She\'s Like The Wind

At 6AM, the very first rays of sunshine began filtering in through the windows, beautifully enlightening the hallways for another day.

Barty Crouch Jr., disguised as Alastor Moody and Disillusioned as well, was crouched down at the foot of the stairs and carefully eyed the door to the Deputy's personal quarters, just waiting; aware that Minerva McGonagall was a rather early riser, and she thus would be appearing rather sooner than later. She's already weak… he thought, having watched her supported, nearly carried, there by that gangling Weasley boy last night, giving him the best opportunity this morning. He maniacally laughed within himself. That what he had hoped to do would be too easy almost…

Then the door in question suddenly flew open, revealing the Head of Gryffindor House and pulling Barty from his thoughts. He smiled and quietly pointed his wand at the woman, waiting until she came near enough. He watched quite amused as she uneasily limped to the staircase beside which he kneeled. When Minerva had finally limped over to the foot of the staircase, Barty of course seized his chance and hexed her, watching with a sickening grin upon his face, eying her as she fell down on the stone much like a rag doll, writhing in intense pain. He never looked back, but turned around to leave so no one would be able to connect him with what had happened to poor Minerva…

"Hey, what's going on here?" Ron yelled, as he, with Hermione and Harry, made his way down the stairs to the Great Hall to get something to eat before Transfiguration at nine. A whole crowd of pupils appeared to have gathered at the foot of the stairs and Ron being tall enough to see over their heads, could see that someone appeared to have fainted or something and was lying at the foot of the stairs. He vaguely saw a hint of long ebony hair.

He and his companions all three wormed their way through the crowd to see who the person in question was. Neither of them would have anticipated it, though. Hermione's hand immediately flew up to her mouth to stifle a gasp upon reaching the first row of the crowd, seeing that the person in question was their own Head of House, and that she hadn't merely fainted, but was in addition glowing with a sickeningly violet light. Even though her eyes had fluttered shut, she was furiously shaking with what appeared to be the aftereffects of a very powerful curse Hermione sincerely hoped hadn't taken place. "She has to be taken to Madame Pomfrey ASAP!" Hermione uttered, mind running rapidly in different directions. Even before she, however, had gotten any chance to lift Professor McGonagall's still convulsing body with magic, Ron had scooped her up in his arms not caring about the effects that sickening light possibly might have on him himself and bolted down the corridor in the direction of the infirmary.

Hermione and Harry momentarily eyed each other in surprise, before bolting after him down the corridor, hoping that McGonagall would be alright. "She's been hexed!" Hermione breathlessly informed Harry, as the both of them ran alongside each other to the fourth floor. "It must have been someone waiting for her there until now," she said. "No one sneaks up on McGonagall without ending up hexed himself!"

Harry suddenly screeched to a halt in the middle of the corridor, panting. Hermione as well came to a halt upon noticing Harry was no longer following and turned, wondering why he had discontinued running. "Dumbledore!" Harry spoke. Hermione's eyes went big, and she immediately nodded, following him in the direction of the Headmaster's Office. Dumbledore needed be informed of this. ASAP.