Disclaimer: Ideas won't keep. Something must be done about them. -Alfred North Whitehead

Special Projects

Luna was already in the shop when Hermione got there. Wordlessly, the other girl handed her friend a mug of tea and an empty notebook.

"Sorry I was late," Hermione said, flopping down next to the other girl. "Professor McGonagall wanted to tell me that they think they've figured out how Harry broke the third law of transfiguration."

"Wonderful," Luna cheered. "I assume she also wanted to ensure that you understood that your father needed to be informed?"

"Yes," Hermione agreed.

"Did she have to tell you why it was so important?" Luna continued.

"She did. How did you know?"

"I am the daughter of the greatest living journalist in the magical world, Hermione," Luna said breezily. "One picks up things."

"I'm sure one does," Hermione said dryly. "Are we ready for the test?"

"We shall be in a few moments, they're just doing their fifth set of checks now."

"They're starting," Hermione whispered. "This is it."

Hermione's first engine, the little ex Coal Board her parents had given her, slowly inched out of the shed operated by her chief engineer and crewed by Sprocket, a fireman, and two other goblin techs. At a nod from the girl, the man increased speed, at another nod, Sprocket turned a dial. There was no visible change for the first pair of heartbeats. The two girls watched in spellbound wonder for two more.

"It's working," Luna squeaked. "I can see a gap between the rails and the wheels."

"We did it, Luna!" Hermione cheered as she wrapped her friend in a tight hug. "We did it! We've conquered gravity itself!"

As scheduled, Sprocket slowly turned back the dial, holding his breath until they'd touched down and come to a complete stop.

Hermione and Luna were there in a flash.

"Is everyone alright?" Hermione asked, prioritizing the safety of her employees over her triumph. "No one feels strange?"

"We're all fine, Miss," the engineer replied. "Hardly noticed a thing."

"Power consumption was a touch higher than calculations suggested it would be," Sprocket volunteered. "I do not believe that we would have been able to make a controlled landing if I'd waited much longer."

"You did the right thing, Sprocket," Hermione said with a wide grin. "Important thing is that we proved the concept."

Sprocket sighed. "Power consumption is going to be the key, we'll need to bring it down a lot or I don't think we'll be able to do much with it. Not even if we run it along ley lines."

"Let us know if you think of something, Sprocket," Hermione ordered. "Same goes for everyone else, we'll take ideas from anyone. Not just about this, but about anything you can think of. Never know who'll come up with a winner. We surround ourselves with the best, it's to be expected that the best will have good ideas."

"We will do our best to make the clan proud," Sprocket promised, feeling like he was going to burst in pride at the trust being shown.

"To the drawing board!" Luna cheered.

The two girls rushed into their office to do a bit of inventing. Ideas flew back and fourth like shells over Verdun. Numerous, fast, and highly explosive.

"Luna, are you aware of any ways to convert heat and light or electricity into magical energy?" Hermione mused, eyes unfocused.

"Oh my, yes. I can think of quite a few of them off the top of my head," Luna chirped. "For example the lightning rods on Hogwarts convert the energy from strikes into magic that helps strengthen the wards. It's one of the reasons the castle is so strong." The girl smirked. "Wasn't that mentioned in Hogwarts, a History?" she added innocently.

"It may have been," Hermione admitted. "But it has been several years since I've given it a deep read, too many new books to go through at the moment to give it my customary yearly reread. What about light and heat?"

"I believe there are several old rituals that are partially powered by a large fire," Luna said thoughtfully. "It is not an area I know much about."

"We need to start looking," Hermione said with a wide smile. "I have an idea."

"Oh?"

"Oh," Hermione agreed. "I just need to order a few things to make it work."

"Tell me more," Luna ordered, bouncing up and down.

She did and started them both on a path that would take them to places they never dreamed they would go.

IIIIIIIIII

Phil arrived to dinner to find his wife with a perplexed look on her face. It was one he was quite familiar with, it meant that their daughter had done or was about to do something and his lovely bride was trying to decide if she should take credit or assign blame. Promised to be a rather good evening either way.

"What new mischief has the scion of the Granger house gotten herself into?"

"I'm not sure. She's made a rather large order from Russia of all places," Anne's nose scrunched up. "Her shopping list makes absolutely no sense."

