Unbreakable

The brittle crust of the skin stretched dry across his lips was rough beneath his tongue...tasting slightly of wax and glowing ember. The air was cold in his lungs, crackling and expanding in his chest. He could feel hot, life-giving blood pounding in his ears, a steady beat all too easily stilled.

His fingers trembled, and he gripped them tighter over his wand. The rough splintery wood dug into the gold-hewn flesh of his palms, sobering him. Each panting breath was sheer torture--seizing in his throat and somehow clenching his stomach with each shallow exhale.

"Severus..." "Snivellus...."

Years---no, decades--of hatred, welling in his breast, fueling him onward. His first step forward echoed off the high winged ceilings of the castle hall. Never...never had this man done anything to protect him. He had almost been killed, and still he dreamt in silence. Never had he stooped low enough to notice.

The movement of shifting his weight from his left foot to his right sent a jolt up his leg, vibrating in his pelvis--clanging like a steeple bell on Sunday, or a cathedral bell on Golgotha. There was an odd humming in his ears, a tinny buzz that soon was spreading, swarming over his entire body.

Hatred, yes. Anger. Rage. It is a necessity....

He took another step forward, and this one was quieter, less painful. He took in another shaky breath, the oxygen circulating no farther than the base of his throat, constricted by the tense muscles of his shoulders.

He paused for a moment, allowing a smirk to drift lazily across his thin sallow features, toying with the corners of his thin, white lips.

"Severus...please...."

Look at him.

No!

Yes...look. Look at him. In his eyes. You know there is no other way....

There must be.

You swore doubly. Once to him, and once to the girl. Vows you can not break, even if you tried.

It's Death, it is...Death for us all.

A double vow. To protect. To protect whom?

Black eyes shifted downward slightly, to the pathetic, crumpled figure of a once-great man. How long had he waited to see the old bastard in this position? How much had he sacrificed for him?

Nothing. Nothing at all.... Do it. Fulfill the promise.

Those penetrating blue eyes, drilling through him mercilessly, ripping him apart like a rag doll. Begging him. Pleading with him.

It had been so long ago...surely measures such as these were unnecessary. There would be no redemption, after all. No crucified Christ to mend shattered hearts...shattered souls. Yes, for he is unredeemable. He can not repent, he can not want to. Choice is such an elusive nymph.

Do it.

No right or wrong here, there never was a...

black or white

Just grey...sweet storm blossoms over the silver sea, crashing, melting, screaming

...trembling

Breaking over the rocks and raining down white lilies in the snow

..dirty snow, and he has no choice but to turn around and

Do it

Yes, the little bird has flown, my Easter gift to you

The lamb is on the table, now will you serve your god?

Breaking down cherry trees all over again, just to see them breathing

The blood on your doorstep is my promise to myself

"I don't know what you are asking me to do..."

"Just trust me. That is all...trust me."

I trust you, sir.

Trust me enough to kill me

to do it

Do it, the vow, you

...swore to

and there's no escape

so you must fulfill

your vow, you must

do it

No other choice, it is the best

Yes

Yes!

Because it is

Unbreakable. And

"Avada Kedavra!"

...you promised.