That evening found Evangeline going back and forth between Gringotts, and a room at the Three Broomsticks, to which the defenders apparated from their respective homes. Each of them took a drink of Snape's protective potion before entering the paintings with her. She found she could only take two at a time, so although the trip only took moments, she had to make many, many trips. Dumbledore was one of the first she transported, as he needed to check on the goblins' preparations.
The goblins had told him that they could empty most of the vaults, and secure their contents, and their records, in secret caverns elsewhere. Special lower level vaults could easily be sealed off from the attackers. The goblins hoped to have all of this accomplished by 10 p.m. They were also going to leave a cadre of defenders in the building, to join the witches and wizards assigned as the main defense force.
Reaction to going through the paintings was mixed. Once all the defenders had arrived at the Three Broomsticks, Dumbledore explained the process involved to them before they took the trip. Some were more reluctant than others. A few blatantly refused to go with Evangeline, although they stopped short of accusing her outright of being a dark witch. Several of these were the same ones who had been so quick to label Snape a traitorous and untrustworthy wizard at the earlier meeting. Noting her obviously close association with him, they lumped her into the same category. Revelations of her unusual ability merely seemed like confirmation of their suspicions.
Dumbledore didn't waste time trying to persuade any of these witches and wizards to go through the paintings. Instead he merely told them to station themselves around Diagon Alley at strategic points and remain well hidden. Then they could join in once the battle began. Evangeline noticed that their distrust of Snape didn't stretch as far as refusing a drink of his protective potion before they left, however.
Most of the witches and wizards who did make the trip through the painted realm with Evangeline were properly awed and impressed by the experience. Some even expressed a desire to return, at a less critical time, when they could have the chance to really explore and get more out of the experience. To Evangeline's well-concealed amusement, one of these was Alastor Moody. She told any who asked, including Moody, that she'd be happy to take them back another time. Once the movement of people got underway, everything went quite smoothly, and indeed, she had everyone inside Gringotts by 10:20 p.m., well within the desired time frame.
Dumbledore thanked her and told her she should go back to Hogwarts.
"Isn't there anything else I can do, Albus? The next few hours are going to be agony."
He smiled at her in understanding and took her hand. "Actually there is Evangeline. We've set up several field hospitals in private homes around the London area. Poppy is in charge of one, and Minerva is aiding her. Perhaps you'd like to help her as well."
Evangeline gave him a hug. "Thank you, Albus. Yes, I would."
So he gave her the directions she'd need to find Poppy, and she kissed him on the cheek and set off to find the field hospital with a final admonition. "Good luck, Albus and please, be careful!"
A short time later, she popped out of a landscape, into what was ordinarily, a very fancy formal living room. It'd been turned into a hospital ward with many beds and lots of equipment and supplies piled around. Pomfrey and McGonagall were moving around the room setting things up. Two other women, whom Evangeline didn't know, were helping them.
The unknown women stared at her, shocked at her sudden appearance, but both Pomfrey and McGonagall smiled and gestured for her to join them.
McGonagall asked, "Did you get everyone safely into Gringotts, Evangeline?"
She nodded to her friend. "Yes, everything seems to be ready there. I just hope Severus didn't run into any unforeseen problems when he delivered his potions to Voldemort."
"Hmph! It would be a small loss if he did, if you ask me. He's a repulsive creature! I don't trust him." An arrogant voice made this pronouncement in a snide tone behind Evangeline's back.
She narrowed her eyes and turned abruptly to look at the woman who spoke. The offensive words came from a heavy set, older woman, with silver hair, and a superior manner. Before the annoyed witch could make a sharp retort to the woman, McGonagall put a warning hand on her arm. "Evangeline, this is Evelyn Montrose, and her daughter Deirdre. They have graciously opened their home to us for use as a hospital this evening."
Evangeline frowned, but didn't say anything about the woman's obnoxious comments. Obviously McGonagall didn't want to rock the boat. So instead she nodded politely to the woman and her, thin colorless, daughter. "How do you do?"
Mrs. Montrose regally inclined her head and inquired in a supercilious voice, "However do you travel through pictures?"
Evangeline shrugged. "It's a talent I was born with. I can't really explain it."
The woman shook her head and looked down her nose at Evangeline. "Well, it's a strange talent to have. Are you sure it's not a use of dark magic?"
Evangeline didn't know what to make of the woman. "I'm not a dark witch, madam!"
Mrs. Montrose shook her head again and looked down her nose at Evangeline. "Hmmm…I certainly hope not."
Then she turned and addressed Madam Pomfrey in a slightly more respectful tone. "Is there anything else you require, Madam Pomfrey?"
Madam Pomfrey came forward and shook her head. "No, Mrs. Montrose. Everything we'll need is here. I thank you for your generosity."
Mrs. Montrose gave her a satisfied nod. "Very well then. We'll leave you alone until you have need of us. Come, Dierdre." She swept out of the room with her daughter in her wake.
Evangeline stared after her, then turned and raised an eyebrow at Pomfrey and McGonagall. McGonagall sighed. "Yes, Evelyn Montrose is a rather difficult woman, but arguing with her about anything does no good. We need to use her home tonight, so frankly, I think it's best to simply ignore her. No one takes her opinions seriously anyway."
Evangeline nodded. "Okay, Minerva. I'll try. However, if she calls Severus a "repulsive creature" in my hearing again, all bets are off."
Pomfrey grinned. "You'll get no argument from me. She's the repulsive one! Come on, Evangeline; let me show you where everything is. Then, I'm afraid, all we can do is wait."
Poppy and Minerva showed Evangeline how to find anything she was likely to need to help the people who unfortunately would be arriving all too soon. Evangeline had never done much in the way of first aid before, so Poppy took the time to give her a crash course in rudimentary diagnostics. Then she explained in detail exactly how to clean and disinfect the bites and scratches of werewolves. Anything particularly nasty would have to be given a quick evaluation and then handed over to Poppy. This wasn't the only field hospital that had been set up for this battle and medical personnel were stretched thin tonight, so they'd just have to do the best they could with what they had.
As Evangeline sat down to look over the supplies she'd need to become familiar with, she found herself wondering how Severus had done with the Dark Lord and his werewolf army. She prayed fervently that nothing would go wrong on this final mission, and that, at last, he'd be free of Voldemort's hold forever.