"Oh? What does she want?" He calmly took a glass of wine from one of the servants.

"Old paint, old clocks, and two thousand smoke detectors," Anne stated. "I can't imagine what she's planning on doing with it all."

Old paint, old clocks, and two thousand smoke . . ." his eyes widened in alarm. "Get me Tonks right now!" he barked at the nearest security person. The man was on his feet in a flash. "Sorry to run, darling, I'll explain how our daughter's typical aristocratic attitude threatening to violate a rather large number of arms control treaties upon my return!"he shouted over his shoulder as he exited the room at great speed.

"Suzanna!" Anne raised her voice.

"Yes, ma'am?" her maid appeared.

"It seems that I have been temporarily widowed by my daughter's precociousness. Have the staff take their meal early please."

"Yes, ma'am," her maid replied. "I would also be happy to extend an invitation to join the staff meal in the kitchen as my guest if you would care to get something to help tide you over until Mr. Granger's return."

"Thank you, Suzanna, I believe that I will take you up on your kind offer," Anne agreed with a smile.

IIIIIIIIII

Hermione didn't know what to think. One minute she was in her workshop, the next she'd been bundled off to a surprise meeting with her father who had a look on his face she'd never seen before. It was enough to make a girl wonder if it wouldn't be easier to just find a tropical volcanic island and carve it into the shape of a skull or something to get some peace. She made a mental note to look into the costs of a volcanic island in the south pacific or . . . come to think of it, it was possible the family still held title to a couple from the old guano days.

"Darling, I never thought I'd have to say this to you for . . . well, a number of reasons the least of which being that I shouldn't have had to." He sighed. "But you are absolutely forbidden from buying plutonium, americium, radium, uranium, or any other material that can be used to make either a nuclear device or a nuclear reactor."

"But daddy, it's just a little light water reactor," Hermione said quickly. "It's perfectly safe if you know what you're doing."

"Show me a PHD in nuclear engineering from a reputable university with your name on it and I'll think about it," he replied. "Until then, no."

"But-"

"No! This is not something I am willing to bargain about." He said firmly. "Don't make me bring Harry into this."

Hermione's mouth snapped closed as a light blush dusted her cheeks. "What about Fusion? All I'd need is a bit of heavy water and I believe it would be legal for me to do without an advanced degree in nuclear engineering."

"Send me a proposal and I'll run it past some people," he sighed, why did parenting have to be so much work? He was sure he'd never been so much trouble to his parents, must be something she picked up from her mother's side. Phil made sure to make a mental note to mention it to his wife at some point, he continued. "It's not that I don't trust you, darling, it's that I don't want you doing things that could potentially be against international law." He thought it best not to mention how flexible domestic law could be in regards to their family. She was bad enough as it was, he didn't want to think about how much worse she could become.

"I'll . . . I'll also need a bit of leeway with your new rule," she sighed. "The lantern mantels we use have thorium in them which could be used to make a liquid salt reactor." The girl sighed. "If thorium two thirty two absorbs a neutron it will turn into thorium two thirty three which will degrade into uranium two thirty three. That's what's used in reactors and I believe it could also be used as fissionable material in a nuclear device. I think, it's not . . . it's not an area I've very familiar with," she admitted reluctantly. "Which is one of the reasons Luna and I were so keen to explore it."

"You may purchase and possess nuclear materials in small amounts so long as it is lawful for you to do so and the use you are putting them to does not break any international treaties on proliferation," he allowed. He sighed. "You are also forbidden from creating any other weapons of mass destruction. No chemical weapons, no biological weapons, no neutron bombs."

"I'm not sure why I would, daddy," Hermione perked up at the non-restriction. "All I wanted was to experiment with a new power source to run the train. Besides, I'm not very interested in biology at the moment anyway."

"What about chemical weapons and neutron bombs?"

"Chemical weapons can be created by mistake using household cleaning supplies and neither Luna nor I are the kind of girls that would mix chemicals before reading the data sheets and understanding how they'd react with each other. As for neutron bombs? Neutron bombs are a bit advanced to start with. I'd want some experience with more conventional nuclear devices before I even considered it and I already promised not to do that."

