Chapter 10

Draco, my dear boy, please come in! You may go Severus."

For appearances sake, the chief snake argued for a moment before retreating to his secret alcove in the office. The owl was already sent, and a small chime would let Albus know that Lucius was at the main door.

Say what you will, the former death eater was extremely good at timing express owls and arithmancy.

"I declined your other invitations so you force me here? My father will hear of this!" Draco said, eyeing the man that his father feared so much. HE certainly wasn't afraid of the so-called leader of the Light.

"Yes, I was disappointed that you refused to come of your own accord. I was, however, heartened to hear that your betrothal contract was broken. I think that love is so very important, and that young people should be allowed to marry for love."

"What does love have to do with marriage?" The Malfoy heir demanded. "Breeding and bloodlines are far more important."

"That's your mother talking. She was in love with a half-blood herself before she was engaged to your father. A poor half-blood. Never told him of course. He didn't know that the older girl existed. They could have been very happy, and you could have had a father that loved you."

"Bah! My father is a great man! He has the ear of the Minister of Magic! He has power!"

"And is that what you want, Draco? Power?"

"Headmaster! I am Lord Black. Do not be so familiar with your betters. My father told me about you, and so did Madam Longbottom. You're nothing but a half-blood."

Magic flared and swirled as the man suddenly stood. Fawkes went aloft and bathed in the sudden aura of great power around the Magnificent Wizard Albus Dumbledore. Draco fell out of his chair and quivered on the floor, wetting himself in fear.

As suddenly as it started, it stopped. A wave of a hand, and Draco was fresh and clean. He shivered at the touch of pure light magic. It felt nothing like his parents'.

"Betters? Betters? Are you quite sure of that, Mr. Malfoy?" Headmaster Dumbledore asked softly.

A chime indicated that Draco's 'rescue' had arrived, but the message had already been sent, loud and clear.

There was a line, and the Malfoys had best not cross it.

**OO**

"Mr. Remus Lupin, come in, come in." Dharma Briokz invited.

"I was told that you had a job for me, sir?" The man knew better than to waste a goblin's time.

"Yes. Let me show you the job requirements. You'll be a Gringotts contract employee. Medical is included, and even though we shouldn't as it is very private information, we are aware of your condition. You must swear to take your Wolfsbane, that will be provided for you, and to secure yourself in one of our facilities at no cost to you, or somewhere else. But again, that is part of the oath. You will receive a base salary and commission based on what you earn."

"Can you tell me who recommended me?"

"Yes, Harry Potter, via Hagrid. I understand he wants to meet you. He has lost both a male mentor, and a female nurturer recently. One due to combat, the other a victim of attack. He wants you to know that associating with him is dangerous."

"That's what people think of me when they know!"

"And yet, you have very good references. You do good work when not sick. Being able to choose your own hours and pace will aid you. Working with the commission incentive will help you gain back some of your lost family wealth."

"But I need to make sure that Harry gets his family money back! How dare a slime like Malfoy steal from him."

"He has already made great strides in that, and he is only eleven. What a goblin he would have made! But he does suffer from sentimentality." The goblin leaned in close. "I saw him with the female. He gave up his entire vault willingly to save her."

"Then why did she die?"

"Her injuries happened during the torture endured when captured."

Briokz vividly described her injuries, and the wolfman nearly lost it right then and there.

Needless to say, the goblins had another member of staff happy to disembowel Lucius Malfoy should the opportunity strike.

And Remus Lupin could do it literally.

Moony looked at the job and laughed. Oh! His honorary nephew had pranked the British Wizarding society into thinking he was broke! Ha!

Having worked in the muggle world, Lupin understood well what had happened. Harry used his gold to buy antique coins and bills in mint condition. Selling said collectibles for a huge profit that could then be used to buy food and other commodities that wizards used. Then bank the gold and buy some more old muggle money! It was brilliant and he kicked himself for not taking advantage of this himself with his limited means.

