Professor McGonagall in her animagus form felt her fur bristle. She moved rapidly through the underbrush towards the running trills of birdcall. She must hurry. That was no ordinary bird, of that she was certain. Leaping gracefully over an old stump, the Professor spotted her quarry perched in an old oak tree. It was another unfortunate sight that stopped her cold in her tracks.
Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger in each other's arms.
The Professor's whiskers twitched and her eyes blazed green fire. What bat-brained dimwit had let those two out into the garden unprotected? Especially without informing her. Heads would roll! And for that matter, how could these two, her charges, be so heedless? Merlin, she hoped they had remembered their wands.
Before she progressed any further in her internal raging, she noted that the nightingale had ceased singing and flown to a low branch in the neighbour's adjoining garden. Cursing to herself, the Professor turned and crouched behind her stump.
Two very slight pops alerted her to a new presence near the nightingale's branch. Once again her fur bristled as she detected magic in the air and the sound of low voices. She willed herself to remain calm as she slowly inched forward to listen.
" Well, well. For once the luck of Merlin favours us," a tall black-hooded figure gloated nastily as he peered through a break in the hedge.
" Easy marks sitting there not noticing anything but themselves. Potter's two sidekicks in one fell swoop. The Dark Lord will be pleased when we bring them in," the other figure who had joined him replied triumphantly.
The Professor eyed the Death Eaters with scorn. Did they actually think that they would be able to capture anyone in an area protected with wards and some of the best trained Aurors in the business? Why, all she needed to do was transform into her human form and she could deal with both these traitorous scum herself! Some inner voice, sounding remarkably like her old friend Dumbledore, warned her to wait.
The two Death Eaters surprisingly did not hurry. Instead the first, a tall slender wizard with a low hypnotizing voice, said to his colleague " Wait! You know our instructions. Wait until the others arrive. The first unit have arrived but there are too many Aurors here who still need to be otherwise occupied." He put his hand out to stop the other from moving forward.
" But the two are right here in front of us. There will never be a better chance. One stunning spell and they are ours!" objected the other man, who was burly and heavy-set.
" Pah, don't be a fool, Goyle. We don't see anyone, but beyond that broken down gate – typically Muggle by the way, there is bound to be more protection for these two. If our spies are right, then this secret Ministry project actually involves the Mudblood girl and that despicable spawn of the Weasley blood traitors, hard as that is to believe."
Now Minerva McGonagall recognized the unpleasant but cultured voice. It was none other than one of the Order's worst enemies, Lucius Malfoy.
Furious but determined, the Professor considered the decision she now had to make – warn the others before the attack or remain with her two charges who had no idea of their imminent danger.
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At the first sounds of the distinctive pops from beyond the gate, Ron instinctively grabbed Hermione, muttering," wand" in her ear. Then he pulled her around the swing and behind the protective branches of the leafy oak tree. Curses and flashes of green light left no doubt that an attack was underway.
" Protego," a voice rumbled and Ron knew instantly that Charlie was nearby. Above them the birdsong sounded out of place.
" Ron," Hermione spoke in a low urgent voice," Look-over there."
Shrouded by the oak's branches and protected by rioting brambles behind them, Ron and Hermione were barely visible. Which was exactly how Ron wanted it. He had not taken his promise to Dr. Granger lightly. He would protect Hermione with every ounce of his being.
Now he turned and gave a slight gasp. Hermione, her eyes wide with anxiety, indicated two Death Eaters walking in a bee- line toward their present sanctuary.
" Follow my lead," Ron whispered squeezing Hermione's hand and hoping for Merlin's sake and their own, that for once she would agree without debate. Hermione was a dab hand at spells, charms and potions but Ron was taller, faster and a better strategist. He truly believed that if they worked together, they would be unbeatable. Now was definitely the time to prove that theory.
For one instant, Hermione's mouth took on a determined line, but she caught the sight of Ron's set face, alert eyes and tensed shoulders and simply returned the hand-squeeze.
The Death Eaters were now within range. Ron coiled his body like a dangerous wildcat ready to spring.
" Stay here, surprise mode. Go low – take the chunky one. Game on, love."
With that Ron leapt into the fray. A green jet shot immediately towards him narrowly missing his shoulder. Ron pointed his wand just behind the taller Death Eater and declaimed," Aquati Plumus "at the fish pond. Immediately the pond's water was sucked up to its mid-point. A huge jet of water shot out and knocked the Death Eater off his feet and his wand soared into the air.
" Accio, wand," Ron cried and the errant wand zoomed towards him.
" Do something, you fool," yelled Lucius Malfoy to his confederate.
The hapless Goyle took aim at Ron only to hear immediately behind him " Petrificas Totalus" as Hermione had doubled round behind him and caught him unawares.
" Stupendo," a jet of green light erupted from Ron's wand and stopped Lucius Malfoy effectively. The Death Eater fell, stunned, to the ground.
Ron extended his hand to Hermione.
" Alright?" he arched an eyebrow in inquiry.
" Perfectly," Hermione replied coolly stepping over the now statue-like Goyle.
" Should we-um-lift the hoods and see who we've got?" Hermione asked tentatively.
" I think we need to leave now and join the others. Who knows when another two may pop up?" Ron replied grasping her hand and edging towards the gate.
Immediately a fresh cacophony of curses sounded and the summer sky was filled with neon wandfire.
" Ron, my parents," Hermione whispered in a panic.
" Right, back to back – defensive spells. We've got to get back to the house. Don't get too fancy." Ron had his next strategy ready. He was deliberately high-handed. Angry Hermione was good – panicked Hermione was not.
Hermione pouted and said with rising indignation, " What no wandless magic or counter jinxes? I hope you don't think that you're going to get to order me around all the time, now that we're together, Ronald?"
" Wouldn't dream of it, love. You know too many hexes to make that safe," he parried.
He smiled at her and she managed a haughty glare that suggested he'd hear about this later. He could deal with that. He bent down to kiss her cheek and then said in a quiet but firm voice, " Now, let's go-Keep it simple, straight and deadly. On my count...,"
Unnoticed behind them, the graceful tabby cat paused briefly to wash a paw. Then as the pair passed through the gate, she dropped to all fours and crept towards the rose briar hedge. The nightingale flew overhead.