Disclaimer: Caedite eos. Novit enim Dominus qui sunt eius.

Èl Degüello

Amelia had expected everyone to follow the plan, to fight a rearguard action while the Ministry was evacuated before bringing the building down on the bastards as they departed. It was a good plan, it had a high chance of success, it was a pity none of the clerks followed it. Amelia arrived to a scene of blood and chaos. The clerks, people she'd written off as useless in a fight, people she'd seen as sheep to be protected or slaughtered, had thrown themselves on the death eaters without regard for their own safety and with a viciousness that spoke of a considerable amount of hate. It was one of the most brutal things she'd ever seen. No quarter asked for and certainly none given.

"Martin, do what you can to cut them off!" Amelia ordered. The surviving death eaters were in full panicked retreat. It looked as if the clerks had followed the plan just long enough to suck the bastards in before they struck. "Why in the bloody hell couldn't they have followed the bloody plan," she cursed under her breath. They could have gotten them all, Amelia lamented to herself, wiped out every one of the evil sons of bitches at only the cost of a building.

Auror Smyth-Warren cleared her throat. "Got half a dozen of them trapped in the records room, boss. Orders?"

"Bottle them up for now," Amelia replied.

"Uh, records clerks want to burn them out, boss."

"What?"

"They heard about what happened at Hogsmeade, boss," Smyth-Warren explained. "They are really unhappy about it. A lot of them have family at Hogwarts."

Amelia felt a flush of pleasure at the news. "I see." She considered the matter. "Tell them the same thing we told the townspeople, survivors will be handed over to Potter's pet auditor. Letting them live is not a mercy."

"Might work, boss," Smyth-Warren said, sounding unsure. "Their blood's up. It's hard to talk sense into anyone when they're like that."

"Do what you can and try not to get caught up in it."

"Will do, boss."

Amelia shook her head, the sheer number of Orders of Merlin they were going to have to pass out threatened to put a measurable dent in the quarterly budget. Whomever held the contract to make the damned things was about to get very busy and very rich.

IIIIIIIIII

Narcissa's knuckles whitened as she listened to the reports coming over the wireless. It was inconceivable, not only was the dark lord losing, he was losing badly. The battles of Hogsmeade and the Ministry were routs. For the first time in years, she began to believe that Lucius had put them on the losing side. Her breath caught at the report of how few prisoners had been taken and the pronouncement that any prisoners would be handed to Potter's pet auditor. This was a disaster, she had to find a way to switch sides before it was too late or at the very least she had to find a way to save her son.

"Zippy!"

"Yes, mistress?"

"Can you get my husband's files without too much risk to yourself?"

"Zippy thinks so, mistress."

"Do so and move them somewhere safe and secret from everyone, even me. Don't respond to me or tell anyone where they are unless I'm both free and in the presence of Amelia Bones, Albus Dumbledore, or . . ." She considered some of the rumors that had been swirling around. "Harry Potter. "Do you understand, Zippy?"

"Zippy thinks so," the house elf agreed.

"If anything happens to me take them to any one of the three and tell them that they're in exchange for Draco's life."

"Zippy will do so, mistress."

Narcissa carefully considered her next move. Probably best to lay low for a bit longer, she decided. The mob had been aroused and were hungry for blood, it would be best to avoid giving them a target until they'd had a chance to vent their fury on someone else.

IIIIIIIIII

Voldemort considered his numbers, he'd lost his best, his rich, his elite, his most capable. The dark lord smiled, he'd have had to purge them anyway after he attained total control, he'd lost nothing that couldn't be replaced. It was fortunate that common thugs were so easy to come by, he'd rebuild his numbers, he'd overcome these setbacks, he'd teach the populous to fear again. He considered his setbacks, perhaps it was a good thing the people had regained their hope, they'd fall into a deeper despair after he took it from them.

IIIIIIIIII

Amelia tried to put a smile on her face as she visited the makeshift aid station they'd set up the DMLE break room. Hogwarts, St. Mungos, every clinic in the country was filled to overflowing. They'd won and were in danger of losing more people in the aftermath than they had in the battle.

