Disclaimer: Sortes Qui Facit.

Oriflamme

Flint was pleasantly surprised to find the goblins still in the room at the Three Broomsticks when she finally managed to get to the meeting room to deliver her chief's message.

"It's Potter's assistant," the guard at the door announced.

"By all means, invite her in," the Shattertooth said with a wide toothy smile. "Welcome, fellow warrior, please do not take it as an insult that I brought so few guards."

"I am here alone and without my Chief," Flint said formally. "Even with him, there would be no insult as I doubt you have enough fighters in the nation to match him."

"I'd have taken that statement as a boast and an insult before witnessing what I did today," Shattertooth laughed. "Now? Now all I can do is admit the truth of it. A goblin misfortunate enough to have been born a human, what a loss to the clan. What brings you here, warrior?"

"I am here to convey my chief's regrets that he was unable to attend this meeting," Flint replied. "The only excuses I have to offer are that it is not in my chief's nature to turn from a fight, not even for a negotiation with a goblin as skilled as yourself and that it is not in my nature to permit my chief to risk unnecessary harm to himself by delaying medical attention."

"Yes, I noticed you stun him when he tried to keep the appointment," Shattertooth observed calmly. "Why?"

"Part of the job's to keep the Chief safe from everyone including himself," Flint explained. "I didn't do it, one of the others would have."

"Convey to your chief that the entertainment he was good enough to provide more than makes up for his lack of presence, I look forward to seeing if his prowess at war is matched by his prowess at the negotiating table. Convey also that we would consider it a privilege to reschedule the meeting at a time and place convenient to him."

"Gringotts or the Granger Estate," Flint stated firmly. "Only places I trust him to not find any trouble." Flint winched at the goblin's raised eyebrow. "Good point, please permit me to rephrase that statement."

"Proceed."

"I'd rather he be somewhere with more backup the next time trouble decides to find him knowing full well that he will do nothing to avoid it."

"An admirable consideration."

IIIIIIIIII

The first thing Amelia noticed when she arrived at Hogsmeade was a pair of occupied gibbets bracketing the town gate. It was like something out of a history book she thought in horrified wonder. She'd never thought that she'd see something like it in real life, not even during the darkest days of the Dark Lord's first rise.

"Get those things down before some idiot gets a picture," the Head of Magical Law Enforcement ordered. "We know who's in it?"

"Think it's Lucius Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange, boss," Auror Partridge, the senior Auror on scene replied. "The one we think is Lestrange is a bit cursed up to tell for sure and the one we think is Malfoy looks like he was half eaten alive. As for your orders, well-" the woman bit her lip.

"Townspeople are a bit touchy about that," one of the other Aurors volunteered. "They lost more than a few in the fight and they're pretty upset about it and they're not in the mood to listen to us. It's the only reason they're still up. We'd have pushed the matter but we're not sure we'd come out ahead on it, boss. Their blood's still up."

Amelia considered what the Aurors had said. "We getting any prisoners?"

"Not many, boss, weren't getting any from the local SAR teams till an incident with two of ours." The Auror glanced around. "Two of ours had to save a couple of death eaters from the citizens. I understand that there was some talk about building a gallows and putting ours next to the death eaters if ours pushed the matter too much."

"What stopped them?"

"Flint arrived, told them who she was and who she worked for and then told 'em that we weren't saving the bastards from the crowd, we were saving them for Potter's pet auditor."

"I take it the crowd accepted that?"

"Citizens have turned in a couple of the bastards after word got around, none of them in good shape but I guess ya gotta make allowances."

"Anyone asks why we're cutting them down tell them that leaving the bastards up is a public health hazard, same as if we left a pile of dung to sit in the street. Have a couple healers back you up if you think it'll help." Amelia suppressed a grin. The townspeople were murderous, aware of what they'd survived, and enraged almost beyond belief at their attackers. The Dark Lord had intended to sow fear, instead he'd sown the seeds of his destruction.

"Yes, boss."

Amelia looked around. "Who are all the people on brooms?"

