... Thank you, my dearest team mates for beta-ing! You're the best! Go Kestrels! xoxo ...

...

imagine there's no heaven
John Lennon 'imagine'

...

I promise.

Daphne shivered at the mere thought and continued pacing impatiently in front of the dark wooden door. She'd been here so many times before — helping Astoria move her things after she got engaged, a legendary hen-party two nights before she got married, or when she first held her little nephew Scorpius — but she'd never dreaded walking past that door as much as she did now. Her hands wouldn't stop shaking, her fingernails — gnawed on constantly for the last couple of days — almost didn't exist anymore, and the bags underneath her light blue eyes were a clear sign of the nightmares that kept her awake.

I promise.

The words — albeit spoken so many years ago — came back to haunt her every day. Especially now, when she had received a letter from her sister, containing the two words she had dreaded reading for so long.

It's time.

She knew Draco and Scorpius had already said their goodbyes; now, it was her turn. It had been for the last thirty minutes, but all Daphne had been able to do was pace impatiently in front of the master bedroom. Every time she gathered enough courage to open the door, her fingers pulled away from the doorknob at the last moment and her feet started pacing once again. It was like her own mind was torn apart, split between keeping her promise or protecting her soul. No matter what option she picked, hearts would be broken.

She didn't want to lose Astoria. She just couldn't let go of her just yet. Couldn't bear the thought of a life without her. It felt like just yesterday when her little sister had crawled across the hallway into Daphne's room...

...

"Daphy, Daphy," three-year-old Astoria babbled as she pushed the door open and crawled further into the room.

Six-year-old Daphne — already half-asleep, tucked in and buried underneath a dozen pillows — placed one finger over her lips and 'shhh'ed the little girl.

"Tori, it's almost midnight," Daphne whispered, suppressing a tired yawn as she turned on the light on the nightstand.

The toddler continued her way towards her sister's bed, and hoisted herself up as best she could. Daphne watched her sister with a small smirk on her face, and eventually, she extended her hand and Astoria pulled herself up.

Immediately, the little girl snuggled closer and laid her face on top of Daphne's chest.

"Couldn't sleep?" the blonde asked and softly used her finger to draw soft circles on her sister's back.

There was no reply, only a wordless movement with her head.

"Wanna sleep here tonight?"

This time, little Astoria looked up, dark blue eyes meeting her sister's pale blue ones. "Please?"

Daphne smiled and kissed her on the forehead, moving aside and properly covering her with a blanket.

...

Tears were streaming down her face, as Daphne tried to pull herself together. She knew that this day would come. She had known for years. The blood-curse that was cast upon one of their ancestors had been quiet for too many decades. Daphne would have traded her own life, would have taken the curse in her stead, but that wasn't how it worked. Her little sister had always been careful, ate properly, and restrained from any sort of 'risky' activities. Nevertheless, it had always been her that broke various bones, caught the flu, or fell unconscious due to exhaustion. She remembered when their parents had first taken Astoria to St. Mungo's, a week before her first year at Hogwarts. Their suspicion that Astoria's condition might be healed with expensive potions or treatments was shattered when a healer told them about the curse — and their hearts were broken.

They discussed homeschooling Astoria — protecting her in every way possible — but Astoria had always been a fighter.

...

"I want to attend Hogwarts," she said, and looked at their parents with the utmost determination.

"Astoria..." their father had started, but the brunette interrupted him.

"I accepted my fate, Father. I can't change history. But I have to live at least what's left of my future the way I want to. I want to play Quidditch, make friends, gossip, learn everything I can. I can't let this curse defeat me."

Both adults shared a concerned look, but eventually, they agreed. Once they had left the room, Daphne walked around the kitchen table and pulled her sister into a tight embrace.

"I swear that I'll be around for you," Daphne told her little sister, and a tear rolled down her cheek. "I'll always be there for you. I'll do whatever it takes to make you happy. I promise."

...

Daphne had meant what she said, and so far, she had never broken a promise. She had watched over Astoria the best way she could. In her sister's second year, she watched proudly as she scored a goal in Quidditch practice, and she smuggled flowers into the infirmary every time she fell off her broom and broke a bone.

Astoria let her cuddle towards her in the Slytherin Common Room, and although most of her fellow classmates rolled their eyes at the open display of affection, Daphne didn't care. Their sisterly bond was strong and she cherished it beyond everything. Even when the war was raging and Astoria confided in her that she had joined Ginny Weasley's protest against the Carrows.

...

"Are you out of your bloody mind, Astoria?" Daphne hissed, ushering her sister into one of the abandoned classrooms on the third floor. "What were you thinking? Joining Weasley and Lovegood? Do you plan on getting yourself killed?"

Astoria — her cheek showing a dark red cut — didn't back down.

"I fight for what I believe in, Daph."

"For Merlin's sake, you're a Slytherin," the blonde said, pacing impatiently in front of the desk Astoria sat on. "Can you imagine what the Carrows will do to you when they find out?"

Astoria jumped up and her robes flowed around her thin frame. "I know what they do," she spat and pointed towards her bruised cheek. "It's what they do to everyone else. They force us to practice Unforgivable curses on first years. I'd rather get punished for disobedience before I cast one of these bloody spells."

Daphne sighed. "Astoria, your condition —"

The brunette glared at her sister. "Don't tell me about my condition," she whispered, and the anger that had bubbled up inside of her now turned into pain. "Sooner or later, there will be a battle. And we both know the chances I survive an actual fight are rather small. Please, let me at least try and help these children now. I want my life to matter."

