A small girl chased her brother through a thick forest, her nightgown fluttering at her heels. The fabric was worn with use and her short hair hung about her shoulders. The trees closed in around her young figure, but the branches did not speak of fright. For the girl knew the paths through the roots like the back of her hand. It was only a matter of finding where her brother had disappeared.
"Ani."
Animo blinked as a soft hand shook her shoulder, its touch speaking of urgency. She realized that she had fallen asleep against the edge of the porch. Tom's hand was firmly wrapped around her waist and she bit back a smile, gazing at the boy in her drowsy state.
"Animo!"
Snapping her head around, Animo jumped to see Albus standing before her, his expression haggard with exhaustion.
"Al!" she stood quickly, still feeling rather lightheaded. Their encounter with the dementors had taken its toll. "What—"
"It is time."
Albus's simple words made her freeze.
"Already?" Her whisper was light, barely carried by the breeze. Animo was not ready to face her brother. But she never would have been. Who is ready to tear their family apart?
Dipping his head, Albus's brilliant gaze softened at the defeat in her shoulders. "He is not who he once was, Ani."
A songbird sang a mournful tune in the distance and the sound trailed through the trees, amplifying Animo's pain.
She frowned at Albus's hand, which was tightly wrapped around his wand. Her friend was terrified. "You found a way to break the blood vial?"
"I had a brief meeting with Nicholas Flamel." Albus pursed his lips, surveying the foundation of the house before them with a sad gleam in his eye. "He holds a knowledge that surpasses my own." Then the professor nodded towards the boy beside them. Animo had a feeling that Tom was only pretending to be unconscious. The Slytherin was not a heavy sleeper. "Have things changed?"
Animo stared at the sunset glimmering behind the trees, casting a red shadow over their features. "I hope so." She hesitated, uncertain of whether to continue when Tom was very well listening. "Al, is there any way to heal a soul split by horcruxes?"
The only indication that the boy beside her had heard was the tightening of his shoulders. Albus peered down at Animo over his crooked nose, indicating that he too was aware of Tom's presence. "It has never been recorded—" Animo's hope died in her chest. "But I believe that if the creator showed great remorse for what he had done.." Albus trailed off, lost in thought. "It would be possible."
A hint of a smile curved Animo's cheek but Albus sent her a cautious look.
"But it does not bring the creator's victims back to life."
The words were harsh and Animo looked down at her fingers. She had pressed the thought of the people Tom had killed from her mind, down so deep that she had nearly forgotten them. Moaning Myrtle had been an occasional companion of hers in the future, although the ghost did more to torment her than to help. Still, Tom had been the reason for that girl's death. But— Animo remembered the dementors, the way they sucked all semblance of happiness from the air. The way it felt as though she would never breathe again. "Who decides the receiver of redemption?"
A faint amusement passed over Albus's gaze. "Not us, certainly." He eyed Tom with a quiet consideration. "I, too, have caused my share of sorrow." Turning away, Albus extended the crook of his arm. "I do believe we have a last adventure together, my dear."
Animo eyed the vibrant purple of his robes. His peculiar response made her falter. "Albus, about Fawkes—"
"Ah, he has been freed." Albus tilted his head, reminding her of the obstinate phoenix. "I fear his owner is far too prone to danger. Although I am glad he was there in your hour of need."
Frowning, Animo glanced over at Tom, who had begun to stand as though he had just woken. Still, the sharpness in his gaze told her that he was weighing what had been said between her and Albus. "How did you know about Azkaban?"
"Avril warned me," Albus sent a sly smirk, "I daresay her abilities as a Seer will pass those of the Trelawney's."
The image of a batty woman with overlarge spectacles hovered in Animo's memory and she winced. "I hope so."
With a last look at Tom, Animo held out her hand in question. Wordlessly, the Slytherin slid his fingers through hers. The trio apparated from the Grindelwald's home with a loud pop, leaving no trace that they had ever been there at all.
Another rush of wind billowed through the air, nearly toppling Animo off her feet. Beside her, Tom grumbled while he pulled his robes closer to his chest. "Why is there always a storm?"
