This will switch back from Rita to Hermione's POV.
"Blime," Ron said from across the Gryffindor main dorm room, "Did you hear that?"
Hermione smirked. It was just like Ron to state the obvious. Harry nodded his head.
"Of course we heard that," Hermione answered. In usual fashion Hermione boldly lead her two companions in the direction of the strange thud. It came from behind a couch near the window. Hermione peered over the couch feeling her two much taller friends looming behind her. They had both grown a great deal over the summer.
"What is it Hermione?" Harry asked. Hermione could tell he was anxious to get outside for some Quidditch practice. Slowly she looked down and saw the unlikely from of Rita Skeeter contorted in pain. Hermione's mouth dropped open and she was in such shock she could barely choke out the words.
"Rita…Skeeter?"
Harry and Ron exchanged surprised glances and jumped onto the couch on each side of Hermione. Harry was the first to speak.
"We have to get her to the infirmary. It looks like someone has put the Cruciatus Curse on her." Hermione saw Rita clutching her fists in pain. The blond woman's eyes rolled unnaturally into the back of her head. Hermione brought her eyes around to meet Harry's. She could see he was asking the same questions in his mind as she was in hers. Who would do this to Rita? Certainly not a Death Eater. Why would they waste time on attacking her?
"How do we get her down stairs?" Ron asked scratching his main of red hair.
"Carry her of course," Hermione said rolling her eyes.
"I'm not touching her," Ron replied.
"We have to hurry," Harry ordered ignoring Ron's rude comment much to Hermione's relief. The two boys picked Rita up. Harry pulled her up by the arms and Ron awkwardly took hold of her ankles. Hermione ran to the painting to open it so they could get out. When she went to step through she ran into Jerimus Brighthall, the new Auror assigned to protect Hogwarts.
"Mr. Brighthall," Hermione said, surprised and a little out of breath.
"Has someone been attacked?" He asked his eyes were focused directly above Hermione's head. She was unsure how the Auror knew about the attack but being in the world of magic had taught her to assume anything is possible.
"Yes," Hermione began and Ron and Harry struggled to drag Rita over. From their efforts Hermione could see the problem wasn't that Rita was too heavy, for she was a tiny little woman with a big presence, the problem was, when Harry went one way Ron went another causing all kinds of navigational error. "We think Rita Skeeter was attacked by the Cruciatus Curse," Hermione explained.
"Rita Skeeter?" Jerimus questioned, his Scottish accent was heavy but his voice was quite.
"Ron, go that way!" Harry yelled, irritation seeping into his voice. Without hesitating Jerimus stepped through the doorway and approached Hermione's two friends. She was surprised to see the blind man walk over to them and gently lift Rita into his arms. Hermione could see her body was still shaking with the curse. Hermione quickly stepped through the painting and waited for the other to follow. She wasn't sure if Jerimus could see with magic but she decided to put a hand on his elbow and lead the way.
"Thank you," he whispered to Hermione, answering her question. She glanced back to see Ron and Harry following them, a worried expression appearing on both their faces.
Once they reached the infirmary they spotted Professor McGonagall talking with Madame Pomfrey. Hermione lead Jerimus to a bed, were he gently set the blond reporter down.
"Good gracious, what happened?" Professor McGonagall asked looking down her glasses at the woman in the bed. Madame Pomfrey hurried over to examine the patient.
"She's been attacked by the Cruciatus Curse," Pomfrey said, alarm in her voice.
Hermione watched at the three of them gathered in a circle around Rita and drew their wands. Although Mad Eye Moody had explained the unforgivable curses in class, he had never explained how to counter act one. The three adults yelled out a spell Hermione had never heard before. She made a mental note to look it up in the library when she got a chance.
Madame Pomfrey bent over Rita and continued to examine her. Hermione thought she saw Jerimus attempt to lay a hand over Rita's and then think better of it. Before the possibility had solidified in her mind Professor McGonagall was bearing down on them.
"Where have you been? What happened to Ms. Skeeter? What kind of trouble have you gotten into?" The kindly old professor asked.
"We have no idea," Hermione replied, slightly irritated at the accusation.
"We were talking in Gryffindor Hall and all of the sudden thud, there she was," Ron explained, in terms quite annoying to Hermione. Ron was always so over dramatic and understated at the same time.
"She owns a house near the school," McGonagall said, to no one in particular.
"Whoever did this may still be there," Jerimus replied darkly. Without further comment he stormed out of the infirmary, robes flaring, with speed surprising to Hermione.
"Who do you think did this Professor?" Harry asked taking a bold step forward. "Do you think it was a Death Eater?"
Before Professor McGonagall could answer, with what Hermione thought would most likely be a delicate dodging of the question Madame Pomfrey interrupted.
"Well, if it was they weren't very successful," she began, "Ms. Skeeter did not get the full force of the attack. She'll need to rest, but I would say she'll make a full recovery within three or four days."
"Thank heavens," McGonagall stated with a hand over her heart. Hermione found it hard to believe that anyone could be so concerned for such a disgusting little woman. "I must tell Albus of what has happened." With that, McGonagall marched out of the room, leaving Hermione and her two friends with puzzled looks.