"Alright, darling. How about this, you may design a fusion reactor with your friend. I will see if I can find a plasma physicist or two that knows about the magical world to assist you. Failing that, I'll do my best to find someone with related knowledge to help you perfect it. In return, you give up fission for now. Deal?"

"The start of one, daddy," Hermione chirped, doing her best to look both adorable and innocent. "I'd still like a sample of a nuclear material for a transfiguration experiment I thought up earlier." She smiled. "I have something you want and I am fairly sure I have enough people to prevent you from stopping me now that I know you want to, daddy. Not unless you went to Harry for help and he likes me more than he likes you."

The man eyed his progeny with no small amount of suspicion, truly children were a curse on a man for his past digressions against humanity. "What sort of sample?"

"How about uranium two thirty eight?" Hermione suggested. "It has to do with one of Harry's discoveries."

"What's he done now?" Phil asked, allowing himself to relax a touch.

"Harry broke the third law of transfiguration when he transfigured an object into gold. It gave me an idea I wanted to test and I needed some samples to test my idea."

"And the reactor?"

"If I'm going to go through the trouble to gather a large amount of material to experiment on, I may as well have a plan for what to do with it after I've conducted my experiments rather than just lock it in a closet or leave it around to collect dust. That's just common sense, daddy."

"Of course it is." He closed his eyes and counted to ten. "Was there anything else, darling?"

"One thing, daddy," Hermione chirped, an angelic smile lighting her face.

"Go ahead." His gut sank, he knew that look.

"Aside from a trivial amount of help with my fusion reactor, what are you going to give me to make up for the fact that I can't build a fission reactor? Keep in mind that I don't believe that you can stop me from doing it if I really put my mind to it."

"I should have known." Pride warred with reason as reason pointed out how much this was likely to cost him. Every penny she thinks she can wring out of you, pride replied, she is her father's daughter after all. He just hoped his little girl didn't realize what was going through his mind, would give her much to big an advantage in the coming negotiation.

IIIIIIIIII

Anne was back at the dining table when she noted the way her newest assistant cocked her head and divined the reason. With a flick of her wrist, she signaled to one of the servants to have their meals brought back to the table. Her husband had returned, entertainment was sure to follow.

"Do you have any idea what your daughter was going to do?" Phil announced as he strode into the room. "Not only do I doubt it, I suspect you'd see nothing amiss at her blatant disregard for the laws of man and god."

"Don't keep me in suspense," she prompted, suppressing a giggle. Judging by his tone, how fast he'd left earlier, and what few details she'd managed to gather, this promised to be good.

"Your daughter was attempting to procure enough radioactive material to make a nuclear reactor," Phil stated pompously. "She also told me that the main reason she wanted all of it was for a couple experiments, but that she had the idea of building a reactor so that none of her highly illegal radioactive material would go to waste after she was done playing with it. I blame you, no one in my family's ever done anything like this."

"I'll have you know, that no one from my family has ever . . . damn!"

"Forgot about your degenerate of an elder brother for a minute, didn't you."

"I have yet to get an explanation on exactly how a useless make work export agent-" she let out a breath. "Why don't we agree to blame him and call it a draw?" she suggested hopefully.

"Why don't we not."

"In that case, I would like to point out the fact that the only reason she was planning to build a nuclear reactor was to avoid wasting material," Anne said arrogantly. "I am quite sure that not one person on my side of the family has ever let their actions be governed by such a pedestrian reason as avoiding waste or saving money. Whereas your family, a family of merchants, has never let so much as a penny slip through their fingers if they could help it."

"A draw it is."

IIIIIIIIII

Luna perked up when her best friend returned. Upon seeing the look on the other girl's face, she was practically bouncing in excitement.

"Welcome back, Hermione," Luna said cheerfully. "I take it your meeting went well?"

"Plan B," Hermione answered. "We don't get a fission reactor, we do get fusion, and you are going to love the concessions I got."

"Everything we hoped for?" Luna asked hopefully.

"And more, Luna," Hermione replied, looking like a cat that had just eaten a particularly large canary. "Much much more than we'd dreamed we'd get. Daddy slipped up badly, he was so proud that I demanded he make it worth my while that he let himself be a lot softer on me than usual. Where's Sprocket?"

"Here, mistress!" the goblin in question sprinted across the workshop.