"Professional Quidditch teams, boss. Harpies arrived first, Cannons weren't too far behind. They brought their team healers, they brought their team security, everybody. Been really useful to have too, boss. Saved a lot of lives."

"Hastings!" she bellowed, summoning one of her junior aides. "Make a note of which teams are here, I want to be sure they're properly recognized for their help."

"Got it, boss."

"What else do we have?" Amelia asked. "Who's in charge here anyway?"

"Flint's been in overall command here, boss," Partridge replied. "I was the senior Auror on scene till you got here."

IIIIIIIIII

Susan and Hannah were waiting for Hermione and Luna when they walked out of the hospital wing and enveloped their friends in a group hug.

"How's Harry?" Susan asked.

"Fine," Hermione said, her face colored with relief.

"I'm sorry," Susan said suddenly, looking guilty. "Hannah and I were safe at your house when Harry was fighting for his life."

"Susan's security portkeyed us there," Hannah explained.

"There's no need to feel guilty about doing your job," Hermione recited. "Ms. Jane taught me that when I was a little girl, some people fight and some people run. Only reason to be ashamed of running is if it's your job to fight, if it's your job to run you should feel ashamed of fighting unless you have no other choice because you make if more difficult for the people that fight to do their job if you don't do your job."

"What are you going to do, Hermione?" Susan asked, seeing the expression on her friend's face and having an inkling of what it meant.

"I am going to give them my response, Susan. One that will properly convey my feeling as to what happened here today."

IIIIIIIIII

Dumbledore face could have been carved out of wood, gone was his normal smile, gone was the twinkle in his eye, gone was any hint of emotion.

"I am afraid I can not allow that, Nymphadora," Dumbledore stated. "You see-"

"Either we move at least two dozen of mine into the school or I'm pulling Hermione and Susan out of it," Tonks said bluntly. "At a guess, Harry, Luna, the Weasleys, and a quite few others would come with them."

"Nymphadora, I-." Dumbledore began.

"It took us five bloody minutes to get to Hermione," Tonks growled. "She was on the edge of the wards and we didn't have eyes on because you insisted we stay out of the castle grounds. We got lucky with Susan. Kid wanted to visit her detail so she was with us when things went bad. At a minimum; I'm moving people into Hogwarts, we have eyes on twenty four hours a day, and we're moving several students out of whatever house they're in and into Gryffindor or Hufflepuff or somewhere else to simplify the security situation. That's not up for negotiation, would you like to know what is?"

"Nymphadora, I understand your concerns but-"

"Please excuse us for a moment, Ms. Tonks," Minerva interrupted, heading off the explosion. "Albus and I need to discuss a few things."

"Discuss them quick," Tonks barked, glaring at the old man. "I have no patience at all when it comes to the safety of my charges."

"Understandable," Minerva agreed, "I have a similar attitude regarding the safety of my students. Five minutes please, Ms. Tonks."

Minerva waited until the younger woman was out of the room and the privacy wards were up before turning on the Headmaster. "Why the bloody hell shouldn't we have as many guards for the children here as we can possibly get?"

"Because despite everything, we are still a nation of laws," Dumbledore said tiredly. "If I were to permit one student to bring in their personal guards, I would have no choice but to allow others to do the same. I do so and we both know that it will result in Lucius Malfoy bringing in as many vipers as possible."

"So hire bloody security for the school. We have the funds for it, don't we?" the woman demanded. "Hell, Harry would probably give us a discount if we asked nicely."

Dumbledore stared at his deputy. "Say that again, Minerva."

"What? That we have the funds to hire extra security? Or that Mr. Potter would give us a discount if we asked?"

"Yes," Dumbledore agreed, a smile forming on his face. "The school will hire security and we will tell the families that they are also welcome to hire extra security for their children, as much as they like, but only if they come from an approved security company."

"I'll just send a note to Mr. Potter's assistant that you want a moment of his time," Minerva agreed, a matching smile on her face. "Shall I tell Ms. Tonks that we have a possible solution?"

"Please do, Minerva. I fear that I shall have to impose on you to look after the school after that," the old man sighed heavily. "I I believe that I will be busy the rest of the day. We are missing several students and one professor."

