CHAPTER 1
Hermione burst into the little sitting room within 12 Grimmauld Place. Sirius Black and Remus Lupin were sitting in to two arms chairs placed around the fire, backs turned towards the door, drinks in hand.
"Sirius! Remus!" screamed Hermione, voice full of unshed tears and horror.
Quickly Sirius and Remus turned towards her. Sirius' mouth was open in the shape of a shocked 'o' as Remus' eyes were wide with the terror of looking at the young woman standing within the door.
Hermione's normally bushy hair was matted to her head with a mixture of blood and sweat. Her face was streaked with recent tears and her school robes were torn and wet. There was a dark crimson liquid dripping from her forearm onto the floor below her.
Both men ran to her as she began to fall, Sirius grabbed her before she hit the floor. There was a loud crash while they darted out of their chairs, the two glasses once in their hands, had shattered on the floor, spilling amber liquid onto the rug.
"Hermione?" Sirius said using his hand to raise her face towards him. She lay almost still her eyes still open staring at the two grown men.
"What has happened?" Asked Remus as he moved close to the girl lying in his best friends arms. His eyes darted to the cut on her arm and he shivered slightly.
Hermione's breathing was fast and hard she tried to talk but was constricted by the pain in her chest. Few words were audible through the near tears.
"Harry… school… death eater's… Dumbledore… gone…" she coughed out.
Immediately, eyes wide, Remus turned from them and quickly strode to the fire, throwing a small pinch of a shimmering powder into the flames. He called out "the Burroughs" and another place Hermione didn't hear.
"Hogwarts, death eaters, now" was all he said while the flames were a blaze.
Turning quickly he made his way back to Sirius and Hermione. Remus motioned to Sirius to stand and help Hermione up. Both men grunted as they pulled the now weeping Hermione to her feet. They both put arms around her as they made their way to the front door of the house. Sirius gave Remus a fleeting look.
"We're going to Hogwarts," he said in reply to the questioning look. "Molly, Arthur and Tonks will meet us there."
They stepped into the warm spring air. It was a dark night and the only light came from the lamp posts positioned in the middle of the square.
Hermione gripped Remus' arm as she felt the pull around her as she was pushed through a small invisible tube. She felt her head spin violently. When her feet his solid ground she immediately crumpled to the ground and vomited.
Sirius and Remus' knelt quickly; Sirius brushed her hair from her face. Remus conjured a glass of water and tried to make her sip it.
"Hermione!" said a woman's voice to the right of them. The warm wind of the night swept over them as a woman made her way to Hermione's side pushing Remus away from her. Molly Weasley was kneeling besides Hermione brushing her hand along Hermione's hair.
She shifted her focus to Remus. "What happened?" she asked her voice full of confusing and terror.
"We're not sure" said Remus.
"Hermione showed up at Grimald covered in blood. She said something about Hogwarts, death eaters, Dumbledore, and Harry being taken." Said Sirius.
Another person close to them gasped.
"We must go find them" said a shaking Arthur Weasley's voice.
"Someone must take her back to Grimald" said Sirius his voice shaking slightly.
They all went silent. In the darkness and quiet of the night they could hear running footsteps coming nearer to the gate into the castle. All five stood quickly and drew their wands, pointing them into the darkness. A figure was immerging quickly out of the darkness. Even in the darkness his red hair was visible as Ron Weasley ran towards the group.
"Mom! Dad! Remus! Sirius! Tonks!" said Ron.
"Ron!" said Mrs. Weasley running towards her youngest son. Ron ran to them and hugged his mother. Luna Lovegood and Neville Longbottem were right behind Ron.
"What happened?" said Sirius interrupting the family reunion. His voice shook with anger and terror.
"Death eaters got into the school." Said Ron quickly.
"Lucius Malfoy took Harry and appareted. Dumbledore forced Hermione to a port key to get you guys and then went after them. The three of us were trying to get Belatrix away from Hermione so she could get the port key but before she could she um…" his face went blank and a single tear ran down his face.
"Belatrix" said Sirius quite quietly.
"Are they still here?" said Tonks cutting across Sirius.
"Don't know" said Luna her voice sounding much less dreamy then the normal.
Ron, Luna and Neville have very few scratches on them but they all looked petrified at the sight of the now fainted Hermione. Remus was cradling her body so she couldn't fall to the ground.
"Where did they take Harry?" asked Sirius it was apparent in his voice he was terrified of losing Harry.
The lifeless body of Hermione slowly spoke. "Malfoy Manor".
Everyone turned towards her. She was slumped over Remus. Her cut arm was exposed to the warm air. Remus ran his hand through her hair and whispered soothing words into her ear.
"I heard them" she whispered "before Belatrix…" she passed out unable to finish her sentence.
"Belatrix?" said Sirius again.
"Crusiatis curse" said Ron. "It was at least fifteen minutes before we could get her away from Hermione."
Everyone stood still. Remus looked down at the witch in his arms and ran his hand over her face. Sirius' face was full of rage.
"We have to go!" said Sirius angrily.
"Can you apparate Ron?" Asked Remus.
"Not legally" said Ron his voice shaking with unshed tears.
"It doesn't matter right now." Said Remus. "I want you all to go to Grimmauld Place. Please put Hermione somewhere she can rest and try not to bother her. When we get back we will mend her and try to sooth her. I will keep you informed."
Ron nodded and the three young wizards moved to Hermione. Remus allowed them to pull Hermione into all three of their arms, making sure Luna and Neville were holding Ron's hands. Mrs. Wesley looked at her son and nodded as he closed his eyes, apparating with the limp body of Hermione, Neville and Luna gripping his arms tightly.