Disclaimer: I am not J.K. Rowling or Timothy Zahn.

Grand Admiral Grindelwald sits in his quarters, across from Ogden and Crouch.

Grindelwald. All died but the coordinator, then?

Ogden. Yes, sir. We're still not entirely sure what went wrong.

Grindelwald. Instruct Central to give the coordinator a thorough debriefing. What report from Horcrux?

Crouch. Is that it, then? Your vampires have failed, so too bad, and on to more pressing business? You promised me Aurors, Grand Admiral Grindelwald.

Grindelwald. I promised you Aurors. And I will deliver them. [to Ogden] What report from Horcrux?

Ogden. The engineering team has finished its analysis, sir. They report that the invisibility cloak schematics seem complete, but that to actually build one will take some time. It will also be highly expensive, at least for a ship the size of Nurmengard.

Grindelwald. Fortunately, they won't have to start with anything nearly this big. [hands Ogden a datacard] Here are the specs for what we'll need at Nimbus.

Ogden. The broom company?

Grindelwald. Yes. Oh, and we're also going to need some advanced mining machines - mole miners, I believe they're informally called. Have Intelligence start a records search. We will need a minimum of forty.

Ogden. Yes, sir. One other thing, sir. The engineers also report that nearly eighty percent of the Geminio canisters we'll need are functional or can be restored to working order with relative ease.

Crouch. Geminio canisters? What are those?

Grindelwald. Just that other little bit of technology I was hoping to find in the cave.

Grindelwald throws a warning look in Ogden's direction.

Ogden. [aside] An unnecessary precaution. I've already decided that discussing Geminio canisters with Crouch would not be a smart thing to do.

Grindelwald. So. Eighty percent. That's excellent, Captain. Excellent. How very thoughtful of the Dark Lord to have left such fine equipment for us to rebuild his Ministry with. What about the cave's power and defense systems?

Ogden. Also operational, for the most part. Three of the four reactors have already been brought on line. Some of the more esoteric defenses seem to have decayed, but what's left should defend the storehouse more than adequately.

Grindelwald. Again, excellent. Instruct them to begin bringing the canisters to full operational status. The Greater Good should arrive within two or three days with the extra specialists and two hundred hinkypunks they'll need to get things started. At that point, we'll be ready to begin the operation in earnest . . . beginning with the Nimbus broom company.

Ogden. Yes, sir. And about Potter and his sister?

Grindelwald. We'll use team four next. Transmit a message telling them to withdraw from their current assignment and stand ready for further orders.

Ogden. You want me to transmit the message, sir? Not that I'm questioning the order. But in the past you've usually preferred to contact them yourself.

Grindelwald. Team eight failed me. Sending the message through you will let the others know how displeased I am.

Crouch. And when team four also fails you? They will, you know. Will you be merely displeased with them, too? Or will you admit your professional killing machines simply can't handle an Auror?

Grindelwald. They've never yet met any foe they can't handle, Mr. Crouch. One group or another will succeed. Until then, a few vampires, more or less, won't seriously drain our resources.

Ogden. On the other hand, Admiral, this attempt will have put them on their guard.

Crouch. He's right. You can't fool an Auror twice with the same trick.

Grindelwald. Perhaps. What alternative do you suggest? That we concentrate on his sister and leave him alone?

Crouch. That you concentrate on his sister, yes. I think it best that I deal with the young Auror myself.

Grindelwald. And how would you propose to do that?

Crouch. [smiles] He is an Auror. I am an Auror. If I call, he will come to me.

Grindelwald. I need you with my fleet. Preparations for the assault on the DA's Nimbus broom facilities have already begun. Some of the preliminaries to that assault will require an Auror Master's assistance.

Crouch. My assistance was promised only upon your promise to deliver my Aurors to me. I will have them, Grand Admiral Grindelwald.

Grindelwald. Does an Auror Master go back on his word, then? You knew that obtaining Potter for you might take some time.

Crouch. All the more reason for me to begin now.

Ogden. Why can't we do both?

Grindelwald and Crouch glance at Ogden.

Grindelwald. Explain, Captain.

Ogden. We could begin by starting rumors of your presence somewhere, Mr. Crouch. Some sparsely populated region where you might have lived for years without anyone really noticing. Rumors of that sort would be certain to make their way back to the Wizards' Cou . . . to Dumbledore's Army. Particularly with the name Bartemius Crouch attached to them.

Crouch. [snorts] And you think that on the strength of an idle rumor he will rush foolishly to find me?

Grindelwald. Let him be as cautious as he likes. Let him bring half the Army's forces with him, if he chooses. There will be nothing there to connect you to us.

Ogden. And while we find a suitable region and start the rumors into motion, you can remain here to assist with the Nimbus preliminaries. Hopefully, their response to our activities will keep Potter too busy to check out the stories until after the Nimbus part is over.

Grindelwald. And if not, we'll know when he makes his move, and in plenty of time to get you there ahead of him.

Crouch. Hmm. Very well. The plan is sound. I will go to my chambers now, Grand Admiral Grindelwald, and choose a region from which to make my appearance.

Exit Crouch.

Grindelwald. Congratulations, Captain. Your idea seems to have caught Mr. Crouch's fancy.

Ogden. I apologize, Admiral, if I spoke out of turn.

Grindelwald. [smiles] You served too long under Lord Snape, Captain. I have no qualms about accepting a useful idea merely because it wasn't my own. My position and ego are not at stake here.

Ogden. Yes, sir. With your permission, Admiral, I'll go prepare those transmissions to the Horcrux and vampire teams.

Grindelwald. At your convenience, Captain. And continue to monitor the preparations for the Nimbus operation. Monitor them closely, Captain. With the Horcrux Cave and Nimbus both, the long path to victory over Dumbledore's Army will have begun . . . with, or even without, our Auror Master.

Exit Ogden.