The house-elves had some more news the next morning. "We found the concentration camp where they send all muggle-born. There are currently more than a hundred prisoners there and thirty guards, ten to a shift."
Harry was trying hard not to lose his temper. Instead, he tried to work a plan in his head. "I'm not sure we can bring them all here, but we have nowhere else right now and we can't leave them there…"
"I think that the house-elves could smuggle them out. If we make the guards forget about them, nothing would be reported, at least until they bring there some more. By then we may have a better plan," Hermione said. "Can you make accommodations for so many?" she asked Twinkle.
"We have room for up to two hundred, and if we use expansion charms we may take even more. The only problem might be the bathrooms. No room on the fourth floor has an attached bathroom and only four on the third floor."
Hermione gave it some thought. "With expansion charms, we may have more showers available, although we'll need to set a schedule by gender. Can you procure or duplicate the muggle chemical WC?"
Twinkle frowned. "What's that?"
Hermione explained. "These are usually small plastic cubicles with lockable doors and toilet seats that spill into a reservoir under them. The reservoirs contain some chemicals to keep the smell down and prevent infections."
"We can use vanishing to remove the waste completely," Twinkle thought loudly. "We can install several cubicles in an expanded broom closet. Using vanishing runes, we don't even need plumbing. Yes, we can do it!"
"Alright. When is the best time for a rescue operation?" Harry asked.
"Probably after dinner, when all the off-duty guards get drunk or go to sleep. Nobody will even notice."
"Alright. Use today to make all the necessary preparations and do it tonight. Make sure to stay safe. Abort the operation if your safety is compromised," Harry instructed.
"It will be done as ordered," Twinkle promised.
Harry turned to Kreacher. "Can the Black house also accept some of the rescued, if needed?"
Kreacher considered it for a moment and then shook his head. "It can't be done with the wards at any significant level and it may turn too dangerous if the wards are lowered. Master may use that place to house any member of the Black family, though. Kreacher believes Mrs. Malfoy, at least, would like that."
"Have you been in contact with her?" Harry didn't remember forbidding that explicitly and was now worried.
Kreacher shook his head vigorously. "No! Kreacher knows to keep Master's secrets. Kreacher only heard Dobby's report, and Kreacher knew Cissy since she was a little girl. Kreacher is sure she never wanted to marry Lucy and doesn't like these people in her house."
Harry calmed down. "We shall see. Just make sure we have some guest-rooms ready, in case they're needed."
\/\/\/
They trained even more vigorously throughout that day and evening. This time, Harry asked twinkle to set the realistic dummies. The first few times they hit such a dummy in the head or the chest, they became physically sick. The only thing that kept them from losing their breakfast was the knowledge that these were just magical constructs, not real people, and the red was coloured water, not real blood.
They used the morning for magical training, adding some dodging and shielding into the mix. They used the afternoon and the evening for their sharpshooter training, gaining more confidence and skill.
Winky popped in before they finished dinner. "Macnair and Dolohov have just gone into the bordello. If you take positions soon, you may eliminate them before long."
A quick glance at each other was all they needed to decide. Their desserts forgotten, they rushed to their room, changed into black combat clothing that also covered their heads, leaving only the eyes and the nostrils uncovered. Each had already prepared a bag that contained their rifles and all the additional equipment they needed for a shooting operation.
"Take us to the location you had in mind," they told Winky.
A few minutes later, the two Potters were hidden on one of the roofs, their black clothing making them practically invisible at night. They each had their sharpshooter's "nest" ready and were in position with their rifles. They didn't need the infrared goggles since enough light was coming out from the various windows.
Winky also positioned herself. She was holding a pen-size laser marker to mark the Death Eaters as targets. She was close enough to see their faces and far enough to not be seen nor be within the target area.
They didn't have to wait for long. A man opened the door of the bordello, exchanging some rude comments with someone inside. Even from their positions, Harry and Hermione could identify the man, and Winky immediately put the red dot on his robes.
