Disclaimer: I don't own HP.

A/N: Had to write a poem for class; naturally the first topic that popped to my mind was the scene I had written the night before. Decided I might as well post it here. Enjoy.

ten years ago

he thought differently

he grew up with

definite ideals

ten years ago

he hit a wall

"noble" ideas which

he had always scorned

stopped him cold

he had two choices

he could crawl away

and next time walk around it

or he could look again

stand up

dust himself off

somehow make it to the top

and come to understand

ten years ago

he made a choice

he chose a second glance

it wasn't easy

his family didn't approve

the world didn't understand

how he could be changing

it took time

and work

many rows

between him and his new friends

one day he saw it clearly

prejudice working both ways

he realized he didn't

want to be either

oppressor or victim

ten years ago

he was halfway up the wall

when he met his family again

they tried to get him down

but he refused

he wanted both

old family and new beliefs

so they cast him out

could not accept

that he could be with them

but not against the others

on the train

he looked out the window

saw mountains and fields and trees

some of which were dying

he couldn't save them

but he could save himself

with a little help

on top of the wall

he can see both sides now

he never would've gotten there

if he hadn't hit it

in a long-ago

ten years ago

moment

or moments

of grace