She just stood there looking over the damage done in just three waves of a wand. At the sight of her lying lifelessly on the floor.
He had come; they put their trust on the wrong person.
She stayed rooted on the spot, fearing what horrors he could have done to her beloved in the living room.
Her beloved. Her husband. Her James.
She can't believe that his wonderful smile would cease to exist.
She suddenly looked up at a sound. It started out as a whimper, but now it became a full out crying fit.
Looking towards the corner, she saw the white crib. In between the slats she saw her son.
Her beautiful, beautiful son, with his tear stained face all crumpled up.
The sight of his crying face broke everything inside of her.
She knew that pain would touch her no more, but what was this feeling.
She wanted to reach out to him. To hold him and tell that mama was there and it would all be alright.
But it wasn't.
She would never be the one to make it alright for Harry ever again.
Her mind raced; all the things he'd have to endure, all the things he'd have to suffer through, all without the two people that love him most.
She was breaking again.
Just then, a blinding light flooded the room.
At first she thought that he'd come back. Came back to finish her son who miraculously survived.
Her whole body tensed. Wait, not body. Her whole soul. She knew that she couldn't protect Harry anymore. She waiting for another spell to be spoken, but it never came.
Instead, the light focused in front of her, forming a doorway.
Curious.
When the light came in front of her, she suddenly had an idea of what it was.
Even in her befuddled state of mind, she remembered Nick telling her about this. About the Choice.
She started panicking. She looked at the crying baby. Her crying baby. How could she ever do this?
She wanted to do so much. To experience so much. And to be with Harry and James so much.
Just then, a hand went up to her shoulder. Without turning around, she knew who it was. It gave her a reassuring squeeze.
Placing her right hand on his, she softly asked if it was time.
I think so he said, just as softly, as if not wanting to startle Harry. They talked like this whenever they were in his room, why stop now?
I don't want to go she replied.
Me too he said, his hazel eyes now on his son, he stopped crying. As if he knew that his parents were with him, making the most difficult choice of their, well, their lives.
She looked at him; he was exactly as she remembered him, unruly hair, glasses askew, soft hazel eyes, everything. No mark to say that's he's gone like her.
But we have to she whispered. She took a step towards him and they embraced, holding on to each other.
We could stay he muttered in her ear.
Stay. Stay with Harry. What a thought. She wanted desperately to say yes.
But they can't.
They couldn't stay. Wouldn't stay.
Staying would mean that they could be with him, go through everything with him. But they would be unchanged. Just a whisper of who they were. Never being able to do anything when he hurts. They could be there but not really exist.
Could she be so cruel as to subject her pride and joy to such torture?
They already left him, but could she really hurt him more? Hurt him every time he saw them?
I know we could, but we wouldn't she replied. Wouldn't and not couldn't.
I knew we wouldn't he said hoarsely. Giving her a final squeeze, he let her go holding on her hand only.
Indulging herself with a last look at her son, she stepped forward, holding James' hand.
Her only wish as she went was that Harry not join them for a long time, and then they were gone.