The graveyard wasn't hard to find, neither were the Riddle graves. An eight foot high muggle representation of the angle of death was a rather ostentatious grave marker in what looked like a cemetery for ordinary local people. Having found their target so easily, Sirius then went on a search for suitable bones to replace the ones in Tom Riddle's grave.
Whatever criterion he was using for selection, after half-an-hour none of the many headstones Sirius had examined had lived up to it. Remus was beginning to get annoyed when a wide smile suddenly appeared on his fellow marauder's face, Sirius waved them over.
"I've been doing a lot of thinking about this prophecy, and how we can help it along. Not knowing what we would find here, I was walking around waiting for inspiration to hit - it just did. If we want him to be greater as the prophecy suggests, then we have to provide the best - and here she is."
Hermione read aloud the inscription on the gravestone. "Theresa Best, beloved mother and grandmother. She's been dead for the best part of eighty years though, so it's a fair bet most of those grandchildren won't be around either."
Remus however wasn't impressed. "This is your great plan?"
"Hey, I never said it was a great plan but at least it is a plan. George Greater or Timothy Terrible don't appear to be buried here, this is the best I could come up with. Using Theresa Best as a substitute can't hurt, and it just might help. Other than the time I spent looking, what have we got to lose?"
A smiling Harry put a supportive hand on Sirius' shoulder. "I think this is a crazy idea, but crazy enough it just might work. It's certainly better than his pigeon idea. Can you imagine the mess Voldipigeon would make shitting on your car?"
While Hermione shook her head at Harry's attempt to be humorous, Remus checked again to see they were still alone in the graveyard before he drew his wand. "Ok, I think you're both as nutty as squirrel shit but find myself agreeing that using these bones can't hurt. I'll do the switching spell."
They had already swapped the bones of Tom's grandparents with two randomly chosen graves as an extra precaution so, as soon as Remus had cast the switching spell on Theresa, it was time to go home.
As they got ready to portkey out, Harry had a weird thought. Hermione agreed with Harry's opinion that it seemed strange to consider Italy home after such a short time but there was no doubting he certainly did. She offered an explanation that Harry was certain Hermione got spot on. 'Home is where our family and friends are. For us, that's now Italy.'
....
Narcissa was leading her son down a street of rather drab houses. That these were muggle dwellings, built to house workers and packed end to end along the entire length and on both sides of the narrow street, should have drawn at least a snarky comment from Draco. Since the night he discovered his father had been killed though, Draco had hardly said a word.
Even the announcement that House Potter was initiating a blood feud on House Malfoy didn't provoke a reaction from her son. Seeing his father dead by the hands of a muggle had deeply affected Draco. Since nothing in the world was more important to Narcissa than Draco, she was walking down this street seeking help - rather than the both of them fleeing the country with the gold she had been able to put together.
Stopping at a door that appeared identical to dozens they had already passed, Narcissa was pleased to see the numbers on this one identifying she was at the right house. Muggles were such strange creatures who built things with so little character they had to then number them so people could tell the difference.
It took a moment after she had knocked for the door to be answered but the relief Narcissa felt was almost overwhelming. "Severus, we're in trouble. Will you help us?"
Rather than answer verbally, Severus just stood aside to allow them both to enter his home.
.....
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