From Wiltshire, With Love

Chapter 32

Hermione surveyed her surroundings in Worcester safe house. The bottom floor was chock full of yellow banners and streamers. Little painted badgers were spelled to crawl around the walls they were painted on – and the walls were all charmed yellow.

"It looks like someone projectile vomited popcorn all over the place," Hermione commented to Terry. "This is even more obnoxious than what you and Cho did in the infirmary."

"Ravenclaw Tower," he corrected with a wide grin. "And what did Harry expect? Asking Hannah Abbot of all people to plan a party?"

Hermione turned to him with eyebrows raised. "Why's that?"

"First rule of party planning," he said, taking a sip of Firewhisky. "Never ask a Hufflepuff to plan a party."

The running badgers were dizzying.

"I can't decide if my mood is brightened by the sunny disposition of the room, or if I'll be suffering from a week-long migraine after standing here too long."

"She'll take that as a compliment."

"We," Hannah corrected as she approached them, leaning on Neville's shoulder. Her long blond hair was done in braid and lay over her shoulder.

"Oh," Hermione said, surprised. "Neville helped you?"

At this, Hannah burst into giggles. "Good one, Hermione."

Neville's eyes followed the painted badgers running up and down the walls. "No, this was purely a Hufflepuff effort. Justin, Gwendoline, Susan, Zacharias and the others... they're a cult. A party planning cult." He pecked Hannah on the cheek. "You all did a nice job, bringing up everyone's spirits."

After rumors spread of the Order's gutted finances, a sinking feeling of despair crept among the members. It was fear of the unknown which depressed everyone, and leadership knew they had to make decisions quickly to stem the tanking morale. Shortly afterwards, leadership determined they would lose Haverhill and the currently decorated Worcester safe house, go back to beans, Kingsley wouldn't be able to bribe his informants, Hermione's Portkey project would regress to relying solely on stolen potions ingredients and/or stolen Portkeys, and if those efforts weren't enough, the prisoners would be transported from Pinner to Dorchester infirmary to consolidate the cost of maintaining safe houses.

Kingsley was working his other funding sources. It was hoped he would come through before any drastic changes were made, like with the safe houses. Some Order members whose families were in hiding wondered if they should join them to ease the soon-to-be cramped living conditions, but at the same time, they didn't want to endanger those they loved by their presence.

While the impending reduction in quality of life brought everyone's mood down, no one was scared anymore. They knew what was coming and they would adjust, just like how things were last summer. It was a significant setback, but they weren't defeated. Not by a long shot, and that's what this party was about. The Hufflepuffs decided to go for broke and use the rest of the alcohol on hand in a good-bye party to Worcester safe house.

Hermione wished she could share the Horcrux destruction with everyone. If only they knew just how much the Order wasn't defeated, and still charging on despite the setback.

It helped that the majority of the Order consisted of twenty-somethings and wizards and witches that had recently come of age. While inexperience was a disadvantage to being such a young army, the ability to adapt and bounce back quickly was an advantage of youth.

Hannah squeezed Neville in return and replied, "And I got Tonks to promise that only threat of immediate death would be reason to interrupt. No more impromptu meetings spoiling our fun."