Strategic Advantage

"You were able to figure out where the attack was going to happen before it occurred." Bellatrix pointed out to Hermione eagerly. "If you could do it again, Harry's forces would be able to lay in wait and then keep the Death Eaters fighting long enough for the Ministry to arrive and see that Harry is not the one attacking all of those villages."

"You're right!" Hermione exclaimed, the excitement evident in her voice. "That would prove that he is innocent!"

Bellatrix shook her head. "Not quite. But it would prove that he's not attacking villages. There are other things he's supposedly guilty of that would take a little more effort to clear up."

Hermione nodded but was obviously not listening very closely. "I can still remember how the pattern works. If you have a map with all of the latest attacks on them and the times that they occurred, I can tell you where Voldemort will next strike!"

"I'm sure that one of Harry's assistants has that information lying around, if not necessarily organized already." Bellatrix said. "Let's go and find out."

...

Harry was carefully polishing both his Black Ash and Ivory wands when Bellatrix entered his personal study. "I know which village Voldemort is going to attack tomorrow and I have a pretty good idea as to what time it will happen," she announced as she promptly laid a map on Harry's desk.

"Are you sure? How did you find out?" Harry asked as he sheathed his wands into their appropriate places on his person.

"Hermione did it." Bellatrix told him. She then recounted how Hermione had figured out the pattern to the attacks and how they had figured out that they could still use that pattern. She graciously gave all of the credit to Hermione.

Harry frowned. "I should have thought to have asked Hermione for help with that beforehand. That's one of the reasons Fudge was overthrown so easily. He should have been able to at least match or have someone else match Hermione's achievement."

"That doesn't matter now." Bellatrix said. "You have the information right here in front of your face. Send for Hiscophney and Neville and prepare a counterattack for tomorrow evening. You can make it ten times easier for Mockridge to set things right if you can publicly prove that you're no the one attacking the villages."

"Okay, I'll have them stop over as soon as possible." Harry responded positively. He then hesitated for a moment. "Tell Hermione that I'm grateful too."

Bellatrix smiled at him. "She'll be ecstatic to hear that, Harry."

...

"It's about time that Voldemort got a surprise." Neville said, barely able to hide his enthusiasm at the prospect of a battle coming off in Harry's favor.

Hiscophney was more reserved. "Is there any possible way that Voldemort might be aware of your knowing where his next attack should be?"

"It's very doubtful." Harry said, reassuring Hiscophney and Neville.

"I don't know if we should involve Potter's Legion," Hiscophney said as he studied the map that marked the village in question. "We don't know that they're adequately prepared yet and we may wish to hold them back for when they are more desperately needed."

"I think that this will give us some proper experience." Neville said defensively. "This is the best situation to get experience in as well. We have the element of surprise on our side and we can easily position everyone in safe places to observe and even help fight."

"Maybe," Hiscophney muttered doubtfully.

Harry joined Hiscophney in looking at the map for the umpteenth time. "I think that Neville is somewhat right," he said. "I'm going to allow PL to participate in this one with only one restriction. No underage magic must occur."

"Fair enough," Neville agreed.

"As you wish, my lord," Hiscophney stated respectfully. "If you don't mind, I think that I shall return to Trazkaban and begin planning for the battle. Do you intend to participate?"

"I think that I had better." Harry said resolutely. "Voldemort will likely be there and he could wreak some serious havoc if not checked to some degree."

"Tomorrow then," Hiscophney said with a bow before he disappeared.

Neville smiled at Harry. "I'd better get home myself. Gran will be worried about me." He handed Harry a sealed letter. "Could you give that to your wife? She requested it."

"I shall." Harry said, taking the letter gingerly, realizing that Neville had poured his heart into the letter and that it was extremely valuable.

"Thank you." Neville said. With that, he activated his Portkey and he disappeared.

Harry cheerfully walked to the master suite to find Bellatrix reading a book on the bed, wearing her customary Muggle t-shirt for pajamas. "Everything is set for tomorrow."

Bellatrix looked up with a smile and put the book aside. "That's wonderful."

"Neville asked me to give you this." Harry stated, holding out the sealed letter for Bellatrix to take.

"I was wondering when it would come." Bellatrix said apprehensively as she took the letter. She held it in her hands and silently studied it before using her trembling hands to place it on the nightstand. "I'll need your help when I open it and perform my experiment." She whispered to Harry.

Harry nodded as he changed into his nightwear and climbed into bed. The bedroom lights automatically snuffed themselves out. As soon as he had settled down, Bellatrix snuggled up to him and buried her face in his chest.

Instinctively, Harry realized that the delivery of the letter had reminded Bellatrix of the part she had played in torturing Neville's parents and that she was already anticipating what emotions about the loss of his parents Neville had expressed within the letter. He began to lightly stroke her back and hair. "I'm sure that he doesn't hold it against you any longer."

In response, Bellatrix began to sob as she clung to Harry tighter.

...

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