The Scottish afternoon light bathed the new arrivals outside the dreary looking Hogs Head Inn. The loud caw of a raven had them all looking upward. Sitting upon the blackened swing board sign were two sizable birds. Hermione jolted as she felt Minerva's arm evaporate from within her grasp. Glancing at her wand tip noting the Clabbert pustule was still black, her eyes snapped to the motion of a tawny cat leaping from atop a barrel by the bar door up to the light post, a stone's throw from the majestic black ravens. Not just any tawny cat. My kitten. Hermione smiled at the thought.

Hopping toward the feline, the vocal bird chirped and cawed as Minerva tilted her head this way and that all while licking her paw looking disinterested. The other raven let out a series of strange noises before cackling suddenly. Hermione gasped as she saw Minerva jump, claws extended toward the far bird. The ravens flapped out of range, hovering briefly and cawing, then flew away as the cat flipped in the air transforming back into Minerva's human form who landed gracefully on her feet.

Bursting from the door came a fierce looking Neville Longbottom, wand raised, followed by a dishevelled Aberforth Dumbledore. "Oh hello Professor, Harry, Hermione!" Neville said in a surprised voice, lowering his wand. "And good to see you again, Kreacher, not usually out and about are you?" Looking at Elspeth and Wazel, Neville bowed his head slightly. "Hello, I'm Neville."

Elspeth smiled at the kind wizard, "Pleasures to meet ya, Neville. I's Elspeth and this here's Wazel."

"We heard the bloomin crows and thought the Lestranges was back," Aberforth directed toward Minerva.

"Aye, Aberforth, they just left." Minerva muttered angrily, straightening her robes.

"The Lestranges?" Harry questioned, stepping toward Aberforth, sparing a glance toward Hermione who had gone a bit pale.

"Rodolphus and Rabastan," Minerva answered. "They're twins and share the same animagus." Not wanting to linger on anything to do with the Lestranges for Hermione and Neville's sake, Minerva turned back to Aberforth. "You said 'back', Aberforth? What's happened?"

Scowling, Aberforth motioned for them all to come inside. After everyone was settled around a few small tables, he answered, "They were round yesterday, bit after noon, walked right in the bar offering to buy a round for everyone to cheer the fall of Hogwarts. Scared off all my lunchers, they did, before suddenly leavin in the wisps of their death eater smoke. I sent Ariana to go get Neville here to make sure things was alright at Hogwarts. Was beginning to worry about you, Minerva, but Filius was adamant things were fine and that he would have felt it if something had befallen you."

"Aye, Hogwarts' wards. He would inherit them if my magical stores were compromised or if I fell," looking toward Neville, "What brings you here again today, lad?"

Neville got up and retrieved a note from the bar, handing it to Minerva. In Albus' distinctive hand, she read:

We were wrong. You are the chosen one.

"I received this by owl today at lunch. Since it's your weekend off grounds and I had just seen Aberforth yesterday I thought he might know how this was possible or help me prove it a fake." Neville rubbed his forehead, a familiar tick of his when troubled. "Or something," he added, sounding baffled.

Minerva passed the note to Hermione, who after reading, passed it to Harry. "We're here for the same reason." Minerva pulled the note from her robe pocket, handing it to Neville. "Harry got this around the same time." Neville's eyebrows disappeared beneath his messy hair as he passed the note to Aberforth. Minerva leaned forward, resting one arm on the semi-clean surface. "Tell me Neville, of those you've seen, has anyone in the Order seemed out of sorts yesterday or today?" But before he could answer, the parchment within Aberforth's hand started to glow and chirped, pulling itself free and zooming to land on top of the note in Harry's hand.

Neville jumped up startled, drawing his wand. Minerva raised her hand, "It's okay Neville, we put an affinity charm on our parchment and it's just recognized its kin. We know now it was from the same source."

Harry put the still nestling parchments down onto the table with a shaky hand, looking toward Aberforth, and with a calm voice that he did not feel, "Have you heard from Albus, Aberforth?"

"No, lad," Aberforth shook his head, "Not that I'd be the first person he'd wanna talk to if he did return. But I'm still holding the wards of the family estate, and I think if he were to return, they'd defer back to him." Looking at Minerva, "Would you be able to feel it through Hogwarts, Min?"

