temptation: the act of tempting or the state of being tempted especially to evil.

Death was enticing. It whispered sweet nothings into her ear, lovely sticky lullabies that meant to pull you into eternal slumber. She could have done it easily, all it’d take was a swig of a vial; a pure poisonous potion.

In her days as a schoolgirl, she would have never personified death as a human: it merely existed. After years of running, she came to see death as a man she couldn’t stop thinking of; all her thoughts centered around him. He was, in her mind, brooding in the shadows, calling out to grab her hand and take her into a new land. He was a siren, beckoning for her to join his sea of sorrow.

It was easy to confuse his temptations for love, she hadn’t felt the touch of another for quite some time. Even in her dreams, memories of true love were beginning to feel like distant memories that didn’t even belong to her. No, it was beginning to feel like her soul was placed in a body of another; an empty shell clinging to hopes and dreams of another--someone far happier than she was. Death would be easy. To slip away into his arms and feel an embrace, no matter how cold it’d be.

Crucio.

Was that his voice? His words causing her such pain so that she may seek him? Even death was less cruel than this...was he not?

'Crucio.'

Searing fire licked at her lungs, crackling her rib cage as timber-fuel. Lily always imagined death to be colder; like the type  of wind that cracks lips so much they bleed.

'Tell me where he is...and I shall have mercy.'

Death was merciful...it ended suffering. She could tell them...save herself weeks of torture, maybe get something out of them...but she wouldn’t. The man was helpless, wandless, and with or without her he’d die in the loneliness of the woods; eaten alive by whatever creatures lurked in the night.

'It’s not so hard, dear. Just tell me where the mudblood is and I shall pay you beautifully. Reunite you with your son? Doesn’t that sound lovely?'

Harry...oh how she craved to see her boy, to plant kisses atop his unruly jet-black hair and hear the sound of his laughter. All she had to do was tell them where he was...and she knew. Temptation accompanied death, its kisses were more passionate, understanding...she could have it all back again; she just needed to share what she knew. Betray the helpless muggleborn man, a comrade in her endeavors. Temptation felt cruel, filthy, evil, cold. Death was the warm one, she decided--she’d sooner rather die.