One of the wounded men tried to lift his head. He was unrecognizable most of his face was gone, almost completely burned off by a curse. His other injuries spoke of someone who'd soaked up a massive amount of damage and had kept going until his body had betrayed him. What had she done to deserve men such as this?

"That you, Madame Bones?"

She froze in shock. "Popinjay?"

"Surprised one of the Minister's pet peacocks did their duty?" he asked, the remains of his lips trying to curl into a grin.

"Surprised you survived it, Gavin," she said gently. "I'd heard you were dead."

"My team?"

"You and Peaks are the only confirmed survivors. I'm sorry, Gavin."

"Don't be sorry, they died with no wounds on their backs, instead congratulate me for being privileged with the command of such men."

"You and your men did good, Gavin, you have my congratulations."

"Thank you, Madame Bones." He tried and failed to sit up. "As head of the Minister's security detail, I am formally requesting replacements and additional Aurors from the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement."

"You have them, Gavin."

"Good. Hate for anything to happen to the Minister after everything we went through to keep him safe."

"I'll do my best to keep him alive, Gavin, my word on it. I will no let you our your people's sacrifice be in vain," she promised meaning every word of it. It would be a crime to let the deaths of such heroes be for nothing. She'd completely misjudged all of them.

IIIIIIIIII

The senior goblin's eyebrow went up a bit when one of his aides showed Shattertooth into the office, a wave of his hand dismissed the junior goblin.

"Sorry for the delay, had to have some things checked before I completed my report," Shattertooth said cheerfully. "Also got a request I'd like to make."

"What things?" the senior goblin asked neutrally.

"My suspicions about the Potter and the Granger heiress for one," Shattertooth explained, seemingly unaffected by his superior's evident displeasure. "Knew no human could do what the Potter did. Turns out I was right."

"Explain that."

"Potter's got non-human blood on both sides, suspect a dryad on his dam's side what with the eyes, haven't proved it yet but I have my people looking. Sire was descended from Short Nose the Ugly fifteen or so generations back, only thing that makes sense is that the Potter is atavistic. Still very impressive for a goblin to do what he's done, but much more understandable."

"I see. What about the Granger heiress?"

"Much more interesting, you're aware of the fact that her dam is descended from a former Primus Pilus of the Legio XX Valeria?"

"I am."

"My people have been able to discover that in her many greats uncle was none other than Marcus Rubrius Saturninus."

The senior goblin frowned. "Why do I know that name?"

"From several of the sagas. He was a praefecti sociorum of the Ala Prima Coboli Lupi Equitantes Miliaria

"The one the stories say spent a good portion of his down time on our side of the Vicus?" the senior goblin asked, trying to remember the saga. "The one responsible for the fact that so many of our forefathers were jokingly called Marci filius?"

"The same."

"Which side?"

"The sire, it explains quite a bit about the family. We said she was a goblin in human skin, stands to reason we share blood."

The senior goblin carefully considered the information he'd just recieved for a few moments. "What is your request?"

"I'd like to recruit a band of volunteers to fight under the Potter's banner. Our treaty with the Ministry allows it so long as we are under nominal command of a human approved of by the Ministry."

"That doesn't apply. You just proved that the Potter is one of us."

"They don't know that."

IIIIIIIIII

Fudge seemed resigned when she entered the room, like he knew that there was nothing he could do to dig himself out of the hole he'd found himself in.

"What's it going to be, Amelia?"

"Minister?"

The Minister managed a weak smile. "I realized what was happening when your Aurors replaced my people, I'm not going to make this more difficult than it needs to be."

"They replaced your people at Gavin's request, Cornelius. There aren't enough of yours to do their jobs after the fight at the Ministry."

"I see." The Minister took and released a breath. "I'd prefer not to have been killed in the fighting, the two that brought me here would have to be silenced if that were to happen. A trial would be bad for society with all that's happened I think it would be best if I were to top myself. Give me a bit of rope, a bottle of good brandy, and a bit of privacy, and I'll see to it for you if you promise that no harm will come to my surviving guards."

