SALAZAR SLYTHERIN
He starts back, horrified, his arms releasing her now bloody, limp body from their embrace. Her golden eyes are wide open, staring at him. They show shock and fear and pain. She falls on the ground. The arrow has pierced her heart, a fatal wound. Blood gushes from her body, seeps into the soil, sprays the pure white rosebushes and her white gown red. He sees nothing, nothing but her prone form. She twitches her limbs and thrashes her body. Grunts and moans and mutters. He is frozen in place.
She gives him a look of pain. It penetrates through his numbness and sears him with its intensity.
"You are my brother, Sal." Godric's voice rings in his mind.
"I trust you. I know you won't ever fail me." Sara says, blithe and carefree. He failed her. He failed Godric and Rowena. He failed his students, and his school.
Guilt floods him, and his body galvanizes into action. He crouches down low, drawing her head into his lap and stroking her vibrant red hair. "Sara." He sobs, pouring forth his pain, his guilt and his love into his voice to will her back to life. "Sal." She groans. Her hand squeezes his feebly. A final ragged breath leaves her body. Her eyes hold his.
He collapses, unable to believe…
That. She. Died.
A sudden movement makes him stand up and turn back. He sees Rowena standing in the balcony, pale and trembling, not out of fear, but rage. Her small pale form is rigid but quivering, and her sweet, serious face is ugly with jealous anger, sheer venom filling her. There's a crossbow in her hand and a quiver of arrows is slung over her back.
Betrayal, she screams silently. I loved you.
He is shrunken. He is powerless and wounded under her accusation, as images of the last few years flashed in front of his eyes.
You killed her, he screams back though.
You are mine, Salazar. She is fierce: You are mine. And she stole you from me. I just wanted you- she carries on pathetically.
I just wanted you to love me back. Like I love you. Tears run down her face. He turns his back on her, and kneels down by Sara. Her face is beautifully serene and calm. He kisses her still warm forehead.
Farewell, my love. I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
"Salazar!"
He looks up and sees Helga. She takes in Sara's corpse, his bloodied clothes, and sees Rowena frozen weeping in the balcony. She kneels down on Sara's other side and checks her pulse, her heartbeat. She looks at him over her body. Well, she seems to ask. What now?
He stands up. He flees.
Footfalls hound him. Voices call his name.
He doesn't stop. He runs.