She nods. "I've grown distant, too. It'll be nice having him close."

(Unsaid is that her father is getting pretty old, and even magical interventions can't expand a muggle's life very far.)

"Definitely."

And to her father's front door. 

He opens it shortly after they knock, greeting them both warmly and inviting them to his living room, where Fay explains what's going on. 

Malcolm Reynolds frowns. "Well, shit," he starts. Then: "Your list isn't enough for a siege. Not a long one."

Fay bites her lip. "We're - scrambling, somewhat."

He sighs. "I can see that... Food will help. Tide you over. But you need seed. Livestock - hens are pretty damn easy to get and keep in bulk, everything else a bit harder."

"We have some seeds," Fay says, "But it's all magical varieties, and they're not actually very productive."

A hum, and: "Get what's on your list. I've barely spent my retirement. I'll get the rest - unless you've got an objection to me spending down your inheritance?"

Fay smiles a little. "I'd rather never inherit. You know that."

He chuckles, and - "Let's keep your castle alive now, little bird. We'll fist fight death later."

And he gives them a list of stores to hit in the area - grumbles, but grudgingly accepts Fay's insistence they stick together, then offers the use of his car to make getting to the stores possible and then Apparating with large loads easier. "We'll wanna make multiple trips to different towns anyways, with a population that big."

And then he glances more at Ellie as he's standing to go. "You doing alright?"

"For today, anyway."

"A good enough start," he says with a smile. 

"Come on, let's get moving," Fay says, leading the way out to her father's car. She sits in the back with Ellie, and - "Do you want to split up in the stores?"

"Seems like that'd be more efficient. Store's a small enough area it shouldn't matter too much."

She nods.

There's a series of stores - the same store can get them a massive load of nonperishables, and a call to Anathema has them deciding that Anathema and Bellatrix should focus on the medical supplies, and Malcolm takes them to a farm store then... They have to Apparate the truck to Hogwarts after that, get an expandable trunk to supplement their bags, then back out to another town Malcolm and Fay both know - to an old farm, apparently converted into an animal rehabilitation center by the signage. ("Old family farm," Fay explains, "Spent first few years I was with dad here.") From there, it's a short drive to places selling massive piles of excess produce for cheap - which magic can trivially preserve - and then to another seed store...

They're out all day, moving fast. They spend down the money McGonagal gave them partway through, and Malcolm insists on covering everything after that. Anathema checks in a few times - she and Bellatrix are doing okay, it sounds like, though not moving as efficiently as Ellie's group. 

There's no sign of the Death Eaters catching up to them, and by the time the sun starts setting they've gotten everything on their list and then some.

Seems like a day gone right.

Is Mr. Reynolds returning to Hogwarts with them?

Yes. With minimal grumbling about it, even. (He parks his car within the wards, in case they need it again.)

Good.

Anathema returns soon after them, Bellatrix present as a cat on her shoulder.

"Any trouble?"

"Muggle stores are confusing, but, other than that, no."

"Good." Hug.

Tight hug. "You guys do okay?"

"Yeah. Got a bunch of farm stuff with Fay's dad. Chickens and seeds and things. He's here too."

"That's good." Squeeze. "Maybe we can get them to expand Fay's quarters or something. Just - have our whole family stay together."

"You could just do that yourself, with the Chamber."

Small smile. "Yeah, but it might go less messily if I at least warn the Headmistress."

"Well sure, if you want to be all considerate about it."

She giggles, kissing Ellie. "Well, she probably is very busy... Might be best to leave an apology note in her inbox."

"We should redo the lecture halls too, while we're messing around. And maybe consult if we can add extra fortifications..."

"Oh, yeah - that'll be something worth consulting about, though it'll take us extra time... Messing with the grounds will be harder, too, but I bet we can get up some out buildings if we play with it enough..."

"Should be time well spent."

She nods. "It'll be something local, too... I'm kind of getting exhausted from Apparating so much."