Author's Note I am so sorry for the delay. I had the hardest time writing this part. I'm not really sure if I'm happy with the way it turned out. It may get changed.

An Acceptable Risk

Chapter Twenty-Seven The Fight and Who Fell

"How bad was it?" asked Harry.
"Not as bad as it could have been?" admitted Mr. Weasley. "A few casualties on our side, but there were a few deaths on the other side. Our Aurors were able to mount a counter attack rather quickly." Mr. Weasleys ears turned a dull red.
"What aren't you telling us Dad?" asked Bill.
"The Ministry's released a list of those captured or killed," said Mr. Weasley. "Draco, I'm afraid your father was killed in tonight's raid. And your mother, well, I'm afraid your mother's been taken prisoner, as well."

Draco's normally pale complexion turned a sickly gray.
"N-no, it can't be," he said. "I mean -- I knew he was, but he wouldn't, would he? The Ministry? It can't be," his voice trailed off. "Can it?"
"I'm afraid it is true dear," said Mrs. Weasley, laying her arm upon his shoulder gently. "We got word by Floo Powder shortly after you went outside. They're keeping everything strictly confidential, Draco. Nobody else will know."
"Iknow," said Draco. "And everybody in Slytherin will know as well. Something like this won't be kept secret for long."
He looked around the room, at all the faces staring at him with sympathy, and bolted. The door slammed behind him, and silence filled the room.
"Someone should go talk to him," said Hermione softly.
"I'll do it," said Harry.
"No, Harry," said Mrs. Weasley. "Leave him be for now. He's had some shocking news. Let's give him some time to absorb it all."

"What happened Dad?" asked Charlie. "Can you tell us the details?"
"Well, I don't know too much myself," admitted Mr. Weasley. "We've been keeping a skeleton staff on at all hours ever since Hogsmeade was attacked. They were looking for something specific, but we don't think they found it."
"What were they looking for?" asked Hermione.
"I-er, I'm not at liberty to say," said Mr. Weasley.
"Me," said Harry. "They were looking for me, weren't they?"
"It seems that way Harry. Actually, they were trying to get your file from the Ministry records."
"What did they expect to find?" asked Ron. "What kind of a file could Harry have at the Ministry?"
"Quite a large one actually. For obvious reasons, the Ministry has always kept an eye on Harry," admitted Mr. Weasley.
"Did they get what they were looking for?" asked Bill.
"Of course they didn't, Bill," said Percy, pompously. "The Ministry would never allow important information to fall into the wrong hands."
"Fortunately, Percy is correct. They didn't get anything at all. The Aurors were able to stop them."

"How did they stop them?" said a voice from the other room. Draco walked back into the room and sat down next to Ginny. She reached over and took his hand in hers and patted it gently.
"Draco, are you sure you want to do this now?" asked Mr. Weasley. "There will be time for all of this later."
"No, I need to know everything, and putting it off won't make it any easier," he said dully. "Just tell me and get it over with."
"Well, the Death Eaters began attacking almost immediately, and they were using the Unforgivables.
A gasp went up at the mention of the three curses that were forbidden by the Ministry. Use of them would guarantee an automatic life sentence in Azkaban.
"Three of our men were taken down by the Cruciatus Curse. Suddenly, a voice called out the ultimate unforgivable."
"Not the," began Harry.
"Yes, I'm afraid so," confirmed Mr. Weasley. "The Avada Kedavra."
Nobody said anything for a few minutes and Mr. Weasley continued.
"The Ministry recently passed a ruling stating that when attacked by the Unforgivables, Ministry employees would be allowed to use them in return. Draco, your father cast the Avada Kedavra and three aurors – well, three aurors cursed him. I'm sorry son, he didn't have a chance."

"I've got to go back to Malfoy Manor," said Draco, suddenly. "There are things I need to take care of." He turned on one heel, and strode out of the room, looking for all the world like Snape, minus the billowing black robes. Harry slipped out of the crowded sitting room and followed him up to Ron's room.
"Draco, can I speak with you for a second?"
"Why? So you can rub my face in it, Potter?" snapped Draco. "I bet you're just loving this. Knowing that my father is dead."
"Oh, right. I think every kid should have their father killed by one of the forbidden curses. Malfoy, you are insane. I came up here because I though you might want to talk."
"Well you thought wrong. I don't want to talk to you, I don't want anything to do with you!" He finished shoving the rest of his belongings into his trunk, and dragged it out of the room and down the stairs.
"I'm going to leave now," he announced to the room. "May I borrow some Floo Powder please?"

Molly Weasley stepped forward, the jar of Floo Powder in her hand.
"You are not leaving, unless either Arthur or myself go with you, Draco. I simply cannot stand the thought of you going to that empty house all alone."
"Really, Mrs. Weasley, I just want to be alone."
"Fine, you can be alone, after one of us takes you home and gets you settled in."
"Fine," said Draco rudely. "I won't stop you if you want to come."
"Molly, I'm not letting you go alone," said Arthur. "I'll go with you."
"Dad," said Charlie. "You can't go, you need to stay here in case," he stopped and looked at Harry. "Well, just in case," he finished. "I'll go with Mom, we'll get Draco settled and work out a few things."
"Look, if you're all done arranging my life to suit all of you, I'd like to be going," snapped Draco.
"Watch it," snarled Ron, jumping to his feet and moving towards Draco.
"That's enough!" thundered an uncharacteristically stern Mr. Weasley.
"We don't have time for this type of behavior, from any of you," he said fixing them all with a glare. "We all have to pull together now. Molly, you and Charlie take Draco home, get him settled and get back here. Draco, you are more than welcome to come back with them if you chose. Our door will always be open to you."

Bill and Charlie carried Draco's trunk over to the fireplace. Molly tossed in a handful of Floo Powder. Draco stood next to his trunk and looked around as the others stood watching.
"Thanks for inviting me Ginny," he said in a sardonic voice. "I don't know if fun is quite the word I'd use, but it's been different."
"Draco," said Ginny stepping forward, her voice catching at his hurtful words.
"Don't Ginny," he said softly. "Not right now, I couldn't bear it right now. Malfoy Manor," he said in a louder voice. He grabbed his trunk stepped into the fire and disappeared. Molly kissed Arthur on the cheek and apparated, followed quickly by Charlie.

"All right everybody," said Mr. Weasley. "We have to make plans to get the lot of you back to school immediately."
"School," said Ron. "Why Dad, we're still on holiday."
"Because, there's no safer place than Hogwarts," said Hermione.
"Exactly Hermione," said Mr. Weasley. "You'll be safer under Dumbledore's protection. Now go get your belongings together. Twinkle will have a meal ready for you. Bill, Percy, I'll want you and Fred and George to come with us to Kings Cross."
"Sure thing Dad," said Fred. "We'll do whatever it takes, you know that."
"You're good boys, all of you," said Mr. Weasley looking at his sons. "I don't know what's to come in the future, but I do know that the world is a better place because all of you are in it."