For the first time in their association, Amelia felt a trace of respect for the Minister. "I'm not here for that, Cornelius. I'm here to talk with you to see if I can't keep you alive and as Minister."

Fudge raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Everyone knows that Potter's only kept me as Minister because he wanted me to fall at the time most convenient to him. This seems to be it."

"I'm the head of the DMLE, not one of Harry Potter's employees. I promised Gavin that I was going to keep you alive and I intend to keep my promise."

"My last report stated that Potter commanded nearly twice as many wands as you do, do you think you can stop him?" Fudge shook his head. "We've got one war, Amelia, we don't need another. Best if you take over after I'm gone, you work well with Potter. Don't make the same mistakes I did, Amelia. Our nation can't afford another me."

"I think I can convince him to let me handle it," Amelia stated. "He's reasonable enough to know that he doesn't want the headache of running the Ministry. I say we hire him to provide assistance to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, that combined with a couple laws to make his life easier will hopefully be enough."

"If you think that will work, Amelia," Fudge agreed. "Before today I'd convinced myself the best I could hope for was to be permitted to resign so he could place you in my chair."

"I don't want it," Amelia said flatly. "Not at all and never that way. History won't be kind to either of us, Cornelius. We'll be remembered as the incompetents that allowed the Dark Lord a second rise, the attack on Hogsmeade, and two attacks on the Ministry. I can live with that." She grinned. "What I can't live with, what I'll die to prevent is to be remembered as Potter's puppet minister."

"Thank you, Amelia, it's good to know you're on my side."

"I'm on the side of the law and the people, Minister. Let's get back to the Ministry, there's work to be done."

IIIIIIIIII

The night was half over when Dobby began to speak as no elf would willingly leave work undone, not even to hear something so important. Harry's friend spoke of family, of friendship, of a young girl so loyal to the idea of both that she would willingly become the object of fear and hatred from those she tried to save. In the audience, skepticism transformed into belief and shock into something akin to awe. Great was Harry Potter but good was his Grangy. Dobby spoke of plans, of ideas, of the dream that some day young Potters would sit at the same table with their uncle Dobby. He spoke of hope for a better future and asked those present to help him achieve that future. The response was both unanimous and wildly enthusiastic.

IIIIIIIIII

Luna cocked her head when Harry entered the engine shed. On the one hand it was good to see him up and about. She didn't like to see her friend hurt and laying in one of the beds in Hogwarts' hospital wing. On the other, she was well aware of how many incriminating plans and drawings they had out.

"Harry, I don't know if you've been told but you're going with us when we visit my parents this weekend," Hermione announced, drawing the boy's attention.

Luna took advantage of the situation to shuffle the half formed schematics on their drafting table so that their reactor project was on the top.

"Good to know what my plans are," Harry said mildly.

Hermione blushed. "Sorry, that sounded horrible, didn't it? Would you please accompany us to my house this weekend?"

"Did something happen?"

"My grandfather died," Hermione admitted.

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"Thank you, Harry."

"What time should we leave?"

"Either later this afternoon or tomorrow morning," Hermione replied.

"I presume you're coming too, Luna?"

"I am, thank you for asking," Luna said cheerfully.

"Good." He eyed the drafting table for a few uncomfortable moments.

"Was there some reason you came down to talk with us, Harry?" Hermione prompted, drawing his attention.

"I came down because I had a couple requests I promised to pass on to you."

"Oh?"

"Some of the castle elves have asked if they can clean your toys and your mine and all your other stuff."

"For pay," Hermione stated firmly, her tone brooking no argument. "It is an insult to a worker not to get coin for their labor."

"You hear that, Dobby?"

"Dobby heard, Harry Potter sir," the little house elf agreed. "Elves will do for one galleon a month per property."

Hermione's lips pursed.

"Is insult to elvies to ask for more," Dobby said quickly. "Dobby knows that Harry Potter sir's Grangy is too polite to insult her elf friends."

The girl snorted. "Fine. You win, Dobby."

