Rapt with Frost
Victory comes late,
And is held low to freezing lips
Too rapt with frost
To take it.
How sweet it would have tasted,
Just a drop!
--Emily Dickinson
As Years Pass
. .Forty years ago we stood and fought for our freedom. Forty years ago the Chosen One died at the Dark Lord's hands, tortured to death. Thirty-eight years ago the Dark Lord conquered Britain. Thirty-seven years ago the Grey Robes, wearing the Dark Mark on their sleeves, were established to hunt down and crush rebellion. Thirty-seven years ago the Dark Lord set out to conquer the world. Thirty-five years ago he succeeded. Thirty-five years ago the brutal persecution of anyone with more than a Muggle great-grandparent began. Twenty-three years ago the last known person of Muggle descent died, strangled by the Dark Robes.
. .Twenty-two years ago we rallied again in secret under the red lightning bolt. Twenty-one years ago the last living member of the original Order of the Phoenix died of old age. Twenty years ago Hogwarts was enlarged. Eighteen years ago Geoffrey Sarason became its headmaster. Seventeen years ago we stepped up our attacks. Eight years ago we quested to destroy the Dark Lord's Horcuxes. Six years ago we succeeded. One year ago we finished destroying the Death Eater puppet leaders around the world, and on this day of May in the Year of our Lord 2048, we tried and executed Professor Sarason, who led a regiment of Grey Robes in his day, for crimes against humanity.
Today we have won, but so many on both sides never lived to see freedom. May God forgive us and our enemies for our crimes.
A/N: This could be a prologue to a more detailed story, or a really short oneshot. I'm not quite sure. Anyway, the results of reading The Deathly Hallows halfway through a one thousand page alternate history. Hope you like it! Drop a review if you can.