Animo ducked her head as she observed their surroundings. They stood upon a patch of thick grass, overlooking a great ravine in the earth. Pine trees sprouted of their own accord in every direction, spotted with other borealis and undergrowth. To their right, the Austrian Alps continued in their mighty march to the south. Animo was all too aware of their surroundings.
"He's here?" she murmured, feeling as though her journey had come full circle.
"Gellert has made his final stand." Albus's gaze was not on the land, but on the fortress below them. Flashes of light interrupted the rugged wilderness about them and the smell of smoke could just be detected. A chorus of shouts resounded off the boulders.
Tom shook his head at Animo's stiff posture, a rare sort of pity in his eyes. Saying nothing, the Slytherin held her fingers tighter as they began their descent towards Nurmengard.
As she picked her way across the stones, Animo was deterred from her thoughts as Albus held out a familiar wand. Her eyes widened in amazement as she reached out eagerly, a flood of relief rushing through her veins as the wood brushed her fingertips. It had been like losing a piece of herself. "How did you manage it?"
Albus lowered his gaze long enough to twitch his brow wryly. "Never underestimate the power of blackmail at the ministry."
Deciding it was better not to ask, Animo clutched her wand tightly to her side. Tom gave a small noise that she nearly believed was a note of approval.
"Don't get any ideas."
Tom sent her a snide look, the sun making his curls gleam with gold. "But the blessed hero of the wizarding world deems it acceptable."
Suddenly, there was a loud crack that echoed across the cliffside and the clouds ahead rumbled. The sky had been darkening with the descent of the sun, but it now began to change a violent purple.
"Animo." Albus's gaze was fixed on the top floor of the fortress. The clouds were swirling around the center of the pillars, hiding the stone from view. "We must now set aside our reservations. If Gellert is to be defeated, we can't afford any mercy."
Swallowing thickly, Animo dipped her head, hoping the motion was more confident than she felt. Tom pulled her forwards and they narrowly evaded a scarlet curse as it rebounded over their shoulders.
"Gotcha!" Worthington bared his teeth in the direction of a stunned acolyte before he whipped around and caught sight of Animo and Tom. His satisfaction faltered. Then, the man gave a curt nod. "We've cleared the way to the top floor. Move quickly."
Albus dipped his head in return, ushering them onwards through the chaos.
"This way!" Animo cast a last look at the auror and prayed for his safety before she led her companions towards a back staircase. The steps led directly to the top of the fortress.
"AVADA—"
Rolinski's spell was cut short as a knife hurtled through the air and embedded itself into his throat. The man choked. A bubble of blood expanded at the corner of his mouth before he sunk to the ground.
Animo whipped around to see Dauphina standing behind them, her dark curls billowing in a wide arc about her waist. There was a wash of sadness in the woman's gaze as she offered Animo an apologetic smile.
"Get going, Ani-girl." The Seer's eyes lingered on Tom just long enough that Animo knew Dauphina understood the significance of the moment.
Unfortunately, Animo had no time to respond as the stones of the building gave a mighty lurch. It was as though the ministry were attempting to bring down the very fortress itself. Bolting up the stairs, she led the way to the last step.
Then she froze. A lone figure was silhouetted against the horizon, his shadow dappling the pillars surrounding him.
A smile spread across Gellert's face as he approached, his aged skin marked with dried blood and stubble. "Hello, Albus." A flicker of betrayal shone in his violet eyes when he regarded Animo. "Sister."
Animo stifled the guilt broiling in her stomach as Albus stepped forward, all trace of exhaustion gone from his movements.
"This is your final chance, Gellert." Albus reached out a dry hand, his nails jagged. Until now, Animo had forgotten how he had bitten them throughout their youth. "Please accept this mercy."
Her brother stared at Albus's fingers for a long moment and Animo dared to let herself hope that he might change his mind. Then, Gellert threw back his head and laughed. It was not the maniacal sort of laughter, but a cold and short sound that chilled the air.