"There's a chance they were evacuated directly to one of the hospitals, Albus."

"Let us hope we are so fortunate. I will be in Hogsmeade aiding in the search efforts if you need me, Minerva. While there, I will also do my best to identify the fallen. It is my duty and, I fear, not one that I can delegate." He managed a weak smile. "Much as I loath to say it, I dearly hope that every one of them is a former student with a coiled serpent on their arm. I . . . I may not be in any shape to make arrangements to ensure student security upon my return. Please spare a moment to pass the school's request to Mr. Potter or his aide at your earliest possible convenience."

IIIIIIIIII

The sound of china clinking together brought Harry to full wakefulness. For what seemed like hours he'd been drifting in the space between sleep and consciousness, vaguely aware that he was in the hospital wing and unable to find the motivation to do more than simply exist.

"Hello, Dobby," he said, pushing himself up.

"Hello, Harry Potter Sir!" Dobby said, his grin threatening to split his face. "Dobby has brought lunch for Harry Potter sir."

"Thank's, Dobby."

"Dobby, Dobby has a favor from other elvies to ask from Harry Potter sir."

"What can I do for you, Dobby?"

"Other elvies ask Dobby to ask Harry Potter sir to find them more work."

"Winky?"

"Not Winky, but Dobby thinks Winky would want to be in a family not as a worker."

"Tell her to talk to Hermione and Luna about it," Harry suggested.

"Winky is afraid Harry Potter sir's Grangy will try to give her clothes again," Dobby admitted with an embarrassed look on his face. "Is scared that Harry Potter sir's Loona is too close to Harry Potter sir's Grangy to be safe."

"Tell Winky that Hermione was trying to free the elves because she found out how the Malfoys treated you and because she heard that house elves see their family as their family."

"Dobby doesn't understand the second part, Harry Potter sir."

"Hermione took it seriously when she heard that house elves look after their families because they're their families," Harry repeated. "She sees the staff that takes care of her as members of her family. She was horrified to hear how bad families treat their house elves, just as she was horrified to hear how the

Dursleys treated me. She sees giving elves clothes the same way she'd see the police rescuing abused children."

"Dobby understands," the house elf said, eyes wide. He'd never heard of a human with such an elvish attitude, another bit of evidence to support his theory that Harry Potter was the greatest wizard who would ever live. No one else could have explained that his Grangy's actions were were due to familial love rather than a desire to make all elves miserable as had been the prevailing theory in the kitchens. He should have expected no less from the wizard who called a house elf, friend.

"Happy to be of service." Harry's joints cracked as he sat up. "How many elves?"

"As many as work can be found for, Harry Potter sir," Dobby replied.

"Remind me to write a letter to Phil Granger after lunch," Harry said after a moment of thought. "I know he has a lot of places to clean. Oh, and remind me to talk with Hermione the next time she comes up. We'll see if we can't get Winky a new family and I doubt Winky alone could clean all Hermione's toys."

"Yes, Harry Potter sir," Dobby nodded, eyes wide.

"So, what'd you bring me?"

"Dobby brought all of Harry Potter sir's favorites." The house elf's ears drooped. "Dobby is sorry he couldn't help Harry Potter sir with the bad wizards, Dobby was busy removing dangerous vermin from the forbidden forest around Harry Potter sir's Grangy's Engine Shed. Dobby was worried the vermin might hurt Harry Potter sir's Grangy or his Loona or their peoples or things."

"Nothing to be sorry for, Dobby, you were busy and that's that. Do you have anything you have to do now or can you join me?"

"Dobby will stay," the house elf said, touched that the Great Harry Potter sir would ask him, a mere elf to dine with him. Truly he was blessed to serve the greatest wizard of them all.

"Great, meals are always better when you have good company."

IIIIIIIIII

Neither Hermione nor Luna said a word until they were both back in the engine shed surrounded by the engines and technicians.

"Anguish, gather our people together," Hermione ordered. "I wish to address the to discuss the fact that there has been an attempt on Harry's life."

