Several Metres from the Whomping Willow...

Diana walked in hugging herself slightly. Her family could be so cruel at times.

Darien noticed Diana and walked up to her, just out of sight.
"What's all this about betrothal?"
He had healed the cuts on his stomach, but there were scratches on his face and hands, and a small half-healed cut on his right shoulder.

"Oh Darien it's horrible!" Diana turned around and hugged him. Then she realized he was hurt. "Oh my, what happened to you?"

"Animagus fight with your precious betrothed!" he pushed her away.
"Are two having a laugh? You're betrothed to your cousin, which may I add is slightly disturbing, and just leading me on for fun!"

"No!" Diana sobbed. "Darien, I never lead you on. What I feel for you is real!"

Darien raised an eyebrow.
"You're betrothed to that...slime...that stupid pony-obsessed freak, and you don't even tell me! And then you expect me to believe you like me?!"
He snorted.
"Clearly I'm not that important...to you anyway."

"Darien please!" She said desperately clinging on to him. "Not you too! Everyone's shunned my, my friends, my family, your the only one I have left!"

"Even your precious Nick? Your betrothed?" Darien snorted. "Why should I believe anything you ever said to me? You didn't tell me possibly the most important thing that would effect our 'relationship'" he used his fingers as quotation marks.
"And then you expect me to just believe anything you say?"

"Darien you have to believe me," Diana said. "When you and your father left that night... my family arranged for Nicolas and I to get egaged. I don't want to marry him! He is like a brother to me! I don't understand why he is doing this!" She plopped on the ground. "Please Darien, I would never hurt you. I would never lie to you!"

"I love you," she whispered in between sobs.

Darien's expression softened.
"I may be a twit, but I think I might just believe you."
He sat down next to her, and put his arm around her.
"Don't worry, I swear...no matter what it takes, I will got you out of it."
He hugged her to him, and silently wondered how the hell he would do that...

Diana welcomed the hug. She really needed it. She hiccuped when she tried to stop. "Darien, how? The engagement is tonight!"

He kissed the top of her head and put a hand under her chin, raising her head to look him in the eye.
"It'll all be okay. Just go along with everything you have to do, and trust me. That is all I ask. Just trust me to get you out of this."

"Oh god," Diana said suddenly, "Please don't kill Nicolas."

Darien rolled his eyes.
"I may be a Slytherin, but I am not that evil..or stupid. Don't worry about your creepy cousin, he'll still be alive in the end."

She didn't quite like the way that "still be alive in the end" sounded.

"He's isn't that bad really." Diana said.

Darien snorted.
"You didn't hear him when we were fighting, although I did win really. His stupid leopard was no match for my wolfish skill..."

"He was just trying to get a rise out of you." Diana said knowningly. "But yes, it is quite an idiot sometimes. Like suggesting to marry me when he knew my grandfather couldn't resist that!"

"Git." Darien remarked.

"Although, he was threatening disownment only seconds before..." Diana said. "Do you know why Grandfather wants us to get married?"

"Other than his hatred of me? Nope, but are you going to tell me?"

"He wants to keep the Casa in Spain!" Diana said in outrage. "I am his only real Grandchild! And if Nicolas gets married - him, being the first male Casillas heir - will inherit the Manor. But if I marry Nicolas, our families will be tied up nicely and he'll end up getting the estate. This isn't the first time this idea has been brought to our attention. In fact, all of our relatives hope that Nick and I end up together!"

"Well, tough for them. I don't give up that easy."

Diana smiled at Darien. "I know."

"I'd better run, and so had you. Get to that ceremony...pronto." he grinned as he stood up.
"I will help you, just trust me."
He turned and ran into the castle.
Where was Ana?

"I trust you," Diana said.

And she did. She just didn't see how he could possibly change anything. She headed for the Castle.