He happily signed the employment contract, took the confidentially oath and made plans for his first careful sales.

**OO**

Mad-eye Moody stomped into the hall early to stake out the best place to be.

"All right there, Harry? Hermione? Neville? Pinky?"

"Yes, Master Auror sir!" They said together. They may have practiced it once or twice, but they got it right that time.

Mostly.

The man laughed and then looked at the smirking Potter boy. There was no way he knew what this day meant. There was no mention of it in the paper this morning, no memorial messages.

"Gringotts was after me to talk to ye. Lots of requests to buy more 'Harry Potter' paraphernalia. How about I take pictures of you lot during yer flying class or somethin', and let Tonks here play Harry and autograph them. It'll be good retirement money for me."

Harry laughed and said he would think about it

They set up training dummies, and had been at it for some time when Zabini came in all by himself. Their other Slytherin compatriots were missing.

"Joining in?" Mad-eye asked, but the boy just shook his head.

Neville was about to ask about Millicent, when Blaise interrupted.

"Miss Granger You're a witch. Can you please try and talk Millicent out of the bathroom? Daphne and Tracey tried for a while, but you're her friend I hear. Draco said something horrible to her about not even being good enough for a squib like Longbottom, not my words, mind you, and she was already having a bad day. Quirrell muttered under his breath about her being troll-bait or something. He is really mean to her. I don't get it."

"She's smart, strong, doesn't stutter, and has talent. As a first year, she's better at DADA than he is." Harry stated, and was about to ask Hermione to go, but she was up already. Zabini offered to escort her there.

Neville went along as support. He and Zabini got along just fine. Harry started to go, but Mad-eye wanted a word.

Zabini was excellent at potions, but terrible at herbology, which Neville thought odd. Blaise could identify things all day long, just not grow them.

They sank to the floor next to the loo talking and waiting for Hermione to work her magic on Millicent.

**OO**

Lucius Malfoy was furious. Not only were the reports from Hogwarts worse and worse, that insolent chit had insulted his son and heir in the common room. Again.

How dare Dumbledore frighten his child like that? Then the wizard has scolded him regarding the two witches. One dead and one presumed dead.

"There had better not be any more witches disappearing, Lucius. Or there will be consequences." The man said. How dare he!

That wizard! But it was too late to stop what had been planned, and Lucius was caught between two incredibly powerful men.

When his Master had given him details of the distraction he needed at Hogwarts, the evil wizard thought of a way of paying back the girl's lack of respect, and his Master agreed to the plan. And then offered to help improve it!

Hiring a security troll for a few hours wasn't even that expensive. Severus, even without being notified, would be more than enough to keep the other children safe. The purebloods of Slytherin were the future of the Wizarding World and shouldn't be put into jeopardy, after all.

He hesitated for one moment, his magic warning him against this action. But Dumbledore would never be able to trace the troll back to him! And right now, he was more scared of the Dark Lord than the Lord of Light.

It was time to go, and he didn't want the troll to be late for his date.

**OO**

After Mad-eye's lesson with him and Tonks, Harry was feeling much better. He'd be sore later, but he was really learning some great combat tricks.

Harry stayed behind in the Great Hall, and helped clean up. The room was getting prepped for the feast, and his friends still weren't back.

He helped Hagrid put some of the finishing touches on the Hall, and it was now time for dinner.

Figuring that his godbrother would soon be there, and seeing Daphne save a place for Blaise, Harry sat down, and as Ron and the others came in. Harry saved Neville and Hermione seats.

The feast was opened without blessings, again, so Harry said his own quietly, and loaded up three plates, knowing the charms would keep things warm.

Then, Professor Quirrell came in and shouted about a troll being in the dungeon.

Harry pulled out his mirror to call Neville.

**OO**

Neville was not an animagus, had no interest in it really, when a very bad smell hit his nose. He and Blaise Zabini were waiting for the girls, and involved with their conversation.

But Neville did have some instincts!

