She stood above the grave, staring at it, finally believing. She couldn't believe he had gone against the promise he made to her.
"Colin!" Madeline called to him, running towards his tall frame. "Colin, what are you doing?!"
"Maddie?" he turned, facing her crystal clear blue eyes, "what are you doing here? And why?"
"You can't sneak back to Hogwarts!" Madeline crashed into him, both falling to the ground. "You know Voldemort's there!"
"I have to," Colin sat up, pulling her into a hug.
"No, you don't!" she fought back the flood of tears as Madeline gripped onto his black Hogwarts clothes.
"I'm going for us, you know," he whispered in her ear. "I've gotta make sure you're okay."
Madeline stopped sniffling, long enough to look back at him. "I'll be fine, we could leave and not come back, anything. Just don't go back!"
"Harry needs me, the whole wizarding world needs me! I'm going to finish off what I can. But I'll come back," Colin told her. "I promise to make sure you are okay."
"I don't know that!" Madeline mumbled. "You could be killed. You're only sixteen, Colin! Not twenty four! You don't know what's there, but you're sacrificing yourself! They know so much more then you!"
"No, I've part of the DA, I will be fine," Colin murmured confidently.
"Then I'm coming with you!" Madeline stood up.
"No!" Colin looked frightened. "You can't come! You'll get hurt!"
"I'm sixteen, too. And I'm also part of the DA. I just need to make sure you'll be okay."
"No, Maddie. No."
"You won't come back!" Madeline slumped, tears falling, "I know you won't. It's a gut feeling."
"Have a bit of faith, won't you!" Colin smiled. "I'll be back. I promise."
"Promise? Swear on your…" Madeline looked around frantically, eyes finally settling on his favorite object. "Swear on your camera?"
"I swear on my camera," Colin pulled her into a hug, holding and not letting go..
"Okay," Madeline gave a small smile. "I believe you. I'll wait for you right here."
"No!" Colin looked horrified. "Wear your invisibility hat from the joke shop, hide in the Room of Requirement."
"Just come with me first," Madeline tried stalling him as long as possible.
"No," Colin shook his head, his blond locks falling into his eyes. "I'll come and find you."
"Please?" Madeline broke their hug, taking a step back so she could see his eyes.
"I can't," Colin turned away from her, trying to hide he tears that slid down his cheek. "I've got to go!"
Madeline did not respond, she just stared at him.
"Madeline," he took a step toward her, and took her hands in his own, "Maddie." Colin tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear. "I love you. I really do."
"I- I," she stuttered, not getting the words out. "I-"
Colin put his finger to her lips, stopping her. "I'll hear it when I get back." With one liquid motion, he leaned down, letting his lips graze hers for less then a second. "I'll see you tomorrow." He raced off behind the trees.
"Colin!" Maddie ran after him. She broke through the line of trees to pandemonium. A spell hit her from behind, and she fell forward into a pit of blackness.
"You broke your promise!" Madeline threw the single rose she had at the cold slab of marble. "You told me would come back!"
She almost half expected Colin to respond.
Almost.
They told her Colin died covering her body from a spell. He had jumped in front of her, just after finishing off a Death Eater. Madeline wished she had just stayed where she was.
"It's my fault you aren't here," Maddie collapsed in front of the gravestone. "I love you. And I wish told you before you left. But you kept your promise. You kept me safe."