"Mercy?" Gellert rounded on Animo, circling her with a venomous step. "Was it mercy to steal my sister away just because you lost yours?" When Albus didn't flinch, the dark wizard straightened his posture, pinning Animo down with a stare. It was the sort of look he had given her as children when she had done something he hadn't liked. "Was it mercy that my sister led aurors straight to my doorstep?"
Animo shuddered, just enough that she knew Gellert had noticed.
The blonde wizard raised an eyebrow. The last remnants of gold in his gray hair shone in the light of the dying sun. "Ah, so you handed the map over to the Ministry."
Watching her brother's unsurprised air with a growing horror, Animo tightened her grip on her wand. "You knew."
"I'm a Seer, Ani," Gellert bit out, clearly impatient. "Between Dauphina and I's abilities, there is little we do not know."
"So why are you here, Gellert?" Albus strode forward, using his body as a barrier between Animo and her brother. His tone offered no sympathy. "Why allow Nurmengard to be stormed?"
Gellert clucked his tongue in response, "that was a dying idea. My followers were becoming too numerous." He gazed out at the Alps, clasping his hands behind his back and Animo caught the glimpse of a chain around his neck. She could only hope it was the vial. "Control is everything, you see. Too many ideas, too many factions.." a butterfly floated near his chest and Gellert grasped it in his fist, crushing it instantly. "And an uprising is inevitable. No," his muttering seemed as much to himself as to the others, "I will start again with my most loyal followers." Jerking his head upwards, he gave Animo one of his cold smiles. "I really have you to thank, Ani."
Animo was silent, unwilling to bait him any further. She no longer felt sure of anything, let alone the meaning to her brother's riddles.
It seemed that Gellert took her silence as a cue to continue. "With your arrival, time has become unsettled." He waved a hand and several pebbles of chalk rose into the air, trailing after each other in a rotating pattern. Then, the motion stopped and the rocks crumbled into dust. "My defeat is no longer set in stone. Take today, for instance." Gellert paused, hovering in front of Tom, who had remained at the edge of their confrontation. "Can I convince the boy to join my forces? After all, he has delved into darker magic than even I dare to go. And if he does," Gellert pinned Animo down with a curious stare, as though she were one of his experiments, "will you follow?"
His words brought a heavy tension that snapped in the air and Animo, who had been so sure that she wanted Tom by her side, was afraid of the intrigue that flittered in the boy's eyes.
Then, Albus stepped forward and the moment was broken.
"Enough of this." He raised his wand and a great wind swirled about their ankles, building into a violent gust that burst against Gellert's figure and knocked him to his feet.
Animo managed to remain standing, the wind having swept around her figure entirely. Gellert returned swiftly to his feet, pushing himself up from the roof. He seemed entirely unbothered, almost amused as he tossed a greying strand of hair back from his eyes.
"A bit of breeze, Al?" Gellert toyed with Albus's nickname, the word nearly a caress on his tongue. "Surely you must spare us some dignity. We were always above the ordinary."
With a raise of his hands, Gellert summonsed a lightening bolt from the sky, the bolt of electricity hissing as it singed the stone directly in front of them, causing a curl of flame to flare to life.
Animo flung out her wand. "AGUAMENTI!" Yet the jet of water that burst from her fingers did nothing to assuage the fire that began to spark on the nearest treetops, staining the earth with soot. It was not so dangerous as the Fiendfyre that had scarred her arm, but if they did not hurry there would be no land left.
Muttering a counter-spell, Tom summoned a shield that emanated from his hands in a series of white pulses. Each wave of magic eased the heat of the flames. Animo brought her elbow over her features as Gellert twirled his wrist, wrapping the flame into a sort of spiral.
"Three on one?" Her brother had to shout to be heard over the roar of the fire. Orange hues alternated with shadow across his face. "I thought you played fair!"
With a snap, the flame burst from its spiral in all directions, hissing through the air. Animo dove to the ground as the blaze singed her hair, the smell burning her nostrils.
Albus had remained on his feet and the wizard deflected the attack with a flick of his wand. "You accuse me of the odds," the professor picked his way over the smoldering vegetation towards where Gellert stood. "Yet the Elder Wand lies within your grasp."
