Hermione staggered as her Side-Along dumped them through in the corridor outside the Veil room. The wards had been like tissue paper, but even so, bringing Ron with her had cost.
There were voices from the room, and figures hurrying down the corridor. She released Ron's hand, gave him the strongest smile she could, and pulled her wand.
"In there, love." She forced down the thought of Leila. Right now there was only the Veil, and the task ahead.
She hadn't expected the rush of magic flowing back into her, or the ghosts swirling about the Veil, or the others who were already there: the Blacks, Harry, Gaius Blank. But the woman kneeling before the Veil, the insane cackle of her laugh, the near-orgasmic bliss on her face -
"Expelliarmus!" she shouted, and aimed at Bellatrix Lestrange's wand as Voldemort's madwoman shrieked a spell.