There was no time to get the girls out of the bathroom quickly, so he yelled a warning for them to hide. He then locked the doors with the key that had been helpfully left there.

"Blaise, come one! We have to get out of here, now! And get this whatever away from the girls!"

But the dark-skinned boy was frozen in fear. They had not heard the warning in the Great Hall, but the troll was definitely not in the dungeon.

Neville tried to grab a pike from a nearby suit of armor, but the empty knight grabbed it back. The boy then pointed at the troll, and the helm nodded and slogged noisily towards the smelly monster.

"Go help him! All of you! Knights to arms! Come on Blaise!"

But the troll had swung his club, and batted away the rattling distraction in a sound wave of metal clanging on stone. The empty helm hit Zabini a glancing blow, but it was the club smashing down that ended the boy's life.

"NO!" Neville couldn't believe what he had just seen.

And the troll was turning back to the toilet where the girls were! Where Hermione was!

Neville picked up the now discarded pike, as he had nothing else that could deal with this menace. Troll skin was magically resistant.

Neville was in great physical shape, and strong for his age. His hand placement was perfect, and ran, charging towards the beast. Ready to impale it. But it was an old weapon, and shattered hitting the troll's thick skin, barely cutting the beast. Neville's momentum left him stumbling, unable to dodge the oncoming blow. The club impacted the side of Neville's head, sending him crunching into the stone castle wall.

The troll sniffed the air again. The musky scent of a female troll was definitely coming from this room, and being a security troll, he at least did have some limited intelligence. He unlocked the doors, and closed them behind him, wanting to be alone with his new bride.

**OO**

Harry was surreptitiously getting ready to call Neville, when the mirror went off with the highest danger code! Imminent lethal danger!

Taking out the marauder's map, Harry looked to see where the girls were. Not seeing Mad-eye or Charles in the hall, Harry made a fast call as he ran.

"I'm bringing very loud help. Keep all adults away from that bathroom. Clear? No adults!"

Harry hoped that all his prep work wasn't for naught, and pulled out his wand at the right door.

"Alohomora!"

**OO**

Hermione listened to but did not understand why Harry said the warning for no adults. She knew he was nearby. She could hear his sonorous' enhanced voice coming closer. She hoped that no one questioned a first year using one. But her musings were brought short in her dodge of smashing club. Hermione had been trying to get Millicent towards the door, and the beast in front of them objected to that.

Millicent was crying as the troll was offering her fresh bloody meat. Entrails dripped on the clean tile floor. "Busgggffrrrrr."

The girl was not impressed with his gift, but while the troll was distracted, Hermione acted.

"Incendio!" Hermione shouted.

That annoyed Mr. Smelly more than hurt him, and he lifted his bloody club again, and Hermione dodged under and away, out of his physical sight, and tried to tamp down the panic so she could try and think of something that would work on this monster! She couldn't think!

At least the troll wasn't attacking Millicent!

"Fluffy, we have to get the doors open. Students in danger. Protect!"

Hermione heard and understood. "Millicent! We need to get away from the doors!"

As for the dog, Harry had just said the magic word.

Fluffy sprang into action, using one head to rip open the door, and the other two to howl at the vicious troll.

The bathroom doors collapsed with a loud boom. Monstrous growls reverberated in the tiled room. The troll looked most annoyed at the Cerberus. He shouted something that only Harry could understand as 'Bad Dog!'

But the dog soon had the troll under one massive paw. The troll's head hitting the floor knocked it out.

"Millicent! Give Hermione a boost, and then get up here!"

"I can't ride that thing!" Hermione said frozen.

But Millicent was no fainting flower, now that the troll was subdued. She tossed Hermione up to Harry who somehow, likely with a bit of accidental magic, caught her, and put her astride the dog in front of him.

"Now you Millicent!" Harry yelled and held out his hand.

She jumped, and he guided her into place.

A large dog wasn't that much different than a hippogriff after all.

