The members of the Order of the Phoenix dispersed in twos and threes. Predictably, Snape's departure was bound to bring Voldemort and his followers.
The real war was about to begin. Before it arrived, they had to rest and build their strength, ready to meet it at their strongest.
Only Su Er and Hermione remained in the vast Headmaster's Office.
"Do you think things will turn out the way we planned?" Su Er looked up at Dumbledore's portrait, which was dozing on the wall.
"Mm..." He was groggy, as though he had not heard Su Er speak.
"Oh, don't talk to him, Bones. Albus has spent all day sleeping since he was hung up here. He's never been awake," Black shouted from the portrait beside him.
"You've only given them work to do. What about us?"
"Exactly. We may only be portraits, but don't forget that we were all headmasters of Hogwarts. This is our home too."
The others chimed in, expressing the same sentiment.
Su Er smiled. Come to think of it, these portraits really did have a battlefield where they could fight.
"Then sorry for the trouble, headmasters. Use your resources to help us keep watch on the Dark Lord and his followers."
"And Draco Malfoy of Slytherin. If he makes any unusual moves, please notify me immediately."
"Leave it to us." The headmasters thumped their thin chests inside their portrait frames, full of confidence.
Su Er had not forgotten that Draco Malfoy had once used the Vanishing Cabinet in the Room of Requirement to let the Death Eaters in. Perhaps this could be used to whittle down Voldemort's forces.
If Draco planned to coordinate with those outside...
Hmm, there's another possibility-
"Focus on watching the entrances and exits of the corridor with the tapestry of Barnabas the