An RP featuring Parvati, Lavender, Edgar Fenwick, Hermione, Blaise, Seamus & Dean
Warning: Long, bloody, and character deaths. The usual.
Hermione winced as the battle escalated around them, raising her wand and full out attacking with everything she had. "LAVENDER! PARVATI! ATTACK WITH YOUR WANDS! And BE CAREFUL!"
Parvati looked up from stomping on a Death Eaters foot and kneeing him in the face. "OK!" Giggling she raised her wand and hexed the same deatheater, sending him flying. "Wicked! They feel things again! Lavvy, look!"
Lavender looked, and giggled. "Yay! Check it out!!" With that, she tossed a hex she had learned in Dumbledore's Army, torching a Death Eater and giggling.
Blaise was having less luck. Knowing that his time was most definitely numbered in such an open space, he began making his way towards the side of the room, stumbling with a cry as a knifing hex grazed his right shoulder. Looking up, he saw an unfamilar man, not wearing a Deatheater mask, exiting the room where his parents had been. But... something was familiar about the man, somehow, in the way he walked....
Hermione turned at his cry and, without fanfare, sent a rather horrid hex at the attacker, wondering why in the world he wasn't wearing his mask. Making her way over to Blaise she too noticed something vaguely familiar about his movements but would never ever be able to place it.... "Blaise! Are you alright?"
"I'm okay," he said slowly, eyes narrowing as they followed the man blocking Hermione's hex and disappearing into a room. "That man..."
Without another word, he got back on his feet and shot after the stranger, slipping in between the clashing students and Deatheaters.
Hermione gaped after him for a moment, supremely shocked that he could BE so stupid. "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!" She shot after him, wincing horridly whenever her feet connected too hard with the ground. "WAIT! WHAT ARE YOU DOING! COME BACK!" She didnt understand waht he was doing but, in the same grain, was damned if he was going to go after a deatheater by himself, with just a sword.
By the time that she caught up with him, Blaise had his sword at the stranger's throat, the man's wand inexplicably on the floor crushed beneath Blaise's shoe. Evidently, the man had been tackled.
Blaise's eyes err... blazed. "Shut the door," he ordered to Hermione, pressing the sword harder against the man's throat - enough to be uncomfortable, but not enough to cut. "Show your face," Blaise ordered the man, who's white-haired glamour seemed to be switching on and off as the seconds passed.
Hermione did as she was told, accio'ing the mans wand over to her, heart racing. "Blaise.... what are you doing?! Who is that?!?!" She looked from the man, back to Blaise's face, and back to the man.
"This would be the culattone who tricked me into getting Marked," Blaise hissed, pressing the blade of the sword minutely harder against the man's throat. "Edgar Fenwick" he stated clearly. "Show your face."
Edgar smiled charmingly, "Whatever you say, signor," and abruptly the glamour shifted to that that Hermione would recognize from the basement of the sweet shop...
WHAT?!?!" She eyed the man with a hatred she didn't know she had in her, shaking her head and shrugging, not really caring what Blaise did until..... "Blaise NO!" She grabbed at his arm, pulling insistantly down on it, instantly recognising the voical intonations. "NO! STOP! STOP!" Eventually she physically placed herself in between the men, hating every second of what she was doing but knowing she owed the man his life.
Blaise almost dropped his shield, he was so surprised. Staring at her, eyes wide, he asked incredulously, "WHAT? Hermione, che... what the hell are you doing? Get away from him! Did you not hear me? He bloody Marked me!"
Edgar laughed, a sharp glint in his eye. "Mr. Zabini, if you could control that Mediterranean temper but a moment, you'd see that your girl and I go way back."
She looked at him, shaking with hate and disgust at herself. "I know.... I know.... just... last year... when I was in the sweet shop, he's the Deatheater. The one that saved my life. I'd be dead it if wasn't for him.... I owe him my life. I can't let you kill him." She winced again, turning sharply to Fenwick, entire being frigid. "I'd advise you to shut your mouth, Sir, before I shut it for you. We do NOT go way back."
"Get out of the way," Blaise hissed, eyes still wide but narrowing rapidly. "Get the hell out of my way, now." His sword was raised.
"No." Hermione looked at the sword and back at him. "I can't."
"It's not hard," he said in a soft, deadly voice. "It's but a step or two to the right or left."
"I CAN'T."
"But you can kill my mother," he countered just as softly.
She winced, looking down, not able to meet his eyes, not able to cry, and not able to move. "...............I'm sorry."
"If you're sorry then you'll get out of my way." He replied with supreme calm. "Blood for blood."
She shook her head, not looking up, face red. ".................you have to kill me first."
"Don't tempt me," he hissed sharply, sword raised and ready. "I'll ask you one more time. Get out of my way."
".............no. I wish I could.... but I can't." She bit her lip. "......so if you're going to kill me, just do it."
He glared at her for several seconds, before pulling his sword to his side. "Don't be such a drama queen," he sneered. "I've killed enough people today."
She blinked, exhaling and not looking at him at all; too ashamed and disgusted with the situation in general to do anything but stare at his shoulder idly.
"Let's tie him up and leave him here. If we make it through this, he'll be useful. You'll have to spell the ropes, I obviously can't." His voice was flat and efficient. "I vote we knock him out as well."
She nodded, spelling the bindings around him and casting several spells to keep the ropes bound tight if someone attempted to get him out. Looking at Fenwick in a disgusted manner she stepped aside. "You're a disgusting excuse for a human being and a coward." Turning to Blaise she stepped back. "I really am sorry -" she stopped, realising that she was about to refer to him as love and didn't know whether or not he'd accept it. "...Blaise." The name was said lamely, dejectedly.
He didn't respond to her, making sure that the ropes were tight, before turning on his heel and leaving the room, attacking the first Death Eater he came against by violently thrusting his sword into the man's back, looking to relish the violence a bit too much.
She winced, hexing Fenwick with a spell that would knock him out from pain, knowing that her debt was paid. Following behind she made her way back and out into the fray, physically near Blaise but really worlds away from him, in her own horrific world before snapping back and fighting with a renewed vigor by hearing a death eater say Potter and the ginger-haired prat were being worn down.
With a clank of metal against wood, Blaise's sword was stuck deeply into the wooden oak table. The Death Eater directly behind him that he had missed with the swing laughed and shot a fire curse at him, and with an almost weary cry, he was on the floor. Rolling quickly to avoid the man's foot on his face, he grabbed the handle of the sword and pulled - hard. With a satisfying rip of fabric, he was able to swing the sword up and through the Death Eater's robes until there was no more resistance. With a hollow thud, the Death Eater fell to the ground.
