She dreamed of sitting in the library at Hogwarts, her books spread out around her. Growing up in the muggle world, she could only dream about the magical worlds that she read in books. When she found out she was a part of that magical world, she wanted to learn everything about it. That was why she studied so hard. Not to be the best or the smartest or even to earn the most house points. She simply wanted to learn everything there was to learn about her new world.

"Hermione," a voice called.

She glanced around the library, but it was empty.

"Hermione," the voice was louder. "Hermione! Wake up!"

She shot up from her dream gasping. It was Fred.

"What are you doing? What time is it?"

"No time," He said, handing her his coat. "Grab your shoes and hurry, there's been an attack."

Hermione did as she was told and ran out of the tent, Ginny, Fred, and George at her heels.

People were running and screaming. Bolts of light were soaring through the sky, and everything sounded like gunfire.

"We have to move," George said, grabbing Ginny's hand. "Dad said to get the girls and go straight back to the tent."

Bill, Charlie, and Percy were all emerging from the tent when they got back.

"We're going to help the Ministry!" Mr. Weasley shouted. "You lot need to go into the woods and stay together. One of us will come and find you when it's safe!"

Bill, Charlie, and Percy were already sprinting toward a group dressed in all black, for a split second, she could see white masks covering their faces.

"We need to go," she said, grabbing Ginny's hand.

"C'mon," Fred said, grabbing her hand. "You got the boys?"

George nodded, placing a hand on Ron and Harry's shoulders.

The six of them ran with the fleeing crowd following the path they had taken just hours ago to the arena. The lanterns had all gone dark, and she could hear people whispering and children crying. They were almost in the tree line when she heard Ron yell in pain.

"What happened?" yelled Hermione. "Ron! Where are you?"

"This is bloody stupid," Fred muttered, "Lumos."

The light lit the path in front of them. Ron was face down on the ground.

"I tripped over a bloody tree root," he said, getting to his feet.

"Well, with feet like that, it's hard not to," said a low voice from behind them.

The six turned sharply. Draco Malfoy was standing nearby, looking far too relaxed for the uproar that was surrounding them.

Ron told Malfoy to do something that Hermione was positive would send Mrs. Weasley into an uproar.

"Such language," said Malfoy laughing, "I'd hurry along if I were you, can't have her spotted, whos knows what would happen."

He nodded at Hermione. At that moment, there was an explosion from the campsite, and for a second, a burst of green and white lit the trees surrounding them.

"What's that supposed to mean?" said Hermione.

"Don't be stupid, Granger, they're after Muggles," said Malfoy, "I'd thought it be obvious, but if really want to show off your knickers to the world, please hang around...It'd be a good show."

"Hermione's a witch," Harry growled. "She's one the best."

"If you say so Potter," said Malfoy, grinning. "But if you don't think that they can't spot a Mudblood, stay where you are, the world would be better off."

"Watch your mouth!" yelled Ron.

"Shove it, you dirty snake," growled Fred, his fist tightening.

"Look at that Granger, got yourself a hoarded of ginger protectors," laughed Malfoy. Bangs and booms thundered through the forest, followed by screams. "And I thought you could fight your own battles. How many favors did you have to trade to get them all?"

"Want me to break your nose again?" she said, stepping forward. "I bet it be more fun the second time. I'm sure daddy would love to hear how I did it the muggle way."

Hermione felt a hand on her shoulder, "Runoff, snake," said Fred growling. "Go join mummy and daddy in their shiny white masks."

"Dirty blood traitors and mudbloods," sneered Malfoy.

"Come on," said Ginny, with repulsed looked at the blonde boy, "we need to keep moving."

"Control your red-heads, Granger," laughed Malfoy, "Keep that big bushy head down, if you know what's good for you."

"Come on, " said Hermione as she pulled on Fred and Ron's arms. "Now!"

"You should of let me punch him," muttered Fred. "You don't get to have all the fun."

"I positive that the opportunity to punch the cockroach again will come again," Hermione said, taking his hand. "But we still have to go."

The path through the woods was filled with people all looking over their shoulders back towards the campsite: it was lit with bright yellow and orange fires and smoke billowing towards the clouds. There was a group of teenagers in a huddle arguing in front of them. When they saw the trio, a girl with thick curly hair turned and said quickly, "Où est Madame Maxime? Nous l'avons perdue —"

"Er- what?" said Ron.

