Going to Vienna

The Confederation Technical Group continued its work over the next few days, and Rosier sent no further briefings.

It was not until one afternoon a week later that Harry's phone lit up again. Characters appeared in the air, and the message was longer than any of the previous ones.

"The Confederation Technical Group has completed an in-depth analysis of all data from Paloma Observatory. Records concerning the implementation of the functional reconstruction plan were confirmed deleted and cannot be recovered. However, an undeleted supporting file was found on the personal device of one member of the core research team. It contained a preparation checklist from before the plan's implementation. The checklist listed the names and coordinates of seven target locations, with Hogwarts third on the list. At the end of the checklist was a note: Awaiting client confirmation to commence."

After reading it, Harry sat by the window. Hermione sat down beside him and read through the contents of the checklist.

"Client confirmation to commence," she said. "They've been waiting for someone, or some organization, to give the word."

"And that person or organization still hasn't given the word," Harry said. "So the plan hasn't truly begun yet."

Ron stood beside the sofa, his gaze fixed on the floor. "Does Delaney know who the client is?"

"No, but if he did, he should have disclosed it during questioning. Rosier's briefings didn't mention the client's identity, which means either Delaney didn't know or he refused to say."

That evening, Rosier sent the final message concerning the client, and it was also the shortest of the entire batch of briefings: "The Confederation Intelligence Group has traced the funding source of the holding company and confirmed that the funds ultimately originated from a trust registered in the British Virgin Islands. The trust's list