You told me goodbye, how was I to know
You didn't mean goodbye, you meant please don't let me go?
From the song, "High Time," by The Grateful Dead
Chapter 27: Parting Words
In the Burrow kitchen, Molly handed Madeline a tray of chocolate cauldron cakes. "Take these out to the table, dear." Madeline obeyed mechanically, but her heart was in tatters.
All the Weasleys, except Bill who was in Egypt, were there for Charlie's going away party, as were several of his friends. Charlie couldn't figure out what to make of Madeline's somber mood.
"Hey, what's wrong?" he asked as he popped a cockroach cluster into his mouth.
"Wrong?" She swung her hair around and looked at him icily. "Nothing, absolutely nothing." She sauntered away to flirt shamelessly with one of Charlie's friends. Charlie eventually cornered her again.
"Look," he said. "We have to talk. I'm leaving in the morning."
"Leaving?" said Madeline with raised brows. "Oh, ha ha ha, so you are. To that silly dragon place in Rome."
"Romania," he corrected.
"Oh, of course! How silly of me. The dragon zoo," she said.
"Reserve," he said.
"So childish, but you always were," she narrowed her eyes at him, "childish." She didn't notice the pained look on his face as she strutted toward the door.
"Madeline," he pleaded.
"Goodbye Charlie. I've got to go," she said.
"Where?"
"Another party," she lied. "Goodbye."
"Goodbye," he said in a weak voice.
She went out the door, ran down the steps, and glanced at the house before hopping onto her motorcycle. She did a fishtail in the dirt before speeding out of the yard and away.
At home, the following day, Alastor confronted his sister.
"Beloved, it's my duty to tell you when you're wrong. You behaved very badly." Alastor's voice boomed strong and clear.
"You don't understand. He was leaving me anyway. What did it matter?" Madeline shouted back sassily.
"It's not all about you." he said.
"But I love him!" She sniffed back tears.
"The genuineness of your love is proved or disproved by your concern for him," he said steadily.
Her anger drained away and a sickening shame took its place. Suddenly, Madeline looked so small and forlorn. Alastor hobbled over to her and pulled her into an embrace. She cried into his shirt.
"Don't throw away your friendship," he whispered.
"I guess I always knew I wasn't good enough for him." Her words were choked by sobbing.
"That's not it. You know he never meant to hurt you."
"I know."
He stroked her hair as she continued to dampen his shirt for a while. Then he held her at arms length and looked at her with stern sympathy.
"Well, ya made a complete arse of yourself, but I know ya can repair it. Write to him, dear."