"The other issue is Winky," Harry continued. "She is not happy as a Hogwarts elf and would like to have a family. Would either of you be willing to accept her into your family?"

Hermione's eyes flicked to Luna.

"I would have to consult with our family's elf before agreeing to another," Luna stated.

"Your family has a house elf, Luna?" Hermione asked curiously.

"Yes. She's the deputy editor of the Quibbler, Daddy'd been trying to get her to take over as managing editor for ages but she's far to smart to agree." Luna's smile was blinding. "She also does the rune puzzles."

Hermione took a moment to digest what she'd just been told. "That's great, Luna." She turned back towards Harry. "I'd be willing to talk with Winky about joining my family."

The elf in question made herself seen. "Winky could have a family again?"

"Yes," Hermione agreed. "But I'll want you to have something to wear better than a tea cosy and I will want you to have pay so that you can buy things for yourself."

"Winky will wear a uniform but Winky will not take pay," the little elf said firmly. "Family looks after family because they love them. Family does not get paid to look after family."

"I will agree to that so long as you agree to never hesitate to come to me if you need or want anything no matter how big or how small," Hermione said firmly. "You're right, family looks after family out of love and I will not have any member of my family want for anything I can give to them."

Hermione found herself with a sobbing house elf wrapped around her leg. "Winky was so lonely without a family."

"You must promise that you will come to me if you ever need anything," Hermione repeated. "If we are starving and there is only one bit to eat you must be the one to have it." The girl summarized the lessons her family had been giving her for as long as she could remember. "Just as you have your duty to family, so do I. Your position requires loyalty and service, mine requires loyalty and protection. That's the deal that's always been given, the fact that others may shirk their responsibilities is no justification for me to shirk mine. The fact that others shirk their responsibilities is reason for me to do everything in my power to rescue my family that I have not yet met, it is no justification for me to shirk mine. I will die before I shame my family like that."

"Winky agrees, Winky agrees mistress, Winky is so happy to be home."

"Welcome home, Winky," Hermione hugged the house elf. "Can you come with us this weekend to meet the rest of the family?"

"Winky will be happy to meet the rest of her new family."

"Every elf in the castle must be here," Luna said in wonder.

Hermione became aware of the fact that there seemed to be house elves packed on every one of the rafters that held up the roof of the engine shed. The elves watched silently for a few more seconds before disappearing as a group.

IIIIIIIIII

Amelia raised an eyebrow when one of her senior Aurors walked into her office without knocking and flopped into the visitor's chair.

"Well?"

"It doesn't make sense, boss."

"What doesn't make sense?"

"The Potter boy is good, good to the point that I wouldn't want to cross wands with him, but just it doesn't make sense. It's Hogsmeade, boss, the people think he killed just about all the Death Eaters himself."

"What?"

"I talked to a dozen people today, each one admits that they may have hexed one or two, but they all insist that they were just taking some of the pressure off Potter and that Potter did all the heavy lifting. Most I can get them to agree to is that Potter may not have walked away without the help he got. I just don't get it, boss."

"They all know that they threw a curse or two, even know that the people around them threw a curse or two. What they forget is just how many people there were in town that were cursing and not wearing masks. It's a trick of how the mind works, they remember they did it. So that's one. They remember a couple of the people around them helped out. Say another four or five. Six total. Do you think six people can overcome the number of terrorists that carried out the attack by themselves? Six normal people verses dozens of hardened killers?"

"No, boss. But there were a helluva lot more than six people. There were at least a dozen of Potter's armsmen and a few of ours that helped out along with Merlin knows how many civilians. Even if you say that one death eater can take three civilians, they still had the bastards outnumbered by a factor of four."

"True. But they don't know that and we're not going to tell them. We're going to tell them that Harry couldn't have done it without their help, we're going to push the story of those two kids who took out five thanks to that asinine book the Weasley twins put out. We're going to talk about the students who fought their way back to the castle, we're going to talk about Frank and Lessie's boy and his group, and we're going to make damned sure everyone knows that they were trained by Potter last year. Are we clear, Auror?"

