Ever since the Wizard Lookout Station suddenly broke the shocking news, the number of wizards rushing to Hogsmeade overnight had surged. Most, however, had not come to lend Harry a hand, but to take their children away before a great battle broke out at Hogwarts.
Unfortunately, they had arrived too late.
Hogwarts had already been placed under a powerful protective barrier. There was simply no ordinary way in, so they could only try their luck in Hogsmeade.
After all, Lee Jordan had clearly stated in his broadcast that Hogwarts' students had already been evacuated. And where else would the school evacuate them to?
Naturally, Hogsmeade village, since it was closest to the school.
Yet, whether deliberately or not, Albert had not had the House-elves send the students to Hogsmeade. Instead, he had sent them to the former Defence Association Headquarters, leaving the families who had come to collect their children frantic as they tried to learn their children's whereabouts from the Aurors.
But the Aurors did not know either. Besides, they were busy now, with neither the time nor the patience to deal with these troublesome families.
They had thought they had been assigned a decent mission, but now they felt nothing but irritation. Those family members were truly too noisy and caused them considerable trouble.
Many Aurors suspected Kingsley had set them up, but there was nothing they could really fault about his arrangement.
It was indeed more appropriate for Aurors to receive and guide the wizards who had voluntarily come to join them in resisting Voldemort. After all, Aurors were clearly more experienced in such matters.
"How many are willing to join?"
Having finished setting up Hogsmeade's temporary defenses, Godwin Robards finally found time to ask his deputy.
"Thirteen." Williamson gave a bitter smile. "But eleven of them