"Hermione!" said Ron, hurrying after Hermione, Harry at his side. "Hermione wait!"
Hermione stopped her hand poised on the handle of the backdoor.
"I'm sorry." He said. "I didn't mean to sound rude."
Hermione didn't say anything; she just stood there for moment looking at them. To Harry and Ron's surprise she just started laughing.
"What?" asked Ron. "What's funny?"
"Oh nothing." Hermione sighed. "It just feels like I've been feeling a lot of understanding today."
"Does that mean I'm forgiven?" Ron asked hopefully.
"Yeah, I suppose." Said Hermione walking up to him and giving him a hug.
The three friends walked into the living room and sat down heavily onto the squashy armchairs.
The door shut behind them.
"Did you see that?" asked Harry.
"See what?" Ron replied.
"The door just shut."
"Well yeah;" said Ron. "You shut it."
"I didn't. Hermione?" Harry inquired.
"Nope." She told him. "The window's open, it could have been the breeze."
"I'm not so sure." Said Harry, standing up.
"Well look who solved the case." Came a cold voice. Someone covered from head to toe in a black cloak stood by the door, their face hidden in shadow. The person had the figure of a woman.
Hermione and Ron stood up quickly next to Harry, all reaching into their pockets for their wands. The pockets were empty. They'd left their wands upstairs leaving them defenceless against the intruder.
She held out her hand, palm facing upwards, and a blue ball crackling with the sound of electricity materialized, hovering a few inches over her hand.
"DUCK!" Hermione screamed, seizing Harry and Ron by the arms pulling them to the floor.
The woman drew back her arm and threw the ball at them just missing them as the trio dropped, crouching on the floor. The electric ball hit the wall behind them with a loud bang, leaving a scorch mark.
Harry stood up quickly and just as the woman was about to summon another electric ball Harry threw his arm out in her direction, palm up facing her. Time seemed to go in slow motion as a force flew out Harry's hand, throwing the woman against the wall. She crumpled and as Harry was going up to her, time went back to normal when she disapparated.
Harry turned round to face his friends to see if they were ok. Ron and Hermione were standing up looking pale. "What the hell was all that about?" said Hermione, voicing allowed the question flowing through all their heads.