"I'm unsure. There hasn't really been a precedent for such a thing." Minerva returned her gaze to Neville. "Neville, I need to know if anyone has seemed out of sorts. Think, lad. Anything off, even a bit?"

"Well, now you mention it, Charlie got an owl while we were working on the astronomy tower yesterday afternoon, said his mother was upset by something and he needed to go to the Burrow. Fleur went with him, but she didn't look happy about it. They haven't returned, at least not until I left to come here bout an hour ago. Other than that, it's been a relatively calm weekend. We were able to get the third floor stairway back from hiding in the owlery! Turns out the stairways are like limbs. Madame Pomfrey did a diagnostic spell and realised it gave off the same readings as a broken bone. Pretty wild, really, don't ya think?! She's been going round casting diagnostic spells on everything now!"

Minerva smiled at Neville's enthusiasm and Poppy's discovery. Turning to Harry, "I think it wise you go and suss things out at the Burrow, Harry. Kreacher, would you mind accompanying him?"

"Wonderful," muttered Kreacher, rolling his eyes. "I wish they'd clean the place a little. The clutter is appalling.

"Ah, come on, Kreacher, it's charming." Standing, Harry looked at Hermione, who had been unusually quiet. "Send a patronus if you need me, 'kay?" Nodding, she gave him a half smile, "You too." Reaching for Kreacher's hand, they disappeared with a pop.

Minerva got up from her wobbly chair, wandlessly summoning the two parchments to her outstretched hand, "Aberforth, would you mind us entering Hogwarts from Ariana's portrait? I'd like to go observe some things before my presence is known."

"Not a problem. Do let me know if ya learn anything about my bloomin' brother, will ya?" Aberforth rose, leading the way as he moved to the back of the bar toward the stairs.

Minerva hung back, letting Neville and the elves go first. Reaching for Hermione's hand, she spoke softly, "Knut for your thoughts, gradh?"

Looking into green eyes full of concern, Hermione squeezed her hand as they moved forward, "Just thinking. I have this feeling like we're being led into another trap." Squeezing her hand again and slowing them to stop,"What did the Lestranges say that upset you so?"

Minerva sighed and shook her head slightly, looking past Hermione's shoulder out the dingy front window where the encounter had taken place, "Rodolphus, from whom Bellatrix took her name, said that I may have escaped yesterday but my days are numbered once she and the Dark Lord regain their strength." Minerva sighed again and sliding her gaze to her lover, Hermione saw a look of fury she had never seen, "And he ended by saying that Bellatrix will be especially angry once she learns that I've claimed her plaything."

Hermione's mouth fell open. Her eyes widened, glued to Minerva's, as her mind quickly processed through all the implications of what she had just heard, while her emotions roiled over the still fresh rehashing of her past. Minerva held her young lover's hand tightly, reaching for the other one and squeezing it also, eyes searching for any sign of shock or trauma response. Blinking and closing her mouth, Hermione broke their eye contact looking down then closed her eyes. Taking a deep breath, she started her familiar process of putting things away in a box for later, only to find that she didn't need to. The feelings, while strong and sharp, were not debilitating. Taking another breath, she let the love and healing that she felt in her very cells expand through her. I'm free. Bellatrix has no power over me, even if she survived somehow. I won't give it to her any longer. A soft smile crossed her face, and looking back up into the concerned eyes of her lover, she murmured, "Claimed indeed."

Minerva's eyes lit up, concern transmuting to wonder as she pulled Hermione to her, capturing the smirking lips. Hermione moaned, bringing her hands to her lover's face, fingers sliding around and behind soft ears. Minerva trembled as Hermione continued to stroke one of her more erogenous zones. Hermione chuckled and deepened their kiss, tongues finding a familiar rhythm.

"Oh, uh uh uh," Neville stuttered. The witches broke their kiss, Hermione resting her forehead on her lover's shoulder. "Uh, ready whenever you're ready, Professor, um, right." And he scampered off back up the stairs, under Minerva's calm and slightly amused gaze.