"Let everyone know that we're going to get a couple more facilities. Three factories, one dry dock, and one aerodrome. Be sure to also put out the word that we're going to be needing more people, a lot more people."

IIIIIIIIII

Voldemort seethed. His attack on Bones had failed spectacularly. He had lost some of his most faithful, wizards trusted to stand by his side in battle. To his mind, there was only one reason for that, only one thing that could have alerted Bones to the danger and allowed her the time to lay a trap. A traitor. The thought that his plan was so obvious a two year old could have figured it out didn't even cross his mind. He was a genius, the proles would never have been able to grasp even the most menial details of his brilliant plans.

Some part of his mind noted the arrival of Bellatrix, his most faithful servant. The rest was consumed by rage.

"Speak!"

"I have come to report failure, my lord," Bellatrix said, eyes cast down. "The traitors you assigned me to question broke before revealing the full extent of their crimes against you. I have no excuses, my lord, all I can say is that I was so enraged by their admissions that I allowed myself to be careless and broke them."

"It is a rage we share, Bella. I shall forgive you, this time."

"You are most merciful, my lord."

"Continue cutting, I want this poison cut out of my death eaters," Voldemort ordered. "Dispose of any you have even the slightest bit of suspicion towards. The guilty deserve every bit of pain you visit upon them, the innocent will understand that their duty is to serve me and that their deaths will be in my service."

"I understand, my lord, I will end all who stand against you."

"Of that, I have no doubt, Bellatrix. Of that, I have no doubt." The Dark Lord leaned back. "I have decided our response for the insult delivered and I have decided that you shall be my instrument of vengeance."

"I am honored, my lord," Bellatrix gasped. "Truly, your generosity knows no bounds."

"I will hold the details till the last moment, Bella, I don't want you to be distracted from your current task. I will say this, my response will be similar to your task. All must die but the faithful will die knowing that they died in my service. The blood traitors and mudbloods will die screaming and cursing my name. None will survive that I don't send."

"I hear, my lord, it will be my greatest pleasure to obey."

"You may hand pick as many as you need, Bella. I shall also give you Lucius and Avery as sub-commanders. Their task will be to support you in all things, to ensure that you and yours succeed, and will understand that their forces will take the bulk of any casualties." The dark lord's smile turned cold. "One way or another."

IIIIIIIIII

Ron awoke the next day, had breakfast, and endured the day's classes, mind on other things. Ollivander was coming. The greatest wand craftsman in the country was coming to inspect his woodwork. The boy'd be lying if he said he wasn't nervous.

He was out of the castle and in his workshop a split second after his last class ended. He had orders to complete, he had exercises to do and to send back to the stock makers Hermione's da had introduced to him, he had projects to work on. It was a whole weekend worth of work and then some. It didn't seem like he had a spare moment and he loved every second of it. A small part of his mind marveled at how little homework he had to do, seemed the teachers were willing to be a bit more understanding when they knew he was working on his future. Who knew?

The boy stopped his work and reached for something to drink, knowing that Harry's mad elf always had something ready for him on the right side of his work bench.

"HOOT!"

And found himself with a handful of severely annoyed owl.

"Sorry about that, didn't notice you there," Ron said apologetically to the bird on his arm. "What do you have for me?"

The owl fixed him with a glare and violently thrust out its claw.

"A letter from Mandy!" Ron exclaimed in delight. "Wait a mo, I'll have a reply for you in just a minute." He opened a drawer. "Good, still have some owl treats. Help yourself while I read it and write my response."

"Hoot." The much less annoyed owl took him up on his offer.

The letter was brief, in short she was inviting him to spend the weekend with the team. They had practice and the excuse given was that they wanted him on hand to take care of any alterations the brooms might need. The real reason was buried at the end of her letter. She missed him, both of them had busy schedules and they hadn't so much as seen each other in two weeks.

Ron looked over his unfinished projects, his orders, his exercises, his homework. Regrettably, he didn't have the time to take her up on her offer. Ron dashed out a quick reply accepting her invitation. His work could wait a couple days and it wasn't like he couldn't take some of it with him to work on when Mandy was busy with her own job. What he couldn't do was take his relationship for granted, his work would always be there. She might not, especially if he made a habit of pushing her aside in favor of his job. His work was replaceable, he failed in it he'd just have to find something else. He failed his relationship, he knew he'd never find someone as good as Mandy and the thought of losing her was becoming more unthinkable by the day.