The tears she had tried to hide earlier now flowed freely down her cheeks. Daphne, still torn between hugging her and throwing something, chose the first and held her sister tight.

"I'll be around for you. Just promise me to be careful."

"I promise."

...

That year, Astoria was sent to the hospital wing more often than ever. Daphne had tried her best to cover her tracks, and somehow, both of them survived the battle. She remembered the blood and the bodies, the ashes and dirt, and the relief that flooded through her when she had first spotted Astoria in one of the corners of the Great Hall — her leg was broken, three ribs cracked, cuts and bruises all over her body, and a wound on her chest that would turn into a scar. But at least she had survived. Both of them. Their parents, like so many others, hadn't been so lucky. All they had left now were each other.

Now, standing in front of Astoria's bedroom, she wanted nothing more than to honor her sister's last wish. She wanted to get it over with, just get done already. She wanted to be released from the promise she had given her sister all those years ago, but she knew the pain wouldn't fade away, only increase.

When at last her impatience got the better of her, Daphne took a deep breath, gathered up her entire courage, and finally opened the dark wooden door.

"Hey," Astoria said, and Daphne's eyes widened at the sight of her. Her once beautiful face was now ashen, her blue eyes had lost their spark, and her rosy red lips were almost blue.

"Hey," Daphne replied, choking back her tears as she sat down on the bed next to Astoria, who was propped up atop nearly a dozen pillows.

"It's time," the brunette whispered, and reached out to take Daphne's hand in her own. A shudder ran down Daphne's spine when she felt every single bone in the small hand.

"I — I'm not ready," Daphne gasped. "I — I don't think I can let you go. Not yet."

Astoria looked at her, dark blue eyes filled with tears.

"Please," she whispered, her voice hoarse and weak — fragile, just like the rest of her body. "Please, Daph, you promised."

Daphne's heart raced faster than ever, and she swallowed.

Then, the blonde witch bent down and carefully brushed a strand of loose brown hair behind Astoria's ear, tenderly cupping her pale cheeks in her fingers and bringing her face down to kiss her softly on the forehead.

"I love you," she whispered and didn't even try to hide her tears.

"I love you, too." Astoria's voice was a mere breath.

"I'm going to miss you so much."

Daphne felt the tears rolling down her cheeks like rivers as she moved from the bed to stand a couple of feet away. Then, she drew her wand from her purse and pointed it straight at Astoria. She took one last breath, looked into her little sister's beautiful eyes once more and after a moment of hesitation, she whispered the fatal words.

The green light erupted from her wand, illuminating the room as it finally released Astoria from her suffering.

Daphne fell down on her knees, sobbing uncontrollably.

...

"Remember the time I was about to attend Hogwarts? When you promised you'd always be around for me? To do whatever it takes?"

Thirty-year-old Daphne nodded, and poured herself another cup of tea. She saw that Astoria's hands were shaking a great deal more than usual; the curse was draining more and more energy with each passing day.

"When the day comes," Astoria continued, keeping her eyes fixed upon her own tea cup, "I need you to end my suffering."

The blonde witch was silent for a moment. Then, she choked and her eyes widened. "You want me to...?"

Astoria nodded.

Daphne was at a loss of words.

"No, no, no, Tori, I can't. I won't," she spluttered, shaking her head vehemently. "I could never harm you. I love you."

The smile Astoria flashed her was genuine and sad all at the same time.

"I know. And I love you, too. But look at me," she said and gestured towards her thin and fragile body. "You're not the one hurting me—this curse is. My body gets weaker and weaker each day. Even the slightest movement tires me out. My magic is almost gone. I'm a shadow of my former self."

Tears formed in her eyes, but she tried to brush them away. "I — I don't want my husband and son to see me slowly fading away."

For a moment, Daphne couldn't respond. She took a deep breath, swallowed and looked into her sister's eyes. "So — so you want me to kill you?"

Astoria nodded sadly. "I need you, Daph."

"I — I..."

"Please," was all the brunette said, and as Daphne met her eyes, she knew her decision had already been made.

Finally, Daphne nodded.

"Come here," the blonde said, and pulled her sister into a hug, hoping she wouldn't see the tears that were stinging her eyes. "I'll do whatever it takes. I promise."

...

It felt like her heart had been shattered into a million pieces, like a part of her had just died with her sister. With tears still streaming down her face, she crawled closer to Astoria's lifeless body, and laid her own head down on the blanket. Daphne didn't know how long she had cried next to her sister, but eventually, she brushed away her tears, got up, and braced herself for her next task — facing Draco and Scorpius.

Daphne bent down, closed Astoria's eyes, kissed her lovingly on the forehead, and grabbed the edge of the blanket to properly tuck her in one last time. When she moved her arm, her tearful blue eyes spotted a small, singular piece of parchment crumpled in the palm of Astoria's right hand.

Trembling, Daphne swallowed, and unfolded it. When she recognized Astoria's neat handwriting, her eyes teared up once more. She sobbed, but eventually clutched the little piece of parchment against her chest.

Thank you.

For keeping your promise.

Love, Astoria

.

Quidditch League Season 8 Round 2: Kenmare Kestrels | Chaser 2 | Write about a character who possesses many talents.

Additional prompts: [Colour] Midnight Blue; [Word] Curious; [Plot Point] Exploring a new place

Warning: Character Death!

Disclaimer: the poem "All in the golden afternoon" was written by Lewis Caroll (1865)

Word count: 2858