Blaise examined his shoulder. His t-shirt was beyond repair at this point; he was oddly grateful that it wasn't designer. Gingerly, he moved the burned arm. It still worked. One down, way too many more Death Eaters to go.
Hermione, a few steps ahead of Blaise at that point, heard the cry and heard him fall but couldn't quite take her attention off of her sparring partner of the moment. He was proving to be quite tricky and, while she was keeping up amiably with the duel, if her attention drifted she would be dead. Finally finishing him off with a freezing spell she took a split second to look over her shoulder and survey the damage, making sure he was still alive before taking on a female death eater who seemed to have a particular hatred of "THE mudblood."
Grimly, Blaise went after yet another Death Eater that was a good 4 stone heavier, and seemed to enjoy tossing pain spells at him. The shield sparked weakly against a particularly potent hex; Blaise knew it was only a matter of time before the charms that had been placed on it in the Medieval period would stall and fail. He chanced a glance at Hermione, and saw that she was ably battling a Death Eater on her own. A Killing Curse whizzed past his ear, and for a split second he cringed in expectation. Finding himself still alive, with a vicious swing of the sword he hacked off somebody's something. At this point, he wasn't feeling picky.
Beginning to get physically tired from all the fighting, Hermione stopped and began resorting to her... less widely practiced spells, a tack that seemed to work well. It certainly shocked her attacker who went down in about two seconds with a dark pain spell. Seeing no one else immediately threatening her she shot something similar towards a death eater about to attack Ron from behind before turning her back to the door (vs. the wall) and doing the same to the death eater currently engaged with Blaise, noting his size and Blaise's stamina.
The Death Eater that he was battling went down hard, and with a sort of satisfaction Blaise drew his sword along the man's throat. Looking up, he shot Hermione a look - a loaded one, to be sure - of thanks. Just as quickly he turned around and attacked the Death Eater behind him that was going after Mandy Brocklehurst.
Even through all the blood and gore she had seen, seeing a throat slit made her cringe and drop her guard for a moment, stomach uneasy. Swallowing she turned again, getting back into the thick of it, doing her damndest to keep Harry out of the physical reach of any Death Eater... and by the way she was fighting it was obvious she was willing to pay with her life if it meant preventing such a thing.
At this point, Blaise thought that he was beyond feelingn remorse for any of the blood he had shed. Unlike those with their magical powers intact, he didn't have the luxury of knocking people out or freezing them. As a laser-light curse came rushing to him, the shield's protective charm shimmered and died, letting a fraction of the laser-light through. Numbly he wiped his now bleeding mouth, and went after the Death Eater who had just crucio'd Mandy, her screams filling the air.
Hermione noticed only a split second of anything before the sound of rushing blood filled her ears and she took a crucio that had been destined for Harry. With a small scream she was on the ground and useless, Harry doing what he could with another deatheater while she lie there, writhing. Parvati, it can be noted, seemed to be having the time of her life confusing deatheaters by transfiguring their robes into school girl uniforms before attacking, pulling their masks forward and slamming them back into their faces, etc.
Blaise's gaze snapped up as he heard Hermione scream, and his eyes narrowed as she fell. Scrambling to his feet from getting a nasty firecloud hex, he managed to make his way to the Death Eater holding the crucio, using his sword to the best of his ability. With an angry yell, the Death Eater turned his attention to him, throwing hex after hex on him. Blaise dodged most, save one fever hex which made him stop and pause, hands gripping the sword in a sudden delirium.
Hermione, unable to get up totally, pushed herself to a kneeling position, eyes squinted with pain wand raised and steady as she cast a bone breaking spell on said death eaters back - she still didnt have it in her to intentionally kill ---paralysis was different. Quickly after she surveyed Blaise, hitting him with a healing spell before falling back on her heels and shaking her head in an effort to alleviate the dizziness.
Taking a breath, he audibly sighed in relief as the cut on his lip stopped bleeding, his fever went down to normal, and his burned shoulder started to scab over. Stumbling toward her, he grabbed her hand and hauled her up straight in an awkward sort of hug. He was obviously still... conflicted... about her, but some things were more important. A scream broke through the din of the other battle noises, and turning his head, he caught a glimpse of the Death Eater that had been tormenting Mandy earlier. "Avada Kedavra!" With a gasp of green light, the girl fell to the ground, and did not get up.
Breathing hard and very obviously leaning against him for support she managed a feeble 'thanks' before jerking her head round and physically recoiling as Mandy feel, an audible inhale caught in her throat. Standing stock still for what seemed like an eternity but was really five seconds she took it in. Turning round and catching Blaise's eye for a split second she stepped away, wand raised, seemingly ready. "alright?" It was all she could really manage to get out between the pain of movement and hexes shouted at various deatheaters.
He nodded shortly, taking a step to her left, flanking her, sword ready. "Has the Order been contacted?" The question was quiet. With a thrust of his sword forward, he managed to avoid getting a Cruciautus.
She nodded. "Pig went out as soon as it happened. They should -" she broke off, attacking an approaching DE, " ---be here soon. I hope." Her voice was just as quiet, though it neednt have been for her close proximity and the roar of spells throughout the room. Turning slightly, she threw her boomerang light spell, taking out two deatheaters in one blow. "feel anything coming back?" She inclined her head towards his wand hand.
"....pig....?" Shaking his head in confusion, he snapped his attention back to her question, ducking what would have been a killing blow. "No. I don't know how long," wham! "....it takes to..." clang! "grow one's magic back." crash!! There went a chair leg. Wiping his brow, he stated. "When Mills had trouble with hers, it took about a week and a half for hers to grow back. Besides, my wand's in the bedroom."
"Brilliant.... Pig.... Ron's owl." She ducked a curse, sending a forceful, angry firestorm in front of them both, eyes twisted in rage. Grabbing one of the many wands she'd collected over the course of the evening she thrust it in his pocket. ".......you never know. and worse comes to worse, you may need to- " she was cut off suddenly, hit in the arm by something painful and sharp. Wincing she looked round noticing a cluster of needles in her left shoulder. "Brilliant."
"Heal yourself. I'll cover you," he stated, stepping in front of her, doing what might have passed as impressive swordwork had this been practice and not real life battle. Exhaustion was beginning to sink numbness into his limbs, and over time, his movements were growing sloppier, reflexes less quick. He heard another Avada being called in the distance, and with a wince saw Anthony Goldstein hit the floor, enveloped in green light. He wouldn't tell Hermione this, but unless the Order showed up soon, they were all going to be dead.
