Disclaimer: Sadly, I don't own a single word of the Harry Potter series or any of the characters and make no money from my blathering. Nor do I own anything written or performed by Muse even if they make some pretty fantastic sounding music.

I had someone point out to me that we are not supposed to post song lyrics on Fan Fiction so they have been removed. The inspiration for this was the song, "Absolution" by Muse. Look it up. It's good stuff.

Pink tinged water accusingly swirled down the drain as the tainting red was violently scrubbed from his pale hands. Closing his eyes, he silently begged the nightmarish images of the small broken body to cease. He took a deep breath, opened his eyes, and bile rose in his throat as the remaining innocent blood was replaced by his own. Tears of grief would not fall on this night and he suffered his punishment welcoming the stinging burn of the lye soap against his chafed skin.

He had finally committed the one atrocity his blackened heart had sworn against. One last honorable promise belonging only to himself. A broken promise the light would deem necessary for their cause so long as they remained ignorant and blameless of these horrors. No, they left such madness to the one who asked for redemption for his sins. Allow the Sinner to sin. Now his hands would never be clean. There would be no redemption for the sinner in this lifetime.

Images of the child with wild chestnut hair flashed vividly through his mind. He had been present for the raids and murders of families with children before but on this night of terror, one voice silenced would forevermore be heard above the rest in his nightmares.

Never before had he taken the life of a child yet the familiar tear stained face surrounded by a cloud of frizzy curls looking up to him with such trust was burned into his brain. This was the god's final laugh at his honor, his humanity.

The light and hope shining in her amber eyes extinguished as her smooth lily white neck was marred scarlet by his wicked blade and cruel hands. A final test to prove his faith and undying devotion to a mad man, maintaining his duplicity for the light. As she drew her last breath, he saw the acceptance in her eyes fade and he damned them for her noble surrender.

An unlikely ally and angel had freely offered him absolution and gave him hope for redemption. So many nights of pain he survived by calling forth the image of her beautiful face and honest words and his faith and devotion lay with her. Pain squeezed his chest knowing he would never again feel the warm welcoming arms of this child fling around his neck while he scowled and feigned disapproval. Never again would he bear her incessant questioning with hidden amusement or watch the myriad of emotions cross her face in a matter of seconds.

Watching the blood swirling down the drain the image of her warmth bleeding out over his hands replaced all that was good. His faith, his devotion, his humanity were gone. There would be no hope or redemption now. They died with his angel.