... A Requiem for Sadness ...

- V -

Pagan Poetry

"I thought I was going to die in there!" Hermione gasped as they entered the Gryffindor common room.

"You thought you were going to die?" Harry criticized. "What about me? I felt like I was a cornered animal!" He shivered as he sat down in front of the fire place. Hermione sat next to him. Ron sank into a large chair off to the side. Harry stared at the dancing flames, glad to feel the heat they gave off. Ron tried to stifle a succession of yawns. Hermione watched Harry.

"I have to say," Granger began breathily, "that this exchange program is entirely unexpected. It's unprecedented really, at least in Hogwarts history. I think it's a smart move for Snape, though. I mean he's new to this and he really needs to make his mark with the position, lest everyone believe he's just a shoddy replacement for Dumbledore, Merlin-bless-him. And with the War over and done with, he can make a new future with Hogwarts!"

Ron cleared his throat. "Too much talk, and not enough sleep. I'm going to bed. Goodnight."

Hermione bid him a good night, and Harry pulled his attention from the flames and did the same.

"Bed sounds nice right about now. See you in the morning Harry." The girl gave Harry's arms a squeeze. He returned it with a smile.

"Goodnight Herm. It's great to see you again." She smiled, his eyes following her as she left the room. He suffered a long and drawn out yawn before getting up himself and making his own way to bed.

--

Draco had taken a bottle of Wizengottington's Special: Mulberry, Blackberry & Dragonberry Wine and found a secluded perch in a window of one of the higher towers of the castle. He had finished the bottle well within an hour, and he spent another wishing he had brought the other four he had smuggled into the school with him. Then that blasted Slytherine boy found him. He almost ignored the summons, but thought against it. Through muddled senses he could tell, so he thought, that this was a serious request of his presence.

Now he knew better.

Now he was fuming.

Now, more than ever he needed somewhere to go.

Draco had never expected his return to school to be so strenuous, however this first day had been truly taxing on his resolve. Seeing the school restored to its former glory was merely irritating. He liked Hogwarts enough, though most of the people here he didn't care for. Watching as students steer clear, even fellow Slytherins, crushed him. They had no idea how much they owed him, for the sacrifices he made. Having Snape, the new Headmaster and his godfather, speak to the whole school about the War and the loss of loved ones, stung as much as each word could have been a slap. Also, to have Severus and that – that savior Potter – look at him with sympathy or concern or with any feeling at all was maddening! He was not some sulking child that suffered the loss of a pet or toy! No! Didn't they understand? He lost everything…

Nothing really matters.

Now, Snape hatches this silly plan. When will he stop? If this was a sign of things to come, Draco didn't want to be involved. He needed to escape this madness.

The blond Slytherin was crossing his house's common room on the way to his room when a thought struck him so soundly that he froze in his tracks.

A memory surfaced in his mind. It was a memory of his father talking to him, and telling him about a spell. The spell was a long forgotten one. His father used it once or twice when he needed an escape to put all of his thoughts in order. It was very dangerous to use this spell without some precautions, he father had said. Draco didn't remember what precautions were needed, but he remembered the spell – or what Lucius had told him, rather.

Suddenly energized, Draco fled the common room heading to his room. He closed the door behind him in a rush. He threw off his thick cloak and heavy robes and climbed onto his bed. He then pulled the heavy black drapes closed around his bed leaving the inside in total darkness.

"Lumos!" Draco's wand glowed at the tip.

The Slytherin breathed deeply and thought about what he was going to do. It was odd that he remembered this, the memory was an old one. Somehow it stayed with him. The only reason Draco could think of was that the spell sounded like strange poetry to his ears. Trying to remember the exact words was difficult but running through the spell in his head helped. He also remembered that to perform it correctly the words of the spell had to be said slowly with rhythm, and forcefully too.

"Silentium," the boy uttered, casting a silencing charm around him.

For the longest time he just knelt there on his bed holding out his wand which spread a pale green light over him. Soon his arm began to tremble. He brought his other hand up and used both hands to hold his wand up. A bead of sweat trickled from his brow past the corner of his eye and down over his cheek. Another bead snaked its way down his throat around his Adam's apple and then soaked into the collar of his shirt. A third slide down the line of his nose and dripped onto his upper lip. He tested the saltiness of it when he licked his lips.

It was some time before he realized his blurred vision was from tears pooling in his eyes. When he blinked them away they streaked down his cheeks mixing with his sweat.

I need to get away from here! I have to… go away…

Finally he made up his mind. Taking a deep breath he recalled the words and they waited at the tip of his tongue.

"Ambivium Respicio
Peragro Sententia
Speculum Revolvo
Aspicio nam Umbra"

Nothing happened right at first. Then, by the glow of his wand, a series of things took place in rapid succession.

Then he heard himself scream.