Chapter 5 – Safety
Hermione and George both knew the risks involved with them going back in time to the war zone. Both would have been quite content in staying in the safety of the Gryffindor common room if it wasn't for the fact that all of the Weasley family and their friends were still fighting, including their other George and Hermione.
George led Hermione to a secret passageway that wasn't being watched and the two slipped inside it. Hermione lit her wand tip as they carefully walked down the passageway, still under the cloak. George lit his wand too, to give them extra light and so he could see the map clearly.
"Do you think they'd be any death eaters hiding in the secret passageways?" Hermione wondered.
"No I doubt it. They'd be too stupid to think of such genius things." George replied with a slight laugh.
George kept a very close eye on the map so he could see where his family and friends were and also to see where the other George and Hermione were. They could not risk running into themselves.
"Hermione what if we've put our family and friends at even more risk by going back in time?" George wondered.
"I really hope we haven't, George but I'm not going to lie and say that we haven't." Hermione answered, feeling guilty. "We've still put our other selves at risk too."
There was a massive bang from somewhere outside the passageway which caused Hermione to jump straight into George's arms. Thankfully the passageway protecting them was not destroyed or penetrated. George's wand lit highlighted Hermione's pale face.
"You're actually quite beautiful Hermione. Ron is a very lucky guy." George commented.
"Thank you George." Hermione blushed.
"You and Ron are going out, right?" George asked.
"I don't know George. One minute I'm in love with him then the next I'm angry at him and he has treated me quite badly in the past." Hermione answered sadly. "I don't know if I want us to be anything more than friends now."
"I know Ron's my brother but you could do so much better than him, Hermione." George said.
"Maybe I should have gone back and stopped our kiss in the Chamber of Secrets." Hermione said with a sigh. "But we've enough to worry about tonight than me kissing your brother."
There was another loud bang which caused the wall to shake around them.
"We need to get going Hermione." George stated. "We're somewhere on the fourth floor."
They continued on their way until the knew they were near the Great Hall. Neither of them speaking to one another.
"Is there anyone standing near the entrance?" Hermione asked.
"No. It looks completely clear." George answered.
They made sure the cloak was completely covering them and cast a shield charm around them both, which cast a protective bubble around them. George carefully stepped out from behind the suit of armour that was hiding the entrance.
"It's clear." George quietly said.
It wasn't clear for long as two cloaked death eaters who were duelling a Hufflepuff and a Ravenclaw student came into view.
"I think it's time to cause some mischief." George stated.
He pointed his wand at one of the death eaters and cast several spells at him. Hermione did the same with the other death eater. George's stunned one flew into the air and got thrown into the wall. Hermione's flew back and landed in a suit of armour.
They came to the Great Hall and Hermione's stomach dropped. She just hoped that when she entered that the Weasley family weren't crowded around a body lying on the ground. George must have been feeling the exact same way as he gripped Hermione's hand tightly.
There was no fighting going on in the Great Hall at all as people attended to the wounded. A row of bodies were laid out in the middle as their friends or family sobbed over their loved ones who had sadly lost their lives.
"I see Mum." George said to Hermione.
Sure enough Hermione spotted the red headed woman attending to a Hufflepuff student who had a bleeding wound on her arm.
Arthur was helping to attend to a Ravenclaw student who had a nasty looking gash to his head.
"I don't see any of the others." Hermione whispered.
"Is that a good or a bad thing?" George wondered.
"No idea." Hermione answered. "Could be a mixture of both. Check the map."
They carefully made their way to the chamber that was off the Great Hall which was completely empty and seemed safe enough for them to hide out in. George quietly closed the door but carved a peep hole in it. Hermione cast a few protective spells around it so they'd be safe enough. Then George checked the map to see where the rest of his family was. Fred was thankfully along with Lee, George and Oliver Wood.
"This will let us see what's going on out there." George stated.
"They'll all be going outside soon any ways as Harry should be returning from the forest." Hermione said, checking her watch.