Chapter Eleven: The Last Hour of Ancient Sunlight

Disclaimer: All characters belong to J.K. Rowling. The underlined portions are taken directly from the novel; I do not own those parts. They belong to J.K. Rowling.

Author's Note: This fanfiction is going to be different from my other stories. This picks up where "The Heart of Everything" and "The Heart of Everything: Shallow Bay" left off. The time in the books also changes. So, pay attention the time, so you don't get confused. Some of the chapters are other Marcus Flint/Katie Bell stories, just with more changes and deleted scenes added.

Time: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Genre: Romance, Drama, and Friendship

Rating: PG-13

Italics: Dream

Marcus stared out at the dark, rainy day and ran his hand through his dark hair. Why out of the days it could have rained, did it have to be today? He needed to and look at Fairyland's barrel, which he was not looking forward to doing it in the rain. He didn't even have Damon to drag out in the rain with him. Why did Damon have to work today?

He took another drink of tea. Katie was getting on him about the wedding. They were supposed to get together tonight and go over some plans. He was not looking forward to that at all.

Marcus glanced at his watch. Standing here and thinking about what needed to be done was not actually getting anything accomplished. Sighing, he sat his cup in the sink and headed out.

He landed a few hundred metres away from Fairyland. It was raining harder at Randolph Castle than it had been at his house. Cursing, he made his way toward Fairyland.

Marcus peered slowly into the barrel. He didn't trust this thing; it could take his head off at any given second. The barrel looked just as shiny as ever. Frowning, Marcus took at the chest out of his pocket. The chest held all of Fairyland's information. Earlier this morning, he had read about how Fairyland burned its own barrel and had to be fixed by runes.

Maybe he was remembering incorrectly...

Sighing, Marcus turned and headed up toward Randolph Castle. He couldn't open the chest outside; it would be ruined. He slowly pushed open the back door and stepped into the back hallway. Marcus listened and didn't hear anyone. He figured that his grandfather was in the study. Marcus made his way up the back staircase.

Marcus paused outside Jonathan's study. He wasn't sure if he should knock or just push his way in. Then again, his grandfather kind of scared him. He raised his fist and knocked three times.

"Come in," Jonathan called out.

Marcus pushed open the door and stepped in.

"Marcus," Jonathan greeted as he looked up from his writing desk. "Close the door, would you?"
Marcus turned back and closed the door.

Jonathan put his quill down and looked his grandson up and down. "You're soaked." He pointed his wand at Marcus. A few seconds later, Marcus felt as if he had been sitting in front of a fire.

"Thanks," Marcus muttered.

"I take it this isn't a pleasure trip."

Marcus shook his head and handed Jonathan the chest. "There's nothing wrong with the barrel."
Jonathan frowned. "And you looked everywhere?"
Marcus nodded.

"Maybe there wasn't enough firepower to do any damage."

"Maybe not."

Marcus sighed. This weapon really knew how to get under his skin.

Jonathon lowered his reading glasses and peered over top of them at Marcus. "Or maybe the weapon likes you."

Marcus frowned. "Likes me?"

"Things can have feelings too," Jonathon said as he went back to his letter. "Just remember that."

Marcus really thought that his grandfather was losing it. There was no way Fairyland had feelings for him. "Okay."

Jonathon nodded. "So, what else do you have planned today?"

Marcus sighed. The Death Eaters were meeting tonight and Katie wanted to get together to go over wedding plans. All of which just sounded about a much fun as the time when he was seventeen and had his appendix taken out.

Jonathon smiled at Marcus. "That much fun, huh?"
"Yeah," Marcus muttered.

"Well, don't let me hold you up from all your fun times," Jonathon said.

"Yeah, I guess I had better get going," Marcus said. He turned to leave.

"Oh, and Marcus," Jonathon called.

Marcus looked back at Jonathon.

"Do be careful."
"Always am."

Marcus went home and changed into solid black. He threw on his Death Eater robes and gripped the mask in his right hand. He rolled up his sleeve and looked at the unmarked flesh on his arm. He really hoped that he would not be forced to take the Dark Mark. He couldn't stand the thought of staring at that thing on his arm.

He closed his eyes and Apparated to Malfoy Manor.

Several of the Death Eaters were already there, but the meeting had not started. Marcus took a seat between Adrian and Draco.

"I heard your team pulled out of the league," Adrian said to Marcus. He closed the newspaper he was reading. "Are you going to transfer to another team?"
Marcus just shrugged. "I haven't really thought about it."

"Did they say why?" Adrian asked.

"Something about wanting to take a year off. I'm not really sure." Marcus really did not want to talk about this right now.

Lord Voldemort entered the room. His narrow eyes looked over everyone. "Does anyone want to explain to me how this just happened?"
No one answered or asked what he was talking about. They all knew it was about the Riddle House.

Lord Voldemort walked along the back of his Death Eaters. "I just don't understand how none of you could have known about this. The weapon works and they are using it."

Marcus stared blankly ahead as the Dark Lord walked past him.

