RAGE

Hermione led the woman back inside and sat her down next to Mrs Weasley who immediately took the woman in her arms. Hermione bit her lip as she listened to the discussion.

Apparently they had decided that sleeping arrangements were fine. Everyone was willing to pitch in with the cooking and laundry. They had enough food and drinking water to last them all for about two weeks. However, they had no more clothes as they had used the last of the sheets and scraps of material, not to mention Narcissas’ and Lucius’ wardrobe.

They were almost out of soap and bathroom products. They also didn’t have too much in the way of potion making.

“So, what are we going to do about clothes?” Draco asked. “Are there any clothing shops near, mother?”

Narcissa nodded.

“There is a village just over fifty miles out. It has a clothing shop, a supermarket, liquor store. You name it, it’s probably there.” She said. “There are a few shops for the witches and wizards who lived nearby, in a hidden ally off the main street.”

“Well.” Said Harry. “I suppose there’s only one thing to do. We need to go there and get supplies for at least a month.”

“I think it should be the adults going, personally.” Mr Weasley said.

“Not this again, Dad.” Ron groaned.

“Yes, this again, Ronald.” Mr Weasley replied angrily. “You kids will wait here this time.”

“I don’t think so!” Ron yelled. “And we’re not kids!”

“You’re MY kids!” Mr Weasley yelled back. “I cannot have you constantly saving the day! Don’t you understand what it does to us, every time you walk out that door?!”

“How do you think we feel?” Ron said. “I feel that way about you and Mum too! Not to mention how I would feel about Luna in danger! I can barely concentrate! I am going because I am willing to sacrifice my life for everyone else’s. I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t so don’t you dare pull that ‘I’m your father’ shit on me!”

Mr Weasley sat down, dumbfounded. Ron looked so worked up and angry. Luna put her hand on his shoulder and he looked down, calming himself. Hermione was proud of him. He had never really stood up for himself that way before. He had for his friends, but not for himself. Nor had he shown so much self control.

“Before we even think of going, we need to learn how to defend ourselves.” Blaise said.

It was the first time Hermione had heard him talk to anyone apart from Draco and Pansy. Even then, he didn’t say much.

“And I mean everyone who is able.” He said seriously. “Not just those who are going into the village. Everyone.”

“I agree.” Hermione said. “The more people who know, the better.”

“How?” Asked a man. “Half of us don’t have our wands and they don’t work against the infected anyway.”

“Guns.” Said Harry. “They’re a Muggle invention. It shoots what’s called a bullet out of the end, piercing the target. If you aim for the head or heart, it is almost certain to kill. If not, the target will almost certainly die of blood loss or lead poisoning if he doesn’t get help pretty much right away. It’s the only thing that will be able to kill the infected.”

“How many do we have?” Blaise asked, looking at Hermione.

Hermione frowned. She didn’t really know.

“I don’t know.” She said. “Where are they?”

“I locked them away in a cupboard away from little fingers.” Narcissa said. “There are about twenty-five from what I can tell. They don’t all look alike. There are other weapons too.”

“What weapons?” Harry asked.

Narcissa looked at Hermione, unable to explain.

“I took some tasers too and some pepper-spray.” Hermione explained. “It slows them down.”

“A lot better than nothing.” Harry said.

“So, if you would like to take your kids to the room at the end of the hall, there are plenty of toys and games in there.” Narcissa said. “Then if you would like to come back and learn how to use a gun.”

***

“How do you know how to handle a gun?” Harry asked, helping Hermione bring the guns to the living room. “I didn’t take you for the type of person.”

“I’m not really.” Hermione said. “My Dad insisted. He said that just because I had a wand, I didn’t need to know how to use a gun. Especially before I left with you in seventh year. I never told anyone this, but he wasn’t dentist.”

“What?” Harry asked, stopping in his tracks.

Hermione stopped by him.

“He was Special Forces, former MI6.” Hermione said, not looking at him.

She continued to the living room, and began checking that the safety was on all of the guns.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Harry asked.

“For everyone’s protection.” She said. “Even I wasn’t supposed to know, but when I figured it out, he decided to show me what he knew in the ways of protecting myself.”

“And your mum?” Harry said. “Your not going to tell me she was a spy too?”

Hermione shook her head.

“No.” She said, smiling a little. “She was a dentist. She didn‘t know about Dad until after I did.”

Harry smiled.

“Figures.” He said. “Brightest witch of the century.”

Hermione stopped smiling.

“So I’ve been told…”

***