Drift Away

Severus Snape was huddled in a small dark space, trying to be inconspicuous. This was where he had to wait until he received further orders from the Dark Lord. It had been two weeks since his last set of instructions and two months, one week and five days since he had committed murder. He had murdered before; he had no choice as a Death Eater. But this murder played heavily on his mind and senses. This was the one that had shaken him to the core. He had, in cold blood, performed the Killing Curse on the one person who believed he had a purpose in life. What hurt the most was that he had killed this person out of loyalty, obeying his wishes. The final word he had uttered was "Please". Just "Please". Nothing more. He obeyed the old man's final wish and had done away with him before he became a plaything to the Dark Lord.

As he sat there, wallowing in his own guilt and misery, he heard the strains of a song drifting in from the Muggle house next to his hide-out. He tried to ignore it but something about the smooth, soothing tone made him listen to the lyrics:

Day after day I'm more confused
Yet I look for the light
Through the pourin' rain
You know that's a game that I hate to lose
And I'm feeling the strain
Ain't it a shame

Then the smooth voice lilted into the chorus, Severus listening intently:

Oh, give me the beat, boys, and free my soul
I want to get lost in your rock and roll
And drift away

Severus closed his eyes, the chorus repeat seeming to ease away all his heavy feelings, and he welcomed the relief, if it was only for a little while.

*

Harry Potter had returned, as his previous Headmaster had requested, to his Uncle's house before beginning his quest for Horcruxes. He lay on the bed, half-listening to the music softly coming from his clock radio, which he hadn't bothered to switch off that morning. His mind was swamped with thoughts, swirling together until he couldn't tell one from the other. The loss of his mentor, revenge against his murderer, the hunt which could finally free him from the prophecy that seemed to rule his entire life. But no matter what train of thought came up, it always seemed to end up featuring a freckled girl with long red hair. Alone and heavy hearted, he had lain, contemplating his so-called future. In an attempt to give his racing mind a break, he focused on the song playing on the radio. The lyrics, however, seemed to make more sense than he thought was possible:

Beginning to think that I'm wasting time
I don't understand the things I do
The world outside looks so unkind
Now I'm counting on you
To carry me through

Harry rose from the bed with one thought in mind. He took out a quill and started to scrawl a note while the chorus played on. 'Dear Ginny...'

Oh, give me the beat, boys, and free my soul
I want to get lost in your rock and roll
And drift away

The chorus repeated as he stared at the two words he had written, wondering if he would find the courage to finish the note.

*

Albus Dumbledore was drifting. He didn't know where. He just knew that he couldn't leave just yet. There was so much to do. So many he had left behind. Albus was stuck and had no idea what was going to happen next. Though he said he never feared death, he was scared now. It was unknown. Something caught the corner of his eye and there appeared a bright light. It seemed to be calling him to it. But Albus was reluctant to go. What of his loyal Potions Master, who carried his burden alone or of the young boy who was thrust into his role much too early and was not yet ready? The strains of a song suddenly started floating past him, much like an almost non-existent breeze:

And when my mind is free
You know a melody can move me
And when I'm feeling blue
The guitar's coming through to soothe me

*

Three sets of ears listened to the final verse of the song, almost dreading its end, as they would be forced to make a move, make a decision, make a choice as soon as the musical notes had died away:

Thanks for the joy that you're given me
I want you to know I believe in your song
Your rhythm and rhyme and harmony
You've helped me along
Makin' me strong

Oh, give me the beat, boys, and free my soul
I want to get lost in your rock and roll
And drift away

The chorus repeated into silence as Severus stared into the dark, Harry onto his note, Albus into the light. As the song ended, the three said the same words, in perfect calm and absolution:

"I'm ready."

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Song extract - "Drift Away" by Dobie Gray