"Mmm, for being private people, our relationship is starting off rather public." Minerva mused. Hermione threw her head back and laughed joyfully. Leaning back within her lover's embrace, Hermione's eyes glittered as she searched Minerva's for any sign of discomfiture. Finding none, Hermione spoke earnestly, "I have never felt so deeply for another person and I personally don't care who knows or who has a problem with us. I love you, Minerva."

"And I, you, love. You have lit a fire in me that I never thought possible and I haven't the slightest regard for anyone else's opinion on the matter save yours. It's quite liberating really," grinning broadly, Minerva kissed Hermione again.

"Oy, yous two! Ya said you'ds save it for laters already! Get goin' or I'll apparte yous to Hogwarts meself!" Elspeth exclaimed before chuckling a bit, "Ya got that kind Mister Neville shakin in his boots, Minnie. I've never seen yous like this!"

Hermione's chest swelled as she beamed at Minerva. Turning to face Elspeth, "My fault, Els. Lead the way!" And marching them forward, they joined the rest in Aberforth's sitting room.

Aberforth's blue eyes sparkled as he took in the flush on both witches' cheeks. "Rounds on me when you return, lasses. I'm happy for ya. In these times, love's the thing we should cling to most."

"Thank you, Aberforth. We'll take you up on that drink, I'm sure." Minerva glanced toward Neville, "You alright, lad?" Receiving a nod in response, she added, "Neville, I'd like you and Hermione to find Luna once we get to Hogwarts and ask her if she's seen Ernest MacMillon lately. If she says yes, ask her what she thinks of inviting him to join the order. Can ya do that, lad?"

Feeling more comfortable having been given a task, Neville nodded again, "Sure thing, Professor, no problem."

Smiling fondly, "Please, call me, Minerva, lad. I'm no longer your professor." Turning to Hermione, "After you finish up with Luna, find Filius and go to my office. The password this week is Augurey. The wards will alert me to your presence and I'll join you within five minutes. If I don't," turning to Elspeth, "find me." Looking to Wazel, "Wazel, would you visit the Hogwarts elves please and see if they've noticed anything odd since Friday?" With a smile and a nod, Wazel popped away. The rest, minus Aberforth, stepped through the portrait hole following the simulacra of Aberforth and Albus' sister down the magical portal to the Room of Requirement.

Minerva felt Hogwarts' wards tingle along the crown of her head as they passed the invisible boundary about halfway through the portal. Stretching her magic through the connection, she sighed in relief. The wards were intact and thrumming strongly. When she inherited them from Severus during the night of the battle, it had been a different feeling altogether; fractured and in some places missing completely.

Ariana paused and stepped aside, motioning with her hand to pass her. Neville went first and confidently hopped through the blank darkness ahead. Elspeth hesitated before following. "Strange, this is," she muttered before disappearing. Hermione grabbed Minerva's hand and they went through together. Arriving in a smallish room lit by a cozy fireplace, the small group felt comforted by the welcoming ambiance Hogwarts knew they needed.

Minerva transformed herself into her cat form and sat upon Hermione's shoulder, rubbing her whiskers on her loves right temple. Hermione smiled at the affectionate gesture, reaching up to scratch behind her ear. "Alright, Neville, let's go find Luna."

Elspeth piped in, "I's be unseen, but nearby Hermione. I'll click like this if I see somethin' amiss as a warnin' if we need to go." And she made a sound like the snapping of a branch, it was loud but innocuous enough. "Right, thanks Els."

Minerva nuzzled Hermione one last time then darted from her shoulder to a cat flap that had formed next to the door. Shaking her head at the ingeniousness of this room, Hermione moved to the door. "Any idea where Luna might be, Neville?" Still seeming a bit shy, he answered, "She's been mostly spending time with me and Professor Sprout helping with the remaining greenhouse repairs, so may as well head there first." Looking away and then back again,"Uh, Hermione, why are we talking to Luna about Ernie exactly?"

