Chapter 9
There had been a time in Hermione's life when, if you had told her she would have felt sorry for the Malfoy family, mainly Draco, she would have laughed until her cheeks hurt. Her? A muggle born witch who was reminded of her blood status, and projected inferiority every time she had been within the vicinity of Draco, or his father? A member of the Order of The phoenix, wasting sympathy on a Death Eater and his equally prejudiced and wretched mother? The thought was absurd! And yet, gazing into the light-less face of Narcissa Malfoy had managed to conjured up some sadness and worry from the noosed heart of Hermione Granger. A fresh wave of cold water was seeping into the waterlogged girl who had already seen some many people be taken from the world early, and unjustly. The deaths will never end, She thought morosely. The sounds around her brought her out of her stupor, as the battles waged on unweildingly.
She turned to see Draco howl in rage, as he sent out a Killing Curse to Goyle Sr, who had undoubtedly been the one to kill Narcissa.
Hermione jumped the crevice and joined the frey. We need to get out of this room, They have us trapped and they are going to kill us all if we don't get out of this house. She thought, almost hysterically, while confunding Cassius, and dodging a curse from Lestrage. Moody had been stupefied and lay on the ground in a heap. Bill was Sending curses left and right. Hermione could see more Death Eaters just beyond the door way. This is not good. Draco was beside her, sending curses with such fervor that Hermione was afraid he would hit one of their side in the frenzy.
"Granger, Lovegood, you had both better start striking to kill or you won't have a chance," Draco hissed between his own curses. "Buck up, both of you." He finished, dodging his way away from a new Hooded Figure who was clamoring through the doorway and heading for them.
"Percy!" Bill screeched from in front of her, and Hermione spun to see a Death Eater grab Percy, who looked to be stupefied, and carry him out the door. Bill Dodged a curse from Antonin and bounded toward the door, after his brother, but before he could reach the door way Cassius stunned him, and he fell to the ground like dead weight. Why aren't the shooting to kill now? Hermione wondered, grateful Bill had only been stunned, and not killed.
"Lovegood, Down!" Draco yelled, pushing Luna forward and out of the way of a hex. Neville seemed to materialize to Draco's left and shot a hex out at at Death Eater in front of them, nodding to Draco. A hex blasted Luna backwards, where she collided with Neville, who wrapped his arms around her protectively.
"Stupefy!" Hermione yelled, hitting an approaching death eater. We can't keep fighting like this. They are going to outnumber us, and wear us down.
"We need to get through that door," Neville said, holding a stupefied Luna in his arms while Draco sent spells out next to him.
"Protego!" Hermione cast, thinking. "I'm going to cast reducto, like they did. once it hits, we need to run for that door, together, watching each others back. We need to get Moody out of here, too.." As if on cue, Lestrange appeared next to Moody, and with a pronounced "Mobilicorpus," Began moving Moody out of the House.
"Dammit," Hermione hissed. "At the ready," she continued, raising her wand. "Reducto!" She cast, and the floor between them and the door shook once before cracking open, sending Death Eaters flying.
Neville was up with Luna immediately, and since he was holding her, he couldn't cast. Hermione flanked his right, and Draco fallowed behind. Hermione was casting Protego with every step she took, and could hear Draco sending hexes out behind them
A flash of color shot by Hermione's face, but she ignored it. Almost..there...almost...The hex that had flown by her face, hit Neville instead. He fell and Hermione tripped over him.
A rough pair of hands grabbed Hermione's shoulders and pulled her to her feet. "Granger, go!" Draco growled in her ear.
"But-Neville-and Luna,' Hermione gasped, trying to steady her feet.
"Mobilicorpus!" Draco hissed, starting to move Neville and Luna towards the door way.
Hermione ducked her head from some hexes and made for the door. She passed through the thresh hold with baited breath, unsure if there were any Death Eaters outside the door.
"Granger-" Draco shouted Behind her, and she spun.
Lestrange was behind Draco, with the white haired Death Eater behind him.
Bloody hell. Hermione raised her wand, but Draco had dropped Neville and Luna in order to draw his. Before Hermione could work to pick them up again, Draco was blast backwards into her, making her vision go hazy. Her head hit the cobblestone walkway, and she saw the same stars she had seen earlier.