Harry didn't even look; he used his magic to push the attacker away and was by Hermione's side with both elves standing over them producing a shield around the quartet that wouldn't let anyone or anything through.
Harry could feel her pain, the curse had spun her round and she hit the ground hard. The hall was in chaos but Harry didn't even notice as he knelt cradling an unconscious Hermione in his arms.
Lavender and Parvati tried to assist the couple but found themselves flung back by the Elvin shield Pav tried to argue with Winky that the were friends of the couple but her answer was in a tone never before heard from an elf. The venom in her voice was unmistakable as she pointed across the hall at the stricken attacker "so was he!"
When Harry pushed the attacker away he released more power than usual causing the robed figure to shoot through the air until his progress was halted by a wall that had stood for a millennium and not even magic could overturn the outcome of a body traveling in excess of fifty mph hitting a wall. The already dieing wizard in the Gryffindor robes seemed to slowly slide down the wall. The red headed twins reached him just before he died and heard the last words ever spoken by Ronald Bilius Weasley "tell mum I'm sorry I failed the family"
Dobby let Poppy through the shield but Minerva bounced off, she was about to berate the elf but he spoke first "don't you think it would be more appropriate to get the remaining students under control headmistress?"
Minerva felt as if she'd been slapped across the face but the elf was right, some shouting later and all students were sitting at their house tables, both hands palm down in front of them. No more wands were being drawn today!
Poppy scanned Hermione with her wand and let out a sigh of relief "she'll have some bruising but her armour saved her life, she banged her head when she hit the floor but she's fine"
Harry almost wept with joy as the healer cast rennervate and Hermione opened her eyes "I thought I'd lost you love, you're my world and it just stopped!"
She pulled him down and gently kissed him "you changed my world with a kiss so now your stuck with me Potter!"
A tearful Harry said "best thing I ever did Mrs. Potter"
Poppy broke up the scene as they were still in the great hall "you'll be sore for an hour or so but until your metabolism gets back to normal I don't want to give you any potions"
As Harry helped her stand Hermione replied, "Potter's don't do normal, what the hell happened?"
They looked round and saw three crying redheads kneeling beside a body. The situation slowly came into focus as they clung to each other while walking towards their former friend.
They knelt down crying along with the Weasley's "I'm sorry guys I just saw the curse hit Hermione and reacted, I knew I got whoever fired the curse but didn't know who or what happened, why did he do it?" cried Harry
Fred answered, "He said to tell mum he was sorry he let the family down but we have no idea what he meant"
Hermione held Harry tightly as they sobbed "Oh Ron you, stupid, stupid bastard!"
"If you know why he tried to murder Hermione we need to know" said a sobbing Ginny
"We need to talk to everyone first then we'll tell you everything we know, I promise," said a still crying Harry
The Weasley's were led away by Flitwick; Poppy took Ron's body to the infirmary while Harry and Hermione tried to compose themselves.
Harry spoke, "Dobby could you fetch Sirius, Remus and the Grangers and take them to wherever the Weasley's are, we'll be along shortly. Tell Sirius we need the pensieve"
He then turned to Winky and with a voice that carried clearly to every corner of the great hall "Winky stay by Hermione's side and if you even suspect anyone reaching for a wand stun them"
Hermione's thoughts came through loud and clear 'I can look after myself Harry!'
'I know love but prevention is better than cure, take a look at Winky she scares me!'
Winky did look fierce as she scanned the hall almost daring anyone to move as the trio made their way to the podium.
It was a very somber Harry who took to the podium and began speaking "Hogwarts has failed generations of witches and wizards so it is with no regrets that I inform you Hogwarts will close its doors on Monday."
There was uproar