RAGE

“We have to go!” Draco said looking back at the homestead. “The infected are inside the homestead. Our only choice is the woods.”

People around them caught onto the conversation and began to head for the doors. Everyone began to pour out onto the lawn, wondering which way they should go. Before they could decide, the infected began to smash the windows at the back of the homestead, trying to get to the crowd outside.

“We have to move.” Draco said sternly. “Hold on to each other. Don’t let go!”

He took a hold of his mothers hand and he still had Hermione’s. Then he headed for the doors. Once they were out on the lawn they began to run. They didn’t know where they were running to but they were running away from the house, that’s all that mattered.

They heard the infected scream. Some looked back. They yelled in terror as they saw the infected sprinting at them. Hermione glanced back and felt her fear double as the infected began to reach people, ripping them down and biting them with a rage that seemed inhuman.

Hermione tried to run faster, but her body wouldn’t allow. They were almost to the tree line. They could lose them in here. Surely they could.

Draco squeezed her hand tighter, scared himself. Then finally they reached the woods. They kept running, their robes and jeans ripping on stray branches. They couldn’t stop now.

Then Goyle’s cousin tripped. His eyes went wide as he realised his ankle was twisted and he couldn’t walk properly. Goyle stopped and went back for him. His cousin yelled at him to keep going. The infected were only fifty metres away, they would be upon them in moments. Finally Goyle stood and continued to run, catching up to the group slowly.

They began to slow after a while. No one had eaten so they had barely any energy. It had become quiet too. They could hear screams far off; victims. They could see people running ahead of them and beside them. Hermione looked back; she couldn’t see the infected, but knew they wouldn’t be too far away.

“I have… to stop.” Luna panted. “I’m going… to fall down… if I don’t…”

They slowed, now only walking.

“We can’t stop.” Draco said. “They’re still on our heels.”

“Can’t we climb a tree?” Luna said, holding her sides. “I mean, we’re witches and wizards for Merlin’s sake. We need to use out heads so that we can watch them pass. Then we can plan what we’ll do next.”

Hermione nodded in agreement.

“We can’t keep running. The infected will catch up.” Hermione said. “She’s right. We have spells. We can out smart them.”

Draco stopped, looking around, his face twisted in both anger and fear. He nodded.

“What spells?” He asked.

“Silencio.” Narcissa said. “That will be helpful.”

“And disillusionment.” Hermione said. “If we’re up in trees, they shouldn’t see us. And let’s take off this bloody Identification spell.”

Draco nodded.

“There’s a lot we don’t know about the Magical infected though.” He said. “Like why most of our spells won’t work against them.”

“I know, darling, but if we stay on foot we are as good as infected.” Narcissa said. “Let’s all find a tree, quickly. Everyone got their wands?”

They all nodded, their wands already in hand and at the ready.

“Let’s cast every protective spell we can think of, when we’re up in our trees.” Draco said.

A cry came, not too far away. They couldn’t see the source but in a few minutes they would.

“Climb.” Draco said quietly. “Fucking climb!”

Hermione climbed the one closest to her. She climbed as high as she could without being too uncomfortable. She was at least forty feet from the ground. She looked around for the others. Draco had followed her up. Luna and Narcissa had chosen the tree next to them and Goyle in the tree next to that.

Hermione pointed her wand at her chest and whispered all the incantations she could that would keep her hidden. Draco, Narcissa, Luna and Goyle did the same. Then they waited. Hermione moved slightly, getting more comfortable.

Then they heard them. A group of about ten infected came into their sights, jogging and grunting. One of them was Goyle’s cousin. He was limping. They were looking around frantically. Hermione felt like holding her breath, yet she also wanted to scream in terror.

She felt something brush against her leg. She looked down and saw nothing. She could no longer see Draco, maybe he accidentally brushed against her. Then she felt it again. This time she knew it was a hand. He was rubbing her ankle with his thumb to calm her.

Hermione reached down and grabbed his hand, grateful for the contact. She held his hand between hers as she looked around for the infected. When she saw that they had slowed, she felt like crying. She squeezed Draco’s hand unintentionally. He squeezed back.

The infected cried and grunted to each other and then continued on through the forest. When the woods were silent again and no one was in sight, they lifted their silencing charms. They remained in their trees though.

“What do we do now?” Luna asked.

“We have to find somewhere to stay.” Draco said. “First we have to let the others know what happened.”

He and Luna took out their Galleons.

“I think I know where we are.” Said Hermione suddenly. “I think that there is a village near here called Lambirshire…”

She frowned, trying hard to remember.

“Yes, yes, I’m sure of it. I came up here six months ago with my parents for a funeral. I didn’t realise it was the same homestead before.”

“That’s all well and good,” Draco said. “but we want to stay away from the towns. That’s where the infected are.”

“Yes, but the town is small. We could stock up on some food and drink then Apparate to somewhere deep in the country, far from the infected.”

“I think we should.” Goyle said. “It’s not safe in the bloody Ministry safe houses. Once we get into the countryside, we can send for the others.”

“Sounds good to me.” Luna said.

“Mum?” Draco asked.

“It sounds like a plan.” Said Narcissa.

“Hermione?” Draco asked, looking at her intently.

“Yes, we should do it.” Hermione said.

Draco sighed.

“As much as I don’t like the idea, I suppose it’s our best chance.”

He began climbing down.

“Let’s go.”