Author's Note:

This is a grouping of short ficlets written in response to challenges posted on the LiveJournal community 30-Minute Fics. Each chapter is an independent story unto itself, with varying characters, tones,and scenarios. All meant in fun and to keep my memory fresh. Hope you enjoy!

Challenge #32: King of Pain Read the lyrics from "King of Pain" by the Police, pick a character, and write about said character's secret angst.

Title: Grief

Rating: G

A/N: Completed in 33 minutes.

I have stood here before in the pouring rain
With the world turning circles running 'round my brain
I guess I always thought you could end this reign
But it's my destiny to be the king of pain

With the dull gray sky, filled with heavy ashen clouds, far above, she set out, taking long strides across the wet school grounds. No early-morning sun broke through those clouds, no color brightened the small, secluded world that enveloped Hogwarts, fitting around it and hiding it away forever. Indeed, it seemed as though color would never return to this place she had once loved. Everything that had made it cheerful at its best, and bearable at its worst, was gone.

She'd had to get out. Roused from an uneasy slumber, she'd felt the beginnings of panic clutching at her throat, immobilizing her. The need to flee had suddenly been as strong as any other animal instinct she had ever experienced.

Pausing mid-step at the far end of the lake, Minerva turned unseeing eyes in the direction of the choppy gray water. Cold, stinging drops of rain fell about her, permeating through her clothing, drenching her hair, rolling down her tired, worn face. She breathed deeply and hunched her thin shoulders, pulling the soaking cloak tighter about her shivering body.

Standing there atop the sloping bank of the loch, her mind jumped back across the years. How many times, when she'd been certain there would be no one to see, had she stood in this very spot? How many times had this spare bit of land comforted her in times of trouble, allowed her stability and a place to hide her worries away from prying eyes? All through the first war, through the days of Harry Potter's schooling, this spot had been her refuge, her safe house.

Now it had become even more personal. Sacred, one might say. With the stinging rush of air whipping about her in a wild endeavor to tear away her cloak, Minerva raised her eyes to the shining white tomb that sat upon the opposite bank. It was regal and comforting all at once, as had been the one who lay entombed within, and it brought a raw stinging ache to the back of her throat to see it.

She supposed it had been selfish of her to believe he alone would be their sole support, the only pillar in which they could rely and place all their faith. Had she asked too much of him in believing that, no matter the state of the world, he would be able to mend it?

It had been selfish. Just as it was selfish now to be angry with him for his desertion, for leaving this heavy burden with her. For succumbing to human mortality when he was supposed to be invincible, supposed to be there with them always.

Her own fault - it was her own fault that he was gone. The decision to send for Severus, for the traitor, on that fateful day had rested with her. He would never have been the wiser to the goings-on, had it not been for her orders.

Eyes tearing, she made no attempt to brush away the dark strands of hair that blew across her face. The marble stood out, a pale splash across a dark and dingy world. Her face took on a bleak and desolate look. The others had forgiven her for her mishaps all too readily, but she knew she could never truly forgive herself.

Cold. She was so cold, and so empty. It seemed impossible that she had once been filled with the fire of trust, and devotion, and love. Shivering, Minerva sought warmth where there was none from the moist cloak wrapped about her body, and from the biting rain, and felt the pain of loss overwhelm her.