The Serpent and The Bird

"And when I kiss you, you'll be thinking of me and only me".

Pain.

So much pain, his muscles were on fire. He could barely think. The two men were standing right next to him but their voices came muffled. From far away.
The Crucio curse still lingered on his body.

- Any luck?

- No, he's tough. I've only managed to get through the outside layers of his mind. Nothing of relevance to us. If I didn't know any better, I'd think he is an experienced Occlumens.

- This wretched boy? Huh. My blood must be running through his veins after all.

- Perhaps more days of torture will break him.

- No. It's been two weeks already. Look at him, he's on the brink of death. I have other plans.

A wand pointed at him and he watched through half opened eyes.

Please, no more pain.
Just finish it.
Finish me.

He couldn't make out the spell. His last thought was of her.
And then everything went black.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

                              Six Months Later

The laughter came as an echo, reverberating against the walls of the castle as the students started to march towards the train station. She could hear the chatter, and the chuckles, and the joy in their voices as another year of classes had finished, and they were leaving Hogwarts for the summer.
She could hear them all the way back in the Wooden Bridge, as she leaned against the railing.

Everleigh looked at the distance. The day was warm, and clear, and the trees moved lively as the breeze flowed through the branches. The birds chirped.
It was such a beautiful morning.

She clutched the necklace that hung from her neck, her eyes focusing on the horizon as the memories came flooding.

"- Why did you come back for me? You left Gore... you left him there to die."

"- Because you weren't bloody leaving! - A stream of blood was coming out of Nikolai's shoulder but he was still dragging her to the castle. The had Apparated on the outskirt of the school grounds. - And I had to make a decision. It was you or him."

Everleigh's sobs were uncontrollable. Nikolai's somber expression softened and he forced her to look at him. His bottom lip was split open on the side and there was a cut over his right eyebrow.

"- He took him. - The shock in Everleigh was still coming in waves, each one more powerful than the last. - Rookwood took him... and they killed Fig"

"- Look at me".

"- And Anne..."

"- Everleigh, look at me!"

His voice was the only beacon of light she could cling to among her darkness. Everleigh looked up into Nikolai's eyes. The tears didn't stop.

"- We take care of the wounded now, we mourn our losses after. Your friends need you."

Her heart was beating so fast and the twist on her stomach almost made her vomit. Ominis and Anne had to be close, somewhere. They had Apparated before they did. And Everleigh knew Ominis could barely walk. Neither could Anne.

"- He was your friend... - Her whisper stopped Nikolai completely. He didn't look like he was breathing anymore. - ...and you left him there to die."