"Hermione! There's too many of them!" moaned Ron. "We'll never make it past them!"
Hermione took a quick glance at the Death Eaters gathering around the doors of Hogwarts. She swallowed nervously, then pulled out her wand and flicked it. A silver otter burst out, and simply hovered, waiting for her command.
"Hermione, what are you doing?" Ron asked nervously. "You're not..."
"Ron. Be quiet." Her voice trembled, and she turned to address the Patronus. "Go to Neville. Tell him" she paused, then began again. "Tell him to leave no survivors."
The Patronus flew away at those words, and Hermione turned to Ron with tears in her eyes. "May God have mercy on our souls."