From Wiltshire, With Love

Chapter 35

"Missing in Action: John Dawlish, Eloise Midgen, Oliver Wood, Hannah Abbot, Dedalus Diggle."

Remus slowly spoke aloud the names of those captured, and then those that were killed.

"Killed in Action: Seamus Finnigan, Gwendoline Hedgeflower. We have confirmation they were killed, but don't have their bodies."

They all observed a moment of silence until little Teddy Lupin broke into a mewling cry.

It was bittersweet. Teddy arrived a month early. Tonks had given birth one week before the raid and was recovering at her mother's house, where the Order leadership continued to have their meetings. Everyone had been so happy, but then they lost seven.

The mood was somber around the table as the five Order leaders recalled their interactions with those that were killed and missing. Tonks got up from the table and walked back and forth with Teddy swaddled to her chest, one hand cupping his bum. Her hair was black to mourn the loss of those that were killed and captured. Teddy's wail softened to a whimper and then he went back to sleep.

This was their first major loss. Dolohov's suicide and the financial situation didn't compare. They were lucky Malfoy had warned them, it could have been so much worse. Remus and Minerva had been working on the anti-Apparition ward trigger which activated the caterwauling alarms, but after Malfoy's warning, they dropped all other responsibilities and focused solely on that task.

If Minerva had been captured, Remus might not have finished, and then the Order would be sitting ducks at Paddington. Hermione would be sitting in a cell somewhere, probably being tortured. As would Harry, Ron, and the remainder that were housed there with them.

"Seven injured, Roger Davies in critical condition," Remus continued.

As it stood, while their losses were still painful and significant, they weren't crippling. In the meantime, they needed a new safe house, the others would be even more cramped once they were consolidated from the financial loss. Maybe they could still keep Worcester since they lost Paddington.

Hermione was surprised at how quickly she went from mourning the death and capture of her friends to calculating the impact of their loss on logistics. She wondered if the others were the same. But... that was her job as a leader. She had to. There was no rest for any of them. That's why Tonks was here, barely recovered from her labor.

"Four Death Eaters captured. None Inner Circle," Tonks added. "Six killed that we know of."

"We need more Portkeys." Hermione had been beating this dead horse for long time.

They knew. She knew. No one disagreed with her anymore, she had convinced them long ago. The rare and expensive potions ingredients, long brewing times coupled with complex Arithmancy formulas few could understand, made them extremely costly and difficult to acquire. Even if done with inside help at the Ministry. She knew they had someone helping them out in the Portkey division of the Ministry and they were pulling as many strings in the black market as they could so Hermione could repurpose existing ones, but even then it was taking a long time.

"We should start with a Portkey evacuation plan now," she said, unable to conceal the sad tremble in her voice. "Even if we're not at 100%. People can share. You already secured us a destination, Remus. It doesn't matter that it's not furnished or warded or stocked with supplies yet. I can complete the Arithmancy to charm the Portkeys we do have within a week, I think. But it will be mayhem without a plan."

Remus stared at her and nodded. His eyes were bloodshot. "Agreed. I'll get started on one first thing tomorrow morning and we'll drill it."

Tonks spoke to Hermione while checking to see if Teddy's diaper was wet. "You also need to replace everyone's communications Galleons for our raids and operations. They'll be compromised. But keep an old one for yourself in case one of the captured is able to message you."