"Oh . . ." The girl who had spoken turned her back on him, and as they walked on, they distinctly heard her say, " 'Ogwarts."

"Hermione," said Fred. "You speak French, ask her where people are going. Maybe she knows whats going on."

"You speak french?" asked Ron.

" Oui ," said Hermione, she turned to the girl. " Allez-vous à Beauxbâtons?"

"Oui, tu vas à 'Ogwarts?"

"Oui, je m'appelle Hermione. Quel est ton nom ?"

" Renee. "

" Renee, savez-vous où nous sommes censés aller? Où est-ce sûr? "

"Non, nous avons perdu notre chaperon et la moitié de notre groupe."

The group of teenagers began calling 'Renee!' and 'Allons-y!'

"Au revoir. Bonne chance" said the girl before running back to her group and continuing down the path.

"Au revoir," called Hermione. "She doesn't know anything. She and her friends are from Beauxbâtons. They lost their chaperone in the chaos. "

"Since when do you speak french?" asked Ron.

"Since I was born, Ronald."

"What's Beauxbatons?" asked Harry.

"Beauxbatons Academy of Magic . . . I read about it in An Appraisal of Magical Education in Europe," said Hermione.

"It's a fancy school with fancy kids who think they're better than anyone else," said Ron.

"Mums got cousins who go there," said George. "Let's keep moving. Wands lit. We don't need anyone tripping and breaking their foot."

The group all pulled out their wands, a soft glow lighting the path around them.

"Oh no, you've got to be kidding-my wand is gone!" said Harry.

"Are you shitting me," Fred growled. "Ginny, you have yours, right?"

She nodded, holding it close to her chest, the tip glowing with a soft light.

"Search the ground," said Hermione pointing her wand to the grown, a narrow beam of light flew the ground briefly, lighting the forest floor. The wand was nowhere to be found.

"It's probably back at the tent," said Ron.

"Do you know if it fell out when we were running?" Hermione asked anxiously.

"I don't know," said Harry, "maybe..."

A rustling noise nearby made all three of them jump. A house-elf was fighting her way out of a clump of bushes nearby. She was moving in a most peculiar fashion, apparently with great difficulty; it was as though someone invisible were trying to hold her back.

"There is bad wizards about!" she squeaked distractedly as she leaned forward and labored to keep running. "People high — high in the air! Winky is getting out of the way!"

And she disappeared into the trees on the other side of the path, panting and squeaking as she fought the force that was restraining her.

"What's up with her?" said Ron, looking curiously after the house elf. "Why can't she run properly?"

"Bet she didn't ask permission to hide," said Harry.

"You know, house-elves get a very raw deal!" said Hermione indignantly. "It's slavery, that's what it is!"

"Well, the elves are happy, aren't they?" Ron said.

"It's people like you, Ron," Hermione began hotly, "who prop up rotten and unjust systems, just because they're too lazy to —"

Another loud bang echoed from the edge of the wood.

"We can debate house-elf slavery later," said Ginny.

"Come on," said Fred. "Let's get off the path."

"Hide in the woods," agreed George. "When it's all clear, we'll make our way out. We stay low. We stay safe. Alright?"

The group huddled together. It was quieter off the path.

Hermione took a deep breath, her shoulders shaking. Why now, she thought, the war is supposed to be over.

"The people in the cloaks and masks, who are they?" asked Harry.

"Death Eaters," George frowned.

"Are they like a cult or something? What are they doing here?"

"They're You-Know-Whos supporters," said Fred, "They did his dirty work in the war."

"So they-"

"They hunt and kill and torture Muggles and Muggleborns," Hermione glanced around. She was shaking. "I read The Rise and Fall of The Dark Arts before I started at Hogwarts. McGonagall warned my family about the prejudices against Muggleborns, and I wanted to know what I was getting myself into. "

"How is it that you always know more about the wizarding world than anyone else?" asked Ron. "I was raised in it, and sometimes I don't even know half the stuff you go on about; I barely remember the war."

"I was only a month old when it ended," said Ginny.

"I only remember my parents," muttered Harry. "Sort of. Not really."

"I remember," said George sitting down and leaning against a tree.