She did it quickly, barely wincing as she pulled the needles out and did the necessary spells. Looking back up she noted the change and looked around, worried at what she was seeing. People were beginning to die, the DEs were beginning to take over... Where was everyone? Raising her wand in between his shoulder blades she sent a weaker strenghtening spell - knowing that shed' need her strenght as well. Hearing Harry call her name she turned, quickly surveying the situation and casting expelliarmus on a DE with his wand pointed sqaurely at Ron.
Breathing again at the strengthening spell, he once more began to fight tooth and nail with the surrounding Death Eaters. Temporarily feeling refreshed, he managed to take out another and dodge an Avada Kedavra, briefly even helping Lavender Brown with some woman Death Eater. He glanced over to Hermione, making sure that she was doing alright with the Death Eaters surrounding Harry and Ron.
She was handling her own amiably, though fatigue was obviously showing on her face more and more and with every quick movement of her wand she winced in pain, muscles still not recovered from the multiple crucios. Glancing up she noticed a wand pointed straight at her, the word Kedavara passing over its owners lips. Seeing no other way to dodge it she hit the floor, the green light passing just over her head and hitting Eloise Midgeon in the back. Raising her wand she attacked, unintentionally taking the man out of commision for good.
So Hermione was doing well enough. Blaise winced as Eloise fell, but his attention was forcedly turned elsewhere when a metal-melting curse did exactly what it was supposed to do - and melted his shield. Swearing, he faced the Death Eater, his hands gripping the sword so tightly that his knuckles were turning white. He dodged a quick right from the ensuing acid hex, and a quick left from a firestorm curse, but when a cruciatus was thrown in his direction, he tripped over someone's body, and went down hard, nails biting into the ground in agony.
Hermione looked up hearing the fall and winced for a second before attacking the Death Eater with all she had left in her. Hitting with a spell to knock him back her own eyes widened to see the death eater fly into a wall with a crack... apparently she had underestimated her own anger. Hovering protectively she looked down, supremely nervous. "....Blaise?" Another hex dodged, one thrown. Not able to look down again she nudged him as gently as possible with her foot. "Blaise?"
His fingers that had been attempting to clutch the stone floor loosened slightly, and he looked up at her, giving a slight nod. "...'mokay... not as bad asth' last time I wasunder one of those...." Tilting his head to the left, his eyes widened, "...Harry..." It looked like Harry was about to be hexed into oblivion by a team of Death Eaters.
At his word she switched into autopilot, running straight into the fray and attacking with one goal in mind, face apparently not at all interested in the manner in which the goal was achieved. Combined, she and Harry grasped a bit of control, holding it firm when Ron joined in, the team of three working together seamlessly and without any visible communication.
Blaise gingerly tried to sit up, digging his nails into a wooden table leg and pulling himself up. This small act was enough to exhaust him, muscles still shrieking from the cruciatus. A shadow fell over him as he was struggling, and looking up, a Death Eater's wand was pointed at his head. Grabbing his sword raising it, he glared back, taking a breath. The Death Eater tossed off a poisonous creeper hex, and quickly Blaise managed to pull himself up to a sort of standing, slicing through the plants with his sword.
Hermione couldnt have noticed with the world of hot water she was in with the boys. Deatheaters were closing in quickly, all with the goal of taking harry alive and leaving the other two dead in mind. She was falling and getting back up repeatedly, knees bloody and scraped from the constant falling. Parvati somehow did notice and, in her usual giggling way turned the Death Eater's robes fuschia, before freezing the vines. "You're like totally welcome or something!" was called out before she turned causing more chaos with her wand.
Blaise managed a slight groan of 'thanks' and struck with his sword once more, though his hands were shaking. The Death Eater was tall and a lot stronger, and seemed to be related to Crabbe or Goyle given his propensity to pummel as well as cast spells. Blaise chanced a glance over to Hermione, getting a knock in the head for his efforts. Refocusing, he swung his sword, and it connected with the Death Eater - but not how he had anticipated. With a rising panic he saw that the burly man was wearing dragonhide gloves, and was also... holding his sword by the blade.
With a sharp jerk, the man grabbed the sword from the smaller boy's hands, spun it around by the blade, and shoved it forward. Blaise sharply dodged to the left, muscles protesting, and managed to get stuck in the upper right shoulder... another half inch and it would have missed completely.
Following the motion with a sneer, the Death Eater carelessly tossed a blasting curse, Blaise hitting the wall a good 15 feet behind him. Sliding to the floor limply, he did not move again.
Hermione didn't notice any of it happening, finally looking up after Dean Thomas and others joined the trio's efforts - not seeing Blaise immediately she surveyed the room, panic quickly bubbling in her veins and abruptly errupting in a scream when she finally caught sight of his crumpled form. A small sob caught in her throat for a second quickly followed by a rather murderous glare when her eyes settled on the ape of a man holding the sword by the blade. Wand shaking she aimed, thrusting the sword forward and knocking the man back. Steadying her hand she threw her second dark and malintented spell of the night, for the first time not caring if her opposition died. Rushing over, she surveyed him, a fearful 'please don't be dead' on repeat in her head as she checked for a pulse.
Not immediately finding a pulse, her own jumping and her hands shaking horribly, Hermione shook her head, lip bitten, tears there but not actually falling. Turning around with a renewed anger she looked up and caught Harry's eye, shaking her head, before raising her wand and rejoining the battle, much more mechanic and detached than she had previously been.
Lavender had caught up with Parvati and was busily aiding her in a distracting, then blasting method of fighting. "Parvatiiii! OMG! Look at the bald spot on that guy! And the way he's like, totally going after poor Daphne! Let's like, get him!"
Parvati grinned and raised her wand, hexing a DE on the way over. "Like, don't they KNOW that fashion still counts - and hello, hair plugs, fatty!"
She walked over with Lavvy, wand raised and generally wrecking havoc along the way. Until the 'fatty' turned around and began attacking back with unforgivables.
"SHITE!" Lavender cursed, which was rare for her as a Killing Curse went flying over her head. "Parvati, watch out! I don't think he liked your veiled suggestion to lose weight!" Ducking a Cruciatus, she turned his robes to polyester, but he didn't seem to notice in his fury.
Parvati dodged a cruciatus as well, doing her best to defend hereslf. "I mean, it's totally true-" duck "though I mean look at him he must weigh like-" she never got to finish her sentence,instead dropping lifeless to the floor - a DE behind her that neither had noticed casting Avada Kedavara with his wand aimed squarely at her back.
Lavender ducked as a Cruciatus went flying over her head. "What, darling? What must he weigh?" Turning to hear her bff better, she saw Parvati's form lying lifeless on the ground, and her hand went to her mouth - for the moment, Lavender was completely stalled, mouth flapping. As the noises of battle brought her back to the fight, she calmly zapped one Deatheater with a Dark curse that she had overhead Hermione using, leaned down and arranged Parvati so that her form wasn't splayed out, stood up, and screamed.
