New Romantics | Hermione Granger Book IV

|19| Chapter Nineteen

N I N E T E E N

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Saffron tried her best to get to her feet but felt numb. She felt so grateful for the fact that she had managed to release what was inside of the Grey last year giving her some semblance of control over it as had she not have had that, she probably would have gone straight to the Grey. Likewise, had Rowan not already gone to the Grey that night, he too probably would have ended up going again once Saffron revealed to them what was in the sky.

Once she finally got to her feet, followed swiftly by Rowan, Hermione and Ron, she was able to examine it closer and clasped her hand over her mouth at the sight. The skull was bigger than she ever could have imagined, with a grand serpent coming out of its mouth serving as a tongue. Greensmoke emitted from it, altering how the stars above them looked. Saffron grabbed Rowan's hand and was about to instruct the others as to what to do while trying to not let her state of shock consume her. But Harry acted first, just not in the way that she ever would have hoped for.

He didn't seem to understand that the screams that started to erupt from all across the woods and area as a whole were meaningful. The vast majority knew exactly what that skull meant and knew that they had to get as far away from it as possible.

"Who's there?" Harry called again making Saffron let out a screech. 

"No," Saffron gasped in horror. "We have to go, now. Harry, let's go!" 

Harry was immobile. Saffron couldn't tell if he was waiting for a response or finally comprehending whos sign he was seeing in the sky. Either way, he didn't move.

"Hermione, take Rowan!" Saffron demanded and Hermione listened, taking Rowan by the hand and starting to move in the opposite direction to the mark. Ron leaned down to pick up his Krum figurine as Saffron grabbed Harry's hand and attempted to pull him away.

"What's the matter?" Harry sounded utterly confused so evidently, Saffron's first assumption was the accurate one. Harry was genuinely waiting for whichever Death Eater, most likely, put that the Dark Mark in the sky.

"That's no ordinary mark Harry," Saffron hissed, pulling him harder now  "That's his sign, Harry. The Dark Mark! You-Know-Who's mark!"

"Voldemort's -- ?"

"Harry, please!" she cried, her voice faltering more and more.

Harry obeyed her now and started to pick up the pace. Rowan and Hermione were already a few feet away so Saffron, Harry and Ron hurried to catch up with them. But the latter three only took a few steps before what must have been two dozen or so pops were to be heard signalling the arrival of over twenty or so wizards apparating around them.

Saffron feared the worst and worried about Death Eaters circling around them. Not knowing what to do, she kept on running until Harry yelled:

"DUCK!"

She was about to do so but felt Harry grab onto her pulling her own to the ground, sparing her from harm via any spell. Falling hard onto the rough terrain, Saffron felt stunning spells fly over her, almost hitting one of their targets in the form of hers. She hoped that it was wizards from their side, from the ministry, and not Death Eaters. She also hoped that neither Rowan nor Hermione had been stunned. Thanks to Harry, she and Ron had evaded the attack but being further ahead, Rowan and Hermione may not have been as lucky.

"Leave it!" A female voice exclaimed loudly above all other voices. "Leave it, I said! They're with me!"

Saffron used her elbows to lift herself up onto her knees and she saw that a witch with short hair had actually been standing in front of her, with her wand pointed right at her.