My heart was racing. I wasn't sure if it was because of my fear or because of my pace. The cold wind slapped me in the face, drying the sweat which was forming on my forehead.
I passed a couple of muggle children dressed in their fairy and wizard costumes. They looked at me like I was crazy. Well, it is not that common for twenty-somethings to run like crazy in the middle of the night. But I had to keep running no matter what the people who saw me thought.
I had to get there as soon as possible.
I didn't stop running.
Something was wrong, very wrong.
The door was blown off its hinges, and was now lying in the hallway. A cry echoed through the walls. My blood froze. It sounded as if it came from the living room. I didn't move and remained silent. I tried to listen out for some more noise but silence greeted me.
And then footsteps echoed in the hall.
I held my breath. The footsteps began to fade and I decided to move. The living room was dark, but even through the darkness, I could make out something. Then I saw him. He was lying on the floor, unmoving and still. He was staring at the ceiling. The dim moonlight coming from the window made his eyes look glossy. He was still warm. If his eyes weren't open, you'd think he was sleeping.
Voices broke the silence, snapping me out of my trance.
"I'll be back…" I whispered to him, grabbing my wand. I followed the voices.
I took slow steps, trying to be as silent as possible. I was panting and the floorboards which creaked under my feet were making it even harder to remain unnoticed. I was very close now. I could almost hear what they were saying. He was shouting, threatening her. I couldn't let him harm her.
I had to do something.
I barged in the room. She was standing there, wandless. Her lips trembled and the fear was clear in her eyes. Her head snapped towards me and her eyes widened. I looked at her for a moment too long. That was my mistake. When I remembered what was going on, it was too late.
"Avada-." That was it.
"Don't-," she began.
"Run!" I screamed at her.
Green flashed in the corner of my eye. Half a second later, I felt the impact. Everything was happening in slow motion. She was grabbing the baby and was heading to the next room, probably trying to get to the back door. My limp body hit the wall behind me. Pain washed over my scalp. I was still staring at her. I wanted her to be safe. Her head turned towards me, stealing a last glance before leaving the room. Our eyes locked. And then everything went black.
The pain stopped.
Death wasn't that bad after all. Especially when I died staring in the most beautiful emerald eyes, giving two people a chance to live.
A/n: This was a story for HPFC's Hogwarts Life Challenge (1st stage- Unicorn tail hair- Write about someone whose loyalty has never wavered) and Lamia's Title Compeition (Week 5- the last 7 words of the story) and TGS's Madame Malkin's Dress Up Shop (Light blue bowtie - write about Sirius Black or James Potter) (Beauxbatons, Barbeganzi)
A huge thanks to tresemellon for betaing this storyand for putting up with all they times I'm going AWOL and my short notices.
Hope you liked it. Please RR