The pair were huddled behind the rubble of what had formerly been part of the courtyard of the school. A ceasefire of sorts had been called and all around them there was an eery silence. Both of them were filthy; their faces covered in blood and dust, their clothing ripped and their hair matted to their foreheads with sweat.
There was something oddly poetic about the haunted look behind his eyes, she thought, as they instinctively leaned in towards the other, noses touching in a brief gesture of tired sympathy.
No one had know.
No one could know.
Their hands clasped together, both clutching wands neither said a word.
There was hope but only the faintest.
They were vastly outnumbered.
In a world of black and white, light and dark, they were the grey and, she thought with a sense of irony, they muddied the waters with their love.
Reaching for her jacket, he pulled her closer, his lips grazing hers in the most tender of kisses.
They wouldn't have this moment much longer and he wanted to cherish it while he could.
Tentatively, his tongue caressed her bottom lip and he felt her open up to him briefly.
He felt something cold like dew on her cheek and belatedly realised she was crying.
She grabbed at his tshirt and pushed herself into his lap, her fingers reaching round the back of his neck and up into his hair, clinging desperately now as if he were her only lifeline in a world that was spiralling out of control. He was her only order in the chaos.
He didnt want to but he knew he had to.
He broke off the kiss, his hands splayed across her damp cheeks and they looked into each others eyes.
It was time.
"You know what we must do" he whispered and she silently, almost imperceptibly, nodded her ascent.
He raised his wand to her temple, the pain etched across his face.
"Wait!" she whispered.
He stopped, confused by her sudden faltering.
She gave him one last brief, chaste kiss.
"Keep me in your memory, leave out all the rest" she whispered, begging him to allow her to preserve what little she could of her that would not leave him vulnerable should the Dark Lord Voldermort succeed.
He nodded and raised his wand once more.
"Ready? he whispered"
"Yes" her response was so quiet he almost didn't hear her.
"Remember it must be timed exactly right or it won't work"
"I know" she answered, choking back a sob as she raised her own wand to his temple.
They stared at each other for one last moment, their eyes conveying a depth of emotion they could not put into words.
Then, with exact sync they both muttered
"Obliviate"