Disclaimer: All the characters in this story belong to JK Rowlings, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc.

A/N: Thank you to the people that reviewed the previous chapter, escape, Slytherin Child, Elenya, xodevonnyxo

Chapter 2: Another Death

"Checkmate," Ginny Weasley told her brother, with a smile on her face.

"Huh? How did you do that? You cheated," Ron told his sister.

"I did not. I even warned you during my last move."

"I thought you were bluffing."

Today was a happy evening in the Weasley household. Ron and Ginny Weasley sat in the living room in front of the fire, playing chess. Fred and George Weasley were watching the game Ron and Ginny were playing.

"Ha. Fred I told you she was going to beat him. Way to go Gin. At this rate I'll be just as rich as Malfoy."

"How many games has this been Gin? Was it five?" George asked his sister.

"Yes. Ron, what's wrong with you today?"

"Nothing," Ron mumbled.

"Aww. Ickle Ronnekins is sad. His Hermione won't come visit this summer," the twins teased him.

"I am not. Like I would care if she came," Ron said defensively. His ears turned red at the mention of Hermione's name.

"Ron. You know that she would love to come, but her aunt is visiting her this year and she can't leave," Ginny told her brother, while she put the chess piece in their place for another game.

"How did you know her aunt was coming. Did you read my letter?" Ron asked getting angry.

"I did not. Hermione also wrote me you know."

"Kids try to quiet down. I'm trying to study this new muggle telephone."

"You got something new dad?" Ginny asked. She went to the table where her father was engrossed with the small device in front of him.

"Yes. Ginny. It is a miniature version of the telephone. I think muggles call it a Cell You Are phone. Look at this. Everything is so small. Its amazing how the muggles did this."

Suddenly they heard a pounding on the door.

"Arthur open up! It is me Amos."

When Arthur Weasley opened the door, he was surprised to see the flushed face of Amos Diggory.

"Arthur you have to come with me. There has been an attack. They're calling everyone. An entire family was killed."

"What! Okay, I'll come with you. I'll get my cloak," Arthur told him, then he turned to his wife, "Molly, I have to go."

"Okay Arthur, please be careful," she told him.

"I will."

At that Arthur Weasley hugged his family and followed Amos Diggory outside.

"Come, Arthur. Follow me."

Arthur Weasley followed him until they have gone a few feet away from the house.

"Where are we going Amos?"

"We have to go to Malfoy Manor," Amos saw that he was about the question him so he added, "Don't ask questions now. They need all the help they can get. I will explain later. Apparate to the Manor, the wards should be down."

Arthur nodded. With a POP they were both gone.

----------

Arthur Weasley was shocked at the sight before him. Floating in the sky was the Dark Mark, as hideous as ever. The Manor was up in flames; aurors and many other wizards working in the ministry were trying to put out the fire.

"Arthur!"

Arthur Weasley turned around and saw Albus Dumbledore running towards him.

"Albus. Death Eaters?" Arthur asked.

"Yes," Dumbledore answered.

"Where are the Malfoys?"

"They are inside somewhere trapped, the aurors are trying to get into the room they are in. We need help," Dumbledore told him.

Arthur nodded and followed Dumbledore inside the manor. They were nearly running inside. Arthur noticed many aurors searching each room. Suddenly they came to a stop, in front of a door. Five aurors were saying various spells trying to open it. He immediately started helping them by saying all the unlocking spells he knew. Dumbledore also started saying spells. After a few minutes, the door suddenly burst open. When they got inside the room, Arthur suddenly wanted to vomit. The room was a mess. Swords were thrown in different places, some even had blood on it. It looked like a tornado was in the room. There was blood dripping on the walls. Near the middle of the room was Narcissa Malfoy. One of the Aurors immediately rushed to her side. After she checked her, she pronounces that Narcissa Malfoy was dead. Then he saw Lucius Malfoy near the wall. He was also on the floor. He had a sword impaled in his stomach. His body was in a puddle that appeared to be blood. He was obviously dead. Then he saw movement. He ran to the body near Lucius Malfoy, and bent down to look at him closely. He recognized him as Lucius' son, Draco, by some traces of his silvery blond hair. The boy's face was covered in blood. He noticed a cut on his face starting from his right eyebrow going diagonally across his nose. What shocked Arthur the most was the incomplete Dark Mark on the boy's arm. It was faded and only contained the skull, the snake was missing. His arm was also slashed. Arthur could distinctively see an "X" cut over the mark. Then he saw his chest rise slowly, and then Arthur muttered a spell.

"Albus! Come quickly! He's alive but barely," he told him.

Albus Dumbledore came quickly along with the Aurors. He saw a gray haze over Draco's body. The haze meant that he was near death.

"We have to get him to St. Mungo's. He needs treatment," one of the Aurors said.

"No," Dumbledore told him, "It is not safe to bring him there. I know of a place to bring him where he can recover. Trust me."

