Hermione was ripped from a sound sleep by the voices of Charlie and Percy. "Ginny, Hermione! Get up you need to get out of here right now!" Charlie announced, shaking Hermione full of panic and doing the same to his sister.
"Whats going on?" Hermione asked, getting out of bed to find her shoes quickly.
"Death Eaters, you and my brothers need to get away from the crowds right now, leave everything behind we can salvage later," Charlie responded. He looked visibly afraid and Hermione knew exactly why. She moved even faster to put on her shoes and a jacket and gather her wand, with Ginny up and behind her. Hermiones heart had completely sunk in fear, her mind completely aware of the risk she was at. Harry, Ron, Fred, and George were at the door waiting for Hermione and Ginny to join them, and with clear directions from Arthur of where to go, the five were off.
Immediately Hermiones heart raced more as she faced the sight of fire and screaming from the attendees. In the distance, a moving glow of the Death Eaters. The group quickly began moving with the crowd, sure to keep hold of one another. As they came to what could of been described as a gridlock of people, Hermione looked behind only to see the sight of a man being levitated by a Death Eater, screaming in fear. Trying to hold back tears, Hermione turned to move through the crowd, only to be pushed aside. Looking across, she saw as Ginny, Harry and Ron moved further away from her.
"We'll find you soon, get to safety, Hermione!" Harry shouted over the crowd, panic clearly over his face. The three of them began moving again as Hermione stood still watching, snapped out of it as she felt her arm being pulled.
"We've got to get you out of here!" one of the twins shouted, pulling her along and away from the crowd. By doing this they found themselves back into the campsite where the Death Eaters must have started their rampage, as the flames were not as fresh. They continued to run this way, and as they did Hermione heard a shout from further in the camp site.
"That girl! She's a mudblood!" the voice said. At this the three started running even faster, Hermione now tearing up uncontrollably. Now both boys were holding her arm tightly as they ran further and further away, up until they reached and entered deep enough into the woodlands to conceal themselves.
"Don't start a light, we need to stay hidden," Hermione said, trying to adjust to the darkness. She could see the orange haze in the distance of the campsite, but was far enough to feel at ease again.
"You okay?" one of the boys asked.
"I'll be better when we're out of here completely," Hermione answered truthfully. The three stood in complete silence and darkness, and after a moment Hermione realised that a hand was still tightly around her arm. Not wanting to lose the contact, though, she stayed quiet. A few minutes went by without any sounds in the woods around them, and at this Hermione raised her wand with her free hand and whispered "Lumos."
She looked at the two boys and Fred, who was holding her arm, dropped it quickly. "Do you think its okay to leave yet?" George asked, visibly scared like the rest of them.
"I've no idea, but nobody chased us which could be a sign," Fred replied. "Wonder how the others are -"
Before he could finish his sentence, a dull shout came from the near distance and a green light lit up into the sky. The three instantly looked up to find the Dark Mark looming above them. Fearful of the caster, Hermione instinctively put her light out and went back into high alert, keeping her ear out for the footsteps of someone running, with no avail. A few seconds past before more dull yelling could be heard, but even closer. It sounded like a group. Hermione took a step back to press herself against a tree, and in the darkness, Fred once again reached to grab her arm.
"Do you think those were Death Eaters?" George asked.
"I've no idea," Fred replied.
More mumbling and shouting could be heard- before Hermione could hear a familiar. "We need to get closer! I just heard Ron, I swear," she said, gaining a sense of bravery at the idea that she would either be facing Death Eaters, or would be reunited with her friends. The three very carefully walked towards the voices, and slowly regained comfort as they began to recognise more and more people and eventually found a light source of the crowd.
"Dad?!" Fred shouted, holding Hermiones wrist tightly as he did.
"George?!" Mr Weasely shouted back.
"Typical," George tusked as they quickly walked towards the light and crowd of people. They came to Mr Weasely, as well as Mr Diggory and other Ministry Officials surrounding Harry, Ron and Ginny. Hermione ran out of Freds hand and into the arms of Harry, Rona and Ginny, trying her best not to burst into tears as she did so.
"I'm so glad youre okay, Hermione," Harry smiled as he hugged her.
"Honestly we were worried to death about you," Ron added. Hermione could feel her shirt dampen slightly, but wasn't sure who was crying. But she understood- after what she saw and what she heard, Hermione knew exactly where they were coming from. George and Fred joined in to embrace the three they were separated from, before they all turned to face the Ministry group who were talking amongst themselves and looking directly at harry.
