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Order Only: Danger Past
Dec. 6th, 2008 06:53 amWell, that was certainly an experience.
I'm in Ulm, first of all, and safe as I've a right to expect. Right after my last post--well, my last proper post, I should say--I headed to Czechoslovakia to try to take care of the Laszlo predicament. And as I started to recount a few days ago, I was spotted there by Death Eaters. I thought they must not have recognised me, but the next day, I caught them following me again.
I didn't want to break and run straight off, you understand. I was disguised as Henrich Laszlo and on the chance that they hadn't put two and two together, I wasn't about to give it away. I didn't want to lose the ground I'd been making, either--you've no idea how Byzantine the Czech wizarding government is. Having navigated somewhat successfully, I was loathe to abort the process.
Well, I don't want to bore you. The long and short is that they had seen through the disguise and a few days later they made their move. It was too public a place to Disapparate. Much as I hate it, it was the prudent thing, and I would have done if it had meant shaking them off immediately. I ducked into an alley for some privacy, where they set on me. Splendid duel; I left them smarting and got away long enough to transform and run, and I wasn't followed. Once again, I thought all was well. No such luck!
For weeks, they've been chasing me round the better part of eastern Europe. It seemed I couldn't run fast enough--and you know my problem with multiple Apparations. That didn't help a bit. Couple times I was sure they were going to catch me, but I managed to transform anyway and after that I stayed on the move.
I finally thought I was safely away, had put enough switchbacks, zigs and zags into my trail to last until Christmas, and as you saw, I risked transforming back to check the journals and let you lot know what I've been up to.
They must have put a trace on me before I transformed the last time, because they found me within a few hours of my taking human form and catching up on all the postings. This time, I didn't run and I didn't leave anything to chance; they won't be back again.
By then I was sorely in need of some rest, which I'm finding here in Ulm. I've been catching up on sleep (and other things) in what I hope is still a relatively safe area, mostly Muggle. I've also enjoyed the help of a quite accommodating young chap named Friedrich, who has been willing to let me remain a kept man for a few days. I've nearly had my fill of takeaway--and more than my fill of German telly.
Arthur, I hadn't seen your note about Molly's cousin until just a few days ago, but now that I've got the papers I needed from the Czechs, I can see whether he can be tracked down to lend a better paper trail to our poor departed Victor.
Meanwhile, all you lot, do be careful. I'm not sure if the spell they used to track me is something only the Durmstrang-trained bunch know or whether my beloved cousin has been teaching her assassins to track as well as they can curse or kill. I've been my normal self for over two days now and no one has come after me, so I am fairly confident whatever they did has not transferred itself to any other of Voldemort's agents on the continent.
Kingsley, old man, good to see you've made it back into England and with Polyjuice into the bargain! Is there anywhere in the next three days you particularly want our government friends to avoid? I'll point them in the wrong direction if so.
For now, though, I'm going to enjoy another few hours' sleep next to a warm, human companion. I don't reckon Friedrich would mind going out for brunch later. I think it's time to test the waters outside his flat.
I'm in Ulm, first of all, and safe as I've a right to expect. Right after my last post--well, my last proper post, I should say--I headed to Czechoslovakia to try to take care of the Laszlo predicament. And as I started to recount a few days ago, I was spotted there by Death Eaters. I thought they must not have recognised me, but the next day, I caught them following me again.
I didn't want to break and run straight off, you understand. I was disguised as Henrich Laszlo and on the chance that they hadn't put two and two together, I wasn't about to give it away. I didn't want to lose the ground I'd been making, either--you've no idea how Byzantine the Czech wizarding government is. Having navigated somewhat successfully, I was loathe to abort the process.
Well, I don't want to bore you. The long and short is that they had seen through the disguise and a few days later they made their move. It was too public a place to Disapparate. Much as I hate it, it was the prudent thing, and I would have done if it had meant shaking them off immediately. I ducked into an alley for some privacy, where they set on me. Splendid duel; I left them smarting and got away long enough to transform and run, and I wasn't followed. Once again, I thought all was well. No such luck!
For weeks, they've been chasing me round the better part of eastern Europe. It seemed I couldn't run fast enough--and you know my problem with multiple Apparations. That didn't help a bit. Couple times I was sure they were going to catch me, but I managed to transform anyway and after that I stayed on the move.
I finally thought I was safely away, had put enough switchbacks, zigs and zags into my trail to last until Christmas, and as you saw, I risked transforming back to check the journals and let you lot know what I've been up to.
They must have put a trace on me before I transformed the last time, because they found me within a few hours of my taking human form and catching up on all the postings. This time, I didn't run and I didn't leave anything to chance; they won't be back again.
By then I was sorely in need of some rest, which I'm finding here in Ulm. I've been catching up on sleep (and other things) in what I hope is still a relatively safe area, mostly Muggle. I've also enjoyed the help of a quite accommodating young chap named Friedrich, who has been willing to let me remain a kept man for a few days. I've nearly had my fill of takeaway--and more than my fill of German telly.
Arthur, I hadn't seen your note about Molly's cousin until just a few days ago, but now that I've got the papers I needed from the Czechs, I can see whether he can be tracked down to lend a better paper trail to our poor departed Victor.
Meanwhile, all you lot, do be careful. I'm not sure if the spell they used to track me is something only the Durmstrang-trained bunch know or whether my beloved cousin has been teaching her assassins to track as well as they can curse or kill. I've been my normal self for over two days now and no one has come after me, so I am fairly confident whatever they did has not transferred itself to any other of Voldemort's agents on the continent.
Kingsley, old man, good to see you've made it back into England and with Polyjuice into the bargain! Is there anywhere in the next three days you particularly want our government friends to avoid? I'll point them in the wrong direction if so.
For now, though, I'm going to enjoy another few hours' sleep next to a warm, human companion. I don't reckon Friedrich would mind going out for brunch later. I think it's time to test the waters outside his flat.
