Hogsmead Village

"Maybe, but I was one of his best thieves..."

'One of the best. You're still disposable.'

"Wow, curb my enthusiasm why don't you?"

'This isn't about your own self value, its about what he thinks you're worth.'

I was stood, leaning against the wall of the Three broomsticks, my eyes shut against the inking sun and the bright layer of snow on the ground

He was blending into the shadows. He had the hood to his cloak up so that it obscured his face. He didn't want anyone to know where he was. He spotted his wife just outside the Three Broomsticks and approached her, keeping his head down.

I head somone approch and my head snapped up, my eyes narrowing untill i realised who it was. I smiled.

He raised his head just enough to look at her. "Hello love." He smiled.

I threw m arms around his neck, my head buried in his shoulder. 'I was so scared you wouldnt come back.' I say quietly.

He smiled and held her in a tight hug. He gently released her and held her at arms length. "Of course I'd get out. But, love, you mustn't act as though it's me. The Aurors and dementors are surely looking for me now and I can't let them find me."

I smile. 'They know you would be with me anyway, so...'

Here came the painful part that Death was hoping he wouldn't have to go through. "I won't be with you though."

'Dont...dont you dare, death.' I take a step away from him, looking at him. 'Dont leave me.'

"I'm not leaving you. I just can't be with you while all this shit is going down around me. I have to be elsewhere."

He had to fight every cell in his being that screamed to hold her against him and tell her that everything would be okay. He kept just far enough away from her that if anyone were to walk by they wouldn't think anything of it. He hated breaking her heart like this.

't still counts as leaving me. i didnt give you artemis's wand just for you to stay away from me.'

"I can't stay with you River. They'll find me and throw me back in that hell hole. Then everything that we went through would be all for naught."

'Ill stop them.' I whisper. 'I cant...i cant live without you by myside. you keep me sane, death. you go...and i cant cope....'

"If I go, why don't you go with me? We will have to live under the ropes for a while until everything smooths over, but at least you'll still be with me."

'Because hogwarts is my home. Besides...I have to reurn that wand i gave you.'

He sighed. There wasn't an easy way to do this. "Okay." He reached into his robes and pulled out Artemis's wand. "There, return it to him. If you can, try and get mine back."

'Ill try.' I pull out a peice of parchement and write a letter, folding it around the wand. 'Walk with me down to the owl office' I start walking away, knowing he would follow behind me

He easily kept stride with her. "River we need to talk about this. It isn't going to solve itself. You want to stay at Hogwarts because it's your home, but you also want to stay with me. I can't stay at Hogwarts because, well, I'm a wanted man, but I want to be with you. I want you to be happy."

'Im never going to be happy, Death!' I cry. 'never. even if im with you, with the one person i need in my life, i wouldnt be able to be happy...'
I carry on walking, not looking at him untill I reached the own i wanted. I made a big deal out of tying the letter to its foot, not wanting to see death see my hands shaking.
I watched the owl fly off with the letter:
Artemis. As promised, your wand is back. And i didnt hurt anyone. I just have one favour to ask. I want Deaths wand. Please, Artmis.
River

I turn to death. 'Youll have your wand soon. then you can go.'

He then did something that was either incredibly stupid or incredibly, well, smart.

He reached out and grabbed River's arm. He pulled her into his chest and crushed their lips together. He kissed her until all the anger, all the love, all the emotion was out of him. He didn't let go, he didn't hold back, he didn't give up until he was done.

I put a hand on his chest and pushed slightly, taking the smallest step back and taking a breathe, fighting myself to return to him or talk. 'Dont. please. if your going to go....dont...'