Will you catch me if I fall, Severus?
If my plan goes awry,
If everything is in shambles,
If for some reason, everything is wrong,
Will you catch me?
If, somehow, all that we have planned:
Our hopes and dreams,
Our futures,
The world –
If they fall,
Will you catch them, too?
And what of Draco?
If he cannot complete his task,
If he fails and is sentenced to die
(As I fully expect)
Will you be there – arms open –
Waiting for him to fall?
If Harry needs you,
Will you catch him, too?
If he, through his childish bumbling,
Stumbles along the path,
And catches a knotted root with his foot,
Will you catch him as he falls?
You will not?
If it were Lily, Severus, would you catch her?
(How well I know you, of course you would.)
If, somehow, her son begins to fail
If he cannot achieve the one thing,
The thing that would avenge her,
Will you catch him, support him, and set him on his way?
Good, I’m glad that we agree on this.
Now, Severus, when I fall
I do not want you to catch me.
I must fall on my own
And tumble down,
Down into the depths of what will be the past
Or else all will be smashed beyond repair,
Like the shattered remains of a porcelain doll.
Do not look at me like that, Severus.
If this is what you truly want,
You must not catch me.
Allow me to be free,
Free from this petty argument we seem to have,
Free from what I’ve planned.
(I do not want to be here when all unfolds.)
When I fall, Severus, do not save me.
Save only those who will have a purpose later -
You know who they are -
I must fall alone.
(If, of course, my plan was correct.)
Falling In Place by Indigoenigma
Chapter Notes: This has been written for SPEW 007.
Chapter Endnotes: I always do appreciate reviews!