Lavender's scream jerked Hermione back to something more human and she looked over, surveying the scene. Rushing up she hexed an oncoming deatheater before he could point his wand and tried her best to calm Lavender... for about five seconds before giving up on words and slapping her. "Sorry - Lavender-" another hex, "Please. Keep fighting." If Lavender looked at Hermione her face would plainly say everything she, at the moment, believed to be true about Blaise.
"Hermione... P-people are dying a-and... Parvati's just lying there... a-and... there's nothing I can do right..." Lavender sobbed, shaking, not even defending herself. Seamus motioned to Hermione to keep fighting; he'd try to calm Lavender though the look on his face indicated that once she was calm, he would make them pay. Before Hermione could turn away completely, Lavender's hand shot out and grabbed Hermione's, giving it a little squeeze. "I'm sorry about Blaise," she said honestly, voice shaking.
She shook her head, looking to the death eater that was lying across the room, most likely bleeding to death with nothing but hate. "I'm sorry about Parvati. Lavender -" another hex. "She'd want you to keep fighting." Finally her eyes filled to capacity and a few tears fell before she walked away, back into it, looking to the door, hoping to GOD that a Auror would be walking through it.
Lavender nodded, and turning to Seamus said softly, "I can stand on my own, now." Giving his arm a squeeze, she immediately took to hexing the hell out of any Death Eater that crossed her path - and the path of her (remaining) friends. She caught Hermione staring at one of the doors to the castle, straining her eyes to see if anything was happening that she should know about.
She saw nothing and turned her back, to the door, returning to the fighting, helping Dean Thomas in his efforts to take on three death eaters, each watching murderously. Shaking her head and all but giving up hope that anyone was coming ever she sighed, continuing to fight, though the fatigue was slowing ebbing back into her body until Dean had to jerk her to the right causing an avada to skim past her shoulder. "Oi, Hermione, watch yo'self! Blimey mate you were almost toast!"
Lavender skidded over to them, shooting a shaking smile at Dean. "No toasted Hermiones, roger girl?" She tossed an eye-burning perfume spell at one Death Eater, and paused, eyes widening. "Whoah! Who are those people wearing white that just came in from that tower...?!"
Hermione looked up, fighting off someone without really looking and gave a happy smile, eyes shutting for a brief second. "They -" she answered, looking at Lavender, "are our saving grace." Tossing a shout over to Harry and Ron, both holding their own, she pointed. Members were in the room within minutes, and seeing Harry totally secured she let out another audible sigh, this time of stilted relaxation. Though still on her guard she wasn't as jumpy, hand waving Kingsley over to Harry and away from her.
Lavender saw Lupin in the crowd and pointedly delightedly. "Some of our professors!!" The Death Eaters appeared confused, fighting decidedly more on the defensive than before, a few even retreating. Lavender squealed and clapped her hands.
Hermione nodded, and, noticing that she, Lavender, Harry, Ron, and the others were safe, bit her lip trudging over to the wall, eyes shutting as she slid down against it, coming to a sitting position and breathing heavy. She could feel Harry and Ron's eyes on her and knew they'd be over to collect her soon.
Lavender was going over to the injured, assuring them of who the people in white were. She gave Seamus a quick hug, whispering, a quick "love you" in his ear, before stopping where Blaise rested, frowning a bit as she noticed that the blood caking his t-shirt was moving up and down in a shallow, but regular pattern. Dead bodies didn't usually breathe. "Hey! Hey Hermione! Your boyfriend's down, but not out!"
She jerked her head up and looked at Lavender oddly. "WHAT?" Getting up and crossing the room to see for herself, somewhat disbelievingly, she looked down and noticed that, sure enough, he was breathing. Sucking in a breath she pointed her wand and whispered a small shaking 'envennerate' and waited, breath firmly held.
Blaise's breath caught, and his pointer finger twitched, but he did not wake up - the head injury was bad enough that ennervate was useless. Lavender bit her lip. "Don't worry, Hermione, Madame P. will fix him up." Giving the girl a quick hug, she managed a non-smile. "I've... got to find Justin. I've not seen him this whole time! Silly-billy's been hiding from me." She laughed nervously and gave a wave.
She noted the twitch and everything else, eyes welling up with relief and worry mixed equally. "......good luck, Lav...." came up from her throat as she hugged the other girl briefly, eyes still on Blaise in disbelief. She watched him for any other signs of movement, jumping as a hand landed on her injured shoulder.
"Hermione - it's time to go." Turning she saw that the voice belonged to Kingsley and, behind him, Harry and Ron were standing, ready. "Madame Pompfrey is waiting." She nodded, eyes travelling back to Blaise. "We're not leaving him, Granger" Moody echoed. "Now, let's go." She nodded silently, faltering, Kingsley catching her easily. "Right - shall we?"
The bodies of students both dead and injured were many, but Lavender took a cruel satisfaction in seeing the equal number of Death Eaters lying upon the ground. She didn't know how she was walking, actually, away from the body of her best friend, but she was - it was time to tend to the living. It was time for the horror to be over.
All over the grounds living students were being portkeyed to various locations - the critical straight to St. Mungos, the not-so-critical and uninjured back to Hogwarts. Looking up Hermione saw Dean and Seamus on either side of Lavender, walking slowly over to their group. Giving a half smile she reached out giving the other girls hand a squeeze. "Alright then, Lav." Turning to the others she grimaced, the pain actually registering for the first time in a bit. ".... I'm going with Blaise. I can see a healer or Madame Pompfrey last if need be." She swallowed. "I just... want to make sure. He's ok." Her last two sentances were said more as requests that statements, exhaustion setting into her bones.
Lav raised her eyebrows. "Is he going to St. Mungos or staying here with Pomfrey?" A Healer who was surveying the damage glanced over at him. "With a head wound like that, Mungos is the only place for him. Maldurk, get him in the critical line."
Lavender quirked the side of her mouth, tears in her eyes. "Seamus? Dean? Will you take me to find Justin? And... and Padma. She was fighting with us, but... I don't think she knows about.. P-Parvati." The boys exchanged glances, and nodded. A short man nodded and slowly cast some spells to levitate Blaise up and onto a stretcher. "Miss, you said you wanted to go? You'd better get over here for the portkey, then. The wards on this manor prevented Apparation."
She nodded, hugging both Harry and Ron in turn - "I love you both. I'll see you soon... in London no doubt." Turning, she somehow managed to get herself over to the portkey area, lightly touching what appeared to be a bracelet and immediately transporting to St Mungos.
