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."

"Like a squeezed-out tube of toothpaste, right?"

She laughs. "Pretty much."

"It's not a great feeling."

Snug.

"Let's go get our rooms set up, then. We can talk to McGonagal about the rest of the castle in the morning."

Nod.

One more night won't hurt. Off they go.

An advantage to redoing Fay's suite is they can connect it to the Chamber while they're at it, too - and make it easier for Sirius and Bella to stay with them... And once she talks to McGonagal she can maybe just make a hidden passage to the Headmistress's office - it'll give McGonagal a way to retreat if she needs to, and it'll give Sirius and Bella a way to sneak over to Grimmauld for meetings... Assuming they don't just start having meetings in Hogwarts.