Gellert paces up and down his cell. It is clichéd, he knows, but 116 years of life have taught him that sometimes life is just that. His slow, painful steps echo on the stone floor, and he thinks of how quickly and nimbly he ran with Albus hand-in-hand through the Godric's Hollow graveyard, laughing at and leaping over the tombstones.
You must remember this: a kiss is still a kiss, a sigh is just a sigh…the fundamental things apply as time goes by…
He is the only one left by cruel Time, he knows. He feels it on his skin and in his bones every time the blood-red sun peeps through the slit in the wall. The colour reminds him of Albus' just-kissed lips, of strawberries, and of the summer of '99. It also reminds him of the many things he should not have done, all the blood he shed in the name of the Empire.
He lies down under a thin blanket. Perhaps tonight will be the night when the brother of Sleep will come to take him away at last. He welcomes it. He doesn't know why he is still alive.
And when two lovers woo, they still say "I love you"…
An intruder breaks his train of thought. Gellert looks into those red, raw eyes, and smiles. The Riddle Boy is here, searching for the Unbeatable Wand. Albus has been right once again.
And Gellert knows why he is still alive.
"So you have come," he says. "I thought you would, one day. But your journey was pointless. I never had it."
"You lie!" hisses Voldemort. "Give me the truth, or you will die!"
Gellert does not fear death. He never has; he recalls how many times he nearly lost his life in pursuit of things he wanted. He knew ways to ensure that his visions never expired. Ideas are far harder to kill.
It's still the same old story, a fight for love and glory, a case of "do or die"…
"Kill me then, Voldemort, I welcome death!"
Gellert wonders who wouldn't, if they called this their home. But under Voldemort's snakelike mask, he can smell the fear of passing on. The stench of several anchors to this world. Albus is right.
"But my death will not bring you what you seek," Gellert continues.
One of the things which Gellert learnt a long time ago is that love leaves its mark on people. But Voldemort's aura is entirely empty. It has no weaknesses, yes, but neither does it have any strengths.
…the world will always welcome lovers as time goes by…
Gellert laughs scornfully. "There is so much you do not understand."
A/N: No darlings, I haven't forgotten my manners. Thanks go to:
1. Those of you who have contributed to the over 650 hits!
2. Cuban Sombrero Gal, Fallen Angel111586, Ignea, Luna C. Starque, Padfoot Reincarnated,
dancing in daydreams, koorimechick, m3di4h, snowleaf, nighteyes00 and lindy hopper who are some of my favourite people because Seven Ways is one of their stories on-alert or in their favourites!
4. My Reviewers.
And Iiiiiiiiiiiiiii-ee-iiiiiiiiii will always love yooooouuuuuuuuuuu.
(If you want me to stop singing, simply leave a review! Or else I'll bust out Celine's Titanic song next)