Noonlight by Twisted Silver

Chapter Three

As Hermione reached the carriage, she saw Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle at the door. Sparks were flying out of their wands. As Hermione raised her wand ready to strike, three sparks of light erupted from inside the carriage. As each one hit the three Slytherins, they stood transfixed for a few moments, and then suddenly fell to the floor.

Hermione lowered her wand and started to tiptoe forwards. Bodies sprang from the carriage. It wasn't just Harry, but Neville and Luna as well. Neville looked beyond words, as though amazed by what had happened.

"Harry, you're alright!" Called Hermione as she stepped over Malfoy, making sure that she kicked his shin on the way. She turned as she heard a small panting noise behind her.

"Bloody Hell!" Exclaimed Ron as he caught up. "What on earth happened to them?"

"Total Body Bind," Stated Luna.

"Stunning Spell," Said Harry.

Neville just looked stunned that he had preformed a spell correctly.

"Well," said Hermione as she bent over them. "We should revive them. It won't do well if Snape came along and found them lying here."

"Hmm…" Sounded a silky voice from behind them. "Now that would be a pity."

Hermione straightened up and turned towards her Professor.

"P-Professor-" Stuttered Luna. "We can explain-" Snape stared at her and his eyes darted to Neville then to Harry, and that usual look of gloating evil came into his eyes.

"Well, you had better start explaining." He sneered, his cold black eyes still on Harry.

"I-it was Malfoy. He came into the carriage-" Started Harry. When he had finished Snape looked down at Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle.

"Well," He said. "You had better enervate them so that I can hear their side of the story."

"He hit me Professor!" Said Malfoy, pointing a slender finger towards Harry.

"So I have heard" Drawled Snape, "Mr Malfoy, please tell me how it came to be that Mr Potter felt the need to stun you."

Malfoy's eyes flashed, then he shouted, "How should I know what goes on in that scar head of his!"

Snape looked generally uninterested before saying, "On your way Mr Malfoy." As soon as Malfoy and company were out of ear shot, Snape turned towards Harry with that same loathing sneer on his face. "Potter, you Mr Longbottom and Miss Lovegood each have a detention with me."

"What!" Exclaimed Ron. "That's so unfair!"

"Well, it looks as though Mr Weasley would like to join Mr Potter in his detention." Sneered Snape. "Now come with me. We must arrange your detentions." And he led a glum looking group of students towards the front of the train. Snape could never let a chance to give Harry a detention slip past him.

A furious and lonely Hermione picked up Crookshanks and started back up the train to find a different compartment. Looking at her watch, she noticed that they were still over an hour away from Hogsmead station.

Snape looked down at the four glum looking students before him. "Now," He started, "Your detent-" But he got no further, for at that moment a large barn owl pecked on the window, flying alongside the train. Opening the window, Snape reached out and grabbed the letter, allowing the owl to slow down and fly away from the train.

Looking down at the letter, Snape recognised the Hogwarts seal stamped onto the opening. He looked back at the students; "You may now go. I will speak to your head of house when we reach Hogwarts to arrange your detentions."

Snape waited until the students had turned and left, before closing the door and tearing open the letter before starting to read.

Severus,

News has reached me that there was a break out from Azkaban Prison early this morning. Be on the lookout.

Albus

No sooner had Severus finished reading this letter however, did the train start to dramatically slow down at an alarming pace.

Hermione felt the train jolt, and stumbled forward, dropping Crookshanks who promptly sprinted away. Looking down at her watch she noted that the train couldn't possibly be at Hogsmead yet; they were still forty five minutes away! She looked around, and down the corridor watched as heads popped out of the carriages. Hearing footsteps, Hermione turned to see Cho Chang, the head girl, running along with a sack and occasionally giving people items from it. Hermione rushed towards her.

"Cho," Said Hermione, slightly out of breath. Cho looked up.

"Oh, Hermione, great!" Said Cho as she handed Hermione three of the items. "Portkeys. I'm going to need your help. Take these down the train, then take one and get yourself out!"

Hermione stepped back and started down the train, and quickly finding a hoard of scared looking first years, she gave them a portkey and sent them off. A flash of blond hair peeked out from the carriage next door, and she stepped towards it to see Malfoy, closely followed by Pansy Parkinson and Blaise Zabini. Hermione went up to the Slytherins and handed them a portkey. "Here. Get out of here." She said. She watched as the group collected around the portkey and disappeared, before turning to go and find her own friends. Hermione broke into a light jog when she saw them up ahead, and open a carriage door finding the red hair of Ron. "Ron!"

A noise sounded behind her that made her stomach drop. "Hermione! Run!"

Footsteps were coming up the carriage towards her. Without turning back, she broke into a run. Hermione felt a Stunning Spell whiz past her, skimming her ear and heard shouting behind her.

Then, with a leap of joy, she caught Ron's hand and was pulled into the carriage.

Harry, Neville, Luna and Ginny were already in the carriage, with Ginny holding Crookshanks. Hearing more shouts behind her, Hermione pulled out the final portkey from her robes and gave it to Harry. She pulled out her wand as everyone reached towards the portkey. The train came to a very sudden, sharp halt, and Hermione dropped her wand in alarm. In a mad rush she bent down to pick it up. Hermione stood up and turned to touch the portkey, but her hand touched naught but air.

When she noticed there was no one in that carriage apart from her, it went deadly quiet, even her breathing was silenced.

Hermione heard footsteps just outside the door. She backed up against the compartment window when she saw a face appear at the door.