Hermione side-stepped from answering directly, "Minerva is just following up on a hunch is all, I'm sure it will come to nothing." Neville shrugged, accepting the vague answer. Shooting his eyes from hers to the door handle she was about to turn. "So you and Prof-I-mean-Minerva are, like, involved, then?" Smiling fondly at her friend. "Yes, Neville. Some things came to pass this weekend that set us down a path of revealing how much we felt for one another. It's still very fresh, and I'm sorry if we made you uncomfortable."

"No need to apologise, I was just taken aback is all." Smiling kindly, "Just like Aberforth said, I'm happy for you both. I can't think of anyone else who could keep up with either of you, so it only makes sense you'd be attracted to each other."

Chuckling, Hemrione clapped him on the shoulder, "Thanks, Neville, you're a good friend." Opening the door, she motioned for him to go ahead of her. Holding it for a beat longer as she didn't know where Elspeth was exactly, they exited into the familiar hallway and proceeded downstairs toward the front entrance. As they were turning around the last bend of stairs, Luna nearly walked into them. "Oh hello, didn't see you there," she said in her dreamy voice.

Luna had come a long way since being held hostage at the Malfoy's. Her colour had returned and she was starting to regain her weight, but her eyes still had a haunted quality about them, drifting away even more than usual in the middle of conversation.

"Hi Luna, how's your weekend been?" Hermione responded brightly, "Care to walk with us?"

"Yeah, maybe in a bit. I was just coming to see if Professor McGonagall was back. I got an owl from my father asking to meet him, but it's a fake. You can't read it backwards and upside down and it's full of Nargles. My father would never send me Nargles. Have you seen her by chance?"

Hermione's respect for Luna had grown considerably since they had worked side-by-side during the first week of repairs. What she had long-judged in their youth as flightiness and impractical musings, she learned, was actually keen intuition. Once she stopped being so critical of Luna's interpretations of what she was seeing, she understood that Luna simply didn't have a frame of reference to translate the rich and vivid world she experienced so differently than others. This realisation led her to ask better questions and soon they worked quickly repairing the wards, Luna finding and describing the frays and tears while Hermione used her practical magical understanding to rebuild them.

Feeling impressed, yet not at all surprised, at her friend's ability to see through the forgery so quickly, Hermione nodded. "Yes, she's around. Let's head to her office and she'll join us there." Hermione turned to Neville. "I'll go with Luna to Minerva's office. Would you mind finding Filius and meeting us there?" He nodded and continued down the stairs, heading to the Great Hall, where Filius had been spending most of his time coordinating repair efforts. Luna and Hermione climbed back up, turning right down the hall toward the Headmistresses office. "You look good Hermione, I'm happy your arm is healed." Hermione stopped in her tracks. Shaking her head, she whispered once Luna turned to meet her gaze, "How could you see through the charm?"

"Oh, I couldn't, but there has been a shadow over your left forearm since our time at the Malfoys and sometimes it darkened when you seemed upset or in pain, but it's gone now." Smiling kindly, "You seem lighter and I'm happy for you."

"Um, thank you." Shaking her head again, "You are an incredible witch, Luna. You continue to surprise me. Tell me, have you noticed anything off with any of the Order members lately? There have been several forged notes like yours sent out in the last two days. One of the parchments even came from my desk at Grimmauld. Any shadows or glimmers or anything you've seen?"

Luna tilted her head up the way she often did when thinking. Reaching the Gargoyle, who had been repaired since the battle with gold filling the cracks along its left eye, beak, and right wing, Hermione looked into its stoney eyes and said "Augurey". Flexing his wings a little, he turned his head, fixing his golden left eye on Hermione, he leaned forward. Hermione felt a strange feeling pass through her as if she had touched something charged with static electricity. The imposing creature spoke in a gravelly voice, startling both witches, "The Headmistress has been made aware that her mistress has arrived. You may enter." Snapping his wings back, he made room for them to step inside. MISTRESS?! Oh sweet Merlin, we may as well take out an ad in the Daily Prophet at this rate. Barking out a laugh as she felt herself blush for the hundredth time that day, Hermione stepped forward, glancing at Luna who beamed at her as she joined. As they ascended, Luna spoke softly, "I've been waiting for you two to figure it out. Congratulations."

