Drop, Drip, Drop, Drip, Drop...boom.

There was most definitely something wrong with the scene. For a couple so young, so blessed with youth and beauty it was tragic that they found themselves in such a situation. The young woman seemed broken, though the cracks were far from new. No, they had always been there; it was only now that they were left bear for her company to see. She was far weaker than she would have readily admitted. As she peered at him through her long, dark eyelashes she tried to picture a time different to this one, a happier time in a brighter place -- no such luck. Her eyes were dulled with the suffering that engulfed a person whether he or she wanted it or not upon entering Azkaban. What she wanted to do was to curl her fingers around the lapels of his robes and cling to him, somehow mould herself against him in such a way that the guards would not see, so she could leave with him when the time came. She could not bring herself to do it though. Despite the tiny amount of space between them, she felt as if they were worlds apart; and really, they were.

“She doesn’t stop,” Athena told him in reference to the insistent wails over in one of southern cell blocks. “Arson is the rumour. Burnt down a village in a state no one speaks of. Killed her adulterous husband and children in the process. Aurors found her in the ashes of the manor. She alone was held accountable for crimes many suspect she was innocent of. She bore no recollection of what happened during the trial but in her grief, admitted to it all the same. She got a trial. I don’t. I’m not blessed with such a thing. You don’t get trials if you’re guilty. Found guilty at the scene. Pity. Life...what does that mean, anyway? How long will it be until I go mad, Rookwood? How long will it be until they come to me with their crooked little grins and rotting mouths with a quill and a piece of parchment asking me to sign away my soul to the Dementors? How long?!”

Athena closed her eyes for a second and run her hands together, her grip tight but lax by comparison to the iron-clad grasp she used to boast. Her eyes reopened and found herself reaching for Kendall, her hands finding his cheeks, revelling at the softness, at the warmth. Athena bit her lips and brought her fingers gently across his cheekbones, taking him in as if he were something truly wonderful to behold. The brightness of his robes was still offensive yet she could no longer bring herself to hate him for it. Athena dropped one hand and gently fingered the collar of his shirt, shocked by how soft the material was. Her hand went to her own shirt and she grimaced at the scratchy, unpleasant feel of the fabric.

“You’re not real,” She whispered, meeting his gaze as he spoke her name. “Why, Kendall? Why come and see me? Hmm?” Her eyes flickered across his frame, catching sight of the wand in his pocket. She swallowed, bringing her eyes back to his and moved closer to him.

For the second time, his lips covered hers and Athena allowed herself to enjoy it, to enjoy the feel of his warmth radiating into her body that had been frozen and would remain so, she did not doubt, for years to come. It was as she returned the kiss, throwing one arm around his neck to tug him closer to her, that Athena’s hand began to ghost across his frame, not quite touching him but close enough for a wrinkled piece of fabric to brush across her palm should it exist. The pads of her fingers brushed against the intricate handle of his wand and she tugged gently at it, unsheathing it from his pocket as she slipped her tongue into his mouth, believing that that alone would be enough to keep him distracted. With a flick of her wrist, Athena let the wand fall into the sleeve of her shirt and she brought her hand to his neck, stroking her thumb across his jaw as she wondered whether he’d be as amused as she believed he would be with her cunning.

Sorry, she thought to herself, But it was necessary.

He was making a stupid mistake. Sentiments. He was not brought up that way. Kendall remembered the night that seemed so long ago now. In fact, it seemed too far back to be real; or perhaps that was what he would like to believe. It was real. He knew it was. There was a moment of sentimentality that he did not typically permit himself. Yet, he could not help himself the last time. Kendall had, however, attempted to fix the situation. He thought he had, at least. The walls that were built to keep his distance, however, didn’t seem that formidable now. Kendall watched Athena and didn’t know what to think of the twinge of unease that he felt as he did so. It was easier to believe that he was only trying to get lucky in the most unthinkable of places. Perhaps it would help him get over that stupid fear of the place.

Kendall didn’t want to answer her questions. In that short moment, he couldn’t come up with an excuse. He didn’t want to admit anything either. And so, he plunged himself into the thrill of the sudden intimacy with Athena. He increased the strength of its hold of her waist, making an effort to pull her closer to him. He didn’t think that he wasn’t going to get lucky after all, of course. Embarrassingly, he was hardly aware of anything else. He trusted her. Possibly, it was the sudden rush of fulfilment that drove him. The absolute focus he had on the girl was to be blamed.

Still holding Athena, Kendall withdrew a little and began to study her face. “Hello, ugly.” He smirked and looked away, shifting himself back to a distance. The boy couldn’t bear to look at her now. Attempting to save himself from plunging into Merlin knows what, Kendall retained a nonchalance that would be wise, in his opinion. “Well, hope you enjoyed that, love.” He groped around the end of his bed for the robe he had removed just moments ago. Standing up, he slipped it on smoothly and turned to walk out. Staring at the ground in front of him again, he opened his mouth before his head had the words he would believe prudent to say.

“Goodbye, Goyle.” There was no resistance from Athena. Kendall had waited, albeit a couple of seconds, as if he wanted a response. And then, fearing the revelation of his thoughts, he continued his stride out, ignoring the warden who stood up quickly and grunted as he turned to inspect the cell and Athena, before turning to follow after the boy.