A/N: Finally, got 'round to publishing this. (I hate publishing procedures. It's all so tedious.) This was written primarily for the Galleon Competition. I haven't written second person in a long time (well, I've written it, just not published it on ffn, nor was it fanfiction) so it felt nice to get back into that feeling. :) I really like how it turned out. I hope you like it as much as I did! :D
Disclaimer: Just thinking it makes me sigh in regret. FINE, I don't own Harry Potter.
Let Me Cry
by Brooke
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After Ginny has been saved by Harry Potter (your stomach does flips at the mention of his name; you're absolutely enamoured with his jet black hair and piercing green eyes) and all the drama is over, you float through the sink and through the long pipes, wandering around the vast, cavernous twists and turns off the chamber until you come to a stop in front of a long, scaly green carcass, with slashes on its once untainted coat that are swelling with blood.
Even though you have been expecting it, have heard the frantic whispers exchanged between students during the aftermath of the horrifying event, your stomach still twists into a knot at the sight of your killer.
You flinch as you inadvertently meet the creature's glowing eyes (your last memory in the world of living before you were plunged into darkness; you have those very eyes imprinted across your eyelids) - eyes that are not, you realize, glowing at all; they are now dull and glassy, made so by the poisonous touch of Death himself.
The thought that somehow, your killer has received the punishment it deserves, lifts a heavy weight from your chest that you didn't even know existed till now. You collapse onto the floor, letting out a wretched sob, one that you don't know is of sorrow of happiness.
(You don't even know what to think now.)
You wipe at your eyes and realize that there is not a tint of moisture on your hands, and it is then that you remember that you cannot cry, that you are incapable of expressing such a human emotion because you are not even human yourself.
The thought makes you want to cry, but of course you cannot cry, but you try anyways. Pent-up sobs wrack your body, and a guttural scream rips from your throat - it sounds sort of like gurgling water.
Stupid Myrtle. Moaning Myrtle. Mudblood Myrtle. Glasses geek. Olive's taunting voice echoes through your head, accompanied by the laughter of her peers. Moaning Myrtle. She's so fat and ugly; she'll never have a boyfriend. She should have the the Cruciatus Curse cast on her; she deserves it for existing. Hey, Myrtle, finally realized that you're worthless and decided to do us all a favor by jumping in the Great Lake?
You clench your fist, shoulders quivering with anger, and punch the wall as hard as you can, but to no avail. Your hand sails through the stone and swipes back up. You yell out again, attempting to punch the wall, again, again, anything to subside that burning rage that boils in her stomach -
As you draw your fist back, you hear a sudden caw. A soft breeze ruffles your hair, and you suddenly feel calm and at rest. Music, sweet and high, floats through the air. You close your eyes and allow yourself to be absorbed in the sweet, melodic strains of the piece.
You hear a scuffing noise and open your eyes. A beautiful phoenix stands before you, with feathers like flames licking up his body. His liquid gold eyes regard you curiously as if reading your mind. He pauses for a second before approaching you cautiously and laying a head on your leg, somehow not sinking through.
You tentatively reach out, stroking his feathers, which are silky to the touch. You feel a strange sensation near your knee - startled, you look down, and see the phoenix crying silently on your knee.
You gasp in surprise. Phoenix tears, you know, are immensely powerful and having magical healing properties. The act is strangely comforting, though.
You blink, still stunned, and shriek out loud when you see your knee again. It is no longer grey and transparent like usual; instead, it is a soft peachy color. It takes you a moment to register that this is the color of skin. Your mind races with questions; how? Why? What happened…?
As if sensing her confusion, the phoenix gently nudges your arm. You whip around to look at it - oh, it's also begun to transform to the color of skin!
You shriek and double over, laughing. You clutch your face - now solid and smooth - and grin to yourself, still laughing. Tears of joy run down your face.
Wait - tears? You touch your face with your index finger and hold the finger level to your eyes, seeing that it is slightly stained with moisture.
You turn to the phoenix, whose eyes are filled with understanding. "Thank you..." you whisper softly, your voice slightly choked. The name comes to you suddenly, and you smile at the knowing bird. "Fawkes. Thank you, Fawkes," you finish. "A thousand thank you's cannot express how grateful I am to you."
Fawkes eyes flash with emotion. He lets out a soft caw, and disappears in a flash of gold.
His job is done.
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BROOKE'S COMPETITION/CHALLENGE CORNER OF AWESOMENESS:
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[Build-A-Bear Challenge] Average Stuffing - Write a story of 500 - 1000 words
[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry] Ancient Runes - Write about someone giving someone else a gift, or being generous
[Greek Mythology Mega Prompt Challenge] Hades - Write about the Chamber of Secrets
[Galleon Competition] Prompts; Moaning Myrtle, Fawkes, Hurt/Comfort
[Pick A Card, Any Card Challenge] Nine of Diamonds: Write about Fawkes.
[Rock/Paper/Scissors Challenge] Prompt; Cructius Curse
[Lolita Challenge] Alice auaa – Write about transparency (literally or figuratively)
[Disney Character Challenge] Pumbaa - Write about someone who is considered physically imperfect by society.
