Chapter 25: Negotiations

Harry, Marcus and Sirius made their way out over the moor, not knowing what to expect. After receiving the note demanding that they meet here, and over the slow three day journey, they had entertained almost all of the possibilities of who they might meet. Giants, demons, dragons?
They walked for hours, and finally arrived. No-one was there to meet them.

"This can't be a wild goose chase..." Harry questioned.
"No." Sirius declared, scanning the surroundings as a lone knight appeared on the horizon. "That must be the person who sent the letter."
The knight spoke as he came closer.
"Send someone to negotiate." He shouted the order towards them without emotion. Harry, Marcus and Sirius looked to each other.
"I'll go." Harry stated.
"You will not!" Sirius replied, shocked that Harry would even suggest it.
"I suppose you want to then!"
"No. But I am the oldest of us, so I have to." Sirius seemed resigned, so Marcus decided that he would have to take a stand.
"You stay with Harry, Sirius, I'll go and talk..." He stated, armed himself with a sword, and began to walk. He looked back after a few steps... "Be ready with those bows"
"What are you going to do?" Asked Sirius.
"What it takes." Marcus replied firmly, before continuing his walk. Almost simultaneously, a legion of knights appeared beside the first, and he alone walked forward to meet Marcus. They met about 100 meters away from the knights, and the same away from a very nervous Harry and Sirius.

"Speak." The knight demanded.
"My name is Marcus Greenstone of Hogwarts School" Marcus stated, hoping to discover the identity of his adversary.
"Edward Thomas Malfoy, leader of the Knights of Soctaria, loyal servant of Lord Voldermort." Marcus's head rushed... **Malfoy? Voldermort's servant?** He decided to take the initiative.
"State your demands."
"Give us Potter and Black, and we will return all of your friends."
"Unacceptable. We can offer food and other supplies, but no people will be exchanged."
"We have everything we need, other than Potter and Black. Give them to us." **This guy won't budge** thought Marcus, quickly calculating the odds in a fight. 15 to 1. Outnumbered, badly.
"I cannot give them to you."
"Then it seems the girl's faith in you was misplaced."
"What?" Marcus was now agitated, obviously he meant Hermionie.
"When we captured her, she assured us that you would give anything for her release."
"You're lying." Marcus called his bluff.
"If you don't believe me, ask Weasley."
"What do you mean, ask Weasley?"
"He and Granger have become, well, very close over the past weeks." Marcus was enraged... Hermionie would never...
"You're bluffing. There's nothing more to discuss." He turned to go, but in the same movement grasped his sword and slashed Malfoy's head clean off his body. He felt the blood against his face, stared at the headless corpse, then ran back to Harry and Sirius, who were shocked, but had drawn their bows...