"Stay."
His voice cracked as he tried to hold on to his only hope, as he tried to grab on to the sleeve of the last and only man who could save him.
"Please," the hopeless man added, his voice desperate. For as soon as Godric grabbed Salazar's long, green cloak, the cunning snake had scowled and pushed his hand away.
"I am sorry," the dark haired man said. "I am afraid this is your end." Though Salazar's voice was cold and held no such sympathy.
"I am your friend!" Godric cried out.
"You used to be," Salazar hissed.
"We can still be."
"You are a dying man, and I despise you."
Godric sank lower to the floor of the Astronomy tower and said no more.
The green-cloaked man did no such thing.
"Look at yourself, Godric. Look at what you must resort to!" Salazar said, pointing to the pool of blood surrounding Godric. "Self harm is for the weak and cowardly!"
Godric remained silent, his head bowed.
"Are you weak Godric?" Salazar asked, his voice growing louder. "Are you a coward?"
Salazar's voice echoed around the tower. Godric did not wince, to Salazar's dissatisfaction.
"Your bravery is a mask; a disguise for your weakness. You are a coward, Godric Gryffindor. I thought you were going to die tonight, but you seemed to have died long ago.
"Or perhaps you never existed," Salazar mused, his voice soft once more. "Perhaps I had befriended a coward, perhaps, I had befriended a lie."
Godric looked up and searched for some sort of emotion in his old friend's eyes, but found nothing. Blank.
I used to know how to break down his wall, Godric thought as Salazar turned and stepped down the steep stairs. I've grown weak.
"Salazar," Godric croaked, knowing full well these would be his last words. The sounds of Salazar's pointy black boots ceased.
"I am a coward, but you and I are not so different. You see," Godric chuckled, "I run away from the truth–you fight it."
Godric could feel himself drift away as blood dripped down his wrist, his pool of blood widening as the time passed. Salazar stood still; Godric could see his shadow.
"I hope you open up your mind and see past your traditions, my old friend," Godric said. "Though whatever path you choose to take, you will be great."
Godric closed his eyes.