<i><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#b30000">Why doesn't he just kill me? Sever this link, take the bloody ring and be done with it?</span></i>Hawke hid the thought away beyond the other man's reach. Or so he hoped as he tried to imagine what he might do in Albi's place, facing a wounded enemy among other advantages. The Auror was honestly surprised that a wand had yet to be raised in this oddly civil conversation. All things considered.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#b30000"><i>He needs something, then. I'm obviously useful to him in some way. </i></span>Hawke had yet to deduce what exactly this use was, unsure if he should be grateful or concerned. However, as Albiorix began to describe this third party, their twisted methods and agenda, it didn't take much for Hawke to guess.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#b30000"><i>They tried to recruit him and failed. If he escaped with this much knowledge, then surely they'll be out for his blood.</i> </span>Hawke almost smirked.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#b30000"><i>Scared, are we? </i></span><br/><br/>Then again, a third party with this much power, supposedly rivaling Voldemort, and practically immortal through his very same methods . . .<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#b30000"> "Joramir. This Ministry has thought him dead for years now,"</span>he frowned, head spinning slightly as he forced his vision to refocus.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#b30000">"Nearly killed me in the Battle of Hogwarts, too." </span>Hawke had been bent on avenging his mother's death, had been solely focused on taking out her killers and foolishly off-guard.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#b30000"> "Still, little girl, or no . . . if it's true, if she's as powerful as Voldemort and desperate enough to resort to magic as foul as a horcrux, then they need to be eliminated."</span>As the map materialized in front of his feet, Hawke dared not bend down to retrieve it. Not because he expected to be attacked, but because he wasn't confident he could stand back up. Instead, gold eyes watched the moonlight glint off that silver mask.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#b30000">"This is useful . . . "</span>It was as close to a thank you as the Death Eater would ever get.<br/><br/>And of course he hadn't really expected an answer from the man regarding what he'd seen inside Albiorix's head.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(179, 0, 0)"> "Fair enough." </span>Hawke shrugged, the action sending pain ripping down his spine, doing a likely poor job hiding the gasp that escaped him. He had no choice but to accept this answer for now, vowing to do his own research later.<br/><br/>Not truly an answer at all.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#b30000">"Did I . . . ?" </span>Hawke didn't have the energy to move away, limbs feeling heavy as the Death Eater stepped threateningly closer to him. He clenched his wand tighter as the dual memories replayed in his mind, both vividly real, the lie indistinguishable. And oddly enough, a part of him wanted his father to be dead. Needed it to be true, which only further irritated his lack of a real answer. Gold eyes bore into the dark slits of the mask with agitation, the link feeling stronger now than ever before as he met the gaze hidden beneath.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#b30000"> "You think you know me just because we shared a few memories? That you can tell me we're the same because you meddled around in my head? You had no right."</span>The pool of blood dripping at his feet was growing too fast.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#b30000"> "Maybe he's alive, alone and unaware his wife is dead and his children hate him. Maybe I did kill him. You saw he deserved it, unlike those . . . " <i>What, innocent muggles?</i> </span>Hawke remembered what he'd seen, the crowd chanting for blood as a man hung from the rafters. They weren't any more innocent than his father, repressing the magic of his own children out of jealousy.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#b30000"><i>No one's completely good, </i></span>his mind conceded.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#b30000">"I'm nothing like you. Nothing,"</span>but even as the lie left his lips, he knew the link would whisper the truth between them, impossible to stop it at this proximity. But Hawke was still unwilling to believe it, himself, in denial as it were. He was suddenly very tired.<br/><br/>Even without his questions answered, he needed to leave, needed to apparate to safety<i>now</i>while he was still on his feet. Granted if he missed his mark, landed anywhere besides outside the phone booths, Analiese would be on him in an instant. And so he didn't have time to play these mind games, holding out a bloodied fist to hand over the ring.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#b30000">"Since you asked so nicely . . . " </span>Heart beating loud in his ears, Hawke's movement stilled as the Death Eater's mask multiplied before his eyes, vision going dark as he collapsed forward ad blacked out from blood loss.