"Yes, boss. But why?"

"People on our side can't even say the name of the bastard on the other side. I want to give the other side something that inspires just as much hope in ours, enough to push away all the fear and to let decent people fight back. Remember, Potter showed us the way."

"Boss?"

"One of our new slogans, kid's going to absolutely hate it. Potter showed us the way, he showed us we could win, die on your feet or live on your knees. Print shop's turning out dozens of posters to put up around the alley."

IIIIIIIIII

Harry left the Headmaster's office with an agreement to provide security to the school and the problem of where he was going to find the staff to do it.

"We're going to have to start doing a lot of overtime," Harry mumbled to himself.

"Right you are, chief," Flint agreed. "That's without taking into account the fact we've gotten similar requests from Hogsmeade, Diagon, St. Mungos, several Quidditch teams, etc. Seems like everyone wants security and you're the one they want to hire it from. Goblins state that they might have a possible solution to you if you're available to talk this weekend," she reminded him.

"Am I?"

"You are, chief, already set up."

"Thank you. Anything else I need to do today or should we collect the girls and head to Hermione's house?"

"Wonder of wonders, you're free for the rest of the day, chief. Researchers are going over something you did during the fight so it's likely best to escape before they decide they need you to generate more data."

"Can't find a better reason to get out now," Harry agreed.

IIIIIIIIII

Daphne nodded to her cousin as the fire changed color, the connection was as secure as she could make it. Her cousin nodded back indicating that the room was as secure as the other girl's skills permitted.

"Are you there, father?"

"I'm here," the man replied. "Tracy, your father is taking care of some business and will not be able to attend this meeting."

"Please give him my best, uncle."

"Why did you call for an emergency meeting, father?"

"I want the two of you to do all that you can to build more ties to the Granger family," the man stated firmly. "See if you can ally our family with theirs if you can, be sure that the two of you and your siblings are under their umbrella if you can't bring in the entire family."

Tracy's eyes widened in shock. "We're not going to be neutral anymore?"

"I trust that both of you have some idea of what happened at Hogsmeade?"

"We do, father."

"It was followed by an attack on the Ministry with the same result. People are angry, angry to the point that I'm worried they're going to start forming mobs to take care of anyone not sufficiently against the dark lord. We will declare for the Ministry if we have to, but I think it would be much better to deepen ties with an existing business partner."

"Especially with one that happens to have a close personal relationship with Harry Potter," Tracy said dryly.

"Exactly. Do what you can to deepen ties, try to get me a meeting with the head of the Granger family, and do everything you can to stay safe and to protect your siblings. I've transferred a large amount of galleons to your personal accounts, spend it like water if that's what it takes to keep the family alive."

"We shall do our best, father."

"Our word on it, uncle."

IIIIIIIIIII

The entry hall to the large Granger country house was filled to bursting with servants and security when the trio of Hogwarts students arrived.

"Welcome back, Ms. Hermione," the butler said with a wide smile. "I trust your time at school has been productive?"

"Yes, thank you," Hermione replied. The girl nodded thanks as one of the footmen took her and Luna's luggage.

"Allow me to take your bags, Mr. Potter," another of the footmen stated.

"Harry will be in his usual rooms and Luna will be with me," Hermione commanded. "You may take them there."

"Of course, Ms. Hermione," the footman agreed. The staff had come to approve of the boy after his last visit, that approval had grown when they'd heard what had happened to the bastards who'd sought to harm the young Granger heiress at the hands of the guard the young man had assigned.

The butler cleared his throat. "Your mother wished me to pass on that you are to take an hour to freshen up and then you are to attend her in her rooms. Mr. Potter, she requests that you abstain from this meeting."

"What about Luna?"

"That is for Ms. Lovegood to decide."

"I will come with you if you like," Luna offered.

"Thank you, Luna, please," Hermione agreed.

The butler turned to Harry. "Mister Granger requests a bit of your time if you feel up to it, Mr. Potter. He wished me to add that he completely understands if you are not."

"I am," Harry agreed.

