Post by MinnieQuill on Feb 11, 2007 23:42:10 GMT -5
You're Beautiful
Disclaimer: - I do not own Harry Potter, nor the song ‘You’re Beautiful’ by James Blunt
Author’s note: - Well I was listening to some of my CD’s I found buried underneath my textbooks (I have yet to figure out how they got there) and found ‘Back To Bedlam’. Whether or not it was because I was already sad at the time, or I was just feeling particularly emotional, I listened to this song, promptly burst into tears, and then this fic sprung to mind fully formed.
Dedication: - To both Hayley and Rosanna. For Hayley; this should hopefully be to your liking. For Rosanna…well it’s sort of fluffy isn’t it?
The rain pounded down onto the platform, forming rills and rivulets of water that streamed over the concrete and onto the train tracks. Students conjured umbrellas to shield themselves from the downpour, and Professors ushered them quickly aboard the train, levitating trunks, and summoning stray familiars. Among all the commotion stood one man, who leant against the damp wall, not caring the water soaked the bottom of his robes, or dripped from his hair and down his back.
His blue eyes were dulled, shrouded by an internal Azkaban, but they were piercing as he scanned the crowd, ignoring pupils’ salutations and goodbyes. He need not be here, his position at Hogwarts did not require his presence, but he had come for only one purpose. To catch a glimpse, however fleeting, of her.
My life is brilliant.
He had been on the Hogwarts staff for more years than he cared to count, but never had any pupil touched him, literally or figuratively as she had. His body began to shake as the cold water seeped through his robes and soaked his skin, but his gaze didn’t falter as he continued to look for her. Smoke was billowing from the train, and the engines began to roar, and he felt his stomach plummet as he realised he might have already missed her.
His eyes were frantic now, as the train spewed forth more smoke, and they darted to-and-fro. He pushed off from the wall, and moved forward into the crowd, a full head and shoulders taller than most of the students.
My love is pure.
His shoulders slumped as he saw her two best friends hanging out of a compartment window calling goodbye to their fellow students. She would be sitting silently in the corner, perhaps with a tear sliding down her cheek, and he would never see her again. His feet hit the pavement, splashing water everywhere, as he ran toward the last open door.
I saw an angel.
Of that I'm sure.
The door slammed shut, and he pounded against it angrily, not caring that the glass shattered beneath his fist. He reached in and pulled the handle roughly, wrenching open the door with his shoulder. Students’ eyes widened as he ran along the corridor, and he watched them exchange puzzled looks with their friends. He didn’t falter, and continued down the hall until he reached the last compartment.
He opened the door slowly, and felt his heart rive in two when she looked up over the top of her book. A flicker of a smile crossed her face as she placed the book beside her and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
“Professor,” she said softly. “What brings you here?”
She smiled at me on the subway.
She was with another man.
His tongue cleaved to the roof of his mouth as he struggled to find words. She solved the problem for him when she gestured to the other side of the compartment.
“Alastor and I were just talking,” she said, her Scottish lilt barely perceptible. “But that can wait.”
The hint was obvious, and a young Alastor Moody rose to his feet and exited the compartment leaving them alone.
“What do you want, Albus?”
Her voice had gained in strength, and she rose to face him.
But I won't lose no sleep on that,
'Cause I've got a plan.
“…I,” he began, but faltered as she raised one of her eyebrows.
He inwardly kicked himself. How could he have been so foolish as to think she felt the same way?
“Are you still interested in animagus training, Miss McGonagall?” he said finally, heat flooding to his cheeks.
The sylph before him shook her head as she moved closer and placed her hand on his chest.
“Not particularly, no,” she said raising her other hand to his cheek.
His eyes fluttered close as she trailed her fingers along his face, tracing the bump on his nose, until she reached his lips. He raised his own hand, and intertwined his fingers within hers.
He could hear the muffled sound of footsteps behind him as students rushed down the corridors, but paid them no heed as he leant forward and rested his forehead against hers.
“Why are you doing this?” she whispered. “I…”
“Shh.”
She fell silent and he leant downward and kissed the corner of her mouth. Once, twice, three times, willing her to forgive him for a simple moment. He began to draw back when she turned her head and crashed her lips against his, pouring her every emotion into the kiss.
They parted and she rested her head against his chest. He hesitantly placed his hand on her back, rubbing soothing circles as he felt tears soaking his already wet robes.
You're beautiful. You're beautiful.