Then everybody in the group nodded. They were all people who used to be Dumbledore's students. They would trust him with their lives.

"Arabella, go outside and tell Poppy to apparate to Raven Creek. Tell her that I will wait for her there."

Then he faced everybody, "Do not tell anyone where I will take young Draco. It is crucial that nobody can find him, especially reporters and such."

At that Dumbledore gently picked up Draco's body and apparated. Arabella left to inform Poppy Pomprey about what Dumbledore told her.

"What are we going to do now?" Arthur asked the group.

"We can handle everything Mr. Weasley. You can go home, I'm sure that your family is worried about you," One of the Aurors answered.

"Are you sure?" He asked him.

"Yes, you should get some sleep sir. Everybody is still expected to report to work tomorrow."

"Okay. If you need me again just call me."

"Yes, sir."

At that they heard a POP and Arthur Weasley was gone.

Ginny Weasley was sitting in front of the fire reading the book Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. She was in the part where Pip sees Estella again after many years in London. Hermione recommended the book and Ginny was just hooked to it. Ron was next to her discussing Quidditch with Fred and George. Then she heard the door open. When she turned around, she dropped her book. Her father was standing in front of the door. He looked like he came from Azkaban. His face was stricken with fear. His robes had blood on it. Suddenly her mom came in the room.

"Ginny will you go... ARTHUR, what happened to you?" she quickly rushed to him.

"Arthur are you okay? Is that blood on your robes? What happened to you?"

Arthur Weasley was overwhelmed with all the questions he quickly said that he was all right no harm was done to him.

"Dad is that your blood," Fred asked worried about his father.

"No it isn't. I can't tell you where I went. You'll probably read about it in the Prophet tomorrow, until then please refrain from asking questions. They still expect me to go to work tomorrow. I probably can't even answer your questions anyway, Dumbledore ask me to keep some things to my self," he explained to them.

"Dumbledore was there? This must be serious then," Ron commented.

Arthur simply nodded, "Ron almost an entire Wizarding family was killed. One of your classmates was orphaned today. I can't tell you who."

"Kids stop asking your father questions. He needs his rest," Molly Weasley told her children.

Then she helped Arthur up the stairs.

After they heard the door close in their parent's bedroom, Ginny got up.

"Guys, I'm tired I'm going to bed now," She told her brothers.

"Okay Ginny goodnight," They told her. Then they kissed her on the forehead.

When Ginny got in her room she changed into her pajamas and climbed under the covers. When she closed her eyes, she fell quickly asleep.

Gwenivere was in the church waiting for her lover Darien to arrive. She has been there for three hours. She was starting to get worried. Darien was never late, usually when they would agree to meet each other he would be early. She hasn't heard from him ever since he told her that he would help his uncle with the school.

"My child, are you sure that he will come," asked the priest that was supposed to perform the ceremony.

"Yes, father. He said he will come."

"Are you sure that he was serious. He was not leading you on?"

"He would never do that. He told me he loved me. I know he meant it. He is coming I know he is."

Suddenly the door opened. Gwenivere smiled, she knew that he would never break his promise. But when she saw who entered the door, her smile disappeared. Darien's best friend Henry walked in. Henry had the same built as Darien. Henry was handsome and had hair as black as the night. He looked distressed.

"Gwenivere, have you been here since noon?"

"Yes Henry. Where is Darien? Did something happen to him? Is he all right?"

"Gwenivere, Darien is fine, but he would not be coming today. He backed out."

"What? I.. I don't understand. You are lying. You're lying!"

"I'm sorry Gwenivere."

Tears were starting to come out of her eyes.

"Gwenivere?" Henry stepped towards her, "I'm sorry. Darien said he could not do it."

"Why didn't he come his self?"

"I do not know. He asked me to come here, and I am here."

"I don't believe you!"

Gwenivere pushed him out of her way and ran out the church. Henry watched her, and did not intend to follow her, but something inside of him was telling him to comfort her.

'If I cannot have you. I will make sure Darien won't, even if I have to kill him."

It has been two days since Darien did not come to the church as planned. Gwenivere tried not to show that inside she was hurting. She did all her work and even joked with her brothers, but even then, they could notice that something is wrong with her. When she thought that they were sleeping, they could hear her crying. When they would ask her if something was wrong she would tell them that she is fine.

It seemed like a normal evening. Her brothers were sitting in front of the fire talking and she was doing her knitting. Suddenly the heard a loud knocking on their door. Her brother Reynold got up to open it. They saw one of the people they work with, and he looked like he ran to the house. He was trying to catch his breath.

"Reynold. You have to help us," he said.

"Wait a minute. Try to calm down first. Help you with what?" Reynold asked him.

"Lord Darien."

At this, Gwenivere looked up.

"What happened to Darien?" She asked.

Everybody looked at her questionably. Why wasn't she addressing Darien properly?

"Did you hear me? I said what happened to Darien," she asked him again.