"COME ON, BOY!" Harry said, forgetting the spell to enhance his voice. He cancelled it with a wave of his hand. "Come on, boy. Let's go! Let's find Hagrid and get you a treat! There's a good boy."

The large dog backed up, leaving the crumpled troll, destroyed doors, and other detritus behind.

Fluffy got to the stairs and suddenly wanted to go up rather than down.

"You smell something, boy? Alright. Ladies, the ride is over. Thank you for choosing Fluffy Transport for your rescue needs. Good-bye!"

Harry handed first Millicent down, then Hermione to Millicent, and got off himself very quickly.

The dog showed his approval of the plan with a loud, wet doggy kiss that left the boy soggy and cranky. Then, with all three heads baying impossibly loudly, the Cerberus went bounding up the stairs.

Harry nearly collapsed, hands over his sensitive ears.

"I thought that we were going to die!" Millicent said, putting her hands on her knees. "Or worse."

Hermione looked around. "Where's Neville?"

Harry hadn't noticed his friend as he came from the other way.

"Girls, get to the Great Hall, right away!" Harry commanded. He had a bad feeling about this. "I'll call Moody! Get to safety!"

The two divided tasks, and both pulled out mirrors.

Harry checked in with the boss, while Hermione tried to call Neville.

"Mad-eye? I found the troll. It's down, temporarily. Could use some help."

"Potter! After helping to get the Slytherin students to their dorm safely, I then escorted Hufflepuffs. Imagine my surprise to find out that you had gone after a troll without backup!"

"I um, I had help. I had to rescue the girls! Yeah, I guess you would be kinda cranky about it. But I can explain!"

"Potter, why do I get the feeling that you're going to be giving the same speech to your field commanders all the days of your life?"

"Because you're smart and related to Luna."

"Where are you? Never mind. Get yourself and the girls to the Great Hall. It's defensible. Move it!"

"Yes, sir!

He grabbed Millicent's hand, and started for the stairs. Hermione had heard the order despite trying to call Neville, and they made it there almost in time.

Working together, the three shut and locked all of the doors. They had just finished the last door when there was a sudden pressure wave of evil.

The doors banged open, knocking Harry to the flagstones, the girls on either side were nearly squished at first, but both took advantage of the barrier and were hidden by them.

A hideous face was formed in the storm.

"Nooooo! The dog was finally gone, and I was going to get the stone, but the Cerberus came back! Look at me Potter! Pathetic, powerless. But I will return, more powerful than ever. You can't stop me. You can't!

The spirit tried to possess Harry Potter.

Harry fought him, mentally, and called on a higher power to help him expel the evil that was trying to take over his body. The spirit of the Dark Lord wanted to stay. Harry did receive divine help, and that combined with the boy's efforts the spirit was expelled.

Harry was completely physically and magically exhausted after that battle. He crumpled to the stone floor. Millicent caught his head in time for him not to be hurt, and Hermione called Mad-eye for help.

**OO**

Sir Charles Hector, Knight of the Order of Merlin, holder of several countries' bravery awards, was wearing Harry Potter's excellent invisibility cloak. He had been feeling very proud of himself earlier. Now, he was frustrated with his squire and looking for a troll in the dungeon.

He had seen Moody see him, and they nodded at each other. There was no sign, or smell of a troll.

Then, a feeling of great evil passed, a spirit that did not sense him there. None of the ghosts had. Odd. He had been spotted by ghosts before in his Order-issued cloak.

He started in the same direction as the spirit and then stopped. He had no orbs to contain it, no perfect, flawless crystals, either. Only flawed junk used in rituals.

And the children here were in danger!

Continuing his patrol, the knight continued to look for the troll.

Meanwhile, the disembodied partial spirit of Voldemort streaked towards the Slytherin dorms, looking for a host that would welcome him.

However, there was something else going on that the spirit needed to know that he didn't know when it came to a host of choice.