Lord Voldemort paused behind a Death Eaters whose name Marcus did not know. "Would you like to explain it to me?"

The Death Eater gulped. "No, my Lord."

Marcus forced himself to keep his eyes down and open. He knew what was coming next.

Voldemort let a soft chuckle escape his lips. "No, you wouldn't want the honour of explaining this to me?"
"No, my Lord," the Death Eater said, his voice was shaking.

"It should be a privilege to explain such things to your Lord," Voldemort said. He was now really close to the Death Eater.

Marcus kind of wished that Voldemort would hurry up and get this over with. Everyone at the table knew what was going to happen.

The Death Eater didn't answer.

"Now we can do this the hard way or the easy way," one of the hooded hissed. "It's your choice. Only one of you here is going to die, however if you give us any trouble both of you will die."

The one who had just spoken pulled out his wand. He took a step toward Marcus. "Now, how many more of your friends must die for you?"

Marcus looked wide eyed at him. He didn't say anything.

"Now are you going to open you robes and shirt up or am I?"

Marcus looked at Kingsley. Kingsley could tell that he was scared. He was afraid for his life. He knew that Marcus wanted to live. Kingsley sighed. "Marcus, do it," he whispered.

"You'd better listen to your friend or we'll kill your pretty wife," the hooded man said.

Marcus gave Kingsley a frightened look and did as he was told. He was shaking so bad that he could barely get the buttons on his shirt unbuttoned. When he was done, the hooded figure walked over to him and placed his wand on Marcus's bare chest.

"This is what you get for betraying us," the man whispered in Marcus's ear. "Goodbye."

There was a flash of green light and the light in Marcus's eyes left. The men, who were holding him, let him go.

Kingsley could do nothing for him. Everything seemed to be moving in slow motion. It seemed like hours pasted as Marcus sunk to the floor instead of seconds.

Marcus Flint was dead before he hit the floor.

Marcus blinked as he looked around the room at Malfoy Manor. Why had he just seen what he just did? Was his future really that dark? The last hour of ancient sunlight was on him if that was the case. He chanced a glance at the dead Death Eater. He now recognized the Death Eater as one who had been in the woods near his house.

Marcus swallowed hard. What was going on with him?
Adrian was giving Marcus strange looks, which Marcus pretended not to notice.

Lord Voldemort was back at the head of the table. His eyes were scanning over everyone. "Let that be a warning to any of you who dare to let something like this happen again." He paused. "There is something very valuable near there. You are all lucky that I am a merciful lord."

Marcus stared at the table.
Lord Voldemort gave his followers one final look over. "I suggest you all take something for what just happened."

The Death Eaters all looked at each other. Each one of them had look of fear on their faces. Everyone at the table knew that what the Dark Lord was doing went against nature. It was as if he was trying to conquer it rather than rule beside Mother Earth.

Marcus knew that this meant the Dark Lord had changed. There was just something different about him.

Later that night Marcus stepped onto the Burrow's property. He wasn't sure who would be here or if anyone would be for that matter. He stood outside the door unsure if he should knock or just step.

He had just raised his fist whenever the door opened.

Mrs. Weasley's face appeared in the crack of the doorway. "Marcus." She stepped back. "Come on in."
Marcus stepped in. "He knows."

Mrs. Weasley nodded. "Did he say anything about it?"

"He just kept blaming everyone, but didn't say why it was important." Marcus paused. "He's changing."
Mrs. Weasley motioned for Marcus to have a seat at the table. "What do you mean by changing?"
"He's getting, I don't know, more cautious about who he lets know what's going on."
Mrs. Weasley put her hand on Marcus's shoulder. "Do you think he suspects you?"
Marcus closed his eyes. He really didn't know what to think about that one.

"Just be careful," Mrs. Weasley warned. "I would hate to see anything happen to you."
Marcus nodded. He knew about all the risks. "So, what happens next?"
"We wait and see what happens."

Peter Long looked up at the sky. The Dark Mark still stood out. The last hour of sunlight was upon them. He looked back at his wife and two month old daughter. He had a feeling that he wouldn't get to see Emily grow up. He had a feeling that he would not survive the war.

He didn't know how he could be so clam when he knew what was going to happen. Maybe his death would save someone else.

He looked behind him. The shadows were getting closer. He turned back to his family to yell at them to run. The words never left his mouth. The green light hit him before he could say it.

His wife shortly followed him.

Emily began to cry. She wondered why her parents were not coming to see what she was crying about. Mummy and Daddy were always there for her.

The shadows left her alone. Emily watched as they went away. They didn't want to waste their time on a baby. They were on a very tight schedule.

One family down….

Thousands more to go…

Half bloods were just as bad as being Muggle born.

The little baby stared up at the stars wondering what was wrong with her mummy and daddy. She blinked as another tear fell onto the ground.

Let the killings begin! Yes, there is going to be character death in this story. As to who Peter Long, think back to Shallow Bay. He was one of Marcus's friends who helped in the early stages of Fairyland.