"Harry is much too good natured to take it personally," Luna added. "We are not. It is for that reason that we are going to prepare a proper response on his behalf."

"We're doing nothing less than he would do if they tried to harm us," Hermione agreed. "The fact that he is not willing to deliver an appropriate response to attacks on his own person is something we shall have to address at some point in the future."

IIIIIIIIII

Hermione's uncle paused at the door, the meeting was unexpected and his superior had an odd look on his face. Neither thing was good in his line of business.

"Come right in, James," Charlie said, waving for Hermione's uncle to enter the room. "Please have a seat."

"What's wrong?" Hermione's uncle asked calmly.

"Hmm?"

"You're mixing me a drink, you're mixing it the way I like it rather than the cover, and you're using the good stuff. What's wrong?"

"I initially called you in to discuss the attempted assassination of your niece's young gentleman. We've recently been given evidence showing that your niece was also targeted." Charlie gave an actual smile. "It was handled appropriately. At approximately the same time as the attack, we uncovered an unrelated plot to kidnap your sister."

"Bad things usually come in else?"

"There isn't any easy way to say this, Jim. We've known each other a long time and-" Charlie pursed his lips and straightened his back. "My lord, I regretfully inform you of the death of your father at approximately eleven o'clock this morning."

Jim sighed. "It's over then, old bastard finally let go."

"There's more, Jim. Orders from the very highest level state that you are to be removed from active service effective immediately."

"Has my replacement been chosen yet?"

"He has, Jim. Good man, come up from SBS."

"Carrying on the tradition," Jim sighed heavily. "Be a good sport and pass on a message from me, would you?"

"Of course."

"I don't know how many men have had the name, number, and cover since the first, but I'd like to pass on some words I wish my predecessor had been alive to pass on to me; Including the first, I'm the fourth to have held the position and lived to see retirement. Try to be the fifth." Jim exhaled deeply. "What now?"

"The very highest level has expressed their desire to see you take your proper place in society," Charlie replied. "She wished me to add that you have done more than your part, you deserve a rest."

"Wonderful sentiment, let's hope the world lets me have it. You know what happened to one of my predecessors when he tried to give things up to marry and settle down, it destroyed him. I would prefer not to have to endure the same."

"We've gotten better at preventing that sort of thing." Charlie drained his drink and began making himself another. "Buck up, Jim, it could be worse."

"Yeah, I could be saddled with your job." Unfortunately for Hermione's uncle, he failed to notice the gleam that appeared in the other man's eye at those words.

IIIIIIIIII

A smile appeared on Voldemort's face as he contemplated the information his spy had delivered. A chance had presented itself, one that would make his defeat at Hogsmeade appear to be part of a brilliant plan, one which in one fell swoop could deliver victory over the fools that opposed him.

The Dark Lord arose from his throne, this was too important to leave to an underling. He would lead the attack himself.

IIIIIIIIII

The goblins' eyes shone with malice as their mistress discussed her plans. Techs they may be, rear support they may be, but in each of them beat the heart of a warrior. The bastards had made a fatal mistake when they chose to crawl out of their holes to pick a fight with Clan Granger!

"I want everyone to start keeping notebooks," Hermione said loudly. "Put any ideas in them you get for new technology or improvements on what we already have, especially for things that will be useful for what we have to do. You work for me, that means that you're the best at what you do, I wouldn't have anyone else in my employ." The girl paused, smiling as her people cheered wildly. "Don't let anyone tell you different, not even yourselves. You are the best, the future will prove it. Does anyone have any questions or ideas?"

"One, mistress," Anguish spoke. "I would suggest incorporation the company under goblin law. It will provide a modest tax break and make it much more difficult for the Ministry to take action against us without provoking conflict with Gringotts."

"It won't stop us from carrying out the plan, will it?"

"I will double check with the legal team, but it should not, mistress."

"Do so and do it if there aren't any problems," Hermione ordered. "Anyone else?"

Sprocket raised his hand. "I have an idea, mistress."

"What is it, Sprocket?" Hermione asked eagerly.