Hermione winced as the battle escalated around them, raising her wand and full out attacking with everything she had. "LAVENDER! PARVATI! ATTACK WITH YOUR WANDS! And BE CAREFUL!"
Parvati looked up from stomping on a Death Eaters foot and kneeing him in the face. "OK!" Giggling she raised her wand and hexed the same deatheater, sending him flying. "Wicked! They feel things again! Lavvy, look!"
Lavender looked, and giggled. "Yay! Check it out!!" With that, she tossed a hex she had learned in Dumbledore's Army, torching a Death Eater and giggling.
Blaise was having less luck. Knowing that his time was most definitely numbered in such an open space, he began making his way towards the side of the room, stumbling with a cry as a knifing hex grazed his right shoulder. Looking up, he saw an unfamilar man, not wearing a Deatheater mask, exiting the room where his parents had been. But... something was familiar about the man, somehow, in the way he walked....
Hermione turned at his cry and, without fanfare, sent a rather horrid hex at the attacker, wondering why in the world he wasn't wearing his mask. Making her way over to Blaise she too noticed something vaguely familiar about his movements but would never ever be able to place it.... "Blaise! Are you alright?"
"I'm okay," he said slowly, eyes narrowing as they followed the man blocking Hermione's hex and disappearing into a room. "That man..."
Without another word, he got back on his feet and shot after the stranger, slipping in between the clashing students and Deatheaters.
Hermione gaped after him for a moment, supremely shocked that he could BE so stupid. "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!" She shot after him, wincing horridly whenever her feet connected too hard with the ground. "WAIT! WHAT ARE YOU DOING! COME BACK!" She didnt understand waht he was doing but, in the same grain, was damned if he was going to go after a deatheater by himself, with just a sword.
By the time that she caught up with him, Blaise had his sword at the stranger's throat, the man's wand inexplicably on the floor crushed beneath Blaise's shoe. Evidently, the man had been tackled.
Blaise's eyes err... blazed. "Shut the door," he ordered to Hermione, pressing the sword harder against the man's throat - enough to be uncomfortable, but not enough to cut. "Show your face," Blaise ordered the man, who's white-haired glamour seemed to be switching on and off as the seconds passed.
Hermione did as she was told, accio'ing the mans wand over to her, heart racing. "Blaise.... what are you doing?! Who is that?!?!" She looked from the man, back to Blaise's face, and back to the man.
"This would be the culattone who tricked me into getting Marked," Blaise hissed, pressing the blade of the sword minutely harder against the man's throat. "Edgar Fenwick" he stated clearly. "Show your face."
Edgar smiled charmingly, "Whatever you say, signor," and abruptly the glamour shifted to that that Hermione would recognize from the basement of the sweet shop...
WHAT?!?!" She eyed the man with a hatred she didn't know she had in her, shaking her head and shrugging, not really caring what Blaise did until..... "Blaise NO!" She grabbed at his arm, pulling insistantly down on it, instantly recognising the voical intonations. "NO! STOP! STOP!" Eventually she physically placed herself in between the men, hating every second of what she was doing but knowing she owed the man his life.
Blaise almost dropped his shield, he was so surprised. Staring at her, eyes wide, he asked incredulously, "WHAT? Hermione, che... what the hell are you doing? Get away from him! Did you not hear me? He bloody Marked me!"
Edgar laughed, a sharp glint in his eye. "Mr. Zabini, if you could control that Mediterranean temper but a moment, you'd see that your girl and I go way back."
She looked at him, shaking with hate and disgust at herself. "I know.... I know.... just... last year... when I was in the sweet shop, he's the Deatheater. The one that saved my life. I'd be dead it if wasn't for him.... I owe him my life. I can't let you kill him." She winced again, turning sharply to Fenwick, entire being frigid. "I'd advise you to shut your mouth, Sir, before I shut it for you. We do NOT go way back."
"Get out of the way," Blaise hissed, eyes still wide but narrowing rapidly. "Get the hell out of my way, now." His sword was raised.
"No." Hermione looked at the sword and back at him. "I can't."
"It's not hard," he said in a soft, deadly voice. "It's but a step or two to the right or left."
"I CAN'T."
"But you can kill my mother," he countered just as softly.
She winced, looking down, not able to meet his eyes, not able to cry, and not able to move. "...............I'm sorry."
"If you're sorry then you'll get out of my way." He replied with supreme calm. "Blood for blood."
She shook her head, not looking up, face red. ".................you have to kill me first."
"Don't tempt me," he hissed sharply, sword raised and ready. "I'll ask you one more time. Get out of my way."
".............no. I wish I could.... but I can't." She bit her lip. "......so if you're going to kill me, just do it."
He glared at her for several seconds, before pulling his sword to his side. "Don't be such a drama queen," he sneered. "I've killed enough people today."
She blinked, exhaling and not looking at him at all; too ashamed and disgusted with the situation in general to do anything but stare at his shoulder idly.
"Let's tie him up and leave him here. If we make it through this, he'll be useful. You'll have to spell the ropes, I obviously can't." His voice was flat and efficient. "I vote we knock him out as well."
She nodded, spelling the bindings around him and casting several spells to keep the ropes bound tight if someone attempted to get him out. Looking at Fenwick in a disgusted manner she stepped aside. "You're a disgusting excuse for a human being and a coward." Turning to Blaise she stepped back. "I really am sorry -" she stopped, realising that she was about to refer to him as love and didn't know whether or not he'd accept it. "...Blaise." The name was said lamely, dejectedly.
He didn't respond to her, making sure that the ropes were tight, before turning on his heel and leaving the room, attacking the first Death Eater he came against by violently thrusting his sword into the man's back, looking to relish the violence a bit too much.
She winced, hexing Fenwick with a spell that would knock him out from pain, knowing that her debt was paid. Following behind she made her way back and out into the fray, physically near Blaise but really worlds away from him, in her own horrific world before snapping back and fighting with a renewed vigor by hearing a death eater say Potter and the ginger-haired prat were being worn down.
With a clank of metal against wood, Blaise's sword was stuck deeply into the wooden oak table. The Death Eater directly behind him that he had missed with the swing laughed and shot a fire curse at him, and with an almost weary cry, he was on the floor. Rolling quickly to avoid the man's foot on his face, he grabbed the handle of the sword and pulled - hard. With a satisfying rip of fabric, he was able to swing the sword up and through the Death Eater's robes until there was no more resistance. With a hollow thud, the Death Eater fell to the ground.