Quirrell had asked for help in setting up this distraction to get the stone. And because Lucius Malfoy provided the troll that then attacked Harry Potter's friends, the contract that Lucius Malfoy made at the bank was broken. The blond boy that held both Head of House Black and Heir of House Malfoy rings lost his magic, and was unconscious in his bed in his single, luxurious Lord's room.

Unlike Harry Potter, Draco had no chance to fight.

But the spirit didn't know that the boy was now a squib, and took possession of him. Now, because of the boy's lack of magic, the dark lord could only leave when Draco died. He was locked in place.

And the twined entities' magic was now very, very weak.

**OO**

Neville was found by a castle ghost, one sent to round up the missing children. Lord Longbottom was brought to the infirmary by a concerned and caring castle elf.

Harry joined him in the place of healing not long afterwards.

Millicent had reluctantly been escorted back to her dorm after getting a calming draught, but Hermione refused to leave until Neville had been found.

Seeing him so badly wounded had her in a flood of tears, and calling for Sir Hector, not caring who saw.

Neville needed to get to St. Michael's, now! And if he were this hurt, where was Blaise? Had he gone back with the Slytherin's?

Then she remembered the 'gift' that the troll had tried to give Millicent.

"Charles! Millicent is still in danger! She must have been treated with something to make her bait for the troll! He tried to give her fresh meat! Why didn't I see this earlier! Please! She's in danger."

"On it! You stay right there! I have an emergency portkey. I'll bring the girl there. I would delegate that task, but I'm here at the Slytherin dorm. If Potter moves from there, I'm hobbling him!"

Hermione made a command decision and called for Harry's elf servant. Hired, not slave.

"Soda? I need you please."

"Hello Mistress Mione! Oh no! Master Harry! Mr. Neville!"

"Soda! I need your help. Please pack everything of mine, Neville's and Harry's. I don't care about politics, or Wizengamot seats, or anything. I just want to go home!"

She realized that she needed to take a minute and talk to her parents too, let them know. But she wasn't going to stay here. Not another minute more.

The elf had barely left, when the Headmaster and Professor Snape came in.

"You foolish know-it-all! Thought you could take on a troll by yourself? Why didn't you pay attention to instructions? Fifty points from Gryffindor for your bravado, you dunderheaded fluffy brained idiot!" Snape shouted.

She turned to see if the Headmaster would say anything against this man.

But he went over to ask Poppy about Neville and Harry leaving the Potions Master looming over her.

"Get away from her, Death Eater!" Mad-eye called. "You may have been pardoned for your crimes, and paroled to Hogwarts, but you will stay away from MY apprentices and not threaten them."

"Thank you, sir. I just lost fifty points from my house for going to the toilet. I didn't even know that there was a troll loose in the castle. That wasn't in the recruitment information that Professor McGonagall gave me. Nor was having a name-calling professor." Hermione stated firmly.

"Pinky stayed with her lot, as was right! Hufflepuff is in the dungeons, so of course we had to go there! Trolls! The wards should have prevented them from just wandering in." Mad-eye stated.

Charles walked in, openly, escorting Millicent. He was dressed in a spare auror uniform, so was ignored by staff.

"What are you doing here, Miss Bulstrode? Haven't you caused enough damage tonight?"

"If you'll do the diagnostic, you'll see that she's been doused, not dosed, with a powerful pheromone. We just don't notice it because our senses are different." Charles stated.

Snape did the spell, and sneered. "I detect nothing unusual. Detention, Bulstrode. For being out of bounds during the feast."

"What? I was in a girls loo!" The girl complained. "How is that out-of-bounds? Did you want me to use the boys?"

"No, the trolls!" Snape snapped, and left the infirmary in a huff.

Millicent looked ready to cry again, but Hermione put her arm around her.

Sir Hector had a kind word as well. "Remember what I said as we were coming up. You are a valued."

"I bet it was him who doused me. I mean, who else could or would? Why he did it, I don't know. I just know he did."

Charles looked up as the Headmaster came back. "Did you hear what your professor just said about your student."