Chuckling, Hermione shook her head, rolling her eyes and sighed, "Thanks, Luna." Stepping into the warm office, Hermione smiled as she looked around, seeing Minerva's sanctuary through the eyes of a lover. The barrister bookcases that lined the circular room were arranged more like tiny dioramas, each artfully curated by theme, containing relevant texts and objects pertaining to each subject. She had spent plenty of time in this office with Minerva since they became Order partners, but knowing Minerva was extremely private, she didn't feel it permissible to study the cabinets of curiosity like she yearned to; content to just steal glances now and again when Minerva was reading something or while she trailed her out of the office. Her heart expanded at the thought that perhaps Minerva would invite her into the knowledge of each of these collections. I am the luckiest witch alive to get to know this woman and her beautiful mind.

Coming back to herself, she remembered she needed to ask about Ernie. Taking the seat next to Luna in front of Minerva's desk, she asked, "Luna, have you seen Ernie MacMillon lately?" Before Luna had a chance to answer either of the questions that had been posed to her the staircase was moving again, Neville's head slowly being revealed. With a crack, Minerva arrived behind her desk, smiling fondly at Hermione, then nodding toward Luna, who nodded back with a knowing smile. Minerva's eyebrows rose as she looked back at Hermione. Hermione raised her shoulders with a bashful smile and sighed, "The Gargoyle outed us this time. He referred to me as your mistress ." Bringing one hand up to cover her mouth, and the other to cover her stomach, Minerva bent over laughing, reminding Hermione of this morning when Wazel had flummoxed her and it had tickled her lover so. I will never tire of seeing her laugh like this.

Filius and Neville both were the picture of shock at seeing the usually composed and professional-to-a-fault Minerva McGonagall in a fit of laughter. Seeing their response seemed only to set her off more, Hermione and Luna chuckling along. Soon Neville was joining in and Filius couldn't help but bark out a laugh or two. This was not what I had in mind when young Mister Longbottom hurried me to this office. But hey, we could use more laughter around here.

Wiping her eyes and moving around her desk, she drew Hermione up from her seat, wrapping her arm possessively around her waist, she turned them toward Filius. "Filius, dear, as you are the only one in the room yet to know and I'd prefer you to hear it from me, Hermione and I have become romantically involved."

Filius stood on his tip-toes as his eyebrows disappeared into his short crop of hair. Taking his glasses off and cleaning them with the bottom of his robes he smirked. "Quite right? Well, I haven't seen you laugh like that in years, Min." Replacing his glasses and looking directly at Hermione. He searched her eyes, seeming satisfied, "You've always been a cut above the rest, Hermione." Shaking his head, he added smiling, looking between them, "And after that duel, I can't say as I'm surprised, you're a good match. I wish you both happiness and many years to enjoy it." Minerva's eyes glittered as she gave Hermione a squeeze before releasing her and moving back to her seat, "Thank you, dear friend." Filius cleared his throat, "Now, I'm assuming this is not the matter that has brought us all here?"

Conjuring two more seats, Minerva was the familiar picture of poise as she motioned for Neville and Filius to take seats next to Hermione and Luna. She opened her desk drawer and pulled a flask and an eyedropper from within. Filius' heart sank as he recognized the Veritaserum. "Unfortunately not, Filius. I am not asking this of each of you lightly, but I'd like us each to take the minimum dose of Veritaserum before we continue. I was sent into an ambush yesterday that may have been assisted by a member of our Order. Anyone here object?" Making steady eye contact with each, they shook their heads. She started with herself, then refilled the dropper and extended it toward Hermione, who opened her mouth and received the three drops of acrid tasting potion. One by one, each swallowed the bitter liquid.

Minerva put away the flask and dropper, then folding her hands together, she leaned forward onto her desk. "Hermione, if you may, after I ask a question and you all answer, would you ask the same question of me?" Hermione nodded, feeling compelled by the serum to speak also, "Yes, okay."

"Thank you. Has anyone here talked to or corresponded with Ernest MacMillon in the last week?" Four "No's" responded back to her. Hermione then asked Minerva. Who also responded "No."

"Did anyone here know Ernest MacMillon had joined the Death Eaters?" Three shocked faces looked back at her as all four again said "No." Her answer echoing the rest.