"Me too," Fred sat down next to him.

Soon the six were sitting, huddled around the light emitting from their wands.

"I remember this one time over summer," began Fred. "We were 3? Ron, you couldn't have been more than a year old, and mom was pregnant with Ginny. I remember Mom screaming. Bill and Charlie ran and grabbed us, and Dad was shouting to."

"Yeah," nodded George, "Bill and Charlie carried us up to Ron's room, well it wasn't your room yet since you slept in mum and dad's room until Ginny was born." He shook his head. "Percy was sitting crouched in the corner with Ron in his lap, and we all just sat there. Eventually, the screaming stopped."

"When we came downstairs, all the windows were broken, and there was glass everywhere."

"I don't remember that," said Ron.

"Good," said the twins.

"Uncle Gid and Uncle Fab died about a week later," whispered Fred.

"Then Ginny was born," smiled George.

"The October rolled around, and the war was over," laughed Fred. "The last of the death eaters went into hiding and arsehole families like the Malfoy and Parkinsons, and Crabbes and Goyles got off scot-free."

"That's why dad hates him so much," said George. "Why a lot of people hate them. Fear them. Both."

"I hope dad catches him," said Ron.

"That'd make his year," giggled Ginny. "I can see Dracos face now. All scrunched and red."

"I hope the muggles are safe," whispered Hermione. "When we get back to the Burrow, can one of you go into town with me so I can call my parents?"

Fred and Ron both nodded. "I walk-" they both began.

"Ron can take you," said Fred quickly. "He knows it better than I do."

"Ok," nodded Hermione, her eyes still trained on Fred. "Ok, thanks."

"I can't believe this is happening again," said Ginny, "I thought the war was over. Long over."

"Especially with all the ministry officials here tonight, and the foreign ministries as well."

"Probably had too much Fire Whisky," said George glancing around. "It's pretty quiet now. I think it's safe to-"

He paused and jumped up, turning around. Fred stood too. Someone was walking towards them, their steps crunching leaves on the ground.

"Hello," called the twins.

The crunching stopped.

Harry stood up and looked around: "Whos there?" he called.

Then a voice called out, loud and clear and unwavering: " MORSMORDRE !"

A bright green light shot up and flew beyond the trees.

"Get up," said Fred. "We have to go!"

The woods around them erupted in screams.

"Whos out there?" Harry called again.

"We have to go!" Hermione said, grabbing his hand. "Now!" Her voice was shaking.

"What's the matter? What's going on?"

"That's the Dark Mark," said Ginny, scratching at her arms. "Harry, that's Toms sign."

" Voldemort-? "

"Harry, let's go!"

The six began running, but before they could get far, there was a series of popping noises revealing the arrival of more than a dozen wizards surrounding them.

"Get down!" yelled Fred, pulling Ginny and Hermione to him as he dropped to the ground. George grabbed Ron and Harry by the collars, pulling them down to the forest floor.

" Stupefy! " roared the voices as a blinding light flashed above their heads.

"Stop!" called a familiar voice. "Stop! Those are my kids!"

As the group stood, that saw Ms. Weasley walking toward them.

"Kids, are you alright?" His voice was shaking as he spoke.

"Move Arthur," said a cold, sharp voice, "Now."

"Barty, they're just kids," Arthur said, stepping aside. The rest of the other Ministery wizards were surrounding them on all sides.

"Who did?" Mr. Crouch snapped. He pointed his wand at each of them, his eyes searching. "Which one of you conjured it?"

"We didn't do it, sir," said Fred.

"We swear," said George, "It wasn't any of us."

"Do not lie to me!" shouted Mr. Crouch.

"We didn't do it!" said Harry pointing up at the skull. It was still glowing, bright green.

"We did nothing!" said Ron, "You all attacked us!"

"Do not lie to me!" Mr. Crouch shouted again. His wand was flying back and forth between the six of them, eyes wide and furious. "You've been found at the scene of the crime! What do you have to say to that!"

"We were running from the riot!" snapped George. "We're just kids!"

"Where did the Mark come from, then?" asked a small witch in a dressing gown.

"Over there," whispered Hermione. "There was a man, and he shouted something, then there was this green smoke."

"Oh, stood over there?" growled Mr. Crouch, his eye trained on Hermione. "You seem to know a lot for someone who wasn't involved."

