Chapter 57
November 1st 1995
Galloway Caves
Daphne bustled about her section of the Medical Cave as she treated Scarlet Lympsham, one of the pregnant mothers that was with them.
Finishing her check Adeline came over to give another look over.
"Your looking good Scarlet with a healthy baby "She said "In another month or so you'll have to take some time off from your duties though".
"Really "Scarlet said "How long do I have then i want to keep working to help out the group".
"We have plenty of people helping out with the whole food situation "Daphne told her.
"Yeah"Adeline said "And Richard is throwing himself so vigorously in raids because he wants to help create a better future for you and your children and you need to make sure that your babies are safe".
"Ok"Scarlet said "I guess".
Adeline laid her hand on Scarlet's shoulder "I know what you're feeling "She said "I Wanted to go and help during the First War but when Daphne came along I focused on protecting my baby girl".
Daphne could see the look on Scarlet's face that she had seen on a lot of the other mothers.
Everyone in the Archmagi wanted to do something to help out the war effort but not everyone could.
"Remember what Harry said "Daphne told her "Children are a precious part of our future so never view what you are going through as not being important".
"Thanks, "Scarlet said before leaving the Medical Cave.
"You're doing good Daphne, "Adeline said.
"Thanks "She said, enjoying the praise from her mother.
Daphne had been training with her mother and the rest of the Archmagi with Medical Experience so that she could be of the most use helping to heal the battle wounded.
Which thankfully off the Archmagi hurt so far none of them had been overtly serious yet but she had no doubt there would be people like that soon.
She was glad to be able to help people and threw herself into training in Medicine.
It helped to distract her from the worry about what was going on with Harry.
Her husband was leading what was now a major resistance organization against Lord Voldemort and the Death Eaters.
She only saw him every once in a while lately which was understandable with him being busy with the war effort and Daphne busy with Healing.
Adeline put her hand on Daphne's shoulder.
"You've done a lot today Daphne "She said "Go get some rest and send Gates or Spiers to me we need to organize some more patrols to get more potion supplies".
"Ok"Daphne said, leaving the Medical Cave and walking through the increasingly complicated series of tunnels that the Archmagi were building in order to house and manage a war effort.
Harrys deputy Edmund Spiers, who had been in charge of construction, was doing a really good job in building this place over the past few months.
Especially as the war progressed and more and more people would be living underground as the situation in Magical England became dire.
Something that swelled Daphne's heart was how the Archmagi was taking in all off those in need.
They did not only just have the young warriors who would engage the Death Eaters in combat living in their complex.
People young and old were also sheltered by the Archmagi.
One of the people Daphne had helped this morning was a child who was living with them who had a Pureblood Mother and a Muggleborn Father both of whom were working in the combat units.
She felt bad for the little guy and wanted to try and comfort him as much as possible.
It could not have been hard for someone at age 6 to have their whole life uprooted and having to go and live in a different place because you are a half-blood.
The little guy was innocent in all of this and did not deserve to be hunted by the Death Eaters when all he wanted to do was run around and play.
Daphne was happy to see Astoria and several of the other younger Hogwarts aged students helping out the young kids fit in.
Although she probably wanted to talk with Harry about that.
Speaking of Harry she saw him walking with Edmund into one of the tunnels.
Hurrying to catch up Daphne saw Harry turn.
"Hey!"He said.
"Hey"Daphne said walking with two of them "You busy"
Harry nodded "I was just talking with Ed about the new recruits training"
"I was thinking "Daphne said "We have no idea how long this war is going to be going on for and we have several young Hogwarts aged students or below that dont have much to do right now".
"I know "Harry said "I've noticed them running around two but haven't been able to figure out something to do about them yet".
"Do you think that we can find people to teach them what they would normally be learning at Hogwarts? "Daphne asked.
Harry seemed pensive at that and looked at Edmund.
"We could maybe do that "Edmund said "I could work on finding instructors for the kids too young to participate in the combat training".
"Put Curt in charge of that "Harry said "He could find good people I know".
Edmund nodded and then the three of them were interrupted by one of Harrys lieutenants Jake Flinton running up to them.
"What's up Jake? "Harry asked, seeing the man's pale face.
"I have some bad news sir "Jake said "And some people that I think you might want to meet".
"Oh "Harry said softly "Then by all means lead the way".
Daphne followed as the four of them walked to another cave chamber where they saw Archmagi surrounding a group of people one of whom seemed to be a bruised and battered Minister Bones
What was she doing here?
Daphne saw a look of confusion on Harrys face that was soon masked by his usual confidence.
"Minister Bones "He said "What brings you here today".
"Ex Minister Bones "She said wearily "The Ministry of Magic has fallen to the Death Eaters"
Daphne sucked in and grimaced.
That was not good.
"What happened? "Harry asked.
