Angelica's Sorrow

Disclaimer - Everything belongs to JKR. I am making no money from my efforts.

CHAPTER ONE

The wind was blowing so softly. It barely flicked the flags at the Quiddich field. Normally even on a \"calm\" day the wind would snap the ends of the flags as though they were taking turns goading each other. It was if the wind knew the ancient stones of Hogwarts could stand no more. The life within the castle was wounded and weak. It crawled when it should be dancing, cried when it should be singing. The wards were shadows, circling the grounds where they steadfastly protected those few who remained after the battle that began the day following the leaving feast.

Within the hospital ward there were three souls remaining under Poppy\'s care. They were the lucky ones. The others had been taken to St. Mungo\'s as quickly as space allowed. The three who remained were almost whole again and in a few days would be allowed to start living their lives again. At least what was left of their lives.

Professor Dumbledore gently peered around the corner of the screen. Ah, good. He\'s awake. Dumbledore sat down in the chair next to the bed and patiently waited to be acknowledged.

\"Was it worth it, Headmaster?\"

The silken tones of Hogwarts\' potion master were a mere whisper from his lips and his eyes were sunken pools in his paler than normal face. Even his years as a Death Eater had not totally prepared him for the battle that was now three weeks in the past.

\"Voldemort has been vanquished for all time, Severus. I do not pretend to be happy at the price we had to pay, but to say it was not worth it devalues those who gave their all. The total \"price tag\" will not be felt for many a year to come. I fear many that were taken from us will be greatly missed in more ways than we can imagine. If we had been totally unprepared the price would have been far, far larger. Your courage and stealth saved many of us. You have much to be proud of.\"

\"How can you sit there and say that!\" This time Snape\'s voice was a hiss of hate. \"I have nothing to be proud of! I am a Death Eater and if not for the interference of Mr. Ronald Weasley I would be at peace now. As much at peace as I could hope for anyway. I wouldn\'t have to lie here and think about all those I could have saved and didn\'t.\"

\"The only way you could have saved any more would have been to split yourself in two, Severus. If not for you, we wouldn\'t have known when Voldemort was going to attack Hogwarts. This put you at great personal risk and I will not allow you to blame yourself for the inevitable. Sleep now. You will need your strength for what is to come.\"

\"I doubt very much, Headmaster, that I will be able to sleep for a very long time. There are too many ghosts flying through my mind. Especially a red headed one.\"

\"That\'s where you\'re wrong, my friend. I have some of your dreamless sleep potion here for you. I took the liberty of asking Poppy for it on my way to see you.\"

Snape didn\'t argue, which troubled Dumbledore somewhat. He merely took it, sniffed it and downed it in one gulp. In a few moments he was asleep.

Dumbledore gently took the empty vial from Snape\'s hand and slowly rose from the chair. He stood looking down at him for a time and whispered, \" I swear to you, Severus. You will not be among the lost.\"

Dumbledore quietly looked in on the other two sleeping occupants of the hospital ward and wound his way back to his office. Fawkes looked up as Dumbledore entered. He was a sorry sight right now as his burning time neared. Dumbledore stroked his head lightly and spoke to Fawkes for nearly an hour, telling him how proud he was of all he had done on that awful, awful day. Dumbledore feared his beautiful plumage would never be the same as he had lost a number of tail feathers to various curses blasted in his direction on that day.

\"I can only hope that your re-birth will restore them to you, my friend. If not for your timely tears I fear I would have lost Minerva and that I could not bear. \"

Away from the other occupants of Hogwarts, Dumbledore allowed himself to relax. It was apparent from his appearance that his strength was at an alltime low. His skin was almost translucent in its frailty. He turned away, choosing to sit and seeming to almost shrink down into himself. Fawkes made a noise of concern and would have flown to him, but burst into flame.

\"At last my friend, you will be renewed. Too bad the rest of us will only be able to heal. Some of us will need so much more than time.\"

He thought about the last three weeks while he sat at his desk. So many lives had been lost but many had been saved as well. Harry was still alive after his confrontation with Voldemort and would be able to live out a normal life. He, Hermione and Ron had all graduated from Hogwarts this year and the road was open to him. Dumbledore was glad that at least one of the trio would have the chance for the proverbial happy ending.

Darkness gathered around the castle and night crept up slowly on padded feet. The wind still swirled gently and caressingly around the grounds, lulling the occupants to a much needed sleep. Rain clouds gathered and were admonished by the wind to weep gently on the scarred and weary ground. Lightening was not welcome in this storm and was sent elsewhere on this night of grief. The last of the blood on the ancient stones was removed by the rain. It flowed with the water past Hagrid\'s empty hut and found its way deep into the forest. There it would meld with the sun and the seasons until it found life again in trees, or in plants. For now, it would remain hidden, so those who were wounded could heal.