Gellert held out the object in question, a gleam of admiration in his eyes as he watched for Albus's response. "Jealous, Albus?" He pursed his lips into a cold smile. "You became too weak to carry out our plans, so I'm afraid I had to pursue the hallows alone."
Animo thought of Tom's ring, but she quickly pushed the thought from her mind. She could never risk Gellert discovering its existence.
"Stupefy! Incarceous!"
The first of Albus's spells missed its mark as Gellert waved his arm, sending it rebounding at his opponent's chest. Yet the second entrapped his torso with a thick cord that wove around his figure mercilessly.
Gellert stumbled, although he did not drop his wand. Albus took the moment to freeze the ground beneath the wizard's feet, sending him tumbling to his knees.
However, Gellert managed to saw one cord of the rope in two, burning the bonds to ash. He retaliated with a torrent of curses, each far nastier than the last. Animo watched in fear as she recognized the green light amidst the volley of flashes. She had never thought Gellert was capable of killing Albus.
Seeming equally saddened, Albus dipped out of the way, using the cover of a nearby pillar to avoid the worst of the attack. Suddenly, a handful of scattered stone sprung to life, hurtling across the ground and burying Gellert beneath their weight.
For an instant, there was no sound. Then, the tiles blasted apart, splintering in the air into millions of fragments. A large piece hit Animo's cheek, cutting the skin beneath her eye.
She was partly blinded as Gellert suddenly turned his assault on her, a torrent of spells spinning towards her head. Animo clasped her hands above her, forming a strong shield charm that Albus would one day invent.
As she gasped for air, Gellert let the debris around them settle, his brow narrowed with interest. "It appears Albus succeeded where I did not. You are no longer a spineless follower."
Animo's heart twisted with pain at the cold derision in her brother's expression. Raising her wand, she tugged at the river that churned just below the fortress. She hoped the water would obey her command as she drew Gellert's attention away from the horizon. "Have you forgotten everything mother taught us?"
For the first time, Gellert's mask broke and a wicked rage rippled across his face. "Do not speak her name." He lashed out with his wand and the ceiling at Animo's feet split open into a cavernous gap. She jumped backwards, narrowly avoiding another curse of the same design. "You did not witness what I did." He panted, his hair bushing out wildly at both sides of his face, "WHAT I HAD TO DO."
"You mean to him?" Animo still refused to call her father by name. "Gellert, I—"
She was shoved out of the way by Tom, who took the brunt of the severing charm Gellert had sent her way. A scarlet line burst across his chest, blood soaking through the front of his robes. Animo took the chance to release her hold on the river below and caused a cascade of rushing water to drench them all. Through the torrent, she could make out Gellert well enough to toss him against the nearest cliffside.
Then, she watched as Albus stood, cutting through the wave as though it were made of nothing but air. His purple robes swirled with a quiet power as he approached Gellert, holding him within a bubble of water long after the wave had receded.
Gellert made no attempt to resist his new bonds, instead fixing Albus with a scathing expression. "You will never have the strength to finish me off." He laughed again and Animo began to hate the sound, her brother's tones strangled with hate. "I have no fear."
Using his distraction to her advantage, Animo crept behind his back before lunging at his shoulders, submerging herself in the same water that held her brother captive. For an instant, Gellert resisted and they remained suspended in the air. Then the water circled around her throat, covering her face so that she could no longer breathe. Her body instantly went into panic as Animo flailed wildly. Her vision was blurry with moisture, yet she could still decipher her brother's gaze as he reared in front of her.
"Remember this moment, Ani," Gellert called over the rush of water in her ears, making her head pound with pain. "This is how the powerless feel."
Then Animo remembered how they had used to hide from their father. The had pretended to be asleep in the darkest hours of the night as he raged through the halls of the house. Sinking back into the water, she waited until its grip lessened and a trickle of oxygen entered her lungs.