The butler gave a meaningful look to one of the footmen. "Steven here will show you the way, Mr. Potter."

The footman led Harry to the estate's south field where Phil Granger was in the middle of a round of clay shooting. A place far from prying ears and one that came with a ready made excuse to keep people away.

"Ah, Harry," Phil said with a grin. "Welcome."

"Good to be back," Harry replied. Phil indicated for the boy to select a shotgun.

"I see the reports that you're hovering on death's door were were a bit off," Phil observed as Harry made his choice. "You know how to use one of those?"

"I remember what you taught me about them," Harry replied carefully.

"Good enough to not kill either of us," Phil laughed. "Come on."

Harry took his mark and promptly missed the first two clays.

"There was a plan to kidnap my wife," Phil said calmly, taking his mark.

"I see." Harry waited until the man had fired both his barrels. "Do you have a list of their names or do I need to get that myself?"

"What?"

"Isn't that what this meeting is about?" Harry looked honestly confused as he stepped up. "You arrange for a quiet place for us to talk, you tell me that an individual or a group of someones have decided to commit suicide, and then you give me their name or names so I can be sure they succeed."

Having heard what had happened from the goblins and knowing that it was no idle boast, Phil couldn't keep the grin off his face. "Thank you, Harry, but that won't be necessary. This was not the first time something like this has happened nor did it have any chance of being successful. My thanks is due to the fact that your people made things both easier and quicker than they normally are so, as I said, no further action on your part is necessary."

"I disagree." Harry broke both clays. "Well?"

"As it happens, they were from the non-magic world. Wife's known as a bit of a soft touch when it comes to charity. Some of those charities are loosely connected to groups that like to take a more active hand in things. Some of those groups, in turn, think that they're also entitled to a bit of funding and are not too happy to be told otherwise."

"I see." Harry took his mark.

"As previously mentioned, I brought it up because I wanted to thank you. It was your people that caught them. They tripped some sort of intent based ward when they were doing their scouting and we were able to nab them right after that."

Harry broke a clay.

"Well done!" Phil cheered. "Tripping that ward caused the guards to take a closer look."

"What's to be done with them?" Harry stepped off the mark.

"Police are dealing with them which is why, as previously mentioned, no further action need be taken," Phil replied cheerfully. "Whole thing's attracted a bit of attention. We've had several quiet inquiries about getting similar wards."

"From whom?"

"Those in the know, many of whom would prefer to remain anonymous for as long as possible." Phil broke two clays. "What I need to know from you is a timetable. How soon can your people start and how long will each ward take to come up."

"Will they also need security people to keep an eye on things and more people to monitor and maintain the wards?"

"Quite possibly," Phil agreed.

"I'll have some numbers sent over shortly," Harry promised.

"Thank you." Phil made a show of looking around. "There was another thing I wished to discuss while you're here."

"Shoot," Harry replied with a barely suppressed smirk.

"To start with, have you given any thought to where you are going to spend your summer?" Phil asked, changing the subject.

"Not with the Dursleys," Harry said firmly. "One nice thing about having a number of dangerous individuals working for you is that your refusals carry a bit more weight than they did without the dangerous individuals."

"True. Any objections to spending the holidays with us?"

"So long as it isn't any sort of bother."

"No bother at all for us," Phil said immediately. "My wife was rather hoping you'd say yes so she'd have more opportunities to introduce you to society. She believes it will make it easier to persuade Hermione to agree to attend events if you're along." He grinned. "She also believes you to be our future son in law and wishes to ensure that you're known by all the correct people."

Harry's eyes widened in surprise. "What?"

"You are the only boy my daughter has ever shown any interest in," Phil said calmly. "Personally, I believe you all to be at least ten years too young to think of any of these things, but I'm told things often go quicker in the magical world."

"I . . . I agree with you on that," Harry stammered. "Being too early."

"Just a friendly warning," Phil stated. "Come to me if my wife or Neville's grandmother or anyone else tries to push you into taking things too quickly. I'm afraid they're feeling a bit smug at how well things are going with Neville and my niece and have decided to focus on other targets. The next one is Jim. Be sure not to warn him."