"Most of our opponents live on country estates, but not all of them. We'll need a way to go after the ones in the city too."

"Do you have a solution?"

"I might, mistress, I would like to request an hour to check if my idea is viable before presenting it to you."

"Granted. Let me know either way, sometimes it's more valuable to know if an idea won't work. Good work, Sprocket. Anyone else?"

IIIIIIIIII

Amelia didn't know what to think when Auror Watts, a five year veteran of the force, approached. The man had a lost expression on his face and it was clear that he was holding back tears.

"What is it?"

"We found Professor Sprout, boss." The man squeezed his eyes shut, trying to keep composure. "She didn't go easy."

"Damn." Amelia took a moment to blink back a few tears, the woman had been one of the more popular instructors for nearly two decades. "Damn."

IIIIIIIIII

Harry had a sudden thought as he finished his meal. Maybe he wasn't as alone as he'd thought he'd been.

"You know, Dobby."

"Yes, Harry Potter sir?"

"I just thought of something, Hermione's staff is her family. For me, my friends are my family. Don't have many blood relatives, don't have any close blood relatives that I'm willing to claim, so that will have to do. Sound good, Dobby?"

"Is . . . is Harry Potter saying that Dobby is not his friend, that Dobby is his family?" the house elf asked slowly.

"Can't it be both?

Dobby rocked back on his heels, that was almost unprecedented. Very few families reciprocated the love their elves gave them, there were no words to describe Harry Potter's greatness for combining familial love and friendship. "Yes, Harry Potter sir," Dobby said, voice thick with emotion. "Yes, it can be both."

"Good." Harry yawned. "Gives us another reason for us both to live through this mess, eh, Dobby?" The boy yawned. "Let's work towards a world where a bunch of little Potters can have a meal with their uncle Dobby and his gaggle of kids without having to worry about all the garbage we've had to deal with."

"Yes, Harry Potter sir," the elf whispered as his friend drifted off to sleep, his eyes filling with tears. "Dobby will do all he can to see that world."

IIIIIIIIII

Ms. Jane arrived to find her charge crouched over a drafting table, her pen darting over the paper as she designed something that would no doubt revolutionize the world. She'd always been proud of her little reader's insatiable thirst for knowledge and was pleased to see the girl using it constructively.

"Hermione."

The girl gave a start. "Ms. Jane? What are you doing here?"

"Representing your parents," the librarian stated. "I'm sorry, darling, but I have some bad news."

She braced herself. "What is it?"

"I'm sorry, darling, it's your grandfather. He passed away this morning."

"He passed away after the last stroke," Hermione disagreed. "Uncle Jim says his body just kept going out of habit."

"Are you alright?"

"I made peace with his death after he had his stroke," Hermione replied. "Was there anything else, Ms. Jane?"

"They wished me to check on your health and safety," Ms. Jane replied. "They would have come themselves but there was an incident. Both are fine, but you know how these things can go."

"What a day," Hermione sighed. "No one was hurt, were they?"

"Not even the bad guys," Ms. Jane assured her charge. "Your mother wanted me to pass on that she expects you to spend the weekend at home, your professors will be notified."

"Can Luna come?"

"You may bring as many people as you need," Ms. Jane allowed.

"Thank you. Please notify my parents that Harry will also be coming along."

"Alright, darling."

The girl stared blankly at her half completed diagram. "Ms. Jane?"

"Yes, darling?"

"Does Harry have people watching out for him like I have people watching out for me?"

"He does, darling."

"Have them doubled," Hermione ordered, eyes flashing. "There are either not enough right now or they aren't good enough."

"To be fair to them, darling, his reaction to seeing a group of masked killers was to dive into the middle of them and the only reason his injuries are so minor is because his people killed everyone that looked at him crosseyed."

"Alright. Tell them they have my sincere thanks for doing a good job and then triple them," Hermione ordered. "And doubled again when he's doing something unsafe like walking in public or minding his own business."

Ms. Jane smiled. "I'll see what I can do, darling. How are you dealing with what happened in Hogsmeade?"

