"Enough," Rodolphus said, tiring of this game, "Avada Kedavra!"

And with that, Chloe's body crumpled to the floor, lifeless.

Peter let out a strangled moan, his knees giving way. He sank to the floor, averting his eyes from her corpse.

"Why?" he said finally, still looking down at the floor in front of him.

"We need to be able to trust you," Rodolphus said simply, "We can't have you running off and telling people what we're up to."

"But why her? Why?!" Peter moaned, his eyes stinging.

"Because she's a blood traitor and she was no use to anyone else," Bellatrix said spitefully, kicking Chloe's dead body.

"Don't touch her!" Peter said furiously, down on his knees trying to push her foot away.

"Peter, Peter," Rodolphus sighed, "You need to learn to control your feelings. What you felt for Chloe was a passing fancy. She defied her blood and if you do not follow us, you will too and one day you will meet with a similar fate."

From that moment on, he vowed to harden himself and his emotions. It wasn't hard. He was numb with disbelief. Chloe was dead. Chloe was gone. He would never see her welcoming round face light up ever again.

What else could he do but stick with the Death Eaters? The others had hardly been able to save Chloe, had they? He would be safer with them, he convinced himself.

"Good man," Rodolphus said approvingly, reading his expression correctly, "Now Lucius," he said to the white haired boy standing behind him, "Her body needs to be placed in the Great Hall."

Lucius grunted in reply and heaved Chloe's body onto his shoulder, "Heavy blood traitor bitch," he growled in annoyance before performing a disillusioning charm on Chloe, making her unable to be seen, and then walking out of the Slytherin common room, invisible Chloe still slung over his shoulder.

"You'd best be going, Peter," Rodolphus suggested quietly, "You don't want to give your 'friends' any cause for suspicion, do you?"

Peter shook his head miserably, unable to find a way out of the predicament he was in. He left the common room weakly, vanishing the tear streaks off his cheeks and performing a concealing charm on his eyes, making them look normal, rather than red and puffy as they had been before.

Bellatrix smiled at Rodolphus before disappearing off to her dormitory.

Rodolphus stayed downstairs, deep in thought. He sank into an armchair and stared at the fire.

He had just killed someone. He was amazed at how powerful it felt, being in control of someone's life and being able to end it on a whim. He realized that he was shaking and quelled his emotions, hardening his mind. The Dark Lord would be so pleased with him. His parents would be pleased with him and Bellatrix was already pleased with him. So why did he feel so empty and cold? What more did he want?

He heard a loud noise and turned sharply to see-

Potter, Black, Lupin and that Mudblood Evans girl Severus was infatuated with, emerging from behind the big snake tapestry hanging on the wall. He stared, shocked, before realizing that they couldn't see him.

"Where is she?" Black said frantically, his eyes darting around the room.

"I don't know!" Evans replied equally hysterically, her voice rising in pitch as she spoke, "She should be right here!"

"Perhaps we are too late," Lupin suggested worriedly.

"No!" Lily said anxiously, "We can't be! I won't let her get hurt!"

"Maybe I could help," Rodolphus said lazily, standing up from the armchair he had been sitting on, savouring their shocked looks.

"You!" the Potter boy said accusingly, "Where is she?"

"Well first, I would need to know who you are talking about," he said pointedly, staring the boy down.

"Chloe Rogers," Potter replied evenly, meeting Rodolphus' look squarely.

"Oh her? The blonde pureblood?" Rodolphus replied, a touch too surely.

"You had something to do with it," Black accused, "Rodolphus Lestrange."

"Oh really?" Rodolphus said sarcastically, "Sirius Black."

"Well where is she?" Evans demanded impatiently, "Her life could be in danger!"

"I don't know," he said, shrugging, "I haven't seen her. Out of interest, why do you think dear Chloe is in here?"

The boys looked at Evans.

"Actually, come to think of it…" Sirius mused, not seeing Lily's stricken expression, "Why do we think she's here?"

Lily shrugged, "Someone told me," she said evasively, not meeting the others' eyes.

The Marauders minus Peter left it at that, not wanting to press her in front of the Slytherin.

The dinner bell rang. Rodolphus stood up, but just had to have the last word, "I don't know how you four got in here, but if I ever catch you in here again, I will personally ensure you a one-way ticket to Azkaban."

They nodded, cowed, and fled to the Great Hall. They were just walking in the doors when a strange scene met their eyes. Instead of all the students sitting at their respective tables, they were all standing in a circle around something… what was it?

