Semper Fi, Hermione

Disclaimer, see chapter 1 Back to school

Finally, the first Hogsmead weekend arrived. The trio had breakfast in the Great Hall. Hermione as well as the boys expected a full day of fun, and as Ron would put it a good meal makes a great day. They ate with gusto. Pancakes, eggs and sausage, returned to their rooms for their cloaks and money and met up in their common room. The left for the entrance of the castle together.


While waiting for their chaperones Proffessors Flitwick and Snape, Mr Filtch, the Caretaker warned them about bringing banned items to the school and sneared at them. The Professors arrived, Professor Snape reminded them that their behavior reflected the school and in no way shape or form were they to embarrass the school, or else. With that, the students and chaperones left the castle.


The morning was crisp and clear. The leaves showing red and gold, browns and yellows in all their glory. A bright beautiful day to be sure.


When they arrived in Hogsmead the trio split up. The boys wanted to go to the Quiddich Store and Honeydukes. Hermione was going to the bookstore and would meet them in a couple of hours at the Three Broomsticks. They would then drink Butterbeer and hangout with their friends until it was time to go.


Ron and Harry were having a great time with some of the guys looking at the newest broom models. The new Firebolt was exciting and Ron admired it. The boys settled for purchasing polish and service kits for their brooms.


Next they went to Zonko's Wizzarding Joke Shop, it was nice but George and Fred's store, Weasleys' Wizzard Wheezes was quickly outstripping Zonko's.


The twins were imaginative and all of their plots, jokes and schemes in school were in better use in their shop. Fred and George were so immersed in their work that their products were simply better than the other store's. Authur Weasley's facination with the Muggle World had inspired a whole new range of ideas for the boys to try out in their shop.


Harry and Ron often got to see new products before the general public. Harry felt great being the one to get the twins started. They found their niche and Harry did truely believe people needed a laugh more often with You-Know-Who plotting. The boys spent a couple of hours laughing with Fred and George, since the lunch hour was apon them and the shop would be shut down for it, Harry invited the twins to have lunch and Butterbeer with their old school chums.


Hermione purused several sections of books, totally losing track of time. There were so many books to look at and so many topics she was interested in. Hermione finally found two books that caught her eye for purchace. The first was The Trouble with Trolls and How to Defeat Them and the other was Potions Enhanced with Charms.


Hermione was facinated with Trolls ever since First year when she was almost killed by a Mountain Troll in the Girl's bathroom. Although, at the time she was scared out of her wits, it was what began the frienship with Harry and Ron so the incident was never regretted. Hermione snaped out of her musings back to the present. Yes, these books definatly caught her eye. She hoped they would be as interesting as their titles suggested.


She paid for her books and realized she was running late as she left the store. Hermione hurried, realizing she would be teased a bit by Ron especially for getting lost in a mountain of books. Ron aggravated her many times teasing about the studious nature she possessed, but he was so good natured and fun loving it was hard to stay angry with him.


She cut into a alley, not realising she was being followed by Draco, Crabbe and Goyle. She walked quickly eager to share her finds with the boys when suddenly she was grabbed from behind, and slammed into a brick wall and her wand falling to the ground from her robes. Hermione struggled violently, determined to gain her freedom, but she was not strong enough to fend off the three boys especially without her wand. Trying to get help she screamed and cried. Her pleas for help went either unheard or were ignored.


Draco slapped her face so hard that her mouth dripped a bit of blood. Goyle, Draco and Crabbe took turns holding her while she was kicked, punched and slapped. Her body hurt, head throbbed painfully when she heard Draco say "My dad wants to meet you Mudblood. Portus." as a quill was thrust into her hand. She disapeared leaving her books and wand on the ground.


Harry and Ron were getting worried. Hermione was often a bit late comming after being in the bookstore, but never this late. Fred and George were also concerned. They decided to split up into two parties and go get her. Harry felt a bit guilty not keeping together in a group, he knew that Death Eaters were on the loose. How often were the students told to stay together? Hermione was all alone because they didn't want to look at books. He was begining to regret splitting up.


Their first stop was the bookstore as she was usually there. They didn't see her inside so Harry asked the cashier about Hermione. He was very disturbed to find she was there and left over an hour ago.


Fred and George decided to go in one direction, Harry and Ron would go in the other. Fred suggested that the book store would be the best place to meet and regroup. They would meet every fifteen minutes and check with the other team. George suggested they check out other stores that Hermione might have stopped in, but had no success at any of the stores that might have caught her eye. They weren't sure what they shoud do, so they began walking around.


Harry and Ron searched the streets and paths. The main roads were checked first as there were other students window shopping and wandering about. Harry asked every student they ran into inquiring if Hermione was seen lately.


Ron was a few feet away checking alleys. He let out a yell of shock that brought Harry running. The twins heard and followed as well as a few students. A small crowd had gathered around the small entrance to the alley. The twins helped move students out of the way so Harry could get through.


Harry had faced the Dark Lord with less fear than what greeted him. Ron was dead white looking in the alley, Harry was sick when he caught up with his friend as saw what he did. Some blood splattered on the wall and ground, two new books laying in the dirt, and even more frightening a wand off to the side. Hermione's wand.


"Ron, get the Professors. For Merlin's sake Hurry!"

Thankyou charmed3 for all of your efforts!