"What happened?" Hermione whispered to Harry and Ron.
"We'll tell you when we get to the tent," Ron replied quietly and Hermione nodded.
The group had been waiting patiently in the tent (that had held up quite well), for over an hour for Mr Weasely and Mr Diggory to take them home. Charlie, as well as Cedric, had already taken the lead by apparating back to the Burrow to tell Mrs Weasely what had happened and when everyone would be home- but in the meantime the teens, apart from Hermione, sat in the main space in silence. Hermione, though, was in the room that she had slept in. She sat on the floor crying her eyes out quietly, so as not to be heard. She cried out of fear of her life, and fear for everyone else's lives, and she also cried out of anger towards the Death Eaters for being such horrible people. Soon enough though, Hermione felt at ease once more and sat in silence by herself- but not before hearing a knock on the door. Clearing her eyes, Hermione tried to make herself seem fine before welcoming the person in, and surprisingly, it was Percy.
"I would like to apologise for calling muggles stupid earlier today," is what the man decided to start with. Though it was dark, Percy could see Hermione frowning at him. "I'm not good at this and I'm trying. I was very worried about you through this, as I was worried about everything else. You mean a lot to our family, Hermione, and I'm sorry."
Hermione knew Percy was being genuine and accepted his apology, before following him back outside where everyone seemed a bit livelier than from when she'd left. Joining Ginnys side, the two held each other while listening to Ron recount what it was like to be attacked by the Ministry, as well as his own father. In Rons words it was "A bloody disgrace, honestly can't the man tell who his own children are?" At this Hermione managed a laugh, imagining Mr Weaselys fright as he realised hed sent a spell straight for his two youngest children.
The laughter quietened as Mr Weasely and Mr Diggory finally entered the tent, and announced that they could all finally go home. The portkey took the group home with the same sensation as they had arrived, though now it was just outside the Burrow. Letting go and standing up, Hermione finally felt at full peace again- certain that she was now out of harms way. Mrs Weasely and Charlie charged out the front door, Mrs Weasely immediately running to Hermione and Harry and hugging them with concern. She then went to hug all of her children from youngest to the twins, and finally kissed Arthur and hugged him too- worry visibly still on her face.
"I've just made a pot of tea for you all, I was so worried when Charlie showed up and told me what had happened. Thank goodness you're all okay," she said. Everyone slowly sat down around the table as Mrs Weasely charmed the pot to pour them all a cup of tea which they eagerly drank. "Tomorrow is the last day before Hogwarts- and I finished all the shopping today which means you can all take it easy. I'll be upstairs if anyone needs me." Mrs Weasely stood up, as did Mr Weasely, and the two departed the group.
"Probably going to talk about what happened, mum nearly died when I said Death Eaters," Charlie said when the parents were out of hearing.
"I don't blame her, could you imagine what would of happened if they got to Hermione or Harry," Ron added, to which Hermione stiffened.
"I'd rather not talk about that," Hermione replied quickly, and the group went quiet. An agonising full five minutes of tea drinking passed with not a single word being said as everyone tried to think of a topic to bring up.
"What a bloody game though!" Fred announced. "Knew Ireland had it in em, that Krums good but he may as well be a poster boy." And at this the table managed to pick up and return to normal- even Hermione, who at the best of times was only a mild fan of quidditch- made commentary about the game.
Soon enough, Hermione decided it was time she'd go to sleep. Between the game, the running and the crying, she was completely worn out. As she walked up the stairs and towards the bedroom though, a familiar hold returned around her wrist and she turned around. Fred looked at her and smiled widely with a goofy face, and hugged her tightly. "Don't go about having nightmares, will you? Can't be losing sleep to some twats with a mask on." Hermione smiled and hugged him back, wishing she wouldn't have to let go, but eventually doing so.
"Night, Fred. Thank you for taking care of me,"
"What choice did I have? You're precious cargo," he said in reference to the spell he was trying to make. Hermione rolled her eyes and smiled.
"If you really cared about your spell you would of barged in when I was in the tent." Hermione replied, to which Fred put a hand on her shoulder and shortly squeezed it.
"I'm an entrepreneur, Granger, not a monster," and at that, Fred said his goodnight and left the young witch be. And as Hermione slept that night she hoped to dream of anything but the night that had just happened. And while it wasn't a nightmare, she did end up dreaming of the night- a vivid dream of running through a dark forrest holding a kind hand.