At Dawn

By Crystal Clairice

Disclaimer: The only thing I own is the poem (yes, I wrote it!)

Running. He was running as fast as he could. He ran through the halls of Hogwarts as fast as his feet would allow him. He turned the corner and blasted his way through the locked classroom door. And a gruesome sight met Severus' eyes as he sank to his knees in despair. He gently picked up a piece of parchment that rested in the corpses bloody hands.

Do Not Look For Me (At Dawn)

Moonlight whispers as it screams,

Beckoning and calling me.

By my name I am invoked.

Lured in with false feeling then choked.

Feelings; so mundane.

Why is it that we care?

Much easier, is it not to be obdurate and dead?

Instead of being sustained on lies we are fed.

Once more I try,

And then give in.

Falling, falling, falling into sin.

A dark watery abyss engulfs me whole.

I care so much and wish to not.

For I know the truth,

No matter that I'd like to not know that

I do not deserve you and you could never love me.

I need not tell you (I have not)

For it would hardly matter.

The Fates have written our lives out

And you and I will never be we.

So tonight I take obliging deaths embrace

From the tip of my dagger sweet.

Dig it I do across my veins.

The blood; my tears to weep.

Your name echoes through the room

With my last breath it's said

For death is my gift to you

Nevermore will you have my presence to dread

So goodnight and so long

My heart's dearest, I am gone.

Far from where I could cause you harm.

Do not look for me at dawn.

Always yours,

Harry J. Potter

He found that he was sobbing now. He was weeping selfishly over Harry's body. If only he had not been a cowardly fool! All that could have been! He did not move 'til dawn's first morning light spilt through the windows. And even then he could barely lift himself off the floor to deliver the grisly news to the school.

Severus did not bother to put himself back together. The war was over and he was tired of hiding. Too tired to keep hiding. He looked a mess, tangled hair and a tear-stained face. Nonetheless he dragged himself to the Greta Hall and through it's wooden doors. The Hall quieted immediately with his entrance. No one had ever seen their Potion's Master like this before.

And that's when the first bubbling signs of giddiness arose in Severus chest. His distressed face broke into a psychotic grin and laughter of a maniacal sort overtook him. Like that he sank to the nearest bench. Though, soon the laughter gave way once more to sobs of gut-wrenching sorrow and pain. Finally two words rose form his lips; two words that sent the Hall from its silence to throws of panic and grief.

"He's dead."

Later that evening Severus was returned to his chambers with orders to drink a strong cup of tea and get some rest. He chose to heed these orders. He poured a cup of tea and added a vile of substance into it. Then he pulled out a quill in parchment and sipped his tea.

Moments after he finished writing he slumped over in his chair, droplets of liquid death still clinging to his lips.

At Dawn

I will not heed your warning so

To follow you I must

You deserve the absolute

To you I will entrust (my heart, my love)

You have finally told me

Your secret (believed dark and true)

Now it is my turn to

Share a secret with you

I return your feelings

So wholly (and so pure)

You and I will be we

In death if nothing more

So tonight I take obliging deaths embrace

From the sip of my poison sweet.

Drip it I do down my throat.

No blood, though tears, I weep

Your name echoes through the room.

With my last breath it's said.

For death is my gift to you.

Forevermore you will have my presence, instead.

So good morning and good day,

My heart's dearest, I am here.

Close to you I will protect.

I have found you at the dawn.

I will always be near.

Yours always,

Severus T. Snape