AN: Written for last year's Christmas fic exchange at DAYDcomm. The prompt was Neville Longbottom, action, poem.
A dark secret passage.
A steep staircase.
A tapestry, shadow's ward.
Of welcoming darkness concealing embrace
Will end after less than a yard.
A hallway half-hidden.
In torch's waving light,
Each shadow moves as a threat.
The castle is quiet on this mission's night
In fact, it might seem almost dead.
Another dark hallway.
A torch without flame.
Just cold stone under his hand.
A hand that slides over one more picture frame,
As dark passage nears its end.
A light in the distance.
Slow steps approach.
They are just beyond the next turn.
A niche behind statue, where he could croach
Gives safety, but coult to trap turn.
A breath tightly held.
Fingers motionless, tight.
A wand frozen in hidden hand.
The steps have passed by, but residual fright
Slows the next motion's command.
Dim gleam of white marble
Few final steps lit:
The staircase to target floor.
And now just stone dark under his feet,
As he reaches the final door.
A quick whispered spell.
Silent turn of the door.
Quick steps into the target room.
Now just to cross over few feet of floor,
And mission will end without doom.
A package slid over.
One more silent look.
And now just to get away.
The last part of mission, whih forever took
Can now begin on its way.
A sudden bright light.
Blinding flash of a spell.
He's caught just a foot from the door.
Just when mission end was near enough to smell,
His hopes are dashed to the floor.
Professor Longbottom!
That's a nice surprise.
But please be more careful next time.
It's good that you I quickly did recognize,
Or I'd have committed a crime.
Thank you for your present delivery great.
Big surprise for all it will be.
I'm sure the children will appreciate
Once all their presents they see.
