catolily; "don't you dare!"

as requested by lunalestrange4

When he tells her he's going to volunteer, she reacts just as he expected: with raging hot anger.

"Don't you dare!" she growls at him, with her wand in shaky hand as though threatening him with death could possibly sway him (it'd just be a much easier way to go).

"I have to," he says, "it's my duty. If I don't, I'll be a laughingstock."

"What you'll be is alive." she says. "You'll be with me. You won't have to die."

He thinks he sees a tear fall. Lily never cries, and that's one of the reasons he loves her: because she's cold like him. She's learned to rid herself of emotions. They're merely a hassle. Then again, love is an awfully strong emotion.

Cato reaches across the bed they're on, kisses her roughly (because he just can't do gentle, no matter how hard he tries). "I have to. I love you...but I have to."

That night she leaves, and he's pretty sure he won't see her again, whether he wins or not.