A/N: Written for The All Things Tragic Challenge, level 3. Prompt: (Title) In The End, (Au): Marlene McKinnon is tortured, not killed, and the rest of her family is still dead. (Quote) "I'm loney."
Tears streamed down Marlene McKinnon's cheeks as she collapsed over her husband's grave. It had been almost a year since the Order had rescued her from the torment the Deatheaters subjected her to, but she could still feel the tremors coursing through her body from the cruciatus curse. Her hands never stopped shaking, and the pain never truly went away. Her body was covered in scars and burns, but it was her mind that was beyond repair.
Thunder rumbled overhead and the sky threatened rain, but she didn't care anymore. Everything she cared about was gone and she could never get it back. "I'm lonely," She cried, "I'm so lonely."
The Order of the Phoenix had attempted to comfort her, but it wasn't the same. She had lost her entire family to he-who-must-not-be-named. As punishment for defying him, he had forced her to watch him kill them all. Her husband and her daughter had been murdered right in front of her and there was nothing she could do to stop it. She wanted to die, too, but he wouldn't let her. As part of her punishment, she had been forced to live without her family. He wanted her to spend the rest of her life knowing she had lost everyone she loved because of her decision to defy him.
Her fingers stroked her husband's name. "I wake up everyday without you, because I know you would want me to be strong...but I'm not. I'm strong enough. Please forgive me. I can't do this anymore."
The sky rumbled again as she pulled a small vial of poison from her pocket. It had taken her days to find it, but it was hers now. It was too dark to see the blue liquid, but she didn't need to. She knew it promised to grant the only wish she had left - to never wake up without him again. She was so certain of her decision. This was the only way to end the pain. Not only that, but it was the only way to win. He-who-must-not-be-named wanted her alive and suffering. Marlene laughed and in one final act of defiance, tipped the contents of the vial into her mouth. In the end, she would be with her family. In the end, he still failed. There would be no more pain or loneliness where she was going.