Bella's mood was as dark as her maiden name; she'd been tasked with getting that goblet and used that as an excuse to give a certain squirrel the slip. She might have been sleeping rough for the past few nights but at least she was able to sleep with both eyes closed instead of one eye open for the rodent Romeo. No left arm also meant no dark mark so he couldn't trace her while she struggled with the hardest decision of her life.
More years ago than she cared to remember Bella had pledged her life, body and magic to her lord, that furry creature bore no resemblance to her master but if the goblet recognised the squirrel as Riddle then she had to be careful. Magical oaths don't contain any small print, escape clauses or leave room for interpretation, if magic thought the horny hoarder was her master then she was walking a tightrope that could cost Bella her life.
Bella had been given a direct order to try and get the goblet to save the squirrel and she would have to do enough to satisfy her magical oath preferably without getting herself killed, she had no intention of losing her life in the service of the squirrel.
Her best option would appear to acquire some hostages to exchange for the goblet but with what was at stake they would have to be someone connected to Potter or Bones otherwise they would just be acceptable casualties of war. The problem was the death eaters had left Bones with only one family member who was currently out the country along with Potter and everyone close to him. Bella would love to get her wand on the bitch that put steak off the menu for her but Bones had Hogwarts crawling with aurors and made sure everyone knew they were there.
Bella drank down a potion that she didn't recognise not caring of the effects, she had just grabbed everything she could lay her hand on when she high-tailed it away from the Squirrel and was now down to her last remaining few.
The last death eater in Britain decided that fate was going to have a major part to play in this, she would try and get as close to Hogwarts as possible and see what came her way. If fate decided to land something right in her lap then who was she to question that, if not then the squirrel would be pushing up daisies and Bella just hoped she would still be alive to piss on his grave.
...
As the Potters were leaving the ministry Bill and Charlie asked for a quiet word, "Harry I know I can never make up for the harm that the Weasley family have inflicted on you but I would like to start by offering you both some help with the first task tomorrow."
Harry held his hand up to forestall any revelations, "Bill I really appreciate the offer but I wouldn't like anyone to think I was cheating," Harry had to pause as Hermione's silent laughter was ringing in his head. "Let me just assume that Charlie here isn't in Britain purely for a visit and we'll take it from there."
The smile on both Weasley faces told Harry he'd judged it right, the Potters already knew what the first task entailed but the two red heads now thought they had been some help and would go away happy.
It was Joan, still in Harry's arms that spoke, "Dad, we need to go talk to uncle Neville."
They had both wondered if Joan had some empathic abilities, as she always seemed to know when someone needed a hug and was an excellent reader of people. Her instant close friendship with Millicent yet continued distrust of Ron was only the latest examples.
They found Neville and Luna trying in vain to console a sobbing Augusta Longbottom; the woman's whole world had been shattered by the revelations in the court. "How could Dumbledore do that to my Frank and Alice?" She noticed the Potters, "Your mum and dad were as close to them as you four are with each other, they would have raised you as brothers and loved you both equally. That bastard stole so much from all of us and may he burn in hell for eternity."
The three girls were attempting to comfort the distraught witch as Harry pulled Neville into a corner.
"Nev I need you to be the head of your house for a few hours," Neville looked shocked that Harry would even suggest something like that but Harry continued, "your gran is in no state to make any decisions and my instincts are telling me the time is now. Voldemort probably knew more about the arts of the mind than any other wizard and all that information is in my head, we've had mum, dad and Poppy searching for months and their research has helped us refine our plan. We were hoping to make an attempt to help them as soon as Riddle was dealt with but my gut is telling me to do it now."
"Anything you need, all that I have is yours. If you can do this I might even have to dump Luna and marry you!" Neville had Harry in a bear hug as Luna waltzed over.
"If you get to marry Harry does that mean it's me and Hermione?" The boy's laughter enabled them to wipe their eyes without embarrassing each other though Harry soon had everyone in tears as he knelt in front of Augusta.
While holding her hand he spoke with such emotion that his aura was visible by the time he was finished, "when we bought the six houses in Italy I was being totally selfish, one is ours and one for mum and dad, Remus and Pomona were gifted one as a wedding present as will Sirius and Amber. The fifth house will be our wedding present to Luna and Neville because I want to live my life surrounded by my family. There is one house left and it's for my godmother, we're going over to St Mungo's to try and convince her to join us. Uncle Frank is of course welcome to."
Augusta was confused until Harry almost made her heart explode, "We think we might be able to help them and Neville has granted us permission to try."
The old witch had to be helped out the room by her grandson and his betrothed as she'd just had one shock too many today, they walked over to the group who were waiting for them.
Charlie and Bill were chatting to Ginny but the dragon handler had to excuse himself, citing he'd left the twins at Hogwarts and the other handlers might have fed them to a particularly nasty Norwegian Ridgeback by now.
Hermione asked her husband over their bond if it was because Charlie was a dragon handler that his hint had all the finesse of a piano dropping on your head or if it was just the case that all the Weasley's were incapable of subtlety. Bill promised to let Gringotts know they might be late for their meeting as he also headed back to work.
Dan, Emma and Poppy had all been involved in the discussions regarding what they were going to attempt so were definitely accompanying them while Minerva and Filius decided they also wanted to be included. Counting Ginny there was now twelve of them who set off to St Mungo's.