"I will talk with him in private, later. But you were not at the feast, my dear, and will serve the detention."

"No! I want to go home!"

"You can't leave Hogwarts." The great wizard said gently.

"She might be able to, but I can and will take my charges and go. Your matron has Neville stabilized, but he will be better cared for at St. Michael's. But don't worry, we will send the bill to Hogwarts. Trolls! You better look at your wards. Mad-eye, it was an honor. Millicent, don't forget. Write your parents. Hermione and Harry are coming too. You'll have good friends there."

"You can't kidnap Miss Granger like this!" Dumbledore protested.

"Watch me."

Neville and Harry were next to each other in bed, so Hermione reached out and grabbed Harry's hand, and then Sir Hector's just as Soda came in. The elf grabbed Sir Hector's tunic hem, and the portkey to St. Michael's was activated.

"What!" Dumbledore looked around. "The wards should not have allowed this!"

"He had their parents' or guardians' permission to remove them from danger! They could have been killed tonight, and despite your attack via Death Eater vitriol he did not convince them that they were in the wrong." Poppy declared.

"Where's Blaise? He wasn't in the Slytherin dorm." Millicent asked, looking around. With Neville hurt, she did expect him here.

Alastor looked glum, Dumbledore looked down.

"I'm afraid that there was a student killed tonight. It appears that it might have been him."

"You can't tell? Oh no! The fresh meat! That was, was…"

Millicent threw up all over Dumbledore.

The poor girl started ranting and raving so much that the matron dosed her again. This time with both forgetfulness and sleep draught, and put her to bed.

Madam Pomphrey then turned her eyes to Mad-eye. "I need to file several auror reports. Two of child abuse, and a report of assault on Miss Bulstrode. She could have been killed!"

"Albus, can you say nothing?" Moody demanded.

"It wasn't supposed to be like this! This wasn't the plan at all, and Bulstrode should not have been there!"

Poppy, standing behind the great wizard, pointed to a small clear vial, held up three fingers and then pointed at Dumbledore.

"What was the plan then?"

**OO**

The extraction did not happen as cleanly and neatly as was hoped, but it could have been far worse.

It might have been Neville offered as a troll bouquet to Millicent

The meeting in the High Command office was tense.

"What were you doing in the castle!" Monseigneur Brown demanded. "Wasn't it supposed to be your day off?"

"I had finally retrieved the artifact and was leaving the castle when the emergency alert sounded. I had two choices. Leave quietly or help. And yes, I know it was my day off, but we now just need the ring and the diary."

The knight handed over the metal box to the Knight Commander.

"What a waste! Is this what I think it is?" Monseigneur Brown demanded.

"This tiara is something special?" The commander thought it looked familiar but couldn't place it.

"Yes, my lords, it's Ravenclaw's Lost Diadem."

That was on the list of treasures that knights were to keep a lookout for.

"Didn't the healers have an alternative when Harry's scar was looked at? I vaguely remember seeing something."

"It was a very dark ritual my lord. Virgin sacrifice and the lot."

"Right. We'll take care of it presently. Now, the Bulstrode girl is expected at the weekend." The High Commander handed over the papers to the Lower school administrator.

"I will arrange for the family to get the full tour. Our lot will help her catch up quickly, I'm sure." Monseigneur Brown stated. "I want to make it very clear that I made a mistake in letting Harry and Hermione go. If Neville had gone on his own, perhaps the Zabini boy would still be alive. I apologize without reserve.

"Blaise Zabini was sent an invitation letter from Ecole Merlin, but his father is English, so his mother sent him to be schooled there. And I was happy not to have to deal with her."

"She's not still blaming the boy?" The Knight Commander demanded.

"As she has dual Italian magical citizenship and British, they take assassination attempts here more seriously. Italian aurors questioned Longbottom under veritaserum. Neville didn't know that he and Blaise were related. He only knew that there was another boy who was born on the wrong side of the sheets. One that Augusta Longbottom wanted as heir more than her own flesh and blood." Monseigneur Brown informed.