"We weren't involved," said Fred, stepping in front of Hermione. "You can even check-"

"There's someone over here!" hollered a voice. "Our stunner must have caught them! It's- well - blimey..."

"You've found someone?" called Mr. Crouch, his voice mistrustful. "Who is it?"

Amos Diggory emerged from the trees carrying a small, limp figure. It was a house-elf, the same one from earlier.

"It cannot be," said Mr. Crouch as Amos laid the house-elf at his feet.

"Amos," said Mr. Weasley, "you don't believe that an elf conjured it? You need a wand. Mr. Crouch elf would never."

"She has a wand," said Mr. Diggory. "Look," he said, hold up a wand. "It was in her hand. You know that law. No non-human creature is permitted to carry or use a wand. "

"We need to hear what the elf has to say," said a stout wizard in dark purple robes.

Mr. Crouch raised his wand and pointed it at the limp elf, " Rennervate! "

Winky stirred feebly. Her great brown eyes opened, and she blinked several times in a bemused sort of way. Watched by the silent wizards, she raised herself shakily into a sitting position. She caught sight of Mr. Diggory's feet and slowly, tremulously, raised her eyes to stare up into his face; then, more slowly still, she looked up into the sky. She gave a gasp, looked wildly around the crowded clearing, and burst into terrified sobs.

"Elf !" said Mr. Diggory sternly. "Do you know who I am? I'm a member of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures!"

Winky began to rock backward and forward on the ground, her breath coming in sharp bursts.

"As you see, elf, the Dark Mark was conjured here a short while ago," said Mr. Diggory. "And you were discovered moments later, right beneath it! An explanation, if you please!"

"I — I — I is not doing it, sir!" Winky gasped. "I is not knowing how, sir!"

"You were found with a wand in your hand!" barked Mr. Diggory, brandishing it in front of her. And as the wand caught the green light that was filling the clearing from the skull above.

Harry called out, "That's mine! That's my wand! It's been missing!"

"Yours!" said Mr. Diggory. "Is this your confession? You conjured it!"

"No! I lost it when we were running!"

"Amos, think this through!" said Mr. Wealsey, his voice coming out in a harsh bark. "Would Harry Potter conjure the Dark Mark?"

"I lost my wand when we were running from the campsite. It fell from my pocket. I swear."

"It wasn't Harry!" said Ginny stepping forward. "We were all together, and the voice, it sounded like an adult."

"So it couldn't have been Winky either!" said Hermione. "Winky's voice is too squeaky. The voice was human."

"We shall see," said Mr. Diggory. He held his wand against Harry's. "There's a simple way of seeing the last spell performed by a wand: Prior Incantato! "

The clearing was silent as serpent began to erupt from the tips of the wands, smoke beginning to fill in around it.

" Deletrius !"

"Enough!" Mr. Crouch roared. "Elf! You claim you did not perform the spell, then did you see who did?"

"I is seeing no one, master... no one..."

"Amos," said Mr. Crouch curtly, "I am fully aware that, in the ordinary course of events, you would want to take Winky into your department for questioning. I ask you, however, to allow me to deal with her. You may rest assured that she will be punished," Mr. Crouch added coldly.

"M-m-master . . ." Winky stammered, looking up at Mr. Crouch, her eyes brimming with tears. "M-m-master, p-p-please . . ."

Mr. Crouch stared back, his face somehow sharpened, each line upon it more deeply etched. There was no pity in his gaze. "Winky has behaved tonight in a manner I would not have believed possible," he said slowly. "I told her to remain in the tent. I told her to stay there while I went to sort out the trouble. And I find that she disobeyed me. This means clothes."

"No!" shrieked Winky. "No, master! No!"

"I have no use for a house-elf who disobeys me," said Mr. Crouch.

"This isn't right," whispered Hermione. "Someone needs to do something."

"Not now," said Fred. "Please, not now, Hermione."

"She's an innocent creature, Fred," she looked up at him. His face was pale, and his eyes were still trained on the mark floating above their heads.

"Well," said Mr. Weasley. "I am going to take my family back to our tent. Amos, the wand has told us all we can learn. If Harry could have it back, now-"

Mr. Diggory held the wand out to Harry, who placed it in his pocket.

