She fought off exhaustion and sleepiness as the snow started to get deeper and deeper. She had spent the last few months trying to keep herself together for the sake of Harry and Ron.

Ron

Over the weeks, she had made sure to avoid any thoughts of that name. It was difficult for her to accept his absence, but she needed to focus on the mission. She had spent so much energy crying and being upset and it didn't do her any good. As each day passed, the aching slowly dulled into reluctant acceptance. The events of the other night reminded her of the importance of staying vigilant.

Hermione felt bad about his wand breaking but she's just glad they made it out alive. She gave him the space he needed to grieve all that he has been through lately. She just wished he would've told her or even left a note before doing something like taking off in the middle of the night. The last time someone took off like that they didn't come back.

After a while of searching, she was about to head back before coming across something. It had been slightly covered by the fallen snow but looked like a path someone had made. Thinking it could be Harry's footprints, she decided to follow them for a bit. Eventually, it took her to a small clearing of trees containing a small semi-frozen pond. The path seemed to have ended here.

By this time, the snow had erased most signs of any signs. She walked right up to the edge of the pond, trying to get her bearings with the poor visibility. She slowly walked around it, confused about why the ice had been broken through. Before she had time to come up with any worrying conclusions, she saw a bolt of red light flash right past her from behind.

Her reaction time was a bit delayed from exhaustion and confusion, but she quickly spun around and attempted to throw up a shield charm before realizing she had no wand. Her heart racing, she darted her eyes around trying to locate the source. Luck had it the snow managed to affect the attacker's aim the first time but she had no idea where to run or hide before her luck ran out. Soon her vision was gone as she was tackled from behind. Falling forward, she put out her arms to catch herself.

She winced as the air was knocked out of her. She felt the weight of someone on top of her as she desperately tried to turn over on her back to use her legs to kick them off. A male voice was yelling but she couldn't make out the words over the sound of the storm and her panicked sounds. Her left arm was pinned down. She felt an arm loop itself under her head.

Having no other immediate option, she bent down to bite the stranger's arm underneath. She heard another yell and felt some weight temporarily lift off of her. She seized the opportunity to turn over and kick wildly. Some kicks happened to make contact and she quickly scrambled to try to get up.

Just as she was about to get on her feet, she saw a figure also stand up and raise their arm to point something at her. Maybe it was the scattered brain or survival mode kicking in, but without thinking she lunged forward to return the favor and used all her strength to run at him. The attacker tried to resist it but it caught him off guard and he stumbled as she pushed into him and fell backward, pulling Hermione along with him.

Once on the ground, it was all a blur. They both searched for the wand but Hermione knew she was too exhausted and dazed to grab it first. She felt him start kicking her away and pain seared her ribcage as he scrambled on the ground towards the wand. She wracked her brain for the next step but felt her thoughts as frozen as the weather. Before she could even think she felt her body get up and start running the opposite direction. There was no way to measure the time that passed as she ran. The panic and pain made her getaway seem agonizingly long and she was sure she would be stunned any second. She braced for the impact of a curse but it never came. Eventually she hid behind a tree and glanced back. With low visibility from the storm, she couldn't see more than a couple feet in front of her.

She wasn't sure what to do. She released the breath she was holding. Although the wind was howling, she was scared to make any noise.

She let herself slump down against the tree. She realized she had lost her outer jacket layer during the scuffle but she didn't care. She felt defeated. Surely they had captured Harry already and she was defenseless with no wand. There was nothing she could do. Even if Harry had made it back, if she headed back to the tent she would lead the death eater right to them.

The shivering died off as her senses went numb from the cold. She had to decide what to do now or submit to freezing to death in this spot. As she contemplated her dilemma, she heard someone shouting nearby. She felt her stomach sink. She couldn't quite tell the direction it was coming from but she didn't wait around to find out who it was. She summoned the last of her strength to get up and start moving again.