It seems that Harry has picked up where Voldemort left off, they may be killing different people but it is still barbaric murder most foul. And as for Dumbeldor , I would prefer to face Voldemort he was a bastard but he never pretended to be anything else.

I thought it would end up being Neville. Hadn't thought of Gudgeon, though. Very intriguing story.

A side note about the Salem Witch Trials: in 1692, in Salem, there were a specific set of actual trials, not just the swim/sink tests for witches. Those who confessed to their crimes escaped death; those who refused to sin by confessing to a lie were hanged. Most of those killed were women, though some were men. One notable man, Giles Corey, was pressed to death with stones because he refused to give names. Many of the accused were socially marginal, or had land bordering the land held by socially ambitious.When the wives of high ranking members of society were among the accused, some doubt was introduced....I love the story. I'm just a lit-based history junkie (and spend time when I teach US History focusing high school students on a history of hysteria.)

Very nice wrap up.  I kind of suspected Neville from the someone who is no one comment, but dismissed him.  I should have stayed on track with it since he was so out of character torchering prisioners.  All well you pulled the wool over my eyes (and I suspect you enjoy hearing that too.).

That same line from Aurthor Conan Doyle was also used in a Star Trek movie.  The one where the Klingons finally make peace with the Federation.  Spock said it.  I am glad to know where it originated from.  I am enjoying your story.  Very interesting.

This was an enigmatic display of brilliance. I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It was nice to see the "brilliant" side of those two, instead of the angsty "romance". Super!

oh, I'm sorry we didn't get to see Dumbledores face too (or Harry's for that matter). Great story, although I'm still very curious about what went before (and after...)

I just had a scary thoguh. Neville is the killer. There is just something really disturbing about this version of Neville. As always I enjoy your stories. And just to comment on your AN for Chapter 1 about leftism and stalinism, maoisk etc. As someone on the centre-left of the political sprectrum I think it is very important to remember the horrors commited in the name of socialism, communism etc. There is always something very disturbing going on when the ideas become more important than the people the ideas should serve. Oh, and one more comment. There is not a lot of backstory here. But something must have happened to Hermione to get her of her soapbox. The founder of SPEW is very quiet about the injustices of Harry's regime. Will this have something to do with the obligation she is under to Dumbledore? Oh well, on to the next two chapters and maybe I will find out.

That was an excellent story. It is nice to read something so well written for a change.Thank you.

great story and so well written

I spent the last 4 chapters in denial that it was Neville.   His gran's death was the most incriminating clue.  I think I missed Hermione's reasons for exiting her service as an Unspeakable Unspeakable.  Great story thanks for writing it!

I'm dying to see what Severus is planning.  On with the story!

This chapter is bloody brilliant you gave me goosebumps when reading about Dolohov.  Couldn't Severus and Hermione overule Neville's torture?  They had the warrant.

Still no clue on who the murderer is but one thing's for sure it is not Dolohov.  The "Real killer" is probably middle class with a job that doesn't satisfy their ambition.  I like that we never really see Harry.  It gives a feel on how events/facts can be twisted when people report to him.  He is never really seeing how things are done in his world.  Most probably he is hiding behind a desk, stuck in meetings all day thus detaching him from real life's struggles...

There is a method to this madness indeed!  When will they notice that the case brings them closer? 

 I saw in one of the reviews of the previous chapter that you had to face an internal inquiry.  I hope that you survived relatively unscathed...  It's remarkable how ugly relationships deteriorate within a department and I hope that you are able to finish your thesis without too much bad blood from your previous thesis advisor...  I've heard horror stories but even my own prof has been known to be quite vindictive for relatively petty things (think revoking study visas of students wanting to move to other cities for personal reasons).  If it is not too personal a question, has this experience diminished your wish to stay in an academic environment?

I must say that from the list of victims my first thought was of Neville.  Of course since  Mrs Longbottom was raped I'm kind of reluctant to think along those lines... And Severus would probably have been on his list of people who wronged him -if Neville was the murderer....  But it's true, there's no correlation, I see some bank workers, some aurors a store clerk and an old lady.  Perhaps any other brutal murders will make more sense...

Why do they think the murderer lives around the slums?  He/She might just be luring the victims there.  Or maybe I misunderstood and they want to inteview the inhabitants for any clues.  Perhaps they can talk to Dumbledore, he can give them some hints on disguising.  I find Severus's ‘His presumptuous ways will be the death of him, I pray!.." a bit worrisome.  Also will we be seeing how Ron, Hermione and Harry came to have such positions?  Ron is still loyal to Harry and still holds him in high regard but Hermione no longer thinks so.  Maybe she had more interactions with his position of power than Ron.  On with the story!

Lady Strange, I had to do a bit of a search to find this story and have just read the first chapter.  Very interesting beginning even though the execution was disturbing.  I wonder why DD is walking around like a beggar.  Is he ever present in his true form or only during meetings with his department?  Funny that his brother recognizes him regardless.

 Also, I was wondering about the etymology of the word Chirurgeon.  It is really from ancient greek and it means to work with your hands (χειρα=hand).  It's funny that it reached middle english through the french translation of the word.

Now on with the story... 

Excellent!  Well done!  Bravo!  Live long and prosper, Titania

Wow!  I had to go back and re-read the story, just to see everything in context.  Brilliant!  Neville and his assistant both captured, and Neville died with less pain than his victims.  Nice touch to have Mundungus be the one to kill Neville and get the reward, as no one ever expects much from him.  Not sure I understand the reasons the Order couldn’t go after Neville; after all, they told him to let himself get captured.  Perhaps circumstances changed and they couldn't save him, but to "reward" him later by putting him in charge of Azkaban was truly unwise.  Azkaban is not the place for someone recovering from longterm captivity.  I'm happy you have Severus and Hermione off together to a nice start with dinner, and can only imagine that somehow Harry and Dumbledore (and Ron) get removed from authority - or S&H leave the country.  THANK YOU for sharing this fic!!

What an interesting turn of events. I would have never seen that coming. Congrats on such a compelling story.

Great story!! I had a feeling Neville was at the bottom of this when I saw what he was doing at Azkaban....lovely mystery story!!

I adored this story! Thank you so much for posting. **Big goofy grin** Well, well.... Little Neville turned out to be the naughty boy. It was quite intense for a moment, wasn't it? I enjoyed every moment though. Cheers!!!

Wicked Severus, letting Dung get the reward. That's really great. What a wonderful ending! Thanks so much for posting.

Loved it!