With a garbled cry, she lunged straight for Gellert's chest, her fingers wrapping around the iron chain about his throat. To her relief, the link snapped and Animo fell backwards, slamming her head against a boulder. Her skull throbbed with the impact and she felt a rush of blood down the back of her neck, forcing her hair to stick to her skin.
"Albus!" she cried weakly, tossing the chain towards her old friend. For a long moment, the vial hung in the air, as though it was uncertain of which hands to rest in. Then the professor lunged forward, clasping his fingers around the glass.
The water ceased its spiraling around Gellert's chest, dropping him to the ground with a thud. Yet, the dark wizard remained on his knees while a few trickles of water dripped down his chin. His grey suit, however, was untouched. He tilted his head, regarding Albus as the professor stared down at the vial in his hand.
Animo watched her friend fearfully. She recognized the hesitance in his gaze all too well. It was the same expression that had shadowed his face all year, when he had refused to confront Gellert over and over again.
"Having a bit of trouble letting go, Al?" Gellert's voice broke the quiet dusk, his tone soft. Though it was not the softness that one would expect from a former lover. Rather the sort that followed the hissing of a snake before it strikes. "You know once you break our bond, it can never be restored."
At this, Animo whipped back towards Albus in shock. This, her professor had never told her.
"Who—" Albus swallowed thickly, his voice cracking. His gaze never left the vial that contained the blood pact. The crimson liquid held captive inside shimmered darkly. "Who was it, Gellert?"
There was a light crunch of gravel as Tom shifted beside Animo, clearly frustrated at being unable to put the pieces together. Animo's shoulders sagged at the grief that lined Albus's face. For he was referring to Ariana's death and the moment that had broken the illusion Gellert had spun.
Gellert's expression was cold, although Animo caught a flicker of pain in his violet eyes. "I don't know."
His blunt words made Albus's head snap up. For the first time, rage twisted the carefully constructed persona that the professor had crafted. "What?"
The tremor in his voice shook the air around them and even Gellert had the sense to look away, if only for a moment. "I lied," her brother spat. Salvia spewed onto the smoking ground below his feet, sending clumps of ash scattering into the wind. The sun had almost disappeared from the horizon, its last rays a deep red that lit the mountains with an eerie hue. It was as though the world sensed an end coming. "It was the only way to keep you interested, Albus." Gellert tilted his head in a manner that Animo had not seen since childhood. It had always been an act of feigned innocence and even now, she could decipher the malice in his gaze. "After Ariana, you wanted nothing to do with the empire we were creating, consumed instead by your guilt." The wizard stood to his feet, pointing the Elder Wand towards his lover's chest. "Instead of living, Albus, you have wasted your years stuck in a single moment. I simply saw no reason to free you."
There was a long pause as Albus stared at the hillside in front of him, the emerald grass now marred with the effects of their tussle. His brow furrowed and then slackened, as if he were closing some sort of door. "Whatever bond we held was destroyed long ago."
With a single clench of his fist, Albus shattered the vial in his fingers and glass littered the stone below his robes. Crimson trickled down his palm, old blood mixing with new as he let the last remnants of the bottle drop from his grasp.
Gellert hissed, clutching at his chest as though he had been hit by some sort of unseen object. Then, he regained his footing. His expression hardened, a cool venom settling over the sliver of soul he had unveiled. "After fifty years you have finally made your choice." He whipped his wand through the air, "VENTUS!"
A great wind burst from his body, surrounding his suit has it attacked Animo and Albus, blasting them backwards towards the edge of the fortress. Animo was knocked on her stomach, where she scrambled for purchase on the smoldering stones. Her hand brushed against a chipped hunk of rock and she clamped her fingers inside the gap. Blood trickled down her wrist as she clenched her eyes against the grit in the air. To her horror, Albus had continue to tumble across the roof, nearing the edge.
But her warning cry was lost to the wind. Instead, Albus outstretched his arms, summoning several tendrils of vines to wrap themselves around his legs. The vegetation held him steadfast while Gellert's spell dwindled in power, leaving nothing but a light breeze. Then, the transfiguration professor flicked out a hand, causing several large boulders to dislodge themselves from the ground. One by one, they burst into a golden flame that did not scorch the landscape. Instead, the fire seemed reserved for Albus's opponent as they spiraled towards Gellert, who was forced to draw his attention skyward to deflect their attack.
