I Said it for You

Scrivenshaft

Rating: PG
Genres: Angst
Relationships: Harry & Hermione
Book: Harry & Hermione, Books 1 - 5
Published: 23/04/2004
Last Updated: 23/04/2004
Status: completed

"It was the first time she had ever said Voldemort's name, and it was this, more than anything else, that calmed Harry." Hermione considers just what it means to confront your fears and say the name. A very short H/H fic.

Chapters

1. I Said it for You

1. I Said it for You

I Said it for You

It's not easy, you know.

It's not easy to speak a name you've feared ever since you entered this new world.

It's not easy to speak a name so reviled, so repugnant that it won't appear in any of your books. A name that is evocative of all that you've ever set yourself against. Of everything you hate, everything that is bad, everything that cannot be allowed to happen for the sake of all of us.

Of everything that you fear.

The name is cold. The name is black. It is a poison, deadly and metallic-tasting, that seeps into hearts, eroding them carefully. It dances its macabre tango with the heart and its passions, weaving in and out, twisting sinously, seducing them until nothing is left but hate.

It twists the mind into an unrecognisable mess. It sings its intoxicating song of poisoned honey, seductive yet dangerous, leading the mind into visions of glory, of supremacy, of untold riches. Of immortality.

The name lies.

Like a basilisk, it slithers through the world, spreading its unholy gift of emnity and discord into the hearts of the insecure. It loves only to syphon love, hope, faith and goodness from the world. It desires power above all else.

Allow the name into your heart and you are lost forever. There is no way back. The very moment its toxic lips kiss yours, you are in its thrall. It has hold of you, its icy grip is around your chest, and there is no fighting it. There is no question of release. It will not let go.

It will never give you up.

You aren't the only one who hears the name in your dreams, you know. Every single night, ever since I entered this world with wide, enthralled eyes, I have heard it. It invades my every dream, my every nightmare.

How could it not? For the name hates everything about me. It hates what I am, what I have been, and what I will be. It hates my family. It hates my friends.

It hates everything that I profess to love.

If the name poisons enough minds, I am finished. My fate, it can be said, is tied to the name. If it is defeated, then my future is secure. Perhaps I will be the most famous witch in the world. Perhaps I will be forever honoured as the girl and woman who fought at your side.

Perhaps I will be renowned as the woman who loves you.

But if the name succeeds in its loathsome quest, I will be nothing of any importance. I will be hunted like an animal, hounded out of the world that I love and belong in. I will be exterminated like the pestilence that the name believes I am. My life, my family's lives, the lives of everyone who has ever cared for or loved me, will be forfeit.

If the name succeeds, you know that I will die.

But despite all this, despite the dark days that we have no choice but to face, and to fight, I have faith. I have faith in the hearts of wizards. I have faith in the thousands who will never be lost to the name, who will never march under the banner of emnity. I have faith that there is courage to be found in this world, and strength, and love. I have faith in the world that welcomed a frightened, insecure eleven year old muggleborn girl into its arms, that nurtured her and encouraged and celebrated her talents. That taught her so much and hopes that great things will come of her.

But most of all, more than anything, I have faith in you.

Harry, it isn't easy saying the name. But I've said it.

And I said it for you.

Fin

A/N this short fic was dedicated to all the Wonks, who support, encourage, and celebrate. Thank you all.