As soon as the door closed behind that man, two bullets hit him, one in the head and another in the heart. The man was dead even before he fell to the ground.
Winky wasted no time. She levitated the corpse and set it in a dark passage between two buildings. She also vanished the bullets, to not let any clue remain about the method used. She then took her place, ready for her next victim.
They removed three more Death Eaters before deciding they had enough. Despite knowing who these were and what they had done, they didn't enjoy killing, Shooting targets was one thing. Shooting people was very different.
Winky then moved the corpses to the middle of Diagon Alley and removed the left sleeve of each, exposing the Dark Mark. Harry didn't think he needed to leave any written message. It was clear enough even without one: anyone bearing the mark was now a target.
Once back in their bed, after cleaning the rifles and readying them for operation, the teens cuddled tightly, getting comfort from each other. They were too exhausted physically and emotionally to do anything other than cuddling as tightly as they could before falling into an uneasy sleep.
\/\/\/
They woke up in the morning in a much better mood. It was so good, that they spent more than an hour in bed, working on improving it even further, and then some more in the shower.
They couldn't keep that mood when reaching the breakfast table. Twinkle had already left them two copies of the Daily Prophet. The assassination was not front-page news. They didn't expect it to be, as it showed the Ministry in an unfavourable light. It was hidden at the bottom of the third page with a small picture of four bodies on the pavement, too small to see any details. The only details Harry was interested in were still mentioned: "Antonin Dolohov, Walden Macnair, Augustus Rookwood and Evan Rosier were found dead in the centre of Diagon Alley with their left sleeve missing.They were assassinated by some unidentified curse that left holes in their heads and in their chests, No magical signature was found. The Ministry spokesman said that the culprits will surely be found soon and punished to the extent of the law. 'We can't allow a situation where upstanding citizens need to fear for their lives due to some riff-raff.' He refused to answer any questions on the matter."
They also got some more mixed news: the rescue operation at the concentration camp was successful more than expected, bringing a hundred and forty-eight new guests, most quite ill. Andy and Balmy were already working with them since the middle of the night and Winky joined them as soon as she recuperated from her own nightly mission. Luckily, one of the rescued prisoners was also a healer. She needed some recuperation herself but was already able to help a bit.
An unrelated piece of information reported about severe unrest among the giants in their camp. It looked like the ants were making themselves comfortable in the giants' genitals, their nostrils, and their ears, causing them immense pains. Their handlers were only able to slightly pacify them by bringing barrels of mead and painkillers. Harry had no doubt that these would not help for long.
With so many new people at the Manor, Harry had no illusion of being able to give them personal welcome. Instead, he chose to continue training with Hermione. This also helped them get rid of some frustration and bad feelings that still lingered from their nightly operation. All four of the eliminated Death Eaters were high ranking, but for both Harry and Hermione, Dolohov, the one who had almost succeeded in killing Hermione at the DOM more than a year earlier, was their most significant success.
Still, shooting a single bullet was not enough to satisfy their need for revenge. Instead, they imagined that every target throughout their training was that hated man. It also helped make their training much more efficient.
"I think we should at least meet some of the rescued muggle-born," Hermione told Harry during lunch.
"How can I even choose whom to meet?" he asked. "I wouldn't like to offend anyone by not talking to them, and there are just too many!"
She took his hand in hers reassuringly. "Many are probably asleep after the ordeal. Besides, you don't need to address each personally. The only one who really deserves personal attention is the healer that helped Andy, but she's probably asleep by now."
"So, what should I do?"
"Just walk into each room, welcome the lot of them and that's it. The house-elves can take care of enforcing rules and supplying what they may need. You should learn to delegate some more of your responsibilities."
Harry followed her instructions. As expected, the healer was asleep, as were more than half the new guests. It took Harry less than half an hour to welcome them all. He tried very hard not to notice the state of some of them. They had been probably tortured in multiple ways and had been injured just for spite. Compared to most of them, Mr. Ollivander was a symbol of solid health.