Animo had read every account of the final battle between Albus and her brother that she could lay her hands on. Yet the duel she was currently witnessing put even the most detailed records to shame. Lying with her face pressed into the stone, she inhaled the sharp aroma of smoke and soil. She had imagined herself in this confrontation countless times. Yet she had never expected to be cowering like a hurt animal.
A violent purple curse shot over her head and Tom yanked her back from the duel, his grip merciless around her arm.
"Don't be stupid." It was as though Tom could read the desperation urging her onwards. His hiss was forceful as he reached for her other side, pulling them closer to the staircase. "You're not part of this."
Animo yanked herself backwards. Rejection coiled in the pit of her stomach. Her eyes stung with tears, whether from her pain or the acrid tang in the air, she wasn't sure. "This is my purpose."
"No, it's not!" Tom snapped as Gellert once against cast the Killing Curse in Albus's direction. The transfiguration professor handled the affront with far more ease than the first, simply conjuring a sudden fog that rose up from the ground. The dark gray wisps clumped together faster than Gellert could dismiss them and Animo blinked, starting forward. She could barely discern the outline of Tom's figure in the mist.
"Animo!" Tom grabbed her hand once more, holding her wrist tightly. "Enough."
Pulling them both towards her brother, Animo mindlessly ignored his warnings. "You don't understand," a tear streaked down her face as one of Albus's explosive charms met their mark. A shard of rock slammed into Gellert's wrist, causing a sickening snap. Still, her brother was relentless in his attack.
"Yes, I do." Tom pulled her to a halt, his arm around her waist as he forced her to face, him. Animo tried to look anywhere but his eyes, still halfheartedly fighting to join Albus. "Dumbledore raised you to defeat your brother. But have you ever thought that maybe you were his second choice?" He nodded towards where the two figures had been nearly enveloped in a whirlwind of flame and smoke.
Animo had to shout to be heard over the commotion, her face burning with sweat and cuts from her fall. "I HAVE TO HELP HIM!"
Shaking his head, Tom pursed his lips. His sharp features were further accentuated by the darkness falling about them, the flashes of light staining his skin in various hues. "You already have." He slowly pulled her wand arm down from where she had it pointed at Gellert. "Don't you see? Dumbledore didn't want you to stop Grindelwald. It was always supposed to be him." Over his shoulder, Animo watched as Gellert was driven to his knees, throwing up a shield charm that barely protected him from the curses Albus was wielding. "Your brother never was the target. Dumbledore wanted you to change himself."
A loud crackle made Animo tremble as she waited for her brother to fall. Albus was gaining ground with every hit. She couldn't help the sense of loss that sunk into her chest, along with the sting of betrayal. Once again, she had been used. Albus had always been one step ahead, no matter the time.
Then, she saw a terrible smirk turn the corner of Gellert's lip. Her brother flung out his chest, his injured hand hanging uselessly at his side. A wave of electricity burst from the center of his being, hissing through the air in a violet circle and colliding directly with Albus's stomach. The professor crumpled to the ground, lying motionless with his face pressed into the roof. His gray hair billowed in the wind, but otherwise Albus was still.
Animo let out a great cry, attempting to rush to his side. But Gellert raised his wand directly at her, his cheek stained with blood that stretched down from a deep gash on his brow. "I have lost any hope for you," he spat at her feet before turning towards Tom with a wild gleam in his eyes. "But you, boy. You are much more sensible."
Beside her, Animo felt Tom shift his stance. His wand arm was tight, but he had done nothing to raise it in her defense.
Gellert observed this with an approving chuckle. "You want to know what it is to be a dark wizard?" He lifted his arms about the destroyed mountainside, ash and smoke billowing into the air. "Control. Power." He stalked forward, the charred sticks crunching into dust beneath his feet. "People will tremble at your name. That weakness of your youth, that fear?" He smiled. "Gone forever. In the end, people want to be controlled, you see. They are terrified of being left to their own whims." Flicking a bit of ash from his tattered sleeve, Gellert extended a hand. "We are wolves, leading sheep in the clothes of a shepherd."
