A/N: This was written for a writing challenge. Task: Write about a tragic moment when somebody has to leave a friend/ family member behind (focus especially on their feelings and thoughts) Extra Prompts (Please use at least two):
- Character: Bellatrix Lestrange
- Word: death
- Genre: tragedy
- Object: necklace
- Action: crying
"It's not fair!" Muffled sobs echoed the Ministry walls outside the trial room.
"What can I say? Life isn't fair," he said gently, trying to sound lighthearted, still holding her. His voice wavered. "Life has never been fair for any of us."
"T-this is a life time sentence, Draco." She pulled apart from the embrace, placing her hands on his shoulder. "This is beyond unfairness." She shuddered, a fresh wave of tears overtaking her. His soft grey eyes shone with barely concealed sadness and unshed tears. "They're forcing you into Azkaban for the rest of you life because of the things you did when you were a teenager! I d-don't understand!" she said.
"I went through a trial. My deeds are done," he said quietly. "The law decided what to do with me. It says I'm staying in Azkaban for the rest of my life. I'm not going to fight this, Hermione. Not anymore. I'm done with fighting. I've had enough of fighting for a lifetime."
"You're not going to do anything about it?" she cried, feeling as if her heart was tearing in half. He wasn't going to fight it. He was going to go along with this. "You're going to accept this like this is okay?"
"I can't do anything about it," he murmured, feeling helpless and trapped. He pulled her into another heartfelt hug. His eyes reflected the dim light like broken mirrors. "I can't do anything to stop it. I would, even if were just for you, I would, if I could."
She rested her head on her shoulder. "Don't worry. This isn't the end." she said weakly. "But for now, I've got to tell you..."
"Shh..." he said, feeling more defeated. "You don't want to say anything you regret."
"No! I won't regret it!" she said. She took a deep breath. "I… I love you."
He sorely wanted to say it back to her, but he couldn't possibly ruin her future. His might be limited now, but she still had so many chances. He pushed her away to a distance where he could see her clearly.
"Don't wait for me," he said, forcing the words out unwillingly. "Find someone who'll make you happy - "
"Don't say that," she said, looking up to him pleadingly, tears streaming down her face. Every word he said was like a kick to the gut. "Don't say that."
The expression on her face broke his heart, like it was shattering into fine bits. "My final goodbye," he said hoarsely. The words sounded bitter in his mouth. He'd never see her again. He'd never see her smile again, laugh again. Ahead of him lay years of nothing. Years of no joy. He felt dizzy already. "Time to say good bye."
He could barely keep everything together, but he had to, for her. He heard footfalls coming down the hallway. There wasn't much time left.
"Don't, please, don't. Don't say goodbye," she begged, her brown eyes searching his.
It took his entire willpower not to listen to her. "G-good bye," he said for the last time.
Two tough looking guards appeared next to them. "Time to go," one of them said gruffly.
He let go of her slowly, his touch lingering. "Good bye," he whispered, as the two guards took him by the arms and started leading him away.
"This isn't the end," she repeated, calling after them. "I'll find a way!"
He did not look back.
Inside, she vowed she would try everything in her power to help him in any way.
She was afraid she'd break the flower stems the way she was clutching them.
She was walking alone, stepping over overgrown, unkept grass. The wind was whipping her curls into a tangle, her black robes billowing. She came to a stop in front of a small gravestone made of marble. It was a gravestone in the middle of nowhere. She carefully placed her bouquet of flowers on the grave.
Draco Malfoy 1980-2006
He had died in Azkaban from insanity. He was originally going to buried in Azkaban's graveyard, but under her special request he had not been buried there.
It had been five years since he was sentenced to Azkaban. She had been thinking long and hard about what she was going to do in this moment, and she had come to a conclusion.
She took a deep breath and closed her eyes.
"Good bye." It was spoken in a whisper, barely audible. The wind whisked it away.