\/\/\/
They trained some more in the afternoon. Despite their success the previous night, they didn't think they were good enough. That shooting was at roughly two hundred feet, which was considered close range for such weapons. They needed some more practice with the long-range.
"We may also need some more strength and speed training," Hermione noted. "This morning, when I trained to dodge, I almost didn't make it by the end. I was quickly tiring and I moved too sluggishly. I can't afford that!"
"We can train muggle style in the training hall. I assume you already have some books about that."
Hermione blushed and nodded.
"We may also start running each day. We still have half an hour until dinner is ready. We can use most of that time for some running."
They really were unable to run for that long. Fifteen minutes after starting to run, they were both short of breath, and a bit later they were no longer able to run any faster than walking. There could be no question about their need for physical training any more.
They barely made it to dinner. Luckily, with no other people at the dinner table, nobody would be offended by their attire or by their sweat. Twinkle still reprimanded them. "It's unbecoming for a Lord and a Lady to come to the dinner table dressed less than respectfully."
Neither minded the slight reprimand. They badly needed some nourishing after spending so much energy and they also needed to drink quite a bit, to compensate for all that sweat.
"We should start our running earlier, next time," Hermione said, after drinking three glasses of water.
"And I think we need a trainer to guide us. We're not knowledgeable enough…" He saw her start frowning. "...and not experienced enough…" Her frown vanished. "...to do this all by ourselves. We should look for someone trustworthy to help us."
"Maybe one of the rescued?" she suggested.
"Maybe. We need to ask around," he agreed.
Another house-elf came in with a letter. "This arrived while you were running. The owl is waiting for a reply."
"Have you checked this and the owl for tracking charms?"
"Of course, Master. Besides, had there been any tracking charms, the wards would have directed the owl to Gringotts."
Harry took the letter – a rolled parchment, sealed with a plain wax blob and nothing else – and opened it. Hermione leaned closer to read it along.
The parchment looked blank, except for a square at the corner that was marked, "For Lord Black signet ring."
Harry shrugged and pressed the ring there, The parchment changed into a letter written in a tidy feminine script. The teens started reading.
They both looked very surprised when they finished reading.
"Can this be true?" Harry asked.
"As unlikely as this seems, it can." She thought for a moment and added, "Let me read this out loud to you. We may understand it better when hearing it or saying it."
Harry nodded. Hermione moved the parchment closer and started reading.
"Dear Lord Black,
As you probably know, I was born to the Black family, a sister to Andromeda and Bellatrix. Just like Andy, I met someone to love while still at Hogwarts, but unlike her, I wasn't strong enough to stand against my family. When Andy eloped, I was forced to take her place and eventually marry Lucius Malfoy, leaving my love behind. As much as I tried, I just failed to have any positive feelings towards my husband. I did my duty and brought him a son, and I accompanied him to every social event where my presence was expected. Other than that, we had no contact.
After my son was born, I thought I would find solace in him. Lucius didn't allow that. As soon as Draco was weaned, my husband took him under his wing, making Draco a close copy of Lucius, although, I must admit, less attractive and much less smart.
Now, Lucius brought the Dark Lord and His followers into the house. I can no longer enjoy even staying in my own room, with all the noise and vulgarity around, not to mention the filth.
Please, Lord Black, save me from this situation. My contract includes a clause for annulment in case my husband is sentenced to prison. Since Lucius was sent to prison after being arrested at the conclusion of the battle at the DOM, you can use this clause and even request my dowry back. Such a request will destroy him financially.
As for Draco – he's a lost cause, unfortunately. As much as I tried, he wouldn't listen to reason and he follows his father, only with much less cunning and skill. He's bound to be killed sooner or later, either by the Dark Lord or by others, and I expect that to be quite soon.
If you agree to annul my marriage then I can move as soon as you allow and live in one of the Black possessions that is well warded. I know you may have some more possessions due to your other titles, but that's irrelevant for now.
Once you get me free from this marriage, I promise to fully cooperate and give you any information I have that might be of interest to you.
Awaiting your answer,
Narcissa Malfoy née Black."