Disclaimer- if Sophia owned Harry Potter… if Sophia owned Harry Potter… (all wars end, they all get married to their true loves. Everything JK Rowling has worked up to is basically ruined.) As Chris would say- "Nice going. The world just died."
(A/N- Once Upon a December from the Anastasia soundtrack. Though the song is in italics instead of quotes, Hermione's singing it. If you're like me and usually skip the lyrics if you don't know the song, don't worry, you can still follow it. :D)
Dancing bears
Painted wings
Things I almost remember,
And a song someone sings
once upon a December
"Miss Granger, is that you? What are you doing all alone out here, after you should be in your room? What are you singing?"
I was in no mood for Professor Snape's interrogation. "I'm sorry, Professor. I just received some news this morning."
"Oh. Yes, I heard. I'm very sorry for your loss, Miss Granger. Should I go get Professor McGonagall?"
"You don't have to." I sighed. "And to answer your other question, it's a song my parents used to sing to me as a child. Whenever I was having bad dreams. They promised this one would never come true…" I heard my voice become high pitched at the end. I continued singing.
Someone holds me safe and warm,
horses prance through a silver storm,
Figures dancing gracefully,
across my memory,
Professor Snape carefully walked to my side, looking down at my face. "Miss Granger, are you… crying?"
"Yes." I whimpered. "That is what one tends to do when they find that their parents have been murdered the prior night."
I will never forget the look on Snape's face that night. He was sympathetic and empathetic, feeling one would never associate with the cold Potions Master. I could bear to look at him no longer, returning my gaze to the dark horizon before me. An accurate metaphor to how I was feeling at the moment. He knelt beside me, his hand gently rubbing my trembling back. "Go on with your song." He softly urged.
Far away, long ago
things I yearn to remember
and a song someone sings
Once upon a December
Upon hitting the last note, I could take no more. I gasped for breath as deep sobs ricocheted though my body. Before I knew it I was pulled into his arms, and I vaguely remember him rocking me softly while I fell to pieces. I now realize that my salty tears probably ruined his ebony robes, but I don't think either of us cared at the moment. It took a very long time for me to gain even the most minimal composure, at which point I slowly pulled my weak body from the muddy ground. He held his arm around me, emotionally and physically supporting me, as he escorted me to my private Head Girl room. Not letting go until we were fully inside, near my bed, he tilted my face towards him with his hand.
"Miss Granger," He asked with sincerity, "You're leaving on the Hogwarts Express tomorrow, going to relatives for a while?"
I nodded, tears still cascading down my face. He took his right thumb and wiped some away, making it substantially easier for me to see.
"Take your time," He assured, "But don't be gone too long. Minds like yours are the backbone of Hogwarts. You probably don't know how essential you are to the school."
I opened my mouth in an attempt to express any sort of thanks, but my attempts were futile. "Its okay." He promised, wiping my face once more before he walked out, signature robes billowing behind him. I did not, as one would expect, run off to tell Harry and Ron. For some reason he chose to keep this part of himself private, and the least I could do to repay him was keep his secret. Today, thinking about the colors that represent each house, I laugh. If I learned one thing in these seven years, it is that Gryffindor is not the only Gold.