As they drew closer, the solemnity of the crowd assured them that this was no happy scene. They pushed through, and several students upon recognizing them looked at them pityingly.

When they reached the front they realized.

Chloe's body was lying on the floor, her limbs spread out grotesquely and looking battered and defeated.

James immediately rushed to the girl's side and checked for a pulse. His hands moved frantically and desperately, his fingers shaking, as his face grew paler and paler.

"I can't find it!" he said urgently, his face very white, "Someone get Dumbledore!"

"No need, Mr Potter," came a familiar voice from behind him. He had never been so happy to see the Headmaster in his whole six years at Hogwarts.

"Dumbledore, Chloe-"

"Yes I can see that," Dumbledore remarked quietly, turning to the others, "I suggest you seven come to my office."

"But sir-" Lily began, starting forward, "Chloe-"

"Miss Rogers' condition will not worsen," Dumbledore said calmly, turning now to Filch. "Argus, if you could possibly move Miss Rogers…"

"Yes Headmaster," Filch said obediently, picking Chloe up and moving out of the Great Hall with her.

Dumbledore turned and strode out of the Great Hall the other way, heading towards his office. The others, including Peter, followed.

Lily was crying, great tear tracks on her cheeks showed that. Mel had her arm around her protectively, her jaw set firmly and her face unusually pale.

Peter was shaking with fear and apprehension. Would Dumbledore know who had done it? Would he be discovered?

Once they reached Dumbledore's office, he gestured for them to sit down and they obeyed.

"What's wrong with Chloe?" Kendra burst out, obviously impatient and sick of waiting for answers.

"Miss Jackson, if you would allow me a moment," Dumbledore said, holding up his hand for silence. He sighed, before continuing, "I have some bad news for all of you."

Peter started forward, but again the headmaster held up his hand. "Miss Rogers has, I am afraid, fallen prey to some of the darker wizards in our world."

"You mean Voldemort," James said boldly, unafraid of the name.

Dumbledore shook his head, "No, Mr Potter. It is not Lord Voldemort of which I speak."

"Then who?" Kendra asked exasperatedly, "And what do you mean, fallen prey?"

"I am afraid that some of our students may have used some of the unforgivable curses on her," Dumbledore said reluctantly, unwilling to let these young adults lose their innocence so quickly. But such was the way of today's world.

"Slytherins," Sirius muttered, infuriated, "Which ones?"

"I have a fair idea who they were," Dumbledore replied, "But without proof…"

"Well get proof!" Lily said, her voice slightly louder than she had intended, "Sorry, professor, I was just-"

"It is perfectly alright, Miss Evans," Dumbledore said calmingly, "But I will try to find out as best I can. I cannot promise success however."

"What do you mean, some of the unforgivable curses?" Melissa said suspiciously, narrowing her eyes at Dumbledore.

The man in question sighed ruefully, "I am afraid to tell you this, but-"

"They killed her didn't they?!" Kendra shrieked suddenly, her face lit up and full of terrible understanding, "They fing killed her!"

"No KJ," Remus said soothingly, stroking her hair, "They wouldn't have. We're all just a little tense and jumping to conclusions."

Dumbledore shook his head sadly, "Miss Rogers is no longer alive," he said simply.

Kendra gave a sob, "You're telling the truth, aren't you," she said, sounding defeated and broken.

The headmaster nodded, "I am deeply sorry. You seven will be excused from school so that you can go to her funeral which will be held in early January."

Peter forced himself to break down. "Why her?" he moaned in fake anguish, "What did she ever do to anybody? Everybody loved her!"

The others all looked at him sympathetically, knowing what he was going through was worse than what they were going through.

They stayed in that office for several hours, comforting each other. At times Dumbledore was there and at times he was not. By the time they exited Dumbledore's office, it was dark and they had all been crying.

As they had missed dinner they went to the kitchens and ate together, talking about the old times when the Dark Arts were just a story they hadn't really believed in.

They would never again be the eight best friends ever. There would always be a gaping hole, and they all knew it. They missed her already, with her steady smile and always honest face. None of them could imagine anyone wanting to kill her, let alone actually doing it, except Peter. What had she thought in her last moments? Had she known she was going to die?

Who had killed her?

So... loved it? Hated it? Hate me for killing her?

Review and tell me please!

I'm sorry but that had to happen at some stage :(

Does anyone want to beta this story? If so, please send me a message and let me know.

xx

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