The Day I Died...

The Bloody Baron glided down the hallway leading to the Slytherin Common Room. His mind was wandering, thinking about his death day. Today was the seven hundredth and thirty anniversary of his death day. The Baron's mind went back to 1265, the year he died.

"Baron Monroe, a messenger is at the door. He says he comes from a friend of yours. Shall I let him in?" Percy, Baron Monroe's advisor asked.

"Did he say who sent him?" a stately looking man asked without glancing up from his papers.

"No, he did not, sir. However, he did say he came from east of Leicester."

"East?" The Baron's eyes lit up, "Then let him in. I have friends in the east."

The messenger bowed and left the room. He returned shortly, followed by a young boy wearing a gray and blue tunic.

"What message do you have for me?" The Baron inquired, looking up.

"Sire, I bring you a message from Baron Claire. He has asked me to deliver this to you," the boy replied, extending a piece of rolled up parchment in his right hand.

The Baron took it and read it, his forehead creasing with worry.

"Thank you, you may go. Tell your master that I shall do as he has asked and that any further news should be immediately brought to me."

"Yes, sir," The messenger bowed and left the room.

"What was that document, sir?" Percy asked.

"That was a letter from Baron Claire. He said that the king has abandoned our proposition."

"What proposition?"

"The two of us, Baron Claire and myself, spoke to him about having a council of barons to help him rule. This is the fifth time we have brought the proposal to him. He always rejects it. Having a council of barons is good for the people. Barons have more contact with the people. The king just does not seem to realize that." The Baron shook his head in dismay.

"Do you need me for anything else, sire?" Percy asked, to cover the awkward silence.

"No. You may go," and with a wave of his hand, the Baron dismissed Percy. Percy bowed and left the Baron alone with his thoughts.

August 3, 1265

"Percy! Come here at once," Baron Monroe ordered.

"Yes, sir?"

"Send a message to Baron Claire saying we need to take up arms against the king."

"Sir?"

"Yes, I know this is sudden. Just do as I say. I shall explain later."

"Yes sir," Percy replied, then bowed and left the room.

Percy soon returned.

"Well, did you send the message?"

"Yes sir, I did. It is on its way. But sir, how did you come to this sudden decision?"

"It is not a sudden decision, Percy. I have been thinking about this ever since I received word that the king had abandoned our proposal. That was the fifth time he refused us and something had to be done about it. I have been thinking about it for the past few days and realized today that we would have to take up arms against the king."

"Why is it necessary sir?"

"It is necessary because the king must learn a lesson. He must learn to give up some of his power to those who can use it for the good of the people."

"In other words, sire, you are staging a rebellion against the king?"

"Yes, Percy. That is exactly what we are doing."

The Baron paced anxiously. He had still not received word from Baron Claire. It had been five days since he sent out the message and Baron Monroe was getting very worried. His face was creased with worry when Percy entered the room.

"Sir, a message has come for you." The Baron's eyes lit up as he heard these words. Finally, after such a long wait, he might have the answer he'd been waiting for. His eyes moved across the message, reading every word. He smiled as he came to the end of it.

"Percy, Baron Claire has agreed to join me. He says that the five other barons in the area have also agreed. This is good news." The Baron looked relieved as he said this. He knew that he would have support in his fight against the king for power.

The fighting continued for ten days. Baron Monroe sat on his horse, starting out at the battlefield. His wand at his side, sword drawn, the Baron urged his horse forward into the battle. He rode in, head held high, ready to fight.

* * * *

Hours later, the battlefield was covered in bodies and blood. The Baron was still fighting, his whole heart involved in the effort. Skillfully, he dueled with the king's men. Suddenly, he noticed Baron Claire riding up to him.

"What is it, Baron?"

"Baron Monroe, I will fight you in the name of the king."

"What?"

"Exactly that," Baron Claire sneered.

"You're supposed to be my ally," Baron Monroe blurted out, startled.

"Not anymore, Baron. The king's cause is much more worthy."

"You're a dirty liar and traitor. I will fight you to the death, Baron Claire."

Fiercely staring at each other, their swords clashed. Baron Monroe was so preoccupied with the fight, that he did not notice a king's soldier creep up behind him. The soldier took his sword, raised it in the air and stabbed it into Baron Monroe's back. The Baron fell down, dead.

The Bloody Baron came back from his memory, full of sadness and a feeling of betrayal. His closest ally had betrayed him, causing his death. What had become of Baron Claire, he never knew. Nor did he know what became of the king. He did not care. Seven hundred and thirty years later, he was a Hogwarts ghost, one who had been afraid of death. He wandered the hallways and made sure Peeves did not cause too much trouble. Most of the time, he stayed in the Slytherin Common Room, only leaving for feasts. The school was empty now, but in a few weeks the students would be returning and the school would be alive again with the voices of the students. His life was dismal and boring. However, the Baron expected no more. He was only a ghost now, nothing more.