Disclaimer: Um… if it were mine, do you really think I'd be posting here? Harry Potter & co belongs to JK Rowling and American Beauty belongs to I dunno? Dreamworks?
A/N: I was listening to Lester's end monologue from American Beauty and well… everytime I hear "my cousin Tony's brand new Firebird" I think of "Firebolt" So I thought I'd play with the monologue a bit and see if I could fit it into the Harry Potter world… It stays pretty close to the original, but hey… who cares? Let me know what you think :)
I'd always heard your entire life flashes in front of your eyes, the second before you die.
First of all that one second isn't a second at all. It stretches on for ever, like an ocean of time.
"We should do this more often", Harry smiled at Ron, a Nimbus 2000 and a school broom lying next to them. Not waiting for an answer, he rolled on his back and put his hands behind his head.
For me, it was lying on the roof of the astronomy tower watching falling stars…
AVADA…
"MIND THAT TREE!" Harry bellowed, lunging for the steering wheel, but too late – CRUNCH.
…
"Can you believe our luck?" said Ron miserably, "Of all the trees we could've hit, we had to get one that hits back."
…and the branches of the Whomping Willow that guarded the secret passage underneath…
AVADA…Dumbledore lowered his hands and surveyed Harry through his half-moon glasses.
"It is time," he said, "for me to tell you what I should have told you five years ago, Harry. Please sit down. I am going to tell you everything."
…or Dumbledore's hands, and the way his skin seemed like paper…
AVADA KEDAVRA"What's that?" said Ron, looking over, a freshly unwrapped pair of maroon socks in his hand.
"Dunno…"
Harry ripped the parcel open and gasped as a magnificent, gleaming broomstick rolled out onto his bedspread. Ron dropped his socks and jumped of his bed for a closer look.
"I don't believe it", he said hoarsely.
…and the first time I layed hands on my own brand new Firebolt…
The couple stood motionless in the pouring rain, looking at the dead body in front of them, holding eachother for support. Tears were streaming down the womans face as she whispered goodbye to the person she had known for so long, her best friend.
He held her close, not daring to believe his eyes. It just couldn't be… "That's not how it was meant to happen, it must be some sick joke. Yes, that's it, Harry's going to jump up any second now. He's not dead."
…and Hermione… and Ron…
A quiet "pop" announced the arrival of another person. But she hardly noticed Ron and Hermione standing there. Her eyes were fixed on Harry. "No", she whispered. "NO!" Unable to stand any longer, she dropped to her knees and lay down next to him. The way she always snuggled up to him when they went to bed.
…and Ginny.
I guess I could be pretty pissed off about what happened to me. But it's hard to stay mad when there's so much beauty in the world.
Sometimes I feel like I'm seeing it all at once and it's too much.
My heart fills up like a balloon that's about to burst…
And then I remember to relax… and stop trying to hold on to it.
And then it flows through me like rain, and I can't feel anything but gratitude for every single moment of my stupid little life.
You have no idea what I'm talking about I'm sure… but don't worry… you will someday.