Hermione searched for anything out of the ordinary as she walked up the aisle on the Hogwarts Express, her features concealed by a hood. Moving out the way as some excited First Year students emerged from their booth to chase after the sweet trolley Hermione dully noticed that there was a massive lack of known Slytherins on board.
Pulling her hood further in front of her face Hermione continued to walk. She had started from the back of the train while Tonks had started from the front; she was impressed with Tonks disguise for there was no way you could tell it was the Auror hidden beneath the image of an intelligent Ravenclaw student.
Gripping her wand tightly as it rested within the confines of her sleeve Hermione continued down the aisle. She ignored the curious glances she attracted from various students and suspicious glares from some of her fellow Gryffindor students. She tilted her head away from the students as they scrutinized her from their booth before a familiar mass of blonde hair bumped into her and nearly knocked her off her feet.
"Sorry about that. I should really pay more attention to where I'm going" Hermione instantly recognised that airy, carefree tone. Luna Lovegood. Hermione smiled as she observed Luna, the girl looked just like she remembered which was a relief. So much had changed and it was nice to see someone exactly the way she remembered.
Luna looked up at the hooded individual with a curious look on her pale face. Leaning forward she whispered into the 'strangers' ear.
"Hello Hermione" the brunette rolled her eyes at the blonde teen, of course if anyone was to catch her out it would be Luna, the girl figured out most things with relative ease. Soft eyes looked at Hermione as Luna leaned back.
"It's good to see you Luna" no lie there. Looking around the carriage Luna nodded towards one of the empty booths before entering. Hermione followed the blonde Ravenclaw and closed the booth door behind her.
"How are you Luna?" asked Hermione as she sat next to the blonde. Luna shrugged her shoulders.
"I'm fine. I've been spending a fair bit of time with my dad at work. He doesn't want to leave me on my own because of the situation at the moment" Hermione sighed in response. So much fear had infected the hearts of the Wizarding world due to Voldemort's return.
"But how are you Hermione if you don't mind me asking" how was she? That was a very complex question and an even more complex answer.
"I've been better" answered Hermione evasively. Now was not the time for a heart-to-heart. Luna accepted her answer though she knew in her heart that the young woman sitting with her was not the same person she had befriended. Something about her was darker, more restrained but it wasn't her place to draw out the new Hermione. Luna suddenly tilted her head to the side with a confused expression on her face which put Hermione on edge.
"I wonder why we're stopping" she spoke softly as she looked around the carriage. Hermione stood up and opened the door before poking her head out of it. Two figures dressed in black robes were standing at the front of the carriage with their wands out.
"Shit it's Rudolphus and Rabastan" whispered Hermione at Luna as she moved back into the booth. Luna watched Hermione curiously as the brunette walked over to the window and knelt down next to the vent located underneath. Whispering the Protronus charm a white otter jetted out of the vent and into the distance.
"Right..." Hermione pulled back her hood and looked at Luna with determination in her eyes.
"...Luna I want you to get everyone out of the carriage" Luna frowned in confusion at Hermione's request.
"What about you?" asked Luna. Hermione looked up at the door and watched for the Death Eaters.
"Don't worry about me just please do as I ask" a scream of pain alerted Hermione and with a last glance at Luna she darted out into the aisle only to find Rudolphus with his wand out and using the Imperious curse to levitate a student towards them while Rabastan pointed a wand at the student to the side of his companion.
"Confundus!" barked Hermione at Rudolphus. Though her spell quickly made short work of its target Hermione had to worry about the other one.
"Avada Kadavra!" barked Rabastan as he pointed his wand at Hermione. The brunette's eyes widened a fraction before summoning a spell as a jet of green energy streaked through the air towards her.
"Protego!" commanded Hermione as she pointed her wand at the killing curse. The two spells collided with each other and repelled the killing curse straight back to its conjurer, the Rabastan dived to the side and the spell collided harmlessly with the floor.
Luna glanced over her shoulder as she ushered her fellow students to the back of the carriage, Hermione was certainly holding her own against Rabastan there was no doubt but it looked like Rudolphus was regaining his senses. Pulling her wand out of her pocket Luna gave instructions to a fourth year Hufflepuff to move everyone into the next carriage.
"Stupefy!" barked Hermione and her spell was met with a defensive spell. Baring her teeth in frustration she summoned another spell as Rabastan walked forward.
"Immobulus" she stated, again he deflected it. Shit.
"Expelliarmus" commanded Luna clearly from behind Hermione after the brunette summoned another spell that Rabastan deflected. The man was unprepared and his wand was lost to him. Hermione's eyes quickly darted to Rudolphus who was regaining his senses.
"Expelliarmus!" she cried out and his wand was knocked out of his hand. Rudolphus glared at Hermione with a disturbing rage that brought out Hermione's own anger in defiance. Rudolphus and Rabastan quickly vanished into a thick, black smoke before disappearing out the side of the carriage.
Confused, Hermione glanced out the nearest window. Hermione's eyes widened and she entered the nearest booth and to get a closer look. Two strands of familiar black smoke were charging towards the carriage at a rapid pace.
"Get down!" barked Hermione as she turned and grabbed a hold of Luna and brought her to kneel on the floor. The smoke passed through the carriage with so much force that the metal that bound the carriage to the others snapped and the carriage itself was flung onto its side where it rolled down a steep hill with both girls still inside.
The sound of bending metal and shattering glass accompanied the loud clashes that the carriage made as it rolled before it came to a slow halt at the bottom of the hill.