It was utterly, palpably dark ... so completely gloomy all around that it was clearly unnatural. There wasn't even the briefest sliver of light to be seen. The wind was whispering on the air, light and breathy, a mere shadow of sound. Harry was gripping Hermione's hand so hard that it almost hurt her. His alertness set the blood thumping and hammering hard in her ears. There were people ahead of them. Dozens of people. Hermione couldn't say how she knew, she just did.