Rating: R, due to blood, not snogging (sorry)
Warnings: Angst and very much so. Character death. Just to repeat...
This is an ANGSTFIC!
--------------------
VELVET RAIN
--------------------
"This night is for you and I
We'll never see the sunrise
I'm not afraid, I believe, you're here
Always by my side, it's everlasting love"
-- Koji Nanjo, Zetsuai Megamix
Rain was pouring down. Had the thermometer fallen just a few degrees further, it would have snowed. The thin sliver of moon could not shine through the thick clouds. Everything rested in the darkness and hushed waiting.
A slight swell of magic in the air, wavering for a moment, before settling and grounding itself properly. Then, there were suddenly more creatures in the forest than before. Somewhere far off a wolf howled, and the grass ruffled as some small rodent escaped the newcomers.
They were three: two men and a boy, all caked in blood and dirt and bone-crunching weariness.
The boy swayed before falling to his knees, doing nothing but breathing for a few moments. In, out, in... He was alive and gratitude surged through his veins, almost chasing away the tiredness and pain. Then he moved, winced, and held his left arm gingerly.
The two men had already been on ground level when they appeared, one resting in the other's grasp. They looked so alike with their pale skin and messy black hair that a watcher might have had difficulties separating them, especially in this dark night. But in one they differed - while the kneeling man shivered with cold, the one he held in trembling arms was almost beyond the cold. Warm, pulsing wetness seeped out of him.
Would enquiring hands have wandered further, they would have realised that something was deeply wrong with this man. Beneath his skin, things were twisted and torn; once graceful hands now resembled burned clumps of flesh and where intense eyes should be...
"I'm sorry, Black... So tired," the broken man mumbled, words barely a whisper.
"We have to get you and Ron back to the castle! Don't you dare to die on me like this, you greasy git!"
"Tired. Sorry."
"For fuck's sake, Snape!" Desperation in his voice. "Please, Snape... Wake up, you ugly fucker! Snape!"
"Sorry. Never meant to make Albus cry..." The rigidity born of pain seemed to ease and his head lolled to the side as the last word faded away into silence.
In the darkness, one of his companions closed his eyes and fought tears. A smoky voice passed through his memory, one of the few moments he clearly recalled from the last days.
Don't you ever dare pity me, Weasley... Pity, like regret, is for the weak and we need only strength.
The other sat still for a moment, unbelieving, before roughly shaking the battered body in his arms.
"Snape? God, no... Snape!"
It was the desolate howls that alerted the centaurs, because certain things are too dark to be told by something as bright as the sky-lights.
They brought Hagrid, and for the last time, the half-giant carried a pale, dark-haired man through the Forbidden Forest. His tears mingled with the rain.
For the first time, two other wizards followed him - a hollow-eyed Animagus walking mutely, his mind far off in the past, and a shaken redhead, stumbling along and cradling his abused arm. The pain was the furthest thing on his mind in that moment, as almost seven years of scathing words and angry glares played through his memory. No words were said. Around them, the forest seemed to hold its own silent vigil, as creatures, beasts and beings of all kinds came to watch their sometimes guest leave for the last time.
And for the first time ever, Hagrid was met by Albus Dumbledore at the edge of the forest. Old hands trembled as he took the still burden from the large man and the eyes twinkled no more.
Cold rain fell over Hogwarts, mingling with bitter tears and dark blood. The rain soaked everyone on the grounds, be they living or dead.
Tonight, Albus Dumbledore had no problem imagining the sky weeping for a lost child.
-----------------
Well, heck, wasn't that gloomy?
And now I know why I've always avoided writing Hagrid-speech before. Hope I didn't mangle his dialect too much *blush*
Please review ^_^
/Dancing Moon
Warnings: Angst and very much so. Character death. Just to repeat...
This is an ANGSTFIC!
--------------------
VELVET RAIN
--------------------
"This night is for you and I
We'll never see the sunrise
I'm not afraid, I believe, you're here
Always by my side, it's everlasting love"
-- Koji Nanjo, Zetsuai Megamix
Rain was pouring down. Had the thermometer fallen just a few degrees further, it would have snowed. The thin sliver of moon could not shine through the thick clouds. Everything rested in the darkness and hushed waiting.
A slight swell of magic in the air, wavering for a moment, before settling and grounding itself properly. Then, there were suddenly more creatures in the forest than before. Somewhere far off a wolf howled, and the grass ruffled as some small rodent escaped the newcomers.
They were three: two men and a boy, all caked in blood and dirt and bone-crunching weariness.
The boy swayed before falling to his knees, doing nothing but breathing for a few moments. In, out, in... He was alive and gratitude surged through his veins, almost chasing away the tiredness and pain. Then he moved, winced, and held his left arm gingerly.
The two men had already been on ground level when they appeared, one resting in the other's grasp. They looked so alike with their pale skin and messy black hair that a watcher might have had difficulties separating them, especially in this dark night. But in one they differed - while the kneeling man shivered with cold, the one he held in trembling arms was almost beyond the cold. Warm, pulsing wetness seeped out of him.
Would enquiring hands have wandered further, they would have realised that something was deeply wrong with this man. Beneath his skin, things were twisted and torn; once graceful hands now resembled burned clumps of flesh and where intense eyes should be...
"I'm sorry, Black... So tired," the broken man mumbled, words barely a whisper.
"We have to get you and Ron back to the castle! Don't you dare to die on me like this, you greasy git!"
"Tired. Sorry."
"For fuck's sake, Snape!" Desperation in his voice. "Please, Snape... Wake up, you ugly fucker! Snape!"
"Sorry. Never meant to make Albus cry..." The rigidity born of pain seemed to ease and his head lolled to the side as the last word faded away into silence.
In the darkness, one of his companions closed his eyes and fought tears. A smoky voice passed through his memory, one of the few moments he clearly recalled from the last days.
Don't you ever dare pity me, Weasley... Pity, like regret, is for the weak and we need only strength.
The other sat still for a moment, unbelieving, before roughly shaking the battered body in his arms.
"Snape? God, no... Snape!"
It was the desolate howls that alerted the centaurs, because certain things are too dark to be told by something as bright as the sky-lights.
They brought Hagrid, and for the last time, the half-giant carried a pale, dark-haired man through the Forbidden Forest. His tears mingled with the rain.
For the first time, two other wizards followed him - a hollow-eyed Animagus walking mutely, his mind far off in the past, and a shaken redhead, stumbling along and cradling his abused arm. The pain was the furthest thing on his mind in that moment, as almost seven years of scathing words and angry glares played through his memory. No words were said. Around them, the forest seemed to hold its own silent vigil, as creatures, beasts and beings of all kinds came to watch their sometimes guest leave for the last time.
And for the first time ever, Hagrid was met by Albus Dumbledore at the edge of the forest. Old hands trembled as he took the still burden from the large man and the eyes twinkled no more.
Cold rain fell over Hogwarts, mingling with bitter tears and dark blood. The rain soaked everyone on the grounds, be they living or dead.
Tonight, Albus Dumbledore had no problem imagining the sky weeping for a lost child.
-----------------
Well, heck, wasn't that gloomy?
And now I know why I've always avoided writing Hagrid-speech before. Hope I didn't mangle his dialect too much *blush*
Please review ^_^
/Dancing Moon