The uniformed guards at the perimeter and patrolling the open grounds of the facility all had weapons slung over their shoulders – automatic rifles of some sort, it looked like to Hermione; she didn't know anything about guns, but whatever these ones were they looked nasty. Several times their little train of people had to jerk to an abrupt halt to avoid walking into one of the patrolling guards, and Hermione's heart was rattling fast and frantic in her chest.