"Come along," Mr. Weasley said quietly. "Bill, Charlie and Percy are waiting in the tent."

"But-" Hermione began, "What about Winky-?"

"Not now, Hermione," said Fred. "Let's just go-"

"She has feelings. She's scared and probably hurt-"

"Hermione, I agree with you," said Mr. Weasley. "But now is not the time. We need to get back to the tent."

"Dad, why is everyone freaking out?" asked Ron.

"Dad, do you think it's-" started George.

"You-Know-Who?" finished Fred.

"At the tent," said Mr. Weasley.

The campsite was quiet now. The fires were diming down, and the screaming had faded away. When they entered the boy tent Bill was sitting at the small table a shirt wrapped around his arm that was slowly being soaked with blood, Charlie's shirt was torn, and Percy had a bloody nose.

"What's going on, dad? Did you find who conjured the mark?"

"No, we didn't," said Mr. Weasley. "Percy, you might be in for a hard week. We found Barty Courch's elf with a wand, but were none the wiser as to who conjured the mark."

"What? " said the elder Weasley siblings.

Together the six explained the situation in the woods.

"Daddy," Ginny said. She was shaking. "He's not back, is he?"

"No, sweetie," he said, kneeling by her side. "It's just people trying to create trouble."

"So you think they know about-" she took a deep breath. "Do you think they know about the diary?"

"Don't worry, Gin, your safe," said Bill.

"But Draco Malfoy, in the woods- and his dad- and- and-" she breathing quickly.

"What did Malfoy do?" asked Mr. Weasley.

"He basically said that his dad was out there," said Ron. "We need to go after them!"

"Why are Voldemorts -" Harry began. Everyone shuddered. "Why are You-Know-Whos followers out again? Why are they going after Muggles?"

"Who knows," said Mr. Wealsey, "Last time, in the last war, this was their idea of fun. They probably had a few drinks and wants to remind us all that they're still around. There own little party while we celebrate this."

"It explains why they all ran the second the Mark appeared in the sky," said Bill. "We were only able to catch the Robertses."

"Why would they run?" asked Ron, "Wouldnt they be glad?"

"Think Ron," said Charlie, "What's left of the Death Eaters worked to that out of Azkaban when You-Know-Who lost power. They denied everything and went back to their normal lives. I don't reckon You-Know-Who would be too pleased with them, do you?"

"So, the person who conjured the Dark Mark," said Hermione, "did they do it help them or scare them?"

"Who knows Hermione," said Mr. Wealsey, "But only Death Eaters know how to conjure that. Okay, it's late. Everyone needs to get some sleep; we'll get the first portkey in the morning. Ginny, Hermione, I'll transfigure you a bed. I don't want you to be separated from us."

Hermione had just begun to close her eyes when someone shook her shoulder.

"Its Fred," a voice whispered. "Meet me outside."

The tent was dark and filled with the sounds of snoring Weasleys filled the air. Fred was sitting on a pillow in front of the tent.

"What are you doing up?" she asked.

"Just couldn't sleep."

The pair sat in silence.

"What was it like? In the last war," said Hermione.

Fred shrugged, "I don't remember a lot of it, I remember being scared a lot. Bill or Charlie would remember more."

"What happened to the muggles and muggle-borns?"

"I don't know," he frowned. "All I know is that there are a lot fewer muggle-borns in my year than in yours."

Silence.

"Fred, why did you ask me to come outside?" asked Hermione. "You haven't said anything."

"I-" he began, "I don't know. I just want to make sure you were ok. You weren't apart of our world during the last war, and I'm sure you've read about it in books, and I wanted to make you were ok. I know you can take care of yourself, you are the smartest person I know and I-"

"I'm ok," she said, leaning against him. "I'm scared, but I'm ok."

"We should probably get some sleep," he nodded towards the tent.

She nodded in agreement and stood up.

"Goodnight, Fred," she leaned down and hugged him. "Thank you for looking out for me. And while I take of myself, it's nice to know that I've got such a good friend looking after me."

He nodded. "Night, Hermione."

Lying in bed at the sun peaked outside the tent; all he could think was, I want to make sure you were ok because I care about you, and I'm scared. I'm not just scared, I'm terrified, and I don't know what to do.

Bolded sections come from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, The Dark Mark