Ron affixed the letter to the owl and watched as if flied off. Wouldn't hurt to work a bit late, not like sleep was all that important. Maybe he could get Harry's mad elf to bring him dinner too, he mused. Wouldn't be too bad if he couldn't, wasn't like it would be the end of the world if he missed a meal or two.

IIIIIIIIII

Hannah and Susan finished their weekend homework early and spent the rest of the time between their last class and their evening meal helping the younger years finish theirs. Wouldn't do to have hanging over them and spoil their weekend in Hogsmeade.

"Rose know we're gonna be there?" Hannah asked.

"She says she reserved a room on the second floor of the Three Broomsticks. She says she was able to get Brown, Byrd, and Jacobs to come too," Susan replied, naming three former members of her protection detail. "She's not sure about Hamilton or Smythe, they say they'll try to be there but they can't promise anything."

"I can't believe Rose is going to have a baby," Hannah said happily. The woman had been in charge of Susan's protection detail since Susan had needed someone to be in charge of a protection detail "Isn't it great?"

"She said she tried to time things so it wouldn't make her take time off," Susan said in excitement. "She said she wanted to be sure to be around when I had summer off because she figured she could use us as babysitters."

"Is it babysitting if she's in the room with us?" Hannah asked.

"Aunt Amelia says that the law isn't clear on the matter but that she doesn't see why not. This is going to be the best summer ever!"

"We're going to be together, we're going to be with Hermione and Luna, and we're all going to have a baby to play with," Hannah agreed. "Only thing that would make it better is if . . . if you know who wasn't around."

"I'm sure Harry and Aunt Amelia will get to him. She said she almost had the bugger the other night but that he was better at running away than her people were at throwing up wards. Said the inconsiderate sod had the utter nerve to attack at night when she had an early morning and that he was lucky his slower minions didn't have much of a fight in them or she'd have been really cross."

Hannah giggled. "Only a matter of time then?"

"Shoe's on the other foot this time around," Susan agreed. "Wasn't like it was when we were babies. We've got Harry, we've got Aunt Amelia in charge, we've got more people. Aunt Amelia says we're somewhere between the end of the beginning and the beginning of the end."

IIIIIIIIII

Harry pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to keep himself focused as his assistant went over the security plan for his informal meeting with the goblins.

"We've already got the beginning of an agreement with them," Flint continued. "Everything important has been decided, all you have to do is check the agreement and sign it."

"Greengrass and Davis on board?"

"Signed and sealed," Flint agreed. "Philip wanted it whispered to you that he can be sure that nothing will go wrong on his end."

"That's something, I suppose," Harry yawned. "Our people know what they're supposed to be doing?"

"They do, boss."

"Alright, seems we've covered everything. Get yourself some sleep, I'm going to be doing the same."

"Right, boss."

IIIIIIIIII

Neville noted with no small amount of surprise that Harry was still in bed when he woke up that morning. Unusual even for a weekend, just went to show how how exhausting his dorm mate's schedule was.

He got dressed as quietly as possible and tip toed down the stairs to the common room. Half the house was already there, to be expected for a Hogsmeade weekend, he supposed. The younger years treated it as a special occasion. The chance to see new things, to eat new things, to buy new things. Its luster may have worn out after a couple years, but the memory remained.

"Good morning, cousin," Neville said happily. "Planning to visit Hogsmeade today with everyone else?"

"I'm not on rotation to escort this visit, there's also the fact that Luna and I are too busy working on something that, if successful, will change the world as we know it," Hermione replied cheerfully. "You?"

"Good luck with your project, I look forward to hearing about your success. I'll be on the floo with Juliet a bit later today, some projects in the Greenhouse before that. Would you like me to pass on anything to her?"

Hermione nodded. "Give her my best. Is Ron still asleep?"

"Gone when I got up. Harry is, though."

Hermione's grin widened significantly. "That's almost unheard of, both those things. Do you have any idea what happened?"

"I don't have any details but I understand that Ron has an appointment with the Harpies that will take most or all of the weekend."

Hermione glanced up at the clock and squeaked. "I don't mean to be rude, cousin, but I'm afraid I really must cut our chat short."