"Why doesn't he get the same consideration I did," Harry asked with a bit of humor.

"Well, he's a degenerate cad for one. He's old enough to take care of himself, for two." Phil signaled for two clays, breaking one. "For three, him producing an heir would make things a bit easier for Hermione in some ways. Finally, and most importantly, the bastard's been stealing my good whiskey for years so I owe him a bad turn."

"Three works for me," Harry laughed. "Bugger 'im. Any idea who the lucky girl is?"

"Think it's one of Augusta's nieces, some sort of librarian or researcher I think. Feel a bit sorry for the poor girl, but I wish her all the best."

IIIIIIIIII

Hermione's uncle did not have to fake a smile as his blind date introduced herself, perhaps getting to know the girl wouldn't be such a chore after all. Granted he'd have to put up with an appalling amount of smugness from his sister if things worked out, hopefully it would be worth it.

"So, what do you do, Mr.-" she pursed her lips. "-come to think of it, how would you prefer to be addressed?"

The question brought him back to the present. "Please call me Jim," he stated. "As to your question, I am a man of leisure."

"Good work if you can get it, I suppose."

"I'm hoping so," Jim agreed. "I was in exports until I received my inheritance."

"I see."

"Yourself? To both questions."

"Please call me Ada. As to what I do, I am currently a researcher."

"What do you research?"

"Unspeakably boring things," she stated.

The two stared at each other for several silent moments.

"Were you perhaps researching something in Bangkok two years ago?"

"I was gathering research materials in Bangkok two years ago," she allowed calmly. "Dreadfully boring trip."

"I was quite impressed with how you handled the cobras," he said dryly.

"Some research materials are more challenging than others," she explained. "You?"

"Working on a trade deal. Dreadfully boring stuff."

"Which necessitated stabbing a man in the throat with a pen?"

"It was the only way I could get him to stop talking about his golf game."

"Understandable." She regarded him for a few moments. "Care to pencil in a second date? I've since been-" she frowned. "-promoted to a desk job, meaning the days of gathering my own materials are sadly behind me. It's left me with quite a bit of time and an aunt that has been pushing me to settle down."

"I would be delighted to," Hermione's uncle stated. "It will be interesting to meet with an attractive woman on my own behalf."

"Your reputation suggests-"

"For queen, country, and cover," he interrupted. "Not for myself in quite some time."

"Of course, forgive the lapse."

"Nothing to forgive, I've found myself forgetting the difference between myself and my former cover more than once."

IIIIIIIIII

Hermione resisted the urge to frown as her mother finished detailing her role in her grandfather's funeral. The girl did not understand why they couldn't just have something private for the family rather than a public spectacle. Wisely, she did not voice her objections for fear of having her mother give an answer.

"Are there any questions?" Anne asked.

Luna raised a hand. "What would you like me to do?"

"We'll have you seated with the family if you chose to come, dear."

"My father too?"

"If he wishes to come," Anne agreed. She turned back to her daughter. "That out of the way, I understand that you hired a maid?"

"How did you know?"

"I'm your mum, I know everything."

Hermione sighed. "Winky."

"You is calling Winky, Miss Hermy?"

"Winky, I would like to introduce you to my mother. Mother, this is Winky, our newest member of the family."

"Welcome to the family, Winky. I am very pleased to meet you," Hermione's mother said with a smile. "Let me introduce you to Ms Valentine, my personal maid." She raised her voice. "Suzanna, would you come in here please."

A petite redhead stepped into the room. "Yes, Mistress Granger."

"Permit me to introduce you to Winky, she'll be joining the family as Hermione's maid. Winky, Suzanna Valentine."

"A pleasure," Suzanna stated. "Do you have time to discuss your new duties?"

"Winky wishes to get to work soon, but Winky understands how important it is to learn first to make sure the work is done correctly."

"Wonderful." Suzanna turned to her employer. "Mistress?"

"Of course, Suzanna, no need to be formal in front of family."

"Winky, shall we?"

