

The Auror Nada Zoric was able to get in without trouble and could allow Frank to pass as well. A witch and a wizard in uniform robes were sitting at the entrance, Zoric told them who she was, had her wand checked and introduced Frank who had to subject his new wand to this procedure as well. His robes too were checked with various spells.

"Babic's waiting for you in the visitor's room," the guard informed them.

The visitor's room seemed to be at the top of the tower, they had to climb many stairs. Such a thing didn't exist in Azkaban; visits hadn't been encouraged there. Frank saw a few prisoners being led through the corridors by guards. They were wearing grey robes similar to those worn by the inmates of Azkaban but instead of long, unkempt hair and beards, they had very short hair. This was true for wizards as well as witches.

Frank tried to look at the wards as thoroughly as possible. No matter how far away victory might be gathering ideas couldn't hurt.

Milan Babic was a slightly porky man with small eyes and brown hair. The two male guards who had brought him in left the visitors' room after exchanging a few words in Serbian with Auror Zoric.

"Babic, this is an English Auror who's interested in your father's work with the Dark Lord who's given his country so much trouble."

Babic grinned. "Ah yes, I remember you. You're the reason I'm here or so I've heard. Didn't have a much better time than I did now, did you?"

"That's neither here nor there," Frank said. Zoric had already told him that Babic didn't know anything about the second wizarding war and Voldemort's rise to power. He had been captured before and this kind of information was kept away from the prisoners. Frank hoped it was true.

"You want to know about Tom Riddle or "Lord Voldemort" as he liked to call himself?" Babic asked.

Frank was surprised to hear the prisoner use the name so nonchalantly. Avoiding Voldemort's name had obviously become common practice all over Europe and Frank had never heard anyone other than Dumbledore and some of his elderly relatives use Voldemort's former name at all.

"Is there anything you can tell me?"

"Of course. My father liked to talk about him. Thought he was a promising talent. Rubbish if you ask me. Sounded more like a stuck-up git with a heightened sense of self-importance. I don't understand that someone like him ever made the title "Dark Lord" but in a country that normally avoids the Dark Arts completely, well, it's probably not too surprising."

"What has your father taught him?" Frank asked, carefully taking notes.

"He's been highly interested in mind magic and manipulation," Babic said. "The darker parts of Legilimency if you know what I mean. Extracting information from someone's mind by force, this kind of thing. Could be interesting for you as an Auror too."

So he really didn't seem to know that Frank wasn't an official Auror anymore. Good.

"The Cruciatus curse has its uses no doubt but it's not really the most useful tool of interrogation. The cursed is in so much pain that he doesn't really understand the question anymore, especially if matters are getting more complex, if you want to hear a complete story or something. You always have to stop the curse but then the cursed thinks it's not been so bad and that he can endure some more. Doesn't really lead anywhere. Wizards should be able to develop something more subtle and efficient than sheer pain and it is possible. Legilimency can be used without the other person's consent. It is relatively painful but not as painful as the Cruciatus curse. The cursed doesn't need to speak at all and he cannot lie. The information is taken directly out of his mind. Very useful indeed. Riddle thought so too."

Following the man's ramblings was a daunting task. His pronunciation wasn't very good and it took Frank an effort not to show any signs of discomfort at the subject matter.

"Did Riddle learn this skill?" he asked.

"Yes, yes he did. He never figured out how to break a really strong Occlumentic shield though. Father never understood why he didn't even though he was so talented. I think I do though. He simply lacked the subtlety. He always tried to apply more force but that simply encourages the cursed to defend himself more strongly. Couldn't work that well. Or it could have been father's talent of course. Riddle never managed to get past his shields if he didn't let him but it would work on weaker people of course."

"He is able to apply this technique though?" Frank asked.

"If the cursed isn't an extremely strong Occlumens, yes," Babic said. "He definitely enjoyed it. Loved having this kind of power over someone else, being directly inside his mind and torturing him with his own memories. Father's almost been a bit disturbed when talking about him and that says something. That's why Riddle's been so interested in possessing people too."

"Your father was able to teach him this kind of thing as well?" Frank asked. He had his own personal experience with Voldemort's skills in this era. It had almost cost his life back then in the Albanian forest.

"Yes, father knew all about that even though he rarely used it. Isn't really useful and makes you too vulnerable. That's why he's never taught it to me. Well, wouldn't do me much good in here, would it?"

"Where did your father teach Tom Riddle?" Auror Zoric asked.

"Most of it happened at our headquarters in Belgrade," Babic answered. "But not the possession stuff. They went out into the countryside for this. There was this well in a cave near Bajina Bašta, he always used the animals living there and some of the Muggles too. Father didn't let him practice on himself you see, too dangerous."

Nada Zoric gave Frank a meaningful look. He had no trouble catching the hint. It was possible that this cave was the place Voldemort had chosen for his Horcrux. It had probably not occurred to him that his former mentor's son would talk so freely about their time together. Babic didn't seem to be aware of the amount of power Voldemort had gathered at all.

"Thank you. I think that's all we needed to know," he said.

"Are you sure? We've developed a few modified versions of the Cruciatus curse as well. They might be more useful as well because the pain they're causing isn't quite as intense while the weakening affect on the body-"

Auror Zoric gave an audible cough.

"I think I'm sufficiently knowledgeable in this subject matter, thank you," Frank said as calmly as he could muster.

The "stuck-up-git" would certainly be highly interested in the services of this man, at least if he managed to show him the "respect" required of the Death Eaters. Frank was sure that Milan Babic and Rodolphus Lestrange would get along very well. They would surely be able to lead long conversations about all kinds of improved and efficient torture methods. Maybe the Babic family was similar to the Lestrange family as far as their special interest in this kind of thing was concerned.

He could imagine what Dawlish and the others must have endured now. At least, the responsible people in this case sat in prison robbed of their magical abilities rather than ruling a country.

Babic was led away by his guards again and the two Aurors left the prison.

"Quite talkative this one," Frank said.

"Well, he doesn't get many opportunities to talk about his former life," Nada Zoric explained. "It's not encouraged here. The prisoners aren't allowed to speak when they're together; if they do they get solitary confinement. He's probably extremely bored with nothing to do but kitchen work without magic."

"He'd surely be glad if You-Know-How gave him more "interesting" assignments," Frank said.

"I'm certain You-Know-Who'd take all the Red Lethifold members if he got the chance," Zoric told him after apparating back to Madam Jovanovic's house. "There are a few professional killers with very unique methods among them too. They prefer to keep this quiet though. Babic would probably love to have someone to teach."

Frank tried not to imagine this man teaching Dark Arts-class at Hogwarts. He wouldn't put it past Voldemort though.

"We're doing our best to keep the prison secure; you've seen the number of people we've stationed here. Almost as many guards as prisoners."

"I do hope you'll be successful," Frank said.

"So do I. It's strange that he's mentioned this cave in Bajina Bašta though. There've already been reports about suspicious phenomena occurring there. We have to check that. As soon as Afrim Ristani's back. I'd prefer to do it with his help."

Frank agreed. This sounded promising indeed. Maybe they'd be able to find and destroy the Horcrux soon.

One step towards the Dark Lord's defeat.