"This question is for the three of you," looking at Luna, Neville, and Filius. "Have any of you taken any parchment of Hermione's, either from her stock at Grimmauld or here at Hogwarts?"

Again, all answered in the negative. Pulling the two notes with Albus' handwriting from her pocket she displayed them in front of her. "Do any of you know who wrote or sent these notes to Harry and Neville?" Luna and Filius leaned forward to examine them. Filius exclaimed, "Merlin's beard!" before answering, "No." and Luna answered "No." while pulling out a square of parchment and adding it next to them. "But I did receive this forged message from my father today by owl. It's his handwriting, but it's riddled with Nargles and doesn't abide by our code." Minerva picked up the note:

Dearest Luna,

Meet me this evening for dinner at the Leaky Cauldron around 20:00. Exciting things on the horizon!

Father XL

"Thank you, Luna. And my last question, has anyone noticed any strange behaviour from any Order members over the last few days?"

Neville piped in speaking at a faster pace than he would normally, as if the words were being pulled out from within him, "Other than walking in on you and Hermione snogging in Aberforth's stairwell, Charlie and Fleur had a spat after receiving an owl yesterday. I asked him what was going on and he said that Molly was upset and they needed to leave right away." Both Minerva and Hermione turned various shades of pink at the inclusion of their behaviour in his response.

Filius responded next, "Nothing out of the ordinary, except Percy and Arther never showed for their repair shift last night and Ron and George didn't show up this morning for theirs." Hermione stood up abruptly, "Harry." Pulling her wand she murmured and a silver otter shot from the tip and scampered out of sight.

Minerva rose as well, "Good thinking, Hermione. Filius, please send out an Order message, calling an urgent meeting in..." Noting from the clock on her desk the time was currently half past four, "one hour from now, to take place in the Great Hall. Neville and Luna, please check the potion stores for polyjuice potion. If there are none, start brewing some please."

The scraping of chairs filled the room as everyone jumped into action. Just as Filius, Neville, and Luna activated the downward stairway, a silver stag entered the room. "I'm fine, but Molly is missing. More forged notes and internal family blame and bickering. Will drag everyone to Hogwarts soon if I have to. May need Wazel and Elspeth's help if not there in ten minutes."

Hermione's hackles rose at hearing of Molly's disappearance. She's the one who killed Bellatrix. Shit, shit, what if she had a horcrux?! Minerva seemed to read her mind. "Filius, I need your Order portkey, quickly!" Filius dug in his pocket and tossed it to her. Before it even landed in her hand, Minerva had her wand out murmuring the same spell Hermione had done yesterday. A web sprang forth from the coin as it was guided magically to her desk. Hermione scanned the signatures, pointing to but not touching the fiery red one. Looking at Minerva with her firmest gaze, "There. And I'm coming with you. No arguments." Minerva nodded and extended her arm to Hermione while extending her finger toward the crimson orb. "Wands at the ready, gradh.' Suddenly, Elspeth made herself known. "Don't touch that, Minnie! Issa trap!" Minerva yanked back her hand as if burned. "Els, what do you see?"

"Looks closer, Minnie, thas not a real signature, it's hollow in da centre." Both Hermione and MInerva bent forward, examining the orb closer. Sure enough, it had a strange quality about it, a deadened centre only to be seen if you look at it from the side.

"Bless you, Elspeth. They must have also worked out how you found me yesterday, Hermione." Waving her wand so the portkey root vanished, she stood up straight, brushing her robes out of habit, "Alright, we're operating under the assumption Molly Weasley has been abducted by Death Eaters for the purposes of reconstituting Bellatrix Lestrange's soul from a horcrux. Filius, after you call the Order meeting, contact Kingsley, bring him back here, find Neville and Luna and ask the same questions under Veritaserum. Hermione and I will begin activating the full defences of Hogwarts and the Muggle Defense Web we've built. Send a patronus if anyone encounters anything odd. And I mean anything. Understood?"

The eerie silence that had been laid thick with heavy foreboding was broken by the question that Veritaserum demanded an answer to and a cacophony of "Yesses" bounced around the room. "Let's move, people, no time to waste," Minerva clapped her hands and they all startled into motion once more.