"Earlier this morning Death Eaters started entering Ministry Premises "Bones said "I knew that with recent war losses our Auror Force would not be able to win that battle and would have resulted in unnecessary deaths for no gain so I gave orders for everyone to go home and I came here with my top government leaders asking for sanctuary".
"And you believe we can provide that "Harry asked.
"I know that you are resisting Voldermort"Bones said "And i want to do whatever i can to help".
Harry sighed "Ok Ed can you handle this? "He asked.
"Sure "Edmund replied
Daphne saw that Harry looked deep in thought.
"Something on your mind?"She asked.
Harry nodded "Always "He said "But I have an idea".
SCENE CHANGE
A few days later Daphne followed Harry into a small warded cave that was relatively out of the way of the rest of the system.
Inside was a group of Harrys top advisors and lieutenants as they were going to formally sit down and work out a very detailed war strategy for dealing with Voldermort and the Death Eaters.
Sitting around the table Harry started the meeting.
"Edmund "He said "How goes the training of the new recruits".
Edmund shrugged "It's a mixed bag".
Harrys eyes darkened.
"That's our problem "He said to the group of 17 assembled people "We have to face the fact that the Archmagi, although having more people in our organization than the Death Eaters, we do not have as many people that are combat trained then the Death Eaters".
"What do you propose then sir "Graham asked.
"The Death Eaters' ranks have been swelled by foreigners joining them "Harry said "But those foreigners are not as dedicated to the cause of the Britain Death Eaters as they are so our primary goal is to go after them".
Harry looked around at everyone.
"Those foreigners are hardened fighters though so we must be careful when facing them by avoiding pitched battles and frontal assaults in favor of weakening our opponents through a war of attrition and indirection".
"We are not going to fight, "Luster asked.
"For now even though we will avoid battles we must work on harassing the enemy to hurt their morale "Harry said "And Paul this employs the thing we have going for us which is time".
"The Death Eaters are right now viewed by a large portion of the population as a hostile force with many foreign murders which is true "Harry said "We are fighting to defend our homeland and the majority of Death Eaters are not and that will give us a advantage in winning the hearts and minds of the general population".
"I agree with Harry "Edmund said "This is the best of our options for now while we are building up our strength to conduct hit and run raids and if we can wear down the foreigners endurance we can drive them away and discourage more from joining the Death Eaters from either overseas or here in Britain".
"Asymmetrical Warfare is the key "Harry said "Just like what the Death Eaters did back in the first war but more intense
"A lot of the fighters won't like that strategy" Wertzberger said "You know sir that a lot of them are young and would view what you said as a cowardly and demoralizing policy".
"How do we make sure that the promise of an extended war rather than quick victories won't wear down our side as much as the enemies side".
"And we will fight more decisive battles once the Death Eaters are more sufficiently weakened and demorialized"Harry said "But we must first target the foreign Death Eaters since their loyalty to the Death Eaters is dubious and the longer that they are not in battle or being able to destroy muggles their patience i believe will run thin with the Dark Lord".
"And what about the Dark Lord? "Schneider asked, "What are we going to do about him?".
Harry breathed in "I am working on a plan for dealing with him but for now it would be best if we only target Death Eater groups led by subordinate Death Eaters and avoid fights with the Dark Lord until the time is right".
"Intelligence is key though "Harry said "Edmund i believe you have several ideas for us".
"Right"Edmund said "So here are my ideas".
SCENE CHANGE
After spending several hours discussing battle and raid plans Daphne finally got some alone time in their room in one of the caves.
Daphne sometimes felt bad that she and Harry got their own cave to sleep in when everyone else slept in one of the dozen or so caves that had been carved out for that purpose.
She had to admit Edmund was quite the engineer, being able to organize the construction teams that were building the detailed cave and tunnel system that now housed over five hundred people in over thirty caves with more arriving every week.
Astoria definitely liked bunking with everyone.
Getting settled she and Harry laid down.
Other people were getting stuff done and would alert Harry if they needed his help with anything but the groups were becoming quite self sufficient.
Harry hugged Daphne.
"You do not know how much I wait for this during the day,"He said.
Daphne smiled.
"I do to"She whispered putting her head in his sholders "Do you really think that this war can go on for years"She said remembering his words from the conference.
Harry sighed.
'`I dont want it to`He said "But we have to face the facts of the challenges that we face and that it will take a while to deal with them after all the First War lasted for over a decade".
"In the Medicine Cave ive helped with a few of the pregnant woman"She said."Makes me wonder if that will be me one of these days when the war is done".
"I know,"Harry chuckled. "I was looking forward to starting a family with you when we left school and before the war started but I believe that we can still have that family and bring up those kids in a much better world"Harry said "I fight for that world everyday now".
Daphne hugged her husband deeply not wanting to share her inner thoughts.
She trusted a hundred precent Harrys leadership but it was clear not all of them would make it through to the end of this war.
Would they.
And what state would they be in at the end of this mess.
