Once in a Lifetime

It's getting dark, too soon.

The wisps of white hair were slick against his glistening forehead in the rain, flickering slightly with every blink of his cold eyes. His knuckles had turned the white of his hair by now from the grip he had placed on his wand. His gaze did not waver.

A threatening silence surrounding me.

Neither spoke nor moved nor flinched. Both seemed poised in waiting for the other to strike. While he had always seemed to be the first to strike, he knew she wasn't. So they waited. It wasn't certain to either of them what was going to happen. And this did not deter them.

The wind comes up from the island.

Their drenched robes fought the gusts of winds enticing them to billow, heavy under the weight of water. The harsh air stung their eyes and numbed their skin, deafening their ears to the rage of the waves beside them.

Distance fades to stormy gray.

Though they were merely seven meters apart, the passing time only seemed to make them seem closer. Dangerously close. He could see her warm breathes echoed in front of her, and he could almost feel them drifting in the gusts towards him left as nothing but a lukewarm feeling on his cheeks.

Washed out from the deep of your ocean.

Velvety sheets of water crashed close to their feet, leaving the sand to grip at their feet like quicksand. Obliviously they stood on the shore, holding tightly to the only things that could protect them.

Here I will stand to face your wrath.

She didn't want to do it. She wanted to be with her friends, with those that cared for her most. But she knew why she was here, and she knew it had to be done. Because if she didn't, she knew he would strike her down. She couldn't let them down. She couldn't let herself down.

While all the others are praying.

No one knew where they had gone, but he could feel them. He knew they were worried. They would never make it in time, no matter how long they waited on the other. It was too late for rescues and friendship.

Calm down my heart, don't beat so fast.

She could feel her hand start to shake; she could feel her knees tremble underneath her weight. Their chests heaved ragged breaths, though they hadn't moved an inch in what seemed like ages. The tension building thickly between them almost made the air seem harder to breathe.

Don't be afraid, just once in a lifetime.

She had to muster up the courage. But as soon as she lifted her wand even slightly, a harsh cry loomed into the air. "CRUCIO!" She had not even a moment to react, she felt herself in the wet sand on all fours with her eyes squinted shut. The pain traveled through her fingertips and up her arms before dispersing down her torso into her legs and through her head. Brilliant colors flickered inside her eyelids from being held so tightly closed, before she felt the curse release her and she slumped to the side.

No rain can wash away my tears; no wind can soothe my pain.

She thought she was ready, but she hadn't been. She mentally underestimated him. She never thought him capable. She thought herself capable. She laid on her side unconscious, feeling trapped inside herself. Bullies are bullies; she had always reassured herself that man was inherently good.

The grain strewn on her checks mixed with the swell of tears pouring uncontrollably from her eyes. The wind lashed her air across the ground, picking up flecks of sand. They were stinging at his skin as he came closer.

You made me doubt, you made me fear, but now I'm not the same.

Is this what he had been reduced to? The glory of proving himself the best caught up with him. He thought she was dead. Her robes gathered loosely around her, disguising any sign of life. Her eyelids did not flicker, and the wind bit at his eyes so he could not see her crying.

I don't pretend that I love you.

He had always reassured himself he didn't have to like her, and he was doing it again in vain. Nothing about her seemed likeable, even now. But all of his dislike and loathing seemed childish now as he sank to his knees beside her. Though the rain was washing over him, he did not feel clean. Teasing and jinxes now felt a distant memory and he realized what he had done.

Cause there is nothing left to lose.

An outlaw. A coward. A demon. He stood up from her side, putting his wand back into the depths of his robe. Azkaban was the ultimate horror to him now, and he knew he had to flee. What was left to stay for?

"I'm sorry, Hermione..."

And when silence comes back to me, I find myself feeling lonely. Standing here on the shores of destiny, I find myself feeling lonely.

The thoughts that plagued his mind left as quickly as they came, and the quiet returned. He turned his back to the fallen body and his heavy footfalls dragged him along the waterfront. He didn't know where he was going, but anywhere but there felt right. He leaned over and took his broom into his hands, before kicking off the ground into the uneasy night.

* * * *

I had a life to give, many dreams to live...don't you know you're losing so much this time.

Draco sat slumped against the crumbled wall of his hut, running a hand through the strays of damp, unkempt hair on his forehead. He wasn't sure how long he could hide before shame and the utter dullness of his current existence overcame him. Even the few hidden hours seemed strangely unbearable.

Beyond the waves, I will be free while all the others are praying.

A nurse witch leaned over Hermione to pour more tea into her cup, and Hermione looked down to watch it steam. No one had bothered to speak to her or ask her any questions, and she was silently grateful that there was too much going on during wartime for anyone to even think of it. It was not out of embarrassment for being so easily beaten, but she was still in awe that Draco did not administer a fatal blow.

The love in you, it does not burn. There is no lesson you can learn.

But even not speaking could not keep it silent. At her bedside the next morning was a copy of The Daily Prophet, beaming its words up at her. It was as if it was begging her to look at it. A glance at the paper found her staring into the smug eyes of Draco Malfoy. She opened the drawer on her nightstand and hid the paper deep inside, locking him in darkness.

* * * *

And there are sounds you cannot hear, and there are feelings you cannot feel. I don't pretend that I love you, and this time I'm not scared of you.

Draco rolled sleeplessly under the thin blanket, staring at the dark wall in the distance. Just as he felt his eyes growing heavy with exhaustion, he heard the poorly hinged front door come crashing to the floor. He got his wand at the ready and brought himself onto his aching feet.

"STUPEFY!"

Draco fell back down to the floor.