The wind left a deep chill in his bones. The cold made him so numb. He'd been numb to it for years now. It had ceased to make him shiver. His eyes stared sightlessly at the wall of his stone cell. Four walls with only a warded, wooden door and a tiny window at the very top of the furthest slab of stone decorated his cell. Sometimes a bird would fly and perch itself between the bars. A bird was his only company.
He used to have it all, have so much. The world was at his feet. He was the king of all that he saw and he had the greatest weapon of all time, a weapon that was undefeatable in battle.
The faintest of smiles pulled at the corner of his lips as he remembered his youth spent searching for that weapon and the joy, the thrill and accomplishment that he'd felt when he'd finally found it years later.
He hadn't been the only one looking for that weapon, though. His once closest companion had joined him in his zeal. The grey-haired man remembered flashes of auburn hair and twinkling blue eyes as he sat in his cell. So long ago they were full of life and the thrill of power. They'd shared their passions and connected on a level entirely new to either of them.
Then it had all changed. The girl had died and it had never been the same. He'd left to search on his own. It had taken him years but he'd found it; everything had worked out in the end.
Then it hadn't. He'd had to face his former companion in battle and for all his conviction that he was doing right, he couldn't destroy his once-other half. It had been inconceivable to him in the final, crucial moments of their battle and it was that moment that had been taken advantage of by the auburn-haired wizard. Those twinkling blue eyes were storms as they faced him down and took his wand, turned it against its master.
Now he sat in rags, in his cold, windy cell in one of the most secure wizarding prisons in the world.
The old man finally let loose a cackle to the clouds.
The new dark lord was coming for him and his knowledge. He flew on the chilling wind.
The most sincere of apologies and the most fervent of crawling on knees to kiss your feet, dearest of all readers. I know two weeks isn't as long to wait between updates compared to some stories, but I was priding myself on three updates a week. Anyway, no more excuses, you got those in your private messages.
Well done on the last chapter, too! Harry and Ginny it was, yes indeed. Darkswansea, 5sunday5, islanzadi heap, 03hermione1992 and TheFantabulousPotterHead, you people are the best :) I say that with complete sincerity, too. Hooray!
Anyway, guesses on this pair? Dedicated to Blueleaf51, if I do recall correctly.
Take care!