Flashes of green and red lights flew past Hermione's face as she ducked for cover in the darkness, groping around for her fallen wand. Finally, she felt the sleek wood touch her fingertips and having grasped her wand now, flew curses blindly in front of her, hoping to hit at least one Death Eater that had penetrated her protective charms around the campsite.

Harry was nowhere to be seen; she moved backwards slightly, feeling with her free hand, hoping against all hope he had just moved backwards like she'd told him to, but all she felt behind her was air. Cold, cruel air full of hate and confusion as she dodged another curse just in time. With Ron having stormed off at least three weeks ago now, she and Harry had been slightly more defenseless, especially with Harry's wand now broken in two.

"Harry!" She finally yelled into the black of the night. "Harry, get out of here! I'll hold them off!"

"Shut up, you stupid girl," shrieked a Death Eater from somewhere in front of her, more and more lights whizzing past her as they tried to disarm, paralyze, or kill the mudblood.

Hermione backed up still terrified, panting, pleading with herself inside her mind that Harry needed to get away. It doesn't matter if they get me, she thought, wincing at herself. Harry has to stay alive...please, just get away from here Harry! Please...

And then, another jet of light came flying out of the darkness. But this one had not come from in front of here like the rest; it had come from behind...

She dared not look behind her, afraid of being caught off guard, but obviously wondered where the curse had come from. Almost instantly after the curse was sent, she heard a heavy thud in front of her, knowing that someone had been hit by the unknown attacker's curse. This of course, in return, had caused quite a few more curses to be thrown in Hermione's direction. Now terrified, she had heavy thoughts of retreat when suddenly something, someone threw themselves at her, pulling her down to the ground, to what she assumed was out of harm's way.

The pain was terrible. Hermione felt the front of her temple hit the rock hard, felt the blood trickle slowly down her face, she wanted to scream but it hurt so badly, nothing came out except a low grunt of pain and unspoken terror. The only other thing she felt was a pair of hands larger than her own begin to scoop her up from the hard forest floor, then it all went black.

AN: I know this is extrememly short (it seemed so much longer on the computer, go figure) but the rest of the chapters are much longer, I promise.

All reviews are appreciated. :)