Caroline didn't really hear the words, just menacing fragments but she heard the tone. A chilling tone like the wind at winters heart, engulfing her and she struggled to suppress her trembling, gripping at the pleats of her green dress with fumbling fingers. Worse... how could it be worse?

She remembered being unable to go outside, her mother and father having whispered conversations about running away, about her father always having his wand in his hand head twitching through the windows even as they sat in their own living room. The stink of fear in her nostrils from dusk til dawn.

Perhaps it because she was older, because she understood the implications of the bad men in the night her father spoke of. Of what they could do, of what they had already done. She felt worse too

George was looking at her intently eyes bright yet he seemed more relaxed his head a little higher, back a little straighter as if a weight had been removed. 

Then he changed like a dog catching a scent. She saw his eyes widen and he threw himself against the office door even as the screams began. 

For a moment it felt as if the whole world was screaming, voices she knew erupting in fear and she felt herself stagger, her wand still in her hand. She felt paralysed, bemused by the situation even as George threw himself against the door only from it to burst back upon him, a small sea of people surging outwards, eyes wide, mouths stretched in silent screams as they fled. She moved forward even as they surged outwards,stopped in her tracks by a tendril of green mist,horrifyingly familiar.

The dark mark in her office,but who and who, she wasn't sure which who was worse, who was dead or who had conjured that foul sign?

It was as if a spell had unlocked her feet and she threw herself forward,pushed back by a hand she didn't recognise. She could hear the rumble of feet above her, screams down the corridor, somewhere in the distance the bang of a spell going off.

"This is everywhere" she whispered half to herself "we're under attack"

 People were flooding the corridor, pushing in different directions each with their own idea of how to escape, the only thought in their head to run, to hide, to escape. Perhaps it was for the best she had not seen the mark with her own eyes. perhaps she would be running too. Fear was turning to anger, ice boiling to steam and she gave a little growl,

" not in my fucking house."

the anger was boiling, turning into drive,thoughts of flight lost in a steely focus even as she saw two people smash into eachother both running for their lives, impact coming with a sickening crunch. At the other end of the corridor She could see three hit wizards being carried away from the action even as they fought against the sea of people. 

Pandemonium. Headless chickens in a farm yard, perfect prey for death eaters. She was ashamed and angry that in such circumstances this was the general reaction of the ministry of magic,Terrified cowardice.

but not everyone

She heard a snarl from George as he gave up on the door searching for another way in. She could tell by his demeanour what he was about to do before he did it and turned
away

"Bombarda" dust flooded the hallway and more screams filled the corridor, hands moving to cover eyes, people staggered, stumbling back stunned by the sound the sea suddenly motionless as people struggled to recover from the force of the blast.

Through the dust she heard a thud as a body hit the floor and a small grunt of satisfaction from George. First problem solved.

She recovered quickly , her diminutive height always a factor in these situations, she touched her wand to the floor a single idea in her mind, restoring order.

"Elevarte"
 
A small piece of the hardwood floor began to rise and she balanced upon it precariously as it took her above the massing crowd, terror temporarily suspended as they stared at her between racking coughs, through streaming eyes.

Not for long, George had inadvertently bought her precious seconds, she had to use them.

Her wand now at her throat she hissed "sonorous" her voice suddenly booming to carry amongst the corridors of the second floor

"The emergency apparition points on the second floor are located next to the cafeteria . Please, all those wishing to leave the building stay on the right of the corridor walking three abreast so magical assistance and support can reach those that need it."

It always amazed her how terror turned people into sheep the crowd forming up beneath her, the odd twat pushing and running through the crowd, most happy to feel that suddenly all was in hand, walking quickly the odd smile for those moving along the corridor in opposite direction and she continued

"Any that cannot apparate please attach yourself to someone that can, Any that wish to stay please begin a thorough search of each room. Mark each searched room with an M and seal the door. Then assemble at the stairs and await further instruction."

Her lips became a snarl her voice the same sing song sound of the elevator

"Any traitor coming into our house and thinking they can fuck with us, please stay where you are and pray the hit wizards reach you before I do.Thank you for your cooperation"

The plank of wood descended and she moved to join George stopping for a moment, anger fading as she steeled herself for what she might find, all she could see was death in her mind, Kay slumped over her desk eyes wide, Daz throat cut, the images flashed and she felt her breathing rise. It couldn 't be as bad as that?

She stepped through, eyes shut

George was leaning over a single body on the floor, no death thank the lord..., they had got to him in time, only a traitor, one of her own that had betrayed them all.

The black hair and thin features made her turn away with a snarl, not only because of his betrayal but her own failure. She had talked to him all but an hour ago, she should have known, known something was wrong. George turned to her with a frown and she opened her mouth to speak but a new voice burst through the corridors. A voice they all knew, a grizzled voice that rumbled with anger, a storm travelling through the halls

"Today,we come to a head. Death eaters try to break our spirit and scatter us upon the wind yet today is the day we stand tall and show them that we will not be cowed.... we will not bend.... we will not break. Get to safety, hold your families close for today the fight for liberty comes to our shores. We will meet them in the atrium and we will not be found wanting"

She looked from the body of Caracus sadness in her eyes as she met George's

"lets go"