The headmaster continued "She won't be happy with that. I suspect that Neville will soon be facing charges in Britain."

Rock spoke up for the first time. "Neville wants to keep his voting seat for now, and I don't blame him. He will turn over most of his properties. He wants to start a British orphanage for squibs and abandoned magical children. He offers his manor house, and have the children go to Ecole Merlin.

Sir Hector shook his head, confused. "Neville Longbottom is being accused of trying to use a troll to assassinate a previously unknown brother or something?" The knight asked.

"Let's call it cousin, but yes. Blaise was born the April before Neville. I do believe that Algie Longbottom was trying to kill Neville and set up his son as heir to the house." The knight commander opined.

"Zora Zabini as Regent? Just what the Wizengamot needs. Another murderer in that group." Sir Regulus scoffed.

"Britain is a mess, and Dumbledore allows a member of staff to insult and bully students right in front of him. Poor Hermione was absolutely badgered by the Death Eater on staff, and had fifty points taken from her for being in the facilities when the attack came! I used to have so much respect for the man, but that was more than forgiveness. It was blindness!" Sir Hector shouted.

"Alright, everyone. Let us get focused. We suffered horrible losses in Britain. No doubt. Sister Gisele cannot be replaced, and her murder there goes uncharged. I feel responsible for sending her against your advice, Monseigneur." Sir Romano shook his head.

"It was a command decision that I supported and support now. You had good reasons. We thought that Malfoy would be sneaky, not do this. It is a very good thing that we keep operations compartmentalized. Other than Hector, she knew of no other Knights in Britain, and his presence could have been justified if needed. Malfoy never seemed to find out about the Order even being there. I am quite sure he would have been rampaging in the Wizengamot had it been found out." Brown bowed to his commander still seated.

"Harry had told me he planned to turn the Potter vaults over to the Order, but we did not have access without the key. And didn't want to reveal to Dumbledore that Harry was here. As a result, that gold was lost." The Knight Commander sighed.

"My lord, only a couple of thousand was lost in that. Not that it wasn't a huge amount! But the rest is not lost."

"I thought it was converted to useless old muggle money. I have Sister Gisele's report here somewhere."

"Harry did not explain it to her well then. It will take time, but the money can be used to buy foodstuffs and supplies that we use that are not magical. Gringotts agreed to be our intermediary in this. Remus Lupin doesn't know that he is working for us. He'll be supplying the Order with money. I understand that the lower shop space in the safe-house in Hogsmeade will soon have a green-grocer there. We'll be getting gold in addition to muggle funds. He might be a useful operative in future."

"Oh. OH! We did receive an anonymous large donation of muggle money with instructions on how to use it. That boy!" The High Commander laughed. "It was enough for food for the year for all campaigns, and more was promised as soon as it was available."

"That sounds like him. So, the good side?" Monseigneur Brown knew how these debriefs went.

"Several new students are coming after the holidays. Miss Granger did well in her mission to recruit witches. Lisa Turpin and Millicent Bulstrode are coming. We've had other inquires. Persephone's girls will also be here at Christmas. Dumbledore is holding the wizards tightly, and has sway with the Weasley parents. The twins, Ron and Percy Weasley are being held back but Fred and George have committed as soon as they are of age. I may have sent a letter to the Head of the family letting him know that scholarships without embarrassment or humiliation were being offered."

"I knew that there was a reason you withheld some of the Lestrange money. You could have kept more." The knight commander reminded him.

"The best news is Professor Minerva McGonagall has signed a contact with us. She has not been under magical contract to Hogwarts for years, and she has been ill-used there. Like all of us, she is dedicated to the good of society, and wants to pass down her knowledge.

"She fought in the trenches. I have some very interesting stories from Sister Gisele on that front that I doubt the professor wants told." Sir Hector stated. "Auntie Gisele amused us all growing up with the amazing flying Minera stories. Of course, she thought her friend was dead, killed in action. The older knights will be so jealous of the young squires when they find out who is teaching."