"No offense taken, cousin," Neville replied. "Safe travels."

"Goodbye, Neville," Hermione giggled.

Neville watched the girl disappear out the entrance. "Anyone who's going to Hogsmeade willing to do me a favor?"

"What'd you need, Nev?"

"Half a dozen quills and some ink," Neville replied.

"Sure."

"Neville handed the other boy a dozen galleons. "Leftovers go to buying Gryffindors drinks at the Three Broomsticks if you don't mind."

"Course not since I'm a Gryffindor. Thanks, Nev, you're a good'un."

"I try to be."

IIIIIIIIII

At the same time Hermione was on her way to her workshop, Susan and Hannah were dressed in their finest and half way to Hogsmeade.

"What'd you get her?" Susan asked.

"One hundred and One Useful Spells For The New Mother and Fifty Potions," Hannah replied. "Mum recommended it. You?"

"Enchanted ear plugs," Susan replied. "Aunt Amelia says that Rose is going to need them if her new baby is anything like I was."

IIIIIIIIII

Ron winced as one of the second-string chasers took a bludger to the arm, almost losing the quaffle as she fell off her broom but making a last-second pass to her partner.

"Wish we could have had that happen in a game," Mandy said wistfully. "That was a great pass, shame it had to be in practice."

"Coaches have cameras recording everything, right?" Ron asked.

"Yeah, they're used for critiques after the practice bouts. Why?"

"Tell them to put out books filled with the greatest moves in practice or the greatest blunders or something. People will buy them."

"What?

"Bloody great move, wasn't it?"

"Yeah."

"Glad you saw it, aren't you?"

"Yeah."

"So convert it into something you can sell and sell it. Market it as a look behind the scenes, tell people it's stuff they don't normally get to see, and you'll sell a copy to every one of your fans." The boy snorted. "Likely ten copies to every one of your competitors hoping to get a bit more information about the team, too."

"I'll mention it to the coach," Mandy promised.

"No need," a smooth voice said from behind them.

The couple turned to find one of the owners smiling at them. "It's a good idea and it'll likely make a mint, we'll do it."

"With a percentage of every sale going to Ron for the idea?" Mandy asked hopefully, starting to get used to the idea that they might be sharing a future.

"Why not?" the woman agreed. "Shall we send the tentative contract for royalties to the usual place, Mr. Weasley?"

"Please," Ron stated. "Yer daughter like the autographed picture of Harry?"

"She said it was the best birthday present ever," the woman replied. "It's why I'm here, actually. How'd you get him to do it? He said no when I approached him."

"I'm his best mate and I've saved his life a couple times," Ron answered. "Makes it a bit easier to convince him to do things he doesn't want to do. Also got a whole load of dirt on him which makes it even easier."

"What sort of dirt?" Mandy asked suspiciously.

"The sort that's not really a big deal but that would embarrass him a bit if I told it to Hermione," Ron replied easily. "Not that she doesn't already know it, of course, but Harry's good at pretending she doesn't and she's a good enough sport to go along with his delusions."

IIIIIIIIII

Voldemort smiled as three of his inner circle entered his throne room, threw themselves to the ground, and kissed the hem of his robe.

"Arise, my most faithful," the Dark Lord purred. "I have an important mission for you three. Lucius, report the information you discovered."

"Potter has reserved a private meeting room at the Three Broomsticks for the day. The reservation slip notes that he intends to arrive at eleven and that his guests will arrive shortly before or after."

"Bellatrix, I think it long past time you taught the world that none escape the great Lord Voldemort."

"It will be my greatest honor and privilege, My Lord," Bella gasped, almost too moved to talk by the honor she'd been given.

"You have picked your team?"

"I have, My Lord."

"Good. Lucius, Avery."

"My Lord?" the two men chorused.

"Your job is to keep the Aurors off Bellatrix when they arrive. Her mission is paramount, as such her life and the lives of her team are more important than yours. Do you understand?"

"We do, My Lord."

"Good. I will be checking that understanding after the battle. If more of her team are killed, captured, or wounded than either of yours, I will rectify that mistake. Do you understand who I will start that correction with?"

"We do, My Lord," Lucius replied.