Hermione smiled. "I'm just trying to focus on a new project to keep my mind occupied."

Ms. Jane leaned forward to inspect the girl's drafting board and in an instant her mind went back to the day she'd been hired to look after Phil Granger's only daughter and the first orders he'd given. Seemed Hermione had taken more after her father than anyone had previously realized.

"I will be involved in the planning once this gets completed and you are ready to use it, darling," Ms. Jane said firmly. "Is that understood?"

"Yes, Ms. Jane. You aren't going to tell daddy, are you?"

"Not unless he asks some very direct questions, darling." She gathered the girl into a hug. "Remember, darling, I'm on your side. That means I'm here to help and the first help I'm going to provide is to suggest you work on a few other projects so that I can give your father a couple harmless examples when he asks what you are doing."

IIIIIIIIII

A wave of relief washed through Amelia when she got the final numbers. Hogwarts had lost a professor but it had not yet lost a single student. It was a minor miracle that none of the children had been lost especially considering the fact that a group of students had been at the vanguard of the counter attack. Thank Merlin they got off so easy. An even dozen were on the line but she had faith that the healers could keep them on the right side of it.

"Simms!" she barked. "What's the status of the prisoners?"

"Transferred to the secure holding area, boss," her aide replied.

Amelia noticed one of her senior forensics techs approaching with a wide grin on her face. "What do you have for me, Fletcher?" she asked eagerly.

"Add at least seventeen more, boss. Possibly more, hard to say since it was some time before anyone thought to measure anything," the forensic tech said smugly. "I think I've figured out what those puddles are from."

"What?" Amelia demanded.

"Potter hit the Death Eaters with a spell that prevented the water in their bodies from going along when the portkeys activated. They'd have been dead the moment they left."

"Wonder how the bastards on the other end took it when the mummies arrived," Amelia laughed.

"Took it as a warning I'd wager," Fletcher said thoughtfully. "Who knows, something to ask the next time we get a prisoner anyway."

"True," Amelia agreed. "Report what we've found to the Pinch and the Hogwarts Professors."

"Why?"

"Cause I'd kill to know how Potter did it," Amelia said ferally. "Imagine how much fun it would be to hit a group of the bastards with it the next time we caught them torching a family."

"I'll get right on it, boss," the tech agreed with a matching grin.

"Martin! I want-" the woman froze, her connection to the wards at the Ministry demanding immediate attention.

"Boss?" the man prompted.

"The Ministry is under attack," she stated, son of a bitch was trying to take advantage of the fact that the majority of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement was all in Hogsmeade. "Gather up what we've got and contact Potter Security and ask for anyone they can spare."

"Yes, boss."

IIIIIIIIII

A look of confusion formed on the Minister's head of security. The wards were informing him of the arrival of dozens of individuals, none of which appeared to have checked their wand at the front desk per policy. His confusion transformed into alarm when the wards began screaming that lethal spells were being cast.

"Perkins! Wilks! Teddybear, I repeat, Teddybear! Teddybear! Teddybear!" he ordered causing the two largest members of the detail to kick open the door to the Minister's office, grab their charge, and activate the escape plan.

"What's going on, Gavin?" the Minister's secretary asked.

"Death eater attack, I'd wager," he replied cheerfully. "Well, gentlemen, I suppose the time has come to earn our pay. We may not win this fight, but by god they'll know they were in one." He smiled at the secretary. "I'd advise you to either lock yourself in the meeting room down the hall or to activate the emergency portkey in the top drawer of your desk, my dear. Good luck."

IIIIIIIIII

Ms. Jane was sent directly to Philip's office upon her return to the Granger residence. The man was pacing back and fourth in an uncharacteristic display of nervousness.

"Sir?"

"I just received word from our goblin friends that there was an attempt on Hermione's life during the attack on Hogsmeade. Fortunately, it seems that Harry's people were able to handle things quietly. Remind me to send a bonus along with a request to increase security."

Ms. Jane went cold. "I will, sir." She was going to have to do something nice for the young man. Seemed he hadn't been all talk after all.