"He … oh… its terrible, we can't get him down. You have to help us. Bring your knives," the man told them.

Reynold asked him what was going on. What happened to Lord Darien?

"He's been lynched!"

"What!" Gwenivere asked loudly.

"You have to come."

After that, he ran, and the rest of the family followed him after they got a knife. They ran quickly toward a tree. As they were getting closer, they were beginning to see a figure hanging and did not seem to be moving. When Gwenivere was able to see the face of the man, she fell to her knees.

"Darien! No!"

"Gwenivere," Her brother Reynold was next to her.

"Get him down. Please Reynold. Get him down."

Reynold and her brothers climbed the tree. One of them cut the rope and lowered the body slowly to the ground. When Darien's body was on the ground Gwenivere quickly rushed to him. When she got near him, she gasped. Darien's body was covered with bruises. She cradled his body against her, and she wept.

"Darien, please wake up. I need you. Do Not leave me, please, do not leave me."

Her brothers were shocked. They did not know that Gwenivere and Darien had a relationship. They noticed that he would spend time around their sister, but they always thought that it was about the business at the hacienda. They never thought that Gwenivere and Lord Darien were more than just friends were.

"You said you loved me! You said that we would be together! You said that you would never leave me!" Her voice broke down after she said her last sentence.

"Gwenivere," her brother Reynold put a hand on her shoulder. Gwenivere just whimpered. She held Darien closer to her. She looked like she didn't want to let go.

Then they heard a voice near the tree. One of Gwenivere's brothers was walking near a figure that was curled up. When the figure looked up, he tried to get away from Gwenivere's brother.

"Lord Henry it is okay. It is safe."

"Stay back. Stay back I tell you."

He got down to the ground and was looking around for something. When he got a stick, he quickly pointed it towards Gwenivere's brother.

"Stay back or I will hurt you. Where is Darien? What have you done to him? If you hurt him I will kill you."

Gwenivere's brother looked shocked at Henry's outburst. He was wondering why Henry was pointing a stick at him. Couldn't Henry see that Darien was dead in front of him?

"Henry. Put the stick down."

The man who said this was Henry's uncle, Lord Godric Gryffindor. Along with him was Salazar Slytherin and Hermia Ravenclaw, Darien's cousin.

Godric went to his nephew.

"Henry. Put the stick down," Godric told him

"Stay back. What did you do to Darien?" Henry asked.

"Henry. What is happening to you?" Godric asked shocked at his behavior.

"Where is Darien?" Henry asked.

"He's lost his min," Reynold commented.

Hermia came forward and tried to reach Henry's hand, but he moved back.

"Henry. What is wrong?" She asked him.

"Get away from me!" He yelled at her.

"Don't you recognize me?" she was wondering what happened to Henry to make him act this way.

"No! I do not know any of you. You are helping him aren't you? You are all helping him get to Darien!"

Just after Henry said that, Salazar walked to Godric and started whispering to him. Then Godric nodded.

Salazar went to Henry and quickly said stupefy, and Henry fell to the ground unconscious. Godric picked Henry up and after talking briefly to Salazar, he walked toward the manor. Then Salazar turned around and saw Gwenivere still holding Darien and then he scowled. Then he saw Hermia walk to Gwenivere.

"Gwenivere. I am sorry. We have to bring the body to the manor. You have to let go."

Gwenivere shook her head. She did not want to let go of Darien yet.

"Please, Gwenivere."

"I didn't even get a chance to tell him that I loved him one last time."

"Let me say good bye to him," Gwenivere told Hermia.

Gwenivere gently touched his face. When she did this Salazar looked disgusted, but nobody noticed him. She ran her fingers over his cheek, then his closed eyes, and then over the lips that she has kissed so many times. When she remembered the kisses they shared, she began to cry again. Gwenivere leaned down and gently brushed her lips against his, after she pulled back she ran to Reynold. He hugged her for comfort. Then Salazar picked up Darien's body and started walking away.

"Gwenivere?"

"I want to go home."

Reynold nodded and their family started walking back to their house. Hermia watched them walk away. When she can no longer see them, she started walking towards the manor. She stopped when she saw something shining in the moonlight. When she got closer to it, she saw a locket. She remembered Darien showing her this locket. She picked it up and held it close to her heart. Then she looked up at the tree and then she walked away.

When Ginny woke up after her dream she found out that she was crying. She figured that she was crying because of Darien's death. She has had dreams of Darien and Gwenivere ever since the summer started. This was the first dream that disturbed her. Usually her dreams of Darien and Gwenivere were happy; today's dream was different. When Ginny looked at the clock next to her bed, she saw that it was three o'clock. She groaned, then went under her blanket again and closed her eyes. She didn't have another dream that night.

A/N: So, what do you guys think? Was it good? Please review.

Next Chapter: We go to Raven's Creek and find out why Dumbledore brings Draco there. Hermione's aunt is introduced in the next chapter.