Written for the Dueling Club Challenge and Last Ship Sailing Competition II.
"Fenrir, this isn't love. It's infatuation, and nothing more."
Fenrir doubted he would ever forget the pain he felt when Alecto said this to him. She may as well have drawn a knife and stabbed his heart.
"How would you know what this is? You didn't even know until ten minutes ago!"
He had always pictured the moment he finally confessed as being magical and joyous. His thoughts always involved Alecto actually reciprocating his feelings, rather than insisting he didn't even love her.
"I didn't? So how long has this been going on?"
Fenrir could have lied and said it had been forever, but he knew that Alecto wouldn't appreciate being lied to, and that would make things even worse. So he exhaled and waited for his verbal slap as he said,
"Not that long."
Even as he said it, Fenrir knew this sounded flimsy.
"Not that long? That's your problem, Fenrir, nothing ever lasts with you. You say you love me now, but I bet you'll do the same thing with Bellatrix next week."
It was true that Fenrir had been like that once. But he'd never felt much of a real attachment to any of the girls he dated for a week. He was older now, and he felt like he was ready to make a commitment to Alecto.
"I won't. I do love you, Alecto, I really do!"
Something changed in her eyes, and Fenrir thought he might have finally gotten through to her.
"Fenrir, everything you're doing screams infatuation. You're just doing everything you can to try to convince me otherwise. Believe me, I've gone through that myself."
He considered asking her about that, but decided to defend himself instead.
"Why would I be infatuated with you? I have more beneficial things to do than have a schoolgirl crush, Alecto."
Fenrir would never admit it to Alecto, but what if she was right? He had barely spoken to her outside of Death Eater gatherings, and deep down he felt as though he might not be ready to commit to real love after all.
"I don't know, but I really do think that's all this is. I don't feel like this will last long enough to even bother with, Fenrir. That's the truth."
The way Alecto said this made Fenrir finally understand what she was saying. This was just infatuation. No matter what else he tried to paint it as, Fenrir knew that Alecto was right after all.
"Then tell me you don't love me. Tell me I'm wrong. I dare you."
Fenrir was unsure if he was shaking from rage, or sadness, or something else entirely when Alecto gave him his answer.
"I'm not saying you don't love me. I don't know if you're being honest about that or not. What I do know is that I don't think this would last. I don't think we would last, Fenrir."
Alecto turned and walked away. When she was gone, Fenrir made his way to the curb and sat down, placing his head in his hands. Alecto may have been only a short-term fascination, but in terms of love it was all he had. Once again, Fenrir broke from lack of love.
Well, that got angsty.
Like it? Hate it? Think I've misrepresented the characters? Reviews are always appreciated.