Hermione wasn't done yet, there was still some fight left. Pulling her battledress back from Luna, she darted forwards, wand held aloft, and sent an angry curse arrowing across the courtyard ... but it merely collided with an intensely powerful defence ward, created by the magical fusion of all the combined Death Eaters, who were only fifty feet away now. Heads turned to look at Hermione in the ensuing moment of silence ... before they all laughed tauntingly at her. Then they began to sprint forwards, raising their wands, choosing their first curses. Hermione sighed and took a deep, rattling breath as she watched them race ever closer.