It was an odd sensation, this unrelenting stillness

It was an odd sensation, this unrelenting stillness. He could see Severus' lips moving, eyes flashing, but not a sound penetrated the stillness. Only the pounding of his own heart and the dread flooded through him, coiling in his stomach, choking off his air. There was a crash, a moan that could bring hell to its knees, and then a light. All thoughts of Severus, of danger, fled from his mind as he stepped forward, reaching, and then he was gone, leaving Severus to count the seconds.


"Albus please!" she begged, her voice cracking and desperate to her own ears as her hand found its place on his shoulder. The armor was still hot to the touch, a small magical charge skittering over the surface. "There's still time. Go!"

He shook after her hand angrily, ignoring the flare those sparked in his chest at the desperate look in her eye. He dragged his right leg behind him as he paced, the gash running a long the back of his calf only now visible. The screams grew louder, finally reaching his inner sanctum as the masses approached; there was no more time. "It can be suppressed," he muttered to himself, over and over. "The people will see."

"Those who have survived you have seen Albus, and this is the result. If you don't go now, they will catch you, and there are none to help you. How many more have to die Albus? How many more bodies must be laid at your door? How many of the children, our children Albus will die in the name of your fallen empire?" He voice was soft, anguish lacing though each word while she stepped in front of him, blocking his path. The smell of him made her gag as the heat caused his blood to begin to curdle along the edges of the armor, but she suppressed it, intent as she was; he had to see. His eyes had flashed and his magic flared when she blocked his way, but her own magic reached out, soothing the edges of his own, desperate for understanding, for acceptance.

His breath rattled in his chest, pain tearing through his side, making him cough, but his magic retreated even as his hand reached toward her. To her credit, Minerva barely flinched as his finger traced her cheek, a cooling sensation following in its' wake as the damage repaired itself. His eyes were still wild, never resting, but the insanity, the desperation, had vanished.

"I will not run," he said, his voice wavering but unmistakable. His hand was heavy on her shoulder, and he could feel her warmth through the cloth. His heart wrenched as the building shook around them, causing dust to fall from the ceiling and Minerva to flinch. She forced herself to look up at him as his thumb brushed against her chin. "You would not come with me."

His voice had been little more than a whisper, but she heard him clearly. She wanted to reach for him, wanted nothing more than to wrap herself around him and pretend he was hers again, but she stepped back instead, her fists clenching tightly at her sides, drawing blood as the nails bit into her palm. He was no longer hers to console. She shook her head, dust creating a halo around her. "No, I wouldn't."

She grabbed a hold of him as he tried to retreat from her, to lock himself away once again in his madness. "You were able to bury her Albus, to mourn your loss. I have spend a week mourning the death of the man I loved above all others, the good man who rescued an orphan from the streets and always made sure I had catnip in my stocking. I will mourn the loss of you for the rest of my days, but please Albus, I don't want to have to bury you too."

His eyes shone as an uncomfortable stillness settled over them. The silence was broken as the door creaked and both occupants whirled toward the noise, wands pointed ahead. Grief flooded her senses as she saw the mop of unruly black hair and glimmering eyes. There was no glow about him, but the wand in his hand was still sparking. "Oh, you won't have to worry about that professor. The pieces won't be big enough."