A/N: I don't own Harry Potter

This is for the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Assignment #10 – Ritual and Ceremonial Magic - Task #5: Write about a character relieving themselves from a problem, stress, or old baggage.

Writing Club November

All Sorts of Space: 3- Arcturus Black - Write about murder. Alternatively, write about Arcturus Black. -Space Completed!

Warning: Canon character death

Word Count: 477

Severus stood outside the office. He knew it had to be tonight. Dumbledore had already told him that things were about to happen. He watched as Draco stalked towards him.

"Draco."

"Sir, I have to do this. My Mum..."

"I have spoken to her, Draco. Things have been taken care of, now, you need to put up a farce that they will believe. Maybe then, just maybe the Dark Lord will take pity on you and not kill you himself," Severus stated. Draco followed him in the headmaster's office. Dumbledore had just arrived back with Potter. Potter looked panicked and Severus almost smiled. Good, the boy needed to be scared, if he wasn't scared he'd be of no use to the Order. Severus stood in the shadows. This was Draco's time now. His was coming. He knew what had to be done, knew that if he didn't do it, he was a dead man. Sometimes, in the black of night, he wondered if that would be a better life than trying to serve the two mad men who had claimed him for their own.

"Ahh, Mr. Malfoy," Dumbledore said. "I see you managed to get the Death Eaters into the castle after all."

"Yes, I used the vanishing cabinet in the Room of Requirement. It's part of a pair, sir," Draco stated. Severus watched as Potter just stood there, astonished. For once the boy had been right when he'd been running around the castle saying Draco was a Death Eater.

"Ahh, I never would have guessed. I think this is where you kill me?" Dumbledore asked putting his arms out. Draco pulled out his wand. His hand was shaking as he tried to build up the muster to say the words they were all waiting to hear. Severus counted as he waited, one, two, three. Three, Draco couldn't do it. Even with the idiot unarmed and accepting it. Severus sighed stepping out the shadows.

"Move aside, Draco," he ordered. Draco scampered away looking every bit the coward he would appear to be. Severus raised his wand.

"Severus, you know what has to be done."

"I do, Albus, and I wish there was another way," Severus said knowing his words meant nothing. He could feel the pull of the unbreakable vow he'd made with Narcissa. If Draco couldn't do it, he would have to. Another pull, this one stronger, set by Albus himself to make sure Severus obeyed. At least, he would be free from that the minute Albus' spirit left his flesh.

"Go on then, do it," Albus ordered. Severus nodded knowing he would be dead if he didn't obey.

"Avada Kedrava!" he shouted pointing his wand straight at Albus. There was a flash of green light and for a moment, a brief shining moment, Severus felt free as he watched Albus' body fall from the tower.