"Good. If Potter proves to be less than punctual, I want the three of you to amuse yourselves by killing blood traitors and any that associate with them. Look at groups, not individuals. If any group has so much as one mudblood or blood traitor, the entire group dies. Have I made myself clear?"

"You have, My Lord," Bellatrix said, eyes mad, chest heaving with excitement. "Might I make a suggestion, My Lord?"

"You may, Bellatrix."

"Might Lucius and Avery pass the time waiting for the Aurors by carrying out those instructions? And might my team and I do the same after Potter has been dealt with?"

"Yes, Bella, you may. Kill the nits and burn the town if you have time to do so."

"For your glory, My Lord," Bellatrix panted in depraved ecstasy. "For what you have given me, I am truly grateful."

Yes, the dark lord thought to himself. Potter or no Potter, this should wipe the grin of Bones' face and remind the public that he was someone to fear.

IIIIIIIIII

Harry awoke with a start. A quick glance at his pocket watch assured the boy that he was not late to his meeting. Following a long shower, the boy dressed in an appropriate set of robes and walked to the castle entrance to meet his assistant.

"Morning, chief," Flint said with a grin. "Looks like you managed to get some sleep."

"Researchers must be too busy writing papers to bother me," Harry said with a grin.

"McGonagall threatened to hex them to death if they so much as talked to you over the weekend. Think she's getting worried you're working too hard."

"Remind me to do something nice for her."

"Goblins sent a message that they've arrived at the meeting room, one I talked to wanted me to pass on that they got in early cause the guy you're talking to has a . . . can't call it a sweet tooth, but he loves to eat cigars and was hoping that some would be put out for him to snack on while waiting for you to arrive."

"I trust he was right?"

"Was, chief, guy we assigned to set up the room brought out a whole sampler platter for them. Plenty for him and his retinue."

"Give him a bonus," Harry said immediately. "Him and anyone involved in it."

"Will do, chief," Flint agreed happily. "Along the same lines, goblin that talked to me earlier put in a polite request that we not arrive too early. Guess his boss is hard to deal with and he's hoping a dozen or so good cigars will improve his mood."

"We'll walk then," Harry suggested. "Should have plenty of time."

"Yes, chief."

"Any other news?"

"Minor commotion at the Granger estate, no details on it. Phil Granger wanted to be the one to tell you what happened."

"Talk to his people about setting up a meeting."

"Already done, chief. Another bit of news is we were able to confirm that your mate Neville is up for a Flamel Potions Prize and that you're in the running for a Flamel Charms Prize."

"Good on Neville. I assume those are considered prestigious?"

"Very."

"We know if Snape knows?"

"We're fairly sure he doesn't, chief," Flint replied with a grin. "He's attended the last seven of nine award ceremonies. I already have two dozen photographers hired and I'm looking for more so we can get his reaction from every angle."

"Publish every photo in a book, give one to Neville with my compliments, take half the profits for yourself and toss the other half in the employee bonus fund."

"Will do, chief," Flint agreed. "Ten gets you twenty that it's a best seller."

"Sucker bet," Harry laughed. "Hermione and Luna in the workshop?"

"They are, chief. Bones and Abbot are at the Broomsticks with Bones' security detail. Rose is having a baby shower."

"I send her anything?"

"You sent a self rocking crib and an invitation to work for you. She sent back a rather nice thank you note and a suggestion to do something anatomically possible with your note so long as Bones was in charge. From Rose, that's a glowing compliment, chief."

"I'll take it in the spirit it was intended," Harry assured the woman. "You have any time to spend with your husband lately?"

"Not much between my job and his new employer, chief," Flint admitted.

Harry checked his watch as the entered the village of Hogsmeade. "Remind me to have a word with your husband's employer about that. I promise to do my best to at least get the two of you a long weekend."

"Thanks, boss, I will. I-" The hairs on the back of Flint's neck went up. A big group of people was arriving via magical transport. She went for her wand.

Harry calmly noted the appearance of more Death Eaters than he'd ever seen in one place outside of a cemetery.

"Flint, be sure the goblins are told that I'm going to have to skip today's meeting and pass on my apologies." In a flash the boy's wand was in his hand, half a heartbeat later he was in the midst of his enemies and cursing like mad.

"CHIEF NO!" Flint watched in horror as the boy she was responsible to protect unhesitatingly dove headfirst into certain death.