The little elf followed the woman into another room.

"First of all, you are responsible for the welfare of Miss Hermione," Suzanna began. "Health, safety, appearance, everything. If you have not yet attained the skills to do so, I will arrange for your instruction myself."

"Winky can cooks and cleans and sews," the little elf said, hands wringing with distress. "Winky doesn't understand what Valentinny means with other things."

The woman paused to consider the mangling of her name. "I am a trained paramedic, I worked for the Metropolitan Police protection command before being offered a place at Mistress Granger's side. My younger brother is a marine commando and is hoping to be offered a chance to become young Miss Hermione's driver after her graduation. I'm the third generation employed by the Granger family and I am by no means unusual among the servants. Can you measure up or do you need me to arrange a bit of training?"

"Winky can protect Mistress Hermione Granger ma'am from baddies," the little elf agreed. "Winky can do some healing, but needs to learn more."

"Show me," Suzanna commanded. The woman immediately found herself immobile. She then became aware of an increasing amount of pressure on one of her limbs, her left arm bent until it snapped with a sicking pop. Teeth clenched, the woman fought to free herself.

"Winky will heal it now," the house elf stated calmly.

Suzanna's pistol was in her hand the moment she found herself free. The woman worked her left arm for a few moments, it appeared to be undamaged.

"Was Winky good enough or does Valentinny need Winky to demonstrate more?"

"That was sufficient for now," the woman said, stowing her firearm. "Is there a way to prevent anyone else from being able to do that?"

"Winky only knows that other elfies can stop it," she offered. "Winky can ask Dobby to ask Harry Potter sir to ask other elfies to protect Grangy family from bad elves if Valentinny wants."

"Please do so."

IIIIIIIIII

The congenial smile dropped off Harry's face the moment Hermione's father was out of sight. "Flint!"

"I'll have a list of names for you by the end of the day, chief," Flint stated calmly as she pulled off her invisibility cloak. "What do you want us to do with it?"

"Do whatever you have to to find out who else is involved," Harry ordered. "Keep an eye on the ones in police custody and leave them in one piece if it can be done without coming into conflict with my previous order. I want Anguish to have a long talk with anyone unfortunate enough to have escaped arrest."

"Got it, chief," Flint agreed.

"See what you can do about making sure the unsavory sorts know that the Granger family is off limits," Harry continued. "Let me know if we need to make an example."

"Dobby can take care of bad muggles, Harry Potter sir," the little elf announced, making his presence known. "Is no trouble, Dobby can do it like he took care of bad wizards who tried to harm Harry Potter sir's Grangy and Loveygood."

"When did that happen?" Harry asked intently.

"When Harry Potter sir was dealing with bad wizards at Hogsmeade," Dobby replied. "Dobby fed bad wizards to pigs and put their things in Harry Potter sir's vault."

"Thank you, Dobby. I should have expected you to be on top of things. Please be sure to let me know if you have to deal with that sort of thing in the future."

"Dobby will do," the house elf agreed. "Dobby will tell other elvies the same."

"You want me to give the names to him, chief?"

"Give them to me along without whatever else we can find and the three of us will sit down later tonight to discuss who does what."

"Got it, chief."

AN: Omake below.

Canon Omake by me

The goblin chieftain sneered down at the Roman envoy. "You say that if we don't surrender your army will bring ruin to us? Hah! Come! Come and we will fill our tunnels with your dead. Come! Come and our wolves will feast on your corpses. Come!-" He cut off when one of his advisors leaned in to whisper something into his ear. "Really? Are you sure?" The Advisor whispered something else that caused a friendly smile to appear on the chief's face. "So, I'm told you'd be willing to pay us to kill your enemies. Exactly how much gold are we talking about?"

"What?" the envoy blurted out, a bit taken aback by the sudden change in demeanor.

"To kill our common enemies, my friend," the chieftain explained. "You really should have started by telling me that you were recruiting mercenaries. Now, who do you want us to kill and how much are you willing to pay? I've got wolf cavalry and combat engineers, why take only one if you can have both?"