Hermione sat on the ground and cradled his head in her lap, sobbing. Two students that heard the shouting came over to investigate. They saw Lucius Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange disappear. They ran over to where the distraught Hermione was on the ground.
"Terry, you need to get Dumbledore or someone! I'll take care of Hermione and S-Seamus until you get back." Susan Bones said choking back a sob.
Terry Boot took one look at the scene and took off at a sprint towards the castle.
Susan kneeled down besides Hermione. She put her hand on Hermione's shoulder. "Hermione what happened?" she asked as softly as she could.
"W-We were g-going to Hogs-s-smeade and-and-and he k-k-kissed me and-and-and t-they showed up and s-s-shot the k-k-k-killing c-curse at me, and he-he-he jumped in t-the w-way and n-now he's dead!" Hermione sobbed, latching on to the witch. Susan tried to comfort the other witch as best she could.
After what seems like eons, Terry came back with Professor Dumbledore, Professor Snape, and Madam Pomphrey behind him.
Madam Pomphrey gasped and put a hand over her mouth. "Oh Albus!" she cried.
The twinkle was missing from his eyes when he told her. "Poppy, please take Mr. Finnigan to the hospital wing." He turned towards the Potions professor. "Severus, please take care of Miss Granger. Give her a calming draught if she needed one." Snape nodded his head. He gently grabbed the distraught Gryffindor by the elbows and pulled her into a standing position. "Let's go Miss Granger." He tried to walk with her, but her legs were so weak, that she was having trouble walking. He looked at her, shrugged and scooped her into his arms, where she promptly passed out. After Madam Pomphrey had levitated Seamus away on a magical stretcher, Dumbledore turned towards the other students. "Miss Bones, Mr. Boot it is my understanding that you saw who attacked them?" The two students silently nodded. "Come then, let us go up to my office. I fear trips to the village will have to be postponed for now."
When Hermione finally came to. She was in a small room she didn't recognize. She sat up quickly, but laid back down when she felt dizzy.
"Be careful Miss Granger, you have gone through a traumatic experience. It would be best if you didn't try to overexert yourself."
"Professor Snape? Where am I?" Hermione questioned looking around curiously.
"You are in my private quarters. Professor Dumbledore asked me to bring you here." He replied
Hermione remembered the events that led up to this and started sniffling.
Snape, unsure what to do with a crying female asked. "Is there anyone you want me to bring here to comfort you?" he asked awkwardly.
She nodded.
"Potter?" he asked begrudgingly.
She shook his head. She didn't think she could bear to see Harry right now. "Please Sir, c-could you g-get my b-b-brother and B-Blaise?" she asked wiping her eyes.
The potions master nodded. "Tippy?" he called. A small house-elf appeared.
"Could you please let Theodore Nott and Blaise Zabini know I need to see them urgently?" The little elf nodded and disappeared.
Less than 4 minutes later Hermione heard commotion outside the door. Snape stood up to let them in. Theo pushed through the door and ran to her side. Upon seeing her brother and his friends she burst into heavy sobs. Blaise strode through the door a little less wildly but looked concerned just the same.
Theo wrapped in the smaller girl into a tight hug. "I'm so sorry Hermione." he kept repeating over and over again in her ear.
"You are safe now, cara. You are safe." Blaise said reassuringly.
After several minutes of this, Snape strode over. "Mr. Nott I need to speak with you—outside."
Theo glared at him, but his expression softened when he looked at his sister. He followed him out.
After the door closed Hermione started to get jumpy again.
"Blaise, I need to go to the Hospital Wing." She tried to push past him to get to the door. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her back. "No, Hermione." he said firmly.
She wrenched her arm out of his grip. "I need to go see Seamus." she walked towards the door again.
Blaise, who had expected this grabbed her round the waist and pulled her back. "I said no, Hermione!"
She wouldn't stop struggling so he spun her around so she was facing him.
"Blaise, please let me go." she pleaded with him. His shook his head. "I am sorry, cara."
"I hate you!" she screamed. "I hate you! I hate you! I hate you!" Each word was said with a hard blow to his chest. She beat her hands against his chest until she tired out. "You don't hate me, cara." he murmered. After he was sure she wouldn't try to escape, he set her back down on the couch, but she wrapped her arms around his neck, and buried her head into his chest. "It's my fault he's d-dead. Everyone is going to hate me!" she sobbed into his chest. After a while she fell asleep. He gently unlaced her fingers from behind his neck. "No one could hate you, cara." he whispered as he kissed her forehead. He exited the room as quietly as possible.
"How is she?" Theo asked.
"She is sleeping right now." Blaise said. Theo sighed. "God damnit! Why did this happen?" he punched one of the walls.
"I would appreciate it if you could refrain from destroying my things." Snape said annoyed.
After Hermione had woken up, the two boys took her to see Harry, and Ginny who were sitting in the Hospital Wing.
The moment they walked through the oak doors, Hermione was attacked by a blur with red hair.
"Oh Hermione!" Ginny cried hugging the older girl tightly.
Hermione hugged her back. "Gin, it's all my fault!" she cried.
"No." It wasn't Ginny who spoke, but Harry. "It is not your fault Hermion. Seamus knew what he was doing. He sacrificed himself to save you." He patted Hermione on the back.
"We have to go to the Hall. Dumbledore wants to address the students."
Hermione sighed. She didn't want to go listen to Dumbledore. She just wanted to curl up in a little ball, fall asleep and never wake up.
The group that was now missing one, tromped their way down to the Hall, and sat at their appropriate tables.
All of the students were whispering to each other, wondering what was happening. Some had grave faces—most likely people who already knew, but most looked excited. The staff's facial expressions varied from almost boredom—Snape—to distressed—Lupin—to distraught—McGonagall.
After about 5 minutes Dumbledore stood up looking very grave. and curbed everyone's curiosity.
"Today, during a Hogsmeade visit two of our students were attacked by Death Eaters." The students started talking loudly to one another.
"Quiet please! Hermione Granger, and Seamus Finnigan were attacked by known Death Eaters Bellatrix Lestrange and Lucius Malfoy. Miss Granger escaped relatively unscathed, most unfortunetly Mr. Finnigan was killed. I tell you to not ask Miss Granger about this, because it was a traumatic experience. I ask you to know give a moments silence in honor of Seamus Finnigan, who died like a true Gryffindor—protecting one of his friends."
The hall was silent, even the Slytherins honored the young student who was so tragically killed.
The Gryffindor who had known Seamus personally were visually upset. Harry, Ginny, Neville, and even Ron all had tears running down their faces. Hermione was sobbing being held up, by an also weeping Dean Thomas—who had been his best friend. The Ravenclaws, and Hufflepuffs were all giving their respect to the fallen student.
Draco Malfoy, for reasons that were his own—looked stricken. But only Merlin knows what was going through his head.
It was an odd sight, seeing the school so unified. An odd sight indeed.
The headmaster waved his hand and all the banners in the hall changed to a scarlet red, with a picture of Seamus on them.
AN: Wow. That was a hard chapter for me to write. I wrote and rewrote it multiple times. I still don't think it turned out as well as it could have. Please review though, I would really appreciate it. :)