You're beautiful, it's true.
He placed a kiss atop of her head before he drew back. “You’re beautiful,” he whispered as he stepped back again.
She shook her head, tears streaming down her face. “Please, Albus,” she said plaintively. “Please…”
He raised his hands, quelling any further words or protestations from her. “It’s too dangerous,” he said as his eyes began to sting. “Grindelwald and…” his voice trailed off and he looked to the ground for an instant trying to gather his emotions. He raised his head and bit his bottom lip. “It’s too dangerous,” he repeated firmly.
She opened her mouth to argue, but he turned quickly and strode away from her. Students didn’t bother to hide their stares as they watched him walk through the train. The tears he had tried valiantly to suppress fell in torrents, and he took a deep breath as he reached the door with the broken glass. The train was moving through the country side, the rolling hills and fields of heather appearing blurred.
I saw your face in a crowded place
He opened the door and stood in the open frame. The wind tore threw his clothes, and his hair whipped across his face.
“Albus…”
He didn’t bother turning around at her voice. “It’s too dangerous, Minerva.”
His feet moved of their own accord as he leapt from the train, rolling as he hit the ground. He landed on his back, and he watched from the damp grass and she held her hand out plaintively.
And I don't know what to do,
'Cause I'll never be with you.
He rose to his feet and raised his hand in a farewell wave. She shook her head angrily, and turned from the corridor. His brow knitted, but smoothed as she burst out onto the verandah at the back of the train.
Yeah, she caught my eye,
As we walked on by.
The wind whipped through her damp hair and it burst free from its constraining braid. She held her hand out again and he began to run. He caught up with the train and leapt up and held onto the railing. His knuckles glowed white and he ran his hands through her hair as she leant into his touch.
“Stop fighting this,” she whispered as she closed her eyes. “This is more real than anything else.”
He drew his hand back and her eyes opened. Her face, the acme of perfection, highlighted a youth he knew he could not steal away from her. He had to fight a battle which he was not guaranteed to win, and if he fell…or if she was hurt…
The battles were the easy part, he had found in a moment of macabre reflection when he’d held his best friend’s corpse in his arms; it was the aftermaths that were difficult, the breaths between the screams…
He would not let that happen to her.
She could see from my face that I was,
Fucking high
Her eyes betrayed no emotion, though they were still red from crying, and she placed her hand over his where he held onto the railing.
“You’re going to go anyway, aren’t you?” she said, her voice cracking slightly in the middle.
And I don't think that I'll see her again,
But we shared a moment that will last till the end.
He nodded mutely as he disengaged his fingers from hers. “I have to.”
She looked downward and her eyes were drawn to a small ring on the middle finger of her right hand. The small emerald glittered in the dim light as she removed the ring and placed it in his hands.
“To remember me,” she said.
You're beautiful. You're beautiful.
You're beautiful, it's true.
Albus held the ring tightly in his clenched fist as he leant forward again and kissed her chastely on the lips.
“You’re beautiful,” he whispered.
She bowed her head. “Don’t make this any more difficult than it is.”
I saw your face in a crowded place,
And I don't know what to do,
'Cause I'll never be with you.
Albus reached out and lifted her chin to look at her for what he knew was the last time.
“I…” he began, “I love you.”
A muffled sob escaped her lips and one of her tears fell onto his wrist.
You're beautiful. You're beautiful.
You're beautiful, it's true.
“Tha gaol agam ort,” she whispered.
She turned on her heel and rushed back into the train, leaving Albus clinging to the railing. He watched her though the window as her hair streamed behind her as she ran. He didn’t let go until she turned a corner and disappeared from sight.
There must be an angel with a smile on her face,
When she thought up that I should be with you.
As he let go of the railing and fell to the ground in an undignified heap, he held fast to the ring. As he rose to his feet, he conjured a gold chain and threaded it through. The clasp snapped shut, and the ring bounced against his chest, resting against his heart.
But it's time to face the truth,
I will never be with you.
He placed his hand against his heart, and felt the cold metal against his skin.
“Tha gaol agam ort,” he whispered.
The Hogwarts Express disappeared around the corner in a flash of red, and he turned away. His buckled boot splashed through the water as he walked, and the bottoms of his robes were covered in mud as he walked away from the love of his life.
Author’s note:- I know, it’s been done before, but not by me. I hope you enjoyed it. We all know that he does see her again so it’s all okay.
Please review. Cheers. Minniequill 
)