Blaise examined his shoulder. His t-shirt was beyond repair at this point; he was oddly grateful that it wasn't designer. Gingerly, he moved the burned arm. It still worked. One down, way too many more Death Eaters to go.
Hermione, a few steps ahead of Blaise at that point, heard the cry and heard him fall but couldn't quite take her attention off of her sparring partner of the moment. He was proving to be quite tricky and, while she was keeping up amiably with the duel, if her attention drifted she would be dead. Finally finishing him off with a freezing spell she took a split second to look over her shoulder and survey the damage, making sure he was still alive before taking on a female death eater who seemed to have a particular hatred of "THE mudblood."
Grimly, Blaise went after yet another Death Eater that was a good 4 stone heavier, and seemed to enjoy tossing pain spells at him. The shield sparked weakly against a particularly potent hex; Blaise knew it was only a matter of time before the charms that had been placed on it in the Medieval period would stall and fail. He chanced a glance at Hermione, and saw that she was ably battling a Death Eater on her own. A Killing Curse whizzed past his ear, and for a split second he cringed in expectation. Finding himself still alive, with a vicious swing of the sword he hacked off somebody's something. At this point, he wasn't feeling picky.
Beginning to get physically tired from all the fighting, Hermione stopped and began resorting to her... less widely practiced spells, a tack that seemed to work well. It certainly shocked her attacker who went down in about two seconds with a dark pain spell. Seeing no one else immediately threatening her she shot something similar towards a death eater about to attack Ron from behind before turning her back to the door (vs. the wall) and doing the same to the death eater currently engaged with Blaise, noting his size and Blaise's stamina.
The Death Eater that he was battling went down hard, and with a sort of satisfaction Blaise drew his sword along the man's throat. Looking up, he shot Hermione a look - a loaded one, to be sure - of thanks. Just as quickly he turned around and attacked the Death Eater behind him that was going after Mandy Brocklehurst.
Even through all the blood and gore she had seen, seeing a throat slit made her cringe and drop her guard for a moment, stomach uneasy. Swallowing she turned again, getting back into the thick of it, doing her damndest to keep Harry out of the physical reach of any Death Eater... and by the way she was fighting it was obvious she was willing to pay with her life if it meant preventing such a thing.
At this point, Blaise thought that he was beyond feelingn remorse for any of the blood he had shed. Unlike those with their magical powers intact, he didn't have the luxury of knocking people out or freezing them. As a laser-light curse came rushing to him, the shield's protective charm shimmered and died, letting a fraction of the laser-light through. Numbly he wiped his now bleeding mouth, and went after the Death Eater who had just crucio'd Mandy, her screams filling the air.
Hermione noticed only a split second of anything before the sound of rushing blood filled her ears and she took a crucio that had been destined for Harry. With a small scream she was on the ground and useless, Harry doing what he could with another deatheater while she lie there, writhing. Parvati, it can be noted, seemed to be having the time of her life confusing deatheaters by transfiguring their robes into school girl uniforms before attacking, pulling their masks forward and slamming them back into their faces, etc.
Blaise's gaze snapped up as he heard Hermione scream, and his eyes narrowed as she fell. Scrambling to his feet from getting a nasty firecloud hex, he managed to make his way to the Death Eater holding the crucio, using his sword to the best of his ability. With an angry yell, the Death Eater turned his attention to him, throwing hex after hex on him. Blaise dodged most, save one fever hex which made him stop and pause, hands gripping the sword in a sudden delirium.
Hermione, unable to get up totally, pushed herself to a kneeling position, eyes squinted with pain wand raised and steady as she cast a bone breaking spell on said death eaters back - she still didnt have it in her to intentionally kill ---paralysis was different. Quickly after she surveyed Blaise, hitting him with a healing spell before falling back on her heels and shaking her head in an effort to alleviate the dizziness.
Taking a breath, he audibly sighed in relief as the cut on his lip stopped bleeding, his fever went down to normal, and his burned shoulder started to scab over. Stumbling toward her, he grabbed her hand and hauled her up straight in an awkward sort of hug. He was obviously still... conflicted... about her, but some things were more important. A scream broke through the din of the other battle noises, and turning his head, he caught a glimpse of the Death Eater that had been tormenting Mandy earlier. "Avada Kedavra!" With a gasp of green light, the girl fell to the ground, and did not get up.
Breathing hard and very obviously leaning against him for support she managed a feeble 'thanks' before jerking her head round and physically recoiling as Mandy feel, an audible inhale caught in her throat. Standing stock still for what seemed like an eternity but was really five seconds she took it in. Turning round and catching Blaise's eye for a split second she stepped away, wand raised, seemingly ready. "alright?" It was all she could really manage to get out between the pain of movement and hexes shouted at various deatheaters.
He nodded shortly, taking a step to her left, flanking her, sword ready. "Has the Order been contacted?" The question was quiet. With a thrust of his sword forward, he managed to avoid getting a Cruciautus.
She nodded. "Pig went out as soon as it happened. They should -" she broke off, attacking an approaching DE, " ---be here soon. I hope." Her voice was just as quiet, though it neednt have been for her close proximity and the roar of spells throughout the room. Turning slightly, she threw her boomerang light spell, taking out two deatheaters in one blow. "feel anything coming back?" She inclined her head towards his wand hand.
"....pig....?" Shaking his head in confusion, he snapped his attention back to her question, ducking what would have been a killing blow. "No. I don't know how long," wham! "....it takes to..." clang! "grow one's magic back." crash!! There went a chair leg. Wiping his brow, he stated. "When Mills had trouble with hers, it took about a week and a half for hers to grow back. Besides, my wand's in the bedroom."
"Brilliant.... Pig.... Ron's owl." She ducked a curse, sending a forceful, angry firestorm in front of them both, eyes twisted in rage. Grabbing one of the many wands she'd collected over the course of the evening she thrust it in his pocket. ".......you never know. and worse comes to worse, you may need to- " she was cut off suddenly, hit in the arm by something painful and sharp. Wincing she looked round noticing a cluster of needles in her left shoulder. "Brilliant."
"Heal yourself. I'll cover you," he stated, stepping in front of her, doing what might have passed as impressive swordwork had this been practice and not real life battle. Exhaustion was beginning to sink numbness into his limbs, and over time, his movements were growing sloppier, reflexes less quick. He heard another Avada being called in the distance, and with a wince saw Anthony Goldstein hit the floor, enveloped in green light. He wouldn't tell Hermione this, but unless the Order showed up soon, they were all going to be dead.
