Watchers
I watch him from across the table,
Wearing his false grin as he talks
About nothings like Quidditch and school,
Hiding the weight of the world behind his back.
x x x
I watch him in the common room,
Doing homework with the Oblivious Duo,
Staring into the fire late at night,
Forging his soul in a cold flame.
x x x
We watch him as he tries to distract us
From the horrible burden he bears,
And we smile and let him think he succeeds,
Because a false smile is better than none.
x x x
I watch this Saint from across the hall,
I'm not fooled by images, and he's in pain,
So I give him myself to take it out on,
Because I have no choices either.
x x x
I watch this child from the high table,
He is a good actor, burying pain under a mask,
But to one as old as I am, masks are see-through,
And I regret the day I stole his childhood.
x x x
I watch the watchers as they watch me,
I know that they know I am trying to fool them,
But the act is so much easier than facing life,
When I have forgotten how to live.
N.B. For those who can't figure it out, the points of view are: Ginny, Neville, Ron/Hermione, Draco, Dumbledore, Harry.