Disclaimer: I own absolutely none of the characters in this story; they all belong to the highly estimable J.K. Rowling. The italicized phrases are from The Phantom Of The Opera song called 'Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again.'
Neville's Woes
You were once a friend and father - then my world was shattered . . .
He rolls over, searching for sleep. Trying to forget everything and get some rest. His breathing suddenly becomes rapid and he kicks his crimson sheets to the floor. He is reliving a moment in his past, something he has been trying not to do for the past 14 years of his life.
In his mind he sees. In his mind he watches, helpless, as a woman bent on creating pain laughs mercilessly. A different woman is there also. She is a woman who is kinder to the eyes, but a woman whose face is twisted in pain. A man is beside her crying out, begging for mercy, begging for her to leave his wife alone. Begging for her to take him instead, begging her to spare his wife. Soon he is lying on the ground as well, writhing in agony. A short, sharp scream forms inside the couple's throats, bursting when no hope can be found in even the deepest depths of their heart. The scream is the sign that evil has prevailed that night, the sign that many hearts will be broken that night. The noise ends, leaving a man and a woman no longer knowing each other, no longer knowing their own son. They have lost their minds and will never regain them.
Wishing you were somehow here again- wishing you were somehow near . . .
The boy digs into the pocket of his pajamas, retrieving a crumpled paper, a gum wrapper. One of many that his mom gave him, one of many his Gran tried to through out.
Wishing I could hear your voice again- knowing that I never would…
He clutches the gift tightly to his breast as his breathing slowly returns to normal. "Why," he whispered, "why did it have to be this way…"
Too many years fighting back tears . . .
Why can't the past just die . . .?
Teach me to live . . .
Give me the strength to try . . .
This is the night that he vows to seek revenge, the night he promises himself that he will one day kill Bellatrix LeStrange.
No more memories,
No more silent tears . . .
No more gazing across
the wasted years . . .
Help me say goodbye.
He shuts his eyes and finally drifts into sleep.