She did it quickly, barely wincing as she pulled the needles out and did the necessary spells. Looking back up she noted the change and looked around, worried at what she was seeing. People were beginning to die, the DEs were beginning to take over... Where was everyone? Raising her wand in between his shoulder blades she sent a weaker strenghtening spell - knowing that shed' need her strenght as well. Hearing Harry call her name she turned, quickly surveying the situation and casting expelliarmus on a DE with his wand pointed sqaurely at Ron.
Breathing again at the strengthening spell, he once more began to fight tooth and nail with the surrounding Death Eaters. Temporarily feeling refreshed, he managed to take out another and dodge an Avada Kedavra, briefly even helping Lavender Brown with some woman Death Eater. He glanced over to Hermione, making sure that she was doing alright with the Death Eaters surrounding Harry and Ron.
She was handling her own amiably, though fatigue was obviously showing on her face more and more and with every quick movement of her wand she winced in pain, muscles still not recovered from the multiple crucios. Glancing up she noticed a wand pointed straight at her, the word Kedavara passing over its owners lips. Seeing no other way to dodge it she hit the floor, the green light passing just over her head and hitting Eloise Midgeon in the back. Raising her wand she attacked, unintentionally taking the man out of commision for good.
So Hermione was doing well enough. Blaise winced as Eloise fell, but his attention was forcedly turned elsewhere when a metal-melting curse did exactly what it was supposed to do - and melted his shield. Swearing, he faced the Death Eater, his hands gripping the sword so tightly that his knuckles were turning white. He dodged a quick right from the ensuing acid hex, and a quick left from a firestorm curse, but when a cruciatus was thrown in his direction, he tripped over someone's body, and went down hard, nails biting into the ground in agony.
Hermione looked up hearing the fall and winced for a second before attacking the Death Eater with all she had left in her. Hitting with a spell to knock him back her own eyes widened to see the death eater fly into a wall with a crack... apparently she had underestimated her own anger. Hovering protectively she looked down, supremely nervous. "....Blaise?" Another hex dodged, one thrown. Not able to look down again she nudged him as gently as possible with her foot. "Blaise?"
His fingers that had been attempting to clutch the stone floor loosened slightly, and he looked up at her, giving a slight nod. "...'mokay... not as bad asth' last time I wasunder one of those...." Tilting his head to the left, his eyes widened, "...Harry..." It looked like Harry was about to be hexed into oblivion by a team of Death Eaters.
At his word she switched into autopilot, running straight into the fray and attacking with one goal in mind, face apparently not at all interested in the manner in which the goal was achieved. Combined, she and Harry grasped a bit of control, holding it firm when Ron joined in, the team of three working together seamlessly and without any visible communication.
Blaise gingerly tried to sit up, digging his nails into a wooden table leg and pulling himself up. This small act was enough to exhaust him, muscles still shrieking from the cruciatus. A shadow fell over him as he was struggling, and looking up, a Death Eater's wand was pointed at his head. Grabbing his sword raising it, he glared back, taking a breath. The Death Eater tossed off a poisonous creeper hex, and quickly Blaise managed to pull himself up to a sort of standing, slicing through the plants with his sword.
Hermione couldnt have noticed with the world of hot water she was in with the boys. Deatheaters were closing in quickly, all with the goal of taking harry alive and leaving the other two dead in mind. She was falling and getting back up repeatedly, knees bloody and scraped from the constant falling. Parvati somehow did notice and, in her usual giggling way turned the Death Eater's robes fuschia, before freezing the vines. "You're like totally welcome or something!" was called out before she turned causing more chaos with her wand.
Blaise managed a slight groan of 'thanks' and struck with his sword once more, though his hands were shaking. The Death Eater was tall and a lot stronger, and seemed to be related to Crabbe or Goyle given his propensity to pummel as well as cast spells. Blaise chanced a glance over to Hermione, getting a knock in the head for his efforts. Refocusing, he swung his sword, and it connected with the Death Eater - but not how he had anticipated. With a rising panic he saw that the burly man was wearing dragonhide gloves, and was also... holding his sword by the blade.
With a sharp jerk, the man grabbed the sword from the smaller boy's hands, spun it around by the blade, and shoved it forward. Blaise sharply dodged to the left, muscles protesting, and managed to get stuck in the upper right shoulder... another half inch and it would have missed completely.
Following the motion with a sneer, the Death Eater carelessly tossed a blasting curse, Blaise hitting the wall a good 15 feet behind him. Sliding to the floor limply, he did not move again.
Hermione didn't notice any of it happening, finally looking up after Dean Thomas and others joined the trio's efforts - not seeing Blaise immediately she surveyed the room, panic quickly bubbling in her veins and abruptly errupting in a scream when she finally caught sight of his crumpled form. A small sob caught in her throat for a second quickly followed by a rather murderous glare when her eyes settled on the ape of a man holding the sword by the blade. Wand shaking she aimed, thrusting the sword forward and knocking the man back. Steadying her hand she threw her second dark and malintented spell of the night, for the first time not caring if her opposition died. Rushing over, she surveyed him, a fearful 'please don't be dead' on repeat in her head as she checked for a pulse.
Not immediately finding a pulse, her own jumping and her hands shaking horribly, Hermione shook her head, lip bitten, tears there but not actually falling. Turning around with a renewed anger she looked up and caught Harry's eye, shaking her head, before raising her wand and rejoining the battle, much more mechanic and detached than she had previously been.
Lavender had caught up with Parvati and was busily aiding her in a distracting, then blasting method of fighting. "Parvatiiii! OMG! Look at the bald spot on that guy! And the way he's like, totally going after poor Daphne! Let's like, get him!"
Parvati grinned and raised her wand, hexing a DE on the way over. "Like, don't they KNOW that fashion still counts - and hello, hair plugs, fatty!"
She walked over with Lavvy, wand raised and generally wrecking havoc along the way. Until the 'fatty' turned around and began attacking back with unforgivables.
"SHITE!" Lavender cursed, which was rare for her as a Killing Curse went flying over her head. "Parvati, watch out! I don't think he liked your veiled suggestion to lose weight!" Ducking a Cruciatus, she turned his robes to polyester, but he didn't seem to notice in his fury.
Parvati dodged a cruciatus as well, doing her best to defend hereslf. "I mean, it's totally true-" duck "though I mean look at him he must weigh like-" she never got to finish her sentence,instead dropping lifeless to the floor - a DE behind her that neither had noticed casting Avada Kedavara with his wand aimed squarely at her back.
Lavender ducked as a Cruciatus went flying over her head. "What, darling? What must he weigh?" Turning to hear her bff better, she saw Parvati's form lying lifeless on the ground, and her hand went to her mouth - for the moment, Lavender was completely stalled, mouth flapping. As the noises of battle brought her back to the fight, she calmly zapped one Deatheater with a Dark curse that she had overhead Hermione using, leaned down and arranged Parvati so that her form wasn't splayed out, stood up, and screamed.