Phillip took a couple deep calming breaths. "How is Hermione holding up?"

"She's doing well, sir. It's very apparent that she's her father's daughter, she's throwing herself into her projects to try to keep her mind off what nearly happened."

Phillip nodded, he was doing similar. "What sort of project was she working on?"

"There were several, sir. Most of them were to try to prevent or better respond to attacks. One was a way to communicate faster, another was a way to move people faster, that sort of thing. She also wished me to remind you of her desire to work on a fusion reactor."

"Have we gotten a response back from the people we consulted?"

"We have, sir, they see no issues in her desire to work on the subject or even her desire to build working models."

"Good. Hopefully a new project with a correspondingly large budget will keep her occupied and focused until after we can deal with the situation."

"Regarding that, sir, I would like to be given leave to stay with Hermione to better deal with future security threats."

Phillip smiled widely. "Granted, of course, with my thanks. It'll set my mind at ease to know you're there."

"Mine as well, sir."

IIIIIIIIII

To Flint's surprise, she found her boss propped up in his bed and reading one of his school books in the Hogwarts Hospital Wing. She'd expected to find him taking advantage of the enforced down time to catch up on missed sleep.

"Got a minute, chief?" she asked, catching his attention.

"You had a chance to get any rest since the fight?"

"Not a bit." Flint grinned. "Planning a bit of downtime after I meet with you, chief. Husband has the night off."

"Enjoy it. What can I do for you?"

"Just wanted to update you on what happened, chief. We've been flooded with orders, everyone wants security after what happened."

"Who?"

"Hogwarts, the Diagon Alley Merchant Association, the Hogsmeade town council, and four professional quidditch teams," Flint listed off. "Granger family would like to increase their security as well."

"That's going to leave us awfully thin," Harry mused. "What're the latest numbers for our recruiting efforts?"

"Not even close to what we need, chief. Happily, you have a meeting with the goblins this weekend at the Granger residence that may provide a possible solution."

"Let's hope that it goes better than today's meeting. How bad were our losses?"

"My information's a bit old, chief, but it doesn't look like any students were lost, we've confirmed the death of one professor, eleven of ours, all but one of the Aurors on duty in the Hogsmeade station, and an unknown number of townsfolk. Still counting the bastards."

"Which professor?"

"Sprout, boss. She died protecting a group of students."

"Hard to think of a better way to go, don't suppose that'll be much comfort." Harry closed his eyes. "I trust that we're taking care of the families of everyone we lost?"

"Yes, chief. It's one of the benefits you offer. We fill out forms with instructions on what to do if we die that activate if we do. Everything's being handled."

"How many wounded?"

"Just about all of ours, chief. No clue how many students, professors, or townspeople," Flint stated. "They're all being taken care of as well. Don't worry. All you need to do is-" the woman cut off suddenly.

"What is it?" Harry asked intently.

Flint reached into her pocket and pulled out a vibrating makeup compact. "Ministry's being attacked, chief," she said calmly, watching the report scrolling across her mirror. "Bones wants to know if she can take some of ours with her when she hits back."

"Tell Bones we'll be down to join her in a couple minutes," Harry ordered, throwing off the blankets and levering himself out of bed.

Flint sent her reply. "Try to get out of bed, I'll stun you again, chief," she said calmly and conversationally.

Involuntarily, Harry's eyes flicked towards his wand on the bedside table. Flint's wand was in her hand when they flicked back to her. "Nice reflexes."

"Thank you, chief."

AN: Omake below.

Omake by lordveive

The next moment Flint's wand flew out of her hand and into Harry's and she was trussed up in ropes.

"Your mistake was assuming I actually needed to touch my wand." Harry said casually as he got out of bed. "Now are you going to be good or am I going to have to leave you here?"

It was then that Flint realized that Harry's wand, which was still laying on the bedside table, was pointed at where she had been standing a moment before.

"You knew this was going to happen." She accused.

"I didn't actually." Harry disagreed. "Just gave the wand a bit of a tug with my magic to point it at you and hit you with a simple expelliarmus through it."

End Omake