Once everyone had gone, leaving Hermione, Elspeth, and Minerva alone, Hermione crashed back into her chair. "Fuck, that was close. Thank you, Elsie."

Before Elspeth could respond, Wazel popped into the room. "Heya MInnies, we gots three elves unaccounted fors since yesterday afternoon, we's took turns searchin abouts and theys not anywheres we can find."

Minerva felt dread sweep through her body and she sat heavily in her chair, "Who, Wazel? And when were they last seen?"

"Bilm, Pitts, and Wegby. Theys was at lunch when I's came yesterday, I's didn't speaks to Bilm or Pitts, but some others saw them leave wit Wegby round 15:00. I's doos remember Wegby sayin he was headin off later to visit some friends at St. Mungos for dinner. So, I's went theres to asks if theys came and nobody saw them. I cannae sense in my bones where's theys are neither, can you, Elsie?" Elspeth closed her eyes tightly. After a moment, she opened them and shook her head. "Theys alive, but me thinks theys under a Fidelius somewheres."

Minerva frowned, "Wazel, did Wegby mention if he was invited to dinner by someone at St. Mungos or did it seem like a standing arrangement?" Wazel's ears drooped a little, "Nos idea, Minnie, I's dinnae think much of it at da times."

"And why would you have?" Smiling fondly at him, she added, "If you would Wazel, go see if anyone got a clearer picture of it and ask the remaining elves if they'd be so kind as to not leave the grounds for the next twenty-four hours as we try to locate our missing friends. If anyone should have a problem with that request, please ask them to come see me." Nodding, he popped away.

Elspeth spoke up, "I think someone in da Order asked an elf to get Miss Mione's parchment from her room at Grimmauld. Kreacher and Harry wouldnae felt them through the wards, even if theys was in da next room."

"That is certainly a possibility. It's looking more and more likely that we've a turncoat among us." Sighing Minerva stood and walked to where the portraits of the former headmasters had been silently observing the entire exchange. When Minerva became Headmistress she asked the portraits not to intrude unless it was a Hogwarts emergency and not speak unless spoken to directly. She had little tolerance for portrait chatter distracting her from her thoughts. Looking at Albus who was asleep in his chair, she spoke. "Albus, can you wake, dear?" No change occurred. Looking to Severus, who was staring back at her with calm, raven coloured eyes, "Severus, when did Albus' portrait become unresponsive?"

In a familiar slow drawl, he responded, "He started snoring like that around dawn. Do not underestimate the Lestrange's desire for power, Minerva. Bellatrix would have usurped Riddle given the opportunity and the right circumstances." Nodding, Minerva responded, "Thank you, Severus. Please send out a portrait-wide memo from this office asking anyone who sees anything suspicious happening within their purview to report it to you directly." Bowing his head once, he moved from his frame with a flourish.

Reaching her arm toward Hermione, Minerva didn't hide the worry on her face. Hermione grasped her outstretched hand and pulled her lover into a tight embrace. They stood silently, each enjoying the comfort of having someone to share the load without the need to appear outwardly unaffected.

Elspeth's heart swelled at the sight. My Minnie finally has someone she trusts. Speaking softly so as not to disturb the moment, "I's going to go help Harry now. We'll meets yous in the Great Hall when yer ready." And without waiting for a response, she disappeared.

"Oh, lass, what a mess this is." Minerva murmured into her love's soft hair. Pulling back to meet emerald eyes full of turmoil, Hermione reached up and cupped her face. Her thumb gently stroking the strong cheekbone up to the fine lines near her lover's eyes that she so adored seeing fully creased when in a fit of laughter.

"Indeed, it is that, love. But you know what? We'll deal with it, like we always do." Smiling softly, she placed three chaste kisses on her lover's lips. "I love you, Minerva, and despite everything going on I can't help but take comfort in us. To hold you like this means everything to me, especially in a time like this." Warmth suffused Minerva's face, and she smiled wide, and Hermione brushed those fine lines around her eyes as they deepened. "Aye, I love ya too, Hermione." Smile turning into a bit of a smirk, she added in a whisper, "My mistress ." Hermione threw her head back and laughed.