-Rodulphus-
The morning after was dark for him. All the things he stood for, all the things he loved- gone. His wife, his life, his dignity withered away within the last 24 hours. For hours, he lied down next to his wife, barely breathing, waiting for her heartbeat to thump in rhythm again. He knew it couldn't come back. It wasn't possible. But a sliver of hope remained in him. People had come to him as he stood numb, staring into the dark sky... just waiting.
That Potter boy, who was about to kill him, had approached him. Rodulphus locked eyes with the boy, and held the stare for a long time. And it seemed that Harry knew.
Arthur Weasley had half a mind to kill him too. But this time, Lestrange didn't even look at him. He couldn't, not with his sullen, wet face. Not while he was looking at his dead wife, who had a ghostly laugh etched upon her face. And the Weasley knew, for some strange reason, that Rodulphus indeed was mourning.
After what seemed like ages, people began to slow down, they had cleared most of the the bodies, except Bellatrix's. Because he stood there, his eyes fixated on her lips, her eyes, her ears, all the little things that he must of missed the night before. He regretted so much in his life; becoming a Death Eater, abandoning his family, not having children.... but the thing he regretted the most was fighting back. He could've died, right when that stupid Longbottom fired that curse. Right when Lovegood hexed him. He could've let Arthur Weasley kill him. He could have let go.
"Mr. Lestrange?" a warm, motherly voice said.
"Yes?" he replied unexpectedly.
"She's gone. We have to move her."
"I know- I--" he looked at the professor's hazel eyes. He saw remorse... pity. But he didn't want pity, he wanted Bella.
"Minerva, I-- you can... I, I mean you can move her." he muttered. He closed Bellatrix's eyes, looking at them fiercely as he tried to get one more glimpse at them.
"You can go now, Mr. Lestrange."
"No, let me die."
"But--"
"See these wounds-" he pointed to his bleeding injuries. "I can die. Don't let Poppy fix them."
"Rodulphus Lestrange. You will not die."
"I. Want. To. Be. With. My. Wife." he pronounced every word with such emphasis. She nodded.
"Go. I understand."
And so he let go. His soul fluttered away to the heights of the place between Heaven and Hell. And there, he got his wish. He was able to hug his wife the morning after.
