Authors note: Don't own anything apart from Brooke.

Chapter two: Dark times

Brooke hurriedly ran to the transfiguration class, today they were starting human transfiguration; she had been looking forward to this for the whole summer. She was the first one there; she hurried to the third row and saved three extra seats. Professor McGonagall looked up at her; she gave her a very grim smile and motioned for her to come up to her desk.

"I was hoping you would come early" She said shuffling through a pile of parchment, looking for something. Brooke just starred at her, not sure whether she was meant to answer or not.

"Here we are" She said, half sighing. She didn't look very happy, she didn't look her usual stern self any more. "This morning I received a letter from your father about your living arrangements, and some very unfortunate news." She looked at Brooke, with an overwhelming pity in her eyes, it made Brooke very uncomfortable. She shifted slightly under Professor McGonagall's powerful gaze. "I am very sorry to tell you that your grandparents have been..well..I am sorry Brooke but your grandparents were killed last night."

Brookes knee gave way and she fell slightly before grabbing hold of professor McGonagall's desk. She let out a small whimper; "There..There what?" Brooke breathed unable to speak properly.

"I'm afraid they..er..died last night" "They both died together? At the same time? Just like that? How did they die?" Brooke asked suspiciously her head filly up with questions like a big hot air balloon.

"Now don't be afraid Brooke but someone is after your family, your grandparents..er..Didnt just die like that no. They were murdered, it was the last of the unforgivable curses, and your..Well you're in danger too." Professor McGonagall said rather shakily.

"What?! They were murdered? And someone's after me? What about my father did they try get him too? Why do they want to harm my family? What have we done? Who did it?" Brooke spluttered, suddenly overcome by a hot wave of rage, her hands were shaking slightly on the professor's desk.

"Now just stay calm. You are aware of your father's job I presume?" She asked patting Brooke's hand. Brooke nodded, her father worked for the ministry of magic as an unspeakable, he was a spy, and during the rein of the dark Lord he had spied on him for the ministry. It was very dangerous work, it had been the reason Brooke had been sent away to Hogwarts; he had received a new mission.

"Well you are fully aware of the dangers, and you are aware that the dark Lord is rising. Well Brooke you've probably worked it out for yourself, the dark Lord found out about your father and his double agent role..."

"Is he dead too?" She interrupted hysterically, fear and foreboding now taking over her emotions. Professor McGonagall looked startled by Brooke's outburst.

"No, no. Don't worry, someone tipped him off about You-Know-Who's knowledge and he was able to flee the country and is now in safe hiding. He left after trying to rescue your grandparents, but by the time he arrived it was too late, it was a great risk for him to send this letter to us." She said frowning at Brooke, she looked genuinely concerned.

"well what's going to happen to me? I don't suppose I'll ever see my father again will I?" she sounded a little hopeful; she hated her father and always blamed him for her mothers death.

"You are to follow some very strict rules and you will be taking extra defence against the arts classes with some other students who are at risk from the uprising. You are to stay at Hogwarts for the holidays except for the summer, There will be no teachers on hand to help you so we have arranged for you to stay at a very protected house in a very safe wizard village, no one will know you are there and I must ask you not to protest about the..er..family who we chose for you ..the er..Malfoys, other students will be in hiding in the same village, I myself live there too so you have nothing to worry about. Professor Dumbledore will give you a full explanation of what is going to happen tomorrow afternoon with the other students. Please understand Brooke, I am terribly sorry about these dark events, I fear it is happening again , only this time it will be worse- much worse." She shuddered slightly.

Brooke starred at her bewildered. Her grandparents were dead? Her father hiding? Someone after her, she would have to hide also? Many students at risk, the dark lord rising again? Living with the Malfoys? She was very confused and worried, she felt her brain fogging up, like she was going to faint under all the pressure.

The noisy sound of the class walking in brought her back to her senses, she starred around at them bewildered, and they were all giving her strange looks. Suddenly she realised why. She was sitting on the floor, her arms wrapped around her knees, she was crying and Professor McGonagall was bent over her, an arm around her shoulders tyring to comfort her. "You may be excused from class if you wish" She whispered kindly.

Just then Hermione, Harry and Ron entered. They spotted her and rushed over, the rest of the class was at their desks now too, hushed whispers filled the air as people tried to guess what was going on. "No, I can't miss this class, it's important, can I just step outside for a bit with my friends?" she asked wiping her eyes on her cloak. Harry helped her up, Hermione put her arm around her trying to comfort her. They all looked very confused.

Once safely out of hear shot the three of them burst into a chorus of concerned questions. Brooke tried the best she could to tell them the story without bursting into tears again. "And now I have to go live with the Malfoy's, as if that makes it better, Lucious will probably hand me over to the Dark lord as soon as he can! Why they had to choose him, I can't think of a less safe place. The Malfoy's?!" She said, Harry embraced her, while Ron and Hermione stroked her back nervously. They hadn't said anything, she knew they were worried about her, but more so Harry, it meant he was a target again, most likely he would have to be in that safe village and take extra defence against the dark arts lessons with her.

"This is terrible, for both of you" Hermione whispered hoping nervously from one foot to the other.

"Should you two go speak to Dumbledore?" Ron asked.

"Me? What's this got to do with me?" Harry asked, sounding a little offended.

"Harry it's got everything to do with you, come on I know your not that thick, can't you see you and probably all the Auror's children and ministry workers children will all be targets, you've all got to go into hiding." Hermione said, her eyes filling up with tears.

"We don't know that, I'm not going to believe that until Dumbledore walks over to me and tells me that!" He said getting a little annoyed.

Just then something that looked oddly like a small brown ball, flew into the side of Harry's head. It was Pigdweigon , Ron's over exited owl. Hurriedly Ron grabbed the chirping owl in his hands and read the little note out loud to the four of them.

Dear Mr. Weasley, Potter and Miss. Granger and Elansar , I require you urgently in my office now, please go back to class and tell professor McGonagall that I sent for you. The pass word is: Purple Zaspberries

Albus Dumbledore, Head Master

"Believe it now?" Ron said triumphantly.

"No" Harry replied flatly, he was sick of things always being about him, why couldn't he be normal?

They excused themselves from class, gathered their books and ran to the eagle statue that led to Professor Dumbledore's office.