Dose of Darkness | Tom Riddle |

Chapter Twenty Six: Don't Leave Me

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"It takes strength to make your way through grief, to grab hold of life and let it pull you forward"
-Patti Davis

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"And Evan Rosier has caught the Snitch! Slytherin has defeated Ravenclaw for the first time in two years! What a victory!"

The enthusiastic commentator of the Quidditch game's voice resonated beyond the Pitch and over the lake, his voice rolling through the heavy falling rain as well.

Harsh rain obliterated the reflection of the creamy gray skies in the Great Lake, stirring up the water and hitting the surface like bullets.

March brought warmer weather by a few degrees and it was enough to create a light fog that seeped through Eleanor's sweater. The rain, however, was still like ice to her skin despite her layers.

In the small sandy area with a fallen tree from the Forbidden forest, creeping out like a welcoming hand along the rocky sand and just over the water, Eleanor sat upon its thick branch with little to no cover from the rain that pelted her head.

It had been a month since Grindelwald was defeated. The war was over. The world celebrated.

Dumbledore had come to her aid, trying to pry her away from her mother as danger approached.

"Eleanor, we must go! It isn't over!" she heard him yell.

"I want him dead!" Eleanor screamed, crying and her throat raw with pain.

Eleanor was stuck kneeling over her mothers body but she knew her mother wouldn't want her to give up now. If she didn't know any better, she would given everything to stay. But instead, Eleanor gave into Dumbledore who pulled her away.

It was all a blur as her unchecked wrath poured from her wand.

Time passed by slowly and all she wanted was Grindewalds head on the ground, the most violent of thoughts perturbing her mind.

But before she knew it, she was caught up in the middle, staring him down with only yards between them. Not a single soul dared to touch either of them as if they were ghosts, in their own world. Her eyes were nearly black when she saw him grin.

"Eleanor!" Dumbledore shouted.

Eleanor would not allow another to jump to her defense tonight.

In one swift move, she whipped out her wand and with it came a growing blue light that clashed with the red that poured from his. Not a sound could be heard as Eleanor pressed further, ignoring the way her muscles seemed to tear and the blinding light before her. It was a strength she never knew she had.

But even as she grew weak, she pushed on and Dumbledore joined her side.

Grindelwald was finally outmatched.

The skies grew darker and the battle that ensued could possibly be seen from miles away with the energy radiating from them.

It would be known that Eleanor and Professor Dumbledore took down Grindelwald, weakening him enough to be apprehended once and for all. No one would mention that Eleanor's violence didn't settle though as she took several last hits at him until he was beaten and bloody.

He would rot in Nurmengard for the rest of his days.

It had also been a month since she lost her mother.

Eleanor recovered from her shattered wrist and the physical pain.
But she dreamed every night of how Marjorie Peverell sacrificed herself for her, everything from the black cloud to the green light and then to see her lifelessly laying beside her.