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Challenges listed at the bottom.

Word Count - 548

It Was Her Duty

"You're not supposed to cry on your birthday."

Druella turned and threw herself into Abraxas' waiting arms. She'd been waiting for him all evening, her party not enough to pull her attention away from the man she loved.

"I worried when I couldn't find you," he said into her hair. "What are you doing hiding back here?"

She felt her cheeks heat up in a blush and she nuzzled her face closer to his neck. "Cygnus has been more awful than usual," she admitted. "He is… difficult, these days. Since Narcissa was born."

"He doesn't—"

"Oh, I'm sure he suspects but he's done nothing about it. There are whispers though, and you know how he hates rumours."

"We were careless," Abraxas admitted. "But I don't regret it, Dru. I don't regret our daughter."

"We don't know that she is," Druella replied, though there was no conviction in her tone.

Abraxas simply held her, supportive as he always was. She loved that about him. She loved everything about him.

That was why this was so hard.

They'd been together since they were mere children, still students in Hogwarts. She'd loved him then, too. Except the happy ever after that she was supposed to get never came to fruition when her parent's accepted an arranged marriage with Cygnus Black on her behalf.

She had begged and pleaded with them to consider the one offered by the Malfoy's instead, but it had brought nothing but disappointment.

Marrying Cygnus had been her duty, but loving Abraxas had been her choice. Which was why, when he came to her after her wedding, she'd fallen so easily into his welcoming embrace.

Their affair had last years, over a decade in fact, but now… now she had no choice left.

"We can't keep seeing each other," she whispered against his neck. "We have to stop now."

He pulled away from her, disbelief in his eyes. "What? Druella-"

"He knows," she admitted. "And I cannot keep doing this if I want to be alive to see my daughters grow up. He will kill me, Abraxas, you know he will."

"Not if I kill him first," Abraxas growled.

"And what good will that do?" she demanded, barely holding herself from full blown hysteria. "My husband dead and unable to support my girls, my lover in Azkaban for the rest of his days? Do not be a fool, Abraxas!"

"I don't want to lose you," he murmured, pulling her back against his chest. "I need you. I love you, Druella."

"I know," she replied, softening. "I love you too, so much you cannot possibly understand. But this… we cannot do this any longer. It's not safe."

When he pulled away from her this time, it was completely. He was heartbroken, she could see it in every line in his handsome face. She knew and understood the feeling well.

He nodded and turned away, and she had to force herself not to call him back because she needed him too and he was worth dying for.

But she couldn't. She had three daughters that still needed her. Until they were grown… she would have to put her own wants and needs to the back of her mind.

Until they were grown, she would follow her duty.

Not her heart.

Written for:

Showtime - 27. An Affair

North Funfair - Photo Booth - Pop Diva Theme, 3. Back Up Singer Cutouts - Supportive

East Funfair - Wedding Chapel - Shocker - AbraxasDruella

South Funfair - Lazy River - "You're not supposed to cry on your birthday."

Mythology - 19. Heartbroken

365. 248. Blush