As Ron and Hermione slowly made their way down to the boats, there was no wondering how bad they were both feeling, leaving Harry standing their like a lost puppy, it happens every year. In their silence, they could hear the blabbering chatter of people all boasting about "What they were getting for Christmas" or "Where their families were taking them". Suddenly, Hermione and Ron were jabbed aside by a very hard force.

"OUCH!, what was….oh", they both turned around to see Crabbe and Goyle pushing them out of the way on each side to allow Malfoy to pass through the middle, they both scowled at Ron and Hermione as they passed them and Malfoy who was in between them took no notice of the two friends as he was concentrating too much in joining in with the mindless babble.

"Guess what my Father is doing? I hate him so much, he says he cant have me home this holiday because he has important ministry work to attend too, can you believe it?. He is sending me to that dreadful Diagon Alley" Malfoy complained.

Ron and Hermione both gave each other a smirk.

"Oh, my Father is sending me to our back garden this holiday, as he says he has an important business trip" said Ron, mimicking Malfoy, and very well too.

They both burst into fits of laughter, but unfortunately, Malfoy had heard his mimicking and stopped, dead in his tracks.

He turned around face to face with Ron.

"So…you think its very funny do you, Weasley!" Malfoy sneered in his face "Well, you won't thick it's so funny when you have a fist in your mouth!"

Ron tightened his lips just incase. Malfoy, as well as Crabbe and Goyle, had blocked Ron from walking down the path and the crowd was getting further away.

"Ron, don't let these brutes intimidate you. C'mon" Hermione grabbed Ron by the arm and tried to guide him around Malfoy's bodyguards.

"Uh, I don't think you are going anywhere until you tell me what's so funny!"

Malfoy grabbed Ron's shoulder and turned him around slowly like in a gangster movie.

"Well" he asked icily

"Gerrof me Malfoy!" Ron shouted and wriggled out of his hand.

"I don't like your tone Mister Weasley, Goyle! Deal with him"

Malfoy stepped back from Ron to let Goyle move in on him. Ron's eyes filled with fear as Goyle drew his arm back ready for a punch.

At that very second, Hermione stepped in front of him to try and protect Ron

"Don't," she screamed but Goyle's reflexes weren't that great.

WHACK!

Goyle hit Hermione straight in the eye and she was knocked off her feet. She hit the ground with a great bang, which caught Hagrid's attention. He turned to see a crowd of people up the Hill.

"Hermione, are you ok, Hermione!" screamed Ron as he tried to get her up on his knees

Goyle looked at Malfoy in a way, which said "Should I laugh at her or help her?" but Malfoy was already laughing at her.

"The Stupid Mudblood, why would she want to protect a Weasley?, she can't even take a little hit on the Head" he laughed

"You've done it now Malfoy!" screamed Ron " Look at her, look at what you've done to her, she is really hurt…and…oh hell, she is bleeding!" Ron tried to wipe the blood that she had on her face with his sleeve still trying to keep her up in his arms. Just at that moment Hagrid arrived.

"Now then what's all the fuss up here about?" he asked trying to get past Malfoy "Hermione! WHO DID THIS?" he shouted as he bent down to pick her up.

" Hagrid, is she ok? Is she alright Hagrid?" asked Ron panicking

"She's ok, jus hit her head dint she" answered Hagrid as he started walking down to the boats along with Ron leaving Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle behind.

"No Hagrid, she was hit, by him" Ron pointed in the direction of Goyle, still trying to keep up with him.

Hagrid bent down to Ron's ear, still holding Hermione in his arms.

"I know that Ron, n I'm gonna see too it that they get wos comin to em, you get me" he whispered gruffly

Once they reached the boats, Hagrid laid Hermione down in one with Ron and they set off for the train, the last thing Ron saw of Hagrid was when he was on his way up to Malfoy who was also walking down to the boats with a big smirk on his facing laughing with the two brutes beside him, but what ever Hagrid said to him, it wiped the smile off his face instantaneously.