The shock of the horrific act left Hermione paralyzed for just a moment. Regaining her composure, she moved to face their attacker with her wand at the ready, a dozen curses waiting on her tongue, but she wasn't fast enough. Struck in the back of the head with something heavy, she fell to the ground without ever seeing who it was behind her. Everything happened so quickly and without any sort of warning beyond a simple uncomfortable feeling in her gut. It was all over in just a few heartbeats.