Disclaimer: I forgot to put this up here the first time… whoops! Anyhoo… needless to say, I don't own any of these characters… they're all the property of J.K. Rowling, nor do I own Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again" from "Phantom of the Opera".~~
She walked inside her bedroom and waved her wand at the fireplace. A fire started to burn, bringing light to the lifeless room. Soon the room was warm despite the cold and crisp January air.
This January was different. This January was solemn.
Albus Dumbledore had died the night before.
Just three nights ago he had been celebrating the new year at her side… and now he was gone. She wished she could be with him. He'd been by her side every day since she was eight… she couldn't imagine or bear a life without him. P
She shivered as the took the pins out of her hair and put them in a china bowl. Her waist-long brown hair cascaded down. The only sound was that of the crackling of the fire; it was still Christmas Break and most of the students were spending the holidays with their families. They would arrive in a few days to discover the horrible news that their beloved Headmaster had passed away.
He had gone peacefully in his sleep around 2 A.M. She had awakened with a premonition and gone up to his room immediately. On the way, she had run into Sybil Trelawney, who claimed to know that Dumbledore was unwell. Despite her lack of patience for Sybil, she had let her join her on her way to see Albus. When they arrived, they discovered him in his favorite armchair, already n his eternal sleep. They had been joined by the other professors shortly after.
There now came a knock on the door.
"Who is it", she asked.
"It's Argus. I was wondering when you were going to move everything into Dumbledore's old office-"
She flung the door open and slapped Filch across the face.
"How dare you, you impertinent fool! He's not even cold yet and you're worried about a stupid thing like that! If I were you I'd be worried about whether or not I'm going to let you keep your job!".
She slammed the door in Filch's face before he could respond and burst into uncontrollable tears. She sat in front of the fireplace and buried her face in her hands.
Filch's visit had alerted her to another reality: Dumbledore had long ago appointed her to be Headmistress should anything happen to him; she had been serving as his Deputy for years and it was only logical that she should replace him.
But… it was Albus. Her best friend… her mentor… her father figure… her guardian… her caretaker…
She just couldn't bring herself to say goodbye. She instead concentrated solely on Albus and blocked everything else out.
You were once my one companion,
You were all that mattered…
You were once a friend and father,
Then my world was shattered.
Wishing you were somehow here again…
Wishing you were somehow near;
Sometimes it seemed if I just dreamed,
Somehow you would be here.
Wishing I could hear your voice again,
Knowing that I never would…
Dreaming of you won't help me to do
All that you dreamed I could.
Passing bells and sculptured angels,
Cold and monumental
Seem for you the wrong companions-
You were warm and gentle.
To many years fighting back tears-
Why can't the past just die?
Wishing you were somehow here again,
Knowing we must say goodbye,
Try to forgive, teach me to live—
Give me the strength to try.
No more memories, no more silent tears,
No more gazing across the wasted years.
Help me say goodbye…
Help me say goodbye.
The fire went out.
THE END