Animo watched with deep sadness as Tom met Gellert's gaze, perhaps searching for some sort of recognition. Then, she noticed the twitch of her brother's hand.
"TOM!"
She threw herself in front of his chest, intercepting Gellert's curse. An explosion of pain erupted in her abdomen as she collided harshly with the ground, the gravel biting into her cheek.
"Ani!" Tom jerked back from Gellert, his eyes wide at the blood that had begun to pool in her robes.
Her brother stepped forward, rage fueling his movements. His violet gaze spiraled with a torrent of emotion that Animo knew he had buried as deeply as she had hers. "This is what befalls the weak." He watched as Animo sucked in a shuddering breath, every muscle in her body screaming with the effort. "Tell me, sister. Is love worth this pain?"
Tearing her gaze away from Tom, Animo tried to focus on Gellert's face. However, his features grew hazy while she attempted to lift her head. For the first time she collapsed every wall she had so carefully constructed around her mind. She had thought that by shielding herself, she was protecting those around her. But really, she had closed herself off from anything good. Animo was no longer afraid of who she was, of what she would find behind all those closed doors. All for one reason.
She smiled through her tears, letting Gellert see every memory they had shared together. The times they had hidden in the forest, pretending to be birds among the trees. When he had first begun inviting strange wizards into their home. How she had been afraid, but how her trust had outweighed her worries. "I would rather feel everything than nothing at all."
A scowl deepened Gellert's features, though she could sense that she had moved his soul. Planted a seed of doubt. Yet it was not enough.
"I cannot afford any obstacle," her brother raised his wand at the same time Tom raised his. Gellert scoffed, undeterred by the boy's offensive stance. "Step aside."
Then, a rush of water burst once more over the rooftop, blasting Gellert away from them and towards the edge of the destroyed bannister.
As the wave receded, Albus pushed himself up from the ground, water still lapping at his feet. Gellert attempted once more to face his former friend while Albus turned to Animo with a sad smile. His blue eyes twinkled with an understanding that Animo could not comprehend.
"For the greater good."
Then, with a simple movement, Albus lunged towards Gellert, embracing him with a grip so tight that Animo knew it could only be laced with magic. She watched helplessly as Gellert fell backwards into the air. There was no longer any ground to catch him.
Both men disappeared beneath the floor of the fortress, Albus's grasp never faltering despite Gellert's last attempts to free himself. Animo flinched at the heavy thud that followed their fall.
The gentle whisper of the wind through the pines was her only response.
A small sob shook her shoulders, but Animo could manage no further motions as she crawled forward, attempting to find her brothers. Her fingers were slick with blood from clutching her stomach and they slipped against the gravel.
"Ani," Tom's voice was hoarse as he pried her back, cradling her gently as he sank to his knees. His usual cold persona had been broken and his appearance was as distressed as the gleam in his brown eyes. Animo scanned his expression through a blurry gaze, finding it hard to draw her next breath. Finally, she could see the soul of Tom Riddle. The boy he could have been all along.
"Thomas," she returned weakly, trying to reach up to touch his knotted curls. But her fingers only twitched against her chest.
"Why?" Tom swallowed thickly, outrage clotting his voice. Yet Animo could see the fear in his gaze, as if he was refusing to acknowledge what was haunting him. "I nearly went with him."
Smiling slightly, Animo let her eyes close, the pain receding in her chest. She was so tired. "But you didn't."
She felt Tom's hand against her cheek as he shook her forcefully, his fingertips rough against her scratched skin. "Stay with me." His tone shook with a note of vulnerability. "Please."
Yet his words were growing fainter. Animo sank back into his touch and struggled to force enough energy into her throat. She knew she could not leave without releasing the feeling that had been burning in her chest. "I love you."
It had been so long since Animo had felt the truth of those words.