Lavender's scream jerked Hermione back to something more human and she looked over, surveying the scene. Rushing up she hexed an oncoming deatheater before he could point his wand and tried her best to calm Lavender... for about five seconds before giving up on words and slapping her. "Sorry - Lavender-" another hex, "Please. Keep fighting." If Lavender looked at Hermione her face would plainly say everything she, at the moment, believed to be true about Blaise.
"Hermione... P-people are dying a-and... Parvati's just lying there... a-and... there's nothing I can do right..." Lavender sobbed, shaking, not even defending herself. Seamus motioned to Hermione to keep fighting; he'd try to calm Lavender though the look on his face indicated that once she was calm, he would make them pay. Before Hermione could turn away completely, Lavender's hand shot out and grabbed Hermione's, giving it a little squeeze. "I'm sorry about Blaise," she said honestly, voice shaking.
She shook her head, looking to the death eater that was lying across the room, most likely bleeding to death with nothing but hate. "I'm sorry about Parvati. Lavender -" another hex. "She'd want you to keep fighting." Finally her eyes filled to capacity and a few tears fell before she walked away, back into it, looking to the door, hoping to GOD that a Auror would be walking through it.
Lavender nodded, and turning to Seamus said softly, "I can stand on my own, now." Giving his arm a squeeze, she immediately took to hexing the hell out of any Death Eater that crossed her path - and the path of her (remaining) friends. She caught Hermione staring at one of the doors to the castle, straining her eyes to see if anything was happening that she should know about.
She saw nothing and turned her back, to the door, returning to the fighting, helping Dean Thomas in his efforts to take on three death eaters, each watching murderously. Shaking her head and all but giving up hope that anyone was coming ever she sighed, continuing to fight, though the fatigue was slowing ebbing back into her body until Dean had to jerk her to the right causing an avada to skim past her shoulder. "Oi, Hermione, watch yo'self! Blimey mate you were almost toast!"
Lavender skidded over to them, shooting a shaking smile at Dean. "No toasted Hermiones, roger girl?" She tossed an eye-burning perfume spell at one Death Eater, and paused, eyes widening. "Whoah! Who are those people wearing white that just came in from that tower...?!"
Hermione looked up, fighting off someone without really looking and gave a happy smile, eyes shutting for a brief second. "They -" she answered, looking at Lavender, "are our saving grace." Tossing a shout over to Harry and Ron, both holding their own, she pointed. Members were in the room within minutes, and seeing Harry totally secured she let out another audible sigh, this time of stilted relaxation. Though still on her guard she wasn't as jumpy, hand waving Kingsley over to Harry and away from her.
Lavender saw Lupin in the crowd and pointedly delightedly. "Some of our professors!!" The Death Eaters appeared confused, fighting decidedly more on the defensive than before, a few even retreating. Lavender squealed and clapped her hands.
Hermione nodded, and, noticing that she, Lavender, Harry, Ron, and the others were safe, bit her lip trudging over to the wall, eyes shutting as she slid down against it, coming to a sitting position and breathing heavy. She could feel Harry and Ron's eyes on her and knew they'd be over to collect her soon.
Lavender was going over to the injured, assuring them of who the people in white were. She gave Seamus a quick hug, whispering, a quick "love you" in his ear, before stopping where Blaise rested, frowning a bit as she noticed that the blood caking his t-shirt was moving up and down in a shallow, but regular pattern. Dead bodies didn't usually breathe. "Hey! Hey Hermione! Your boyfriend's down, but not out!"
She jerked her head up and looked at Lavender oddly. "WHAT?" Getting up and crossing the room to see for herself, somewhat disbelievingly, she looked down and noticed that, sure enough, he was breathing. Sucking in a breath she pointed her wand and whispered a small shaking 'envennerate' and waited, breath firmly held.
Blaise's breath caught, and his pointer finger twitched, but he did not wake up - the head injury was bad enough that ennervate was useless. Lavender bit her lip. "Don't worry, Hermione, Madame P. will fix him up." Giving the girl a quick hug, she managed a non-smile. "I've... got to find Justin. I've not seen him this whole time! Silly-billy's been hiding from me." She laughed nervously and gave a wave.
She noted the twitch and everything else, eyes welling up with relief and worry mixed equally. "......good luck, Lav...." came up from her throat as she hugged the other girl briefly, eyes still on Blaise in disbelief. She watched him for any other signs of movement, jumping as a hand landed on her injured shoulder.
"Hermione - it's time to go." Turning she saw that the voice belonged to Kingsley and, behind him, Harry and Ron were standing, ready. "Madame Pompfrey is waiting." She nodded, eyes travelling back to Blaise. "We're not leaving him, Granger" Moody echoed. "Now, let's go." She nodded silently, faltering, Kingsley catching her easily. "Right - shall we?"
The bodies of students both dead and injured were many, but Lavender took a cruel satisfaction in seeing the equal number of Death Eaters lying upon the ground. She didn't know how she was walking, actually, away from the body of her best friend, but she was - it was time to tend to the living. It was time for the horror to be over.
All over the grounds living students were being portkeyed to various locations - the critical straight to St. Mungos, the not-so-critical and uninjured back to Hogwarts. Looking up Hermione saw Dean and Seamus on either side of Lavender, walking slowly over to their group. Giving a half smile she reached out giving the other girls hand a squeeze. "Alright then, Lav." Turning to the others she grimaced, the pain actually registering for the first time in a bit. ".... I'm going with Blaise. I can see a healer or Madame Pompfrey last if need be." She swallowed. "I just... want to make sure. He's ok." Her last two sentances were said more as requests that statements, exhaustion setting into her bones.
Lav raised her eyebrows. "Is he going to St. Mungos or staying here with Pomfrey?" A Healer who was surveying the damage glanced over at him. "With a head wound like that, Mungos is the only place for him. Maldurk, get him in the critical line."
Lavender quirked the side of her mouth, tears in her eyes. "Seamus? Dean? Will you take me to find Justin? And... and Padma. She was fighting with us, but... I don't think she knows about.. P-Parvati." The boys exchanged glances, and nodded. A short man nodded and slowly cast some spells to levitate Blaise up and onto a stretcher. "Miss, you said you wanted to go? You'd better get over here for the portkey, then. The wards on this manor prevented Apparation."
She nodded, hugging both Harry and Ron in turn - "I love you both. I'll see you soon... in London no doubt." Turning, she somehow managed to get herself over to the portkey area, lightly touching what appeared to be a bracelet and immediately transporting to St Mungos.