            A slap whipped across her cheek. Hermione’s head flew to the left, her legs buckling. Only the sticking charm kept her upright. "Shut up, you cow! Or I’ll silence that mouth too. Come on," she snapped, pointing the wand at Hermione’s feet. "Finite Incantatem," Lavender muttered, before jabbing the wand back into Hermione’s chest. "Now come. We’re going straight to McGonagall, and I won’t have any so-called cleverness getting in—" Her voice abruptly stopped. The rage in Lavender’s face disappeared, replaced by an eerie calm. Her wand dropped slowly from her fingers, clattering on the ground.