Magic Never Dies (Harmione)

Chapter 8

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The Ron vs. Hermione argument of the morning - the day, Harry sincerely hoped - revolved around the decision to apparate just outside Hogwarts' gates or Floo to Hogsmeade and walk to the school.

Hermione thought apparition the only logical choice.

Ron liked the idea of Flooing because they could stop in at Honeydukes on their way 'and no one ever left anything important behind in a fireplace.'

"How about we apparate there, and floo home?" Harry asked through gritted teeth, resolving never to have children. Assuming he lived long enough. Although the whole making them thing was...

"Okay," agreed Ron happily.

"We could stop in at the Hogs' Head as well, I suppose," rationalized Hermione. "See if we can find out any more about Mundungus' connections. In broad daylight and hopefully without Death Eaters this time."

Harry privately thought a great deal of the edginess was the result of the idea of being back at Hogwarts under such changed circumstances. He himself felt a wave of apprehension boarding on nausea at meeting with Professor McGonagall in Dumbledore's office and speaking with the portrait. There was so much he wanted to say, so much he wanted to know. As often as he kept reminding himself that the portrait was just a magical imprint of Dumbledore's essence and not the Headmaster himself he feared that he was going to come away more aware of Dumbledore's loss than ever.

"Let's go then," he said. "McGonagall always did have a thing about being on time."

"On the plus side," supplied Ron, "no more points to lose!"

"On the down side," Harry told him, preparing to apparate, "she's now free to move on to limbs."

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All three managed to apparate successfully to a point just outside Hogwarts' front gates. Hermione was gazing fondly at the winged boars flanking the entrance when she felt the hair on the back of her neck begin to creep. She spun around to two entirely surprising sights. The first was a group of three Death Eaters running at top speed in their direction from the edge of one of the nearby fields that flanked the road to Hogsmeade. The second was Ron and Harry, wands already drawn, standing shoulder to shoulder in front of her as though the thought that they would be greeted by a welcoming committee of Death Eaters had more than simply occurred to them; they had in fact expected it. Harry turned slightly toward her, keeping one eye on the approach of the hooded figures.

"Hermione, send your patronus up to the school to get someone to let us in. Tell them there's three DE's at the gates."

"Harry, my patronus is an otter. Do you have any idea how long it would take an otter to reach McGonagall?"

"She's expecting us, there may even be someone on the way already."

He swore then as one of the Death Eaters began firing off curses hoping to get in a lucky shot despite the distance and timed a shield to allow Ron a couple of clear shots back. She could see his eyes darting around, seeking a safe place for them to fight from; their backs were literally against Hogwarts' wall.