Chapter 4.
The old headmaster stood in front of the group looking tired and frail.
"Good morning my children." He said in an emotionless tone.
"Sir what is it?" Hermione asked gently.
"There has been an a…attack ." His voice faulted.
"Who?" Asked Severus surprised.
"The W…Weasley's." Dumbledor replied faintly. Hermione's legs collapsed under her and Harry took her hand to steady her. He had turned deathly pale and his eyes were glassy. After a moments silence Hermione spoke up, her voice trembling.
"Who?" She asked.
"The Weasleys you stupid girl! Voldemort." Snapped Severus cruelly.
Sirius, Remus, Harry and Dumbledor glared at Severus. All of them looking furious.
"No Professor…Who?" Hermione tried again facing Dumbledor.
" Oh no don't worry I managed to get them out before anything serious happened…Molly, Auther and the boys are fine just a little shaken. They are in the hospital wing." Dumbledor said calmly.
Hermione stood up straight and shook Harry's hand off her shoulder. She turned around quickly and began walking towards the door.
"Mione where are you going?" Harry asked.
"Ron and Ginny should know." She spun around. "Don't they professor?" She asked.
"Yes Miss Granger I think you are right." Dumbledor said gently. Snape muttered something under his breath and Harry shot him a warning glance.
"Come on Harry…I'm not supposed to go in the boys dorms." Hermione said turning around again and marching out of the hall. Harry shrugged and followed her out of the hall.
"It isn't like you don't go in there Mione." Harry called after his friend.
"Oh and it's not like you don't ever go in the girls dorms…No I'm sure Ron would like to know about that time when I found you in…" Hermione replied from in front of him.
They walked in silence the rest of the way. Stopping occasionally when Peeves was around or the stairs changed.
"Brave and true." Hermione said calmly and the portrait of the fat lady swung open and admitted them into the cosy commonroom. Hermione walked up to Neville Longbottom their forgetful friend and gently shook him awake.
"Bed Neville." She said kindly. He scurried upstairs as she turned towards the girl's staircase. She climbed them quietly and entered Ginny's dorm room.
"Come on Ginny I need you to get up." She said softly.
"What?" Ginny grumbled.
"Get up and dressed you have to come to the hospital wing." Hermione said pulling her friend out of bed and draping a thick dressing gown over her shoulders. Ginny followed Hermione back down into the commonroom where they met Ron and Harry.
"Hi Ron…Come on get a move on." Hermione said tiredly. As she led her friends out of the portrait and down the hall.
"What is going on Mione…Harry wouldn't tell me said we had to wait for Ginny." Ron asked gruffly.
"Ron there has been an attack." Hermione said timidly.
"What has that got to do with…" Ron trailed off as the realisation hit him hard in the face. Ginny Stopped dead and Harry's reflexes were good and he caught her frail body just before she hit the ground. He scooped her into his arms and continued the journey without a word.
"Dumbledor says that no one was k…killed. Everyone's in the hospital wing right now." Hermione said weekly, the tears that had been threatening her earlier were now splashing down her face silently.
"Mione…why?" Ron asked nervously.
"Oh Ron I don't know…Voldemort is just evil…don't worry everything will be all right." Hermione said kindly pulling her friend into a tight hug. She let go and Ron smiled.
"You know Mione you have the skills to be a Weasley…Bone crushing hugs and all." He said putting on a false brightness.
They continued their journey in silence. Harry was carrying Ginny gently in his arms and Hermione had her hand in Ron's.