"I expect that once news gets back to Augusta regarding the Zabini boy that she may charge us with kidnapping Neville. I will have Legal prepare something, and hire a local barrister as well."

"This may be an opportunity to reach out to the last of my blood family. Moody's apprentice is my blood cousin, though her mother was kicked out of the Black family for marrying a muggleborn. She is a formidable witch in and out of court. Andromeda Tonks nee Black."

"Won't she recognize you?" Sir Hector asked, concerned. "If she has to come here to consult the boy? Or us?"

"How? Regulus Black died before his seventeenth birthday. And I look far too old to be him. She might recognize me as a Black, but plenty of squibs have been smuggled away from homicidal relatives. Not all, but some." Regulus added sadly.

The man in charge rapped on his desk, and looked at the next agenda item.

"Is the article ready?" The High Commander asked.

"Nearly so. Harry asked for permission to bring his friend Luna Lovegood here to be included in the press conference. I have suggested doing this in Paris after the holidays and just before the start of school. I managed to obtain some advance tickets for the Disneyland Paris soft opening, and want to reward the boy. He successfully carried out all of his missions, and he did rescue the two girls." Sir Hector said, the boy's field commander and backup. "He even did so without putting himself much in harm's way. The dog could have eaten the troll, after all.

"Only the initial contact with the Cerberus, to determine how potentially harmful it was to students had been ordered. No adult told him that riding the beast was authorized!"

Sir Hector reddened. "He wasn't told not to either. The trio visited Hagrid regularly. The man let slip how to train the dog."

"Didn't you check the map regularly? The one that shows everything on it?"

"I did. The turban on Quirrell must have warded the possessing spirit, as his body clearly had a second head. As for Harry, you know how he loves animals. I saw him with 'Fluffy'. How was I supposed to know that someone named a Cerberus Fluffy? Do you think that he told me that he was playing fetch with such a guardian?!"

"Good and valid point. A note to self. Retire before that boy turns fifteen. Yes." The high commander said. "You are doing a good job with your squire."

"I saw the cupboard under the stairs that was his bedroom until we came for him. I carried him to the healers, and bonded with the boy that day. He could have chosen to be evil, to let hatred guide his steps. He has kept the Code far better than any knight I know, and fought off the evil spirit that tried to possess him. That young squire is something else." Charles declared.

"Well, let us finish up our reports, and get the students settled in. Sir Hector, if you want to take a month off, you may. This was not supposed to be a high stress assignment!" The Knight Commander declared.

"I'll continue our sparing. I do want to recommend the Tonks seventh year witch to be recruited. I know that Mad-eye wants her for undercover work, but as a half-blood, she'll never get anywhere in Britain."

"A metamorphmagus would be a valuable asset." Monseigneur Brown opined.

"It was a surprise that Neville asked to pursue the path. He had always indicated that he wanted to be support. Sir Hector, I know that you apprenticed him, but I feel that Rock Chatham would be a better fit as a knight. Your thoughts?"

"Neville has no affinity for magical creatures, and did well with runes. Rock may get an education from his squire in unique ways to deploy plants. He had ideas of defense that he started to share with me, but we have not had time to implement. I concur with Rock being Neville's knight."

Sir Rodney Chatham looked pleased. Neville was polite, humble and teachable. Not at all what one would expect from a British pureblood scion.

"I am honored to be chosen as Neville's mentor for the Order." Rock said.

"Well done in Britain, Sir Hector. Very well done, indeed. Dismissed gentlemen. Let's see if we can't get our apprentices settled into place without much more drama."

The men nodded to each other, and left to their respective duties.

"Sir Hector? Did anyone see what happened to the bit of Voldemort?"

"I went straight up to the infirmary sir. I never saw what happened after. But seeing the pictures that Alastor sent of the body, Dumbledore has to know. He'll scan the students, surely."

"Of course. Thank you again for your diligence."