Believe in Redemption So Very Close

Standing there, knowing now that his demise was so close, he was not afraid. His hand twitched around his wand, grasping the wood a little tighter as he listened to his lord speak. The moment of realization came far too soon, in his opinion. Albus had given him no warning, but he still knew. Knew that, just as Harry would die tonight, so would he. A martyr for a cause that he had believed so little in. For as he explained once to Albus: it was not the cause he fought for, but those that had died fighting for it.

"Kill."

The word, although delivered in parseltongue, sent shivers up and down his spine. His end was so very close, and yet... he felt at peace. Peace because he knew that the Potter brat was just a few feet away, watching him die. Peace, at the thought that he would be seeing Lily soon. Peace... because he would stare into those damnable green eyes before his time was at hand. He was so close to death, but it would never come quick enough.