It's not easy to explain, but . . .

Chapter 45

"Charge?"  Emma questioned.  "Gringott's knows about credit cards?"

"They do now!  Makes dealing with Muggle money so much easier for them and only a select few know about that option for their accounts.  It was a little known secret, for a few years . . . and most magical folk don't need it, but it does make Muggle born students lives a bit easier when they're shopping, too."  Hermione informed them.

"Okay," Tom turned back to Ron. "So, what kind of raids did you all pull off?"

X X X

"Boltseeker!  This is Hambone!  Come in!"  Dean Thomas' voice was calling over the CB.

"Hambone, this is Boltseeker!  Go ahead!"  Harry grabbed the hand piece and keyed in to answer.

"Boltseeker, there's to be a picnic at Ted's place later tonight.  Think you need to crash the party!  Haven't been in touch with that lot in a couple of weeks, so need to touch base, anyway.  Send my love!"

"Right, will take provisions and make it a lively picnic!  Thanks, Hambone! Boltseeker out!" Harry turned to Aberforth and grinned. "I think Arthur created a  new monster with these CB radios."

"That he did . . . Muggle nonsense, but . . . if it saves some of our lot, then more power to him!"  Aberforth replied, as he shifted a box of supplies in the corner.

Harry smiled, nodding agreement and then opened the portrait doorway leading to the Room of Requirement.  As he reached the other end, he heard the members of the DA practicing their spells, so he carefully opened the entrance to the tunnel and made sure they knew it was just him coming through . . .no need getting hexed by an overzealous member of the group.

"Harry! What's up?"  Neville asked, as Harry climbed down the ladder. "News from the outside?"

"Yeah, there is."  Harry jumped the last bit and landed facing his friend. "Dean just passed on the news that the Snatchers are going to make a raid on Ted Tonk's camp tonight, so we're going to have to warn them and intercept the Snatchers."

"I thought Ted had been in Tarn Gill Wood a bit longer than was advisable," Neville replied, nodding.  "How many do we need?"

"Well, let's see, about eight should do it . . . Fred and George are too far away, and Mad-eye is watching Malfoy Manor, so he's not going to give up that assignment. Sirius is busy tracking some of the Death Eaters, but knowing him, he might join us when he gets a free hour or two.  That leaves you, me, Luna, Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Seamus and Tonks. "

"I'll alert Draco, so he can pass the word to Severus that we'll be sneaking out.  What time are we leaving?"

"Right after dinner, better be there before dark, to warn Ted and his group and to get in place for our ambush,"  Harry answered, calculating in his head the distance and speed of the Thestrals.

"Good thing it's Saturday," Neville said over his shoulder, as he made to leave. "Weeknight excursions are a lot trickier to pull off!  See you down at Hagrid's."

"Right! See you in a bit!" Harry called after him, and then turned to the other members of the DA, who had stopped to listen to the exchange between the two. "Okay, what spells do you all think would be best for our little adventure tonight? Also, let's talk strategy . . . Ron, that's your area,"  Harry deferred to his best friend.

"Well, let's think this through . . ." Ron started, as he sat on the floor, the others following suit, eager to hear the plans being formulated.

X X X

Draco knocked on the Headmaster's door.

"Enter," came the command, in Severus' unmistakable baritone. "And to what do I owe the pleasure of a visit from you, Draco, on this lovely Autumn, Saturday afternoon?  Hogsmeade not enticing you with its myriad pleasures?" Severus asked, as he lay down his quill, pushing his paperwork aside.

"Just talked to Neville . . . there's going to be a raid, tonight & the DA are going to intercept . . . it's Ted Tonks group . . . they've overstayed at their present location," Draco reported, as he sauntered over and sat down in a chair by the side of the Headmaster's desk.

"I wish Harry would just show up and warn them to move . . why he risks fighting the Snatchers . . ." Severus sat back, shaking his head.

"It's the Gryffindor in him, with a smidge of Slytherin that Tom's Horcrux puts into the mix . . .a bit of 'take that, Tom!' showboating!" Draco laughed.

"It's no laughing matter . . . this isn't part of our history, and something could go badly wrong!  What if Harry gets hurt, or worse, killed!"

"You and Albus both have talked to him about this . . . has it done any good?"

"No, but I still don't have to like it OR condone it!" Severus grumped.  "I imagine the others cover him, so he's relatively safe . . . nothing for it, in any case, he's free to come and go as he pleases."  Severus shrugged. "Who else is going?"

"Ron, Hermione, Luna, Ginny, Seamus and Tonks." Draco ticked off the list on his fingers.  I'll have to make sure no one sees them heading to Hagrid's, or at least, wave it off as no big deal."

"Perhaps you could suggest a pick-up game of Quidditch, that way your cronies focus would be at the other side of the castle," offered Severus, smirk on his face.

"I do believe Sirius has rubbed off on you, sir." Draco offered, as he stood to leave.

"You don't have to be insulting about it, Draco," chided Severus, "That was purely a Slytherin notion, not a Marauder idea."

"Right, if you say so," Draco laughed.

"OUT!"