Black Wind

"Dark times are these... When the black wind blows from the north, bringing fire and ice, with the stench of their kind, and the blood of our brethen on the air..."

"Blood on the air? No offense intended, but that's stupid."

"None taken, so shut up. As I was saying, the blood of our brethen on the air... For each of ours that died, one hundred of theirs must suffer the same fate! On the stake they shall burn, as we once did, and they shall feel the pain of the flames on their feet..."

"When Binns assigned an essay on the Burning Times, I don't think he meant a dramatic monologue."

"What, it's not like he'll read them! The bugger's been dead for so long I doubt he even remembers how to read."

"You make no sense, Draco. Death does not equal brain damage, and besides, he's a teacher. Of course he can read."

"That undermines my point, so I choose to ignore it. Now back to my report..."

*

"Dark times are these... The black wind blows from the north, bringing tidings of the flame that chills my heart... I can smell the stench of their kind, mingled with the blood of our brethen on the air..."

"But what can we do? I mean no offense to thee, my Lord, but we are near powerless against their numbers. The killing curse cannot suffice for so many."

"For each of ours that dies, one hundred of theirs shall suffer the same fate. On the stake they shall burn, as we do. They must know the agony of flames, flames about them..."

"Thy pardon, Lord, but thou knowest that will meet opposition with the Council."

"I do not intend to take it to the Council!"

"But-"

"Enough. Help me plan, for we must leave afore dawn."

* *

"On thestrals our mighty army will arrive and spread to them the plague that they brought on us!"

"Honestly, Draco. Thestrals. You've never even seen a thestral, and yet you include them..."

"I've seen pictures, and that's nearly the same. Besides, I don't particularly want to see them. Now will you just let me write?"

"By write, do you mean 'loudly perform your monologue for the whole House to hear'? Because that's what you're doing."

"I forgive you for that insult. Anyway... Our wizards may be few, and those willing even less, but it is a thing we must do... We must give their kind a taste of their own medicine..."

"That phrase didn't exist in the 1300s."

"What?"

"A taste of their own medicine. Did. Not. Exist. And even if it did, a lord would never say it. It's too plebian an expression."

"Excuse me? Plebian? Take care to remember who the plebians are here."

"Oh, beg pardon, I forgot your place, which, might I remind you, is the same as mine? Just go back to writing, or whatever you call it."

*

"Thestrals. We shall ride on thestrals, and take them from the sky."

"No doubt they have seen death as well, and shall see the thestrals, Lord. Perhaps apparition would be best."

"They shalt not see the thestrals, for they have not seen death of the magnitude which we have. They see it from afar, but we, we live each moment with a shroud about our shoulders. They shalt not see the thestrals until they too feel the burden of the dead, and that, they shalt not live to know."

"My Lord, where shall we procure thestrals in such numbers?"

"They flock to the blood spilt, as thou wouldest be well to know. Now still thy tongue, for there is much yet left to plan..."

"Beg pardon, Lord, I have yet one more question: Who?"

"Still thy tongue, I said. There are indeed those who feel as I do, and will not hesitate to join me. But forget not thy place - this is no small matter, and none must know but us and those who share my opinion."

* *

"Ahem... My love begs me not to go. She tells me I must not throw my life away so quickly, for to ride against the Council is certain death, if I do not die in battle."

"I may not be your love, but I beg of you to stop reading out loud, else your life will be in danger.

"Oh, you wouldn't, dearest flower of mine. At any rate... 'Tis a thing I must do, this! I ride not for myself, but for all wizards... The voices of the dead ring in my head... Crying for revenge..."

"So now he hears voices in his head? He ought to get himself to St. Mungo's, and take you with him."

"You wound me! I am perfectly sane, and so is he... I think. That would be an interesting twist though, insanity. Do you think I should add it?"

"You'd be able to write his character well, seeing as you have had personal experiences with... Oh, shall I say, the dark side of the moon?"

"Shut up. Go to bed, or something."

*

"My Lord - my love - Escalus, I beg of thee, stay! I am not yet thy civil lady, but my heart is thine, and it crumbles to think of thee throwing thy life on the wind, where it shall surely be consumed by vultures. I would I had the means to have thee stay, but alas, my word is naught. I only wish for thy warm embrace, yet I know that thou shalt not return from your battle, for thou knowest as well as I that to ride against the Council is certain death. Prithee, Escalus, do not go!"

"Canst thou not see, Lady? 'Tis not for I whom I ride, nor for thee, nor for the Council, lot of fools that they are. I ride for revenge. I hear the voices of the dead, echoing in my mind, crying out... Fathers, sons, brothers... I cannot lie idle whilst the blood of my kinsmen is spilt! I wish for thy happiness, but my ancestry calls to me. Tomorrow the dead shall lie avenged."

"Get thee to a physician, for thou art surely mad!"

"Nay, 'tis not I who is mad. But if I do not fight, I shall soon be, from waiting, and watching my kinsmen die."

"Escalus-"

"Give me a token and bid me goodnight, love, for I fear we shalt not meet again. But first... Wouldest thou give me thy blessing? For in eternity, naught but a kiss may suffice... Good night, my love, until thy final sunset."

* *

"Pansy..."

"I'm hurt. You told me to go to bed."

"I changed my mind. Listen to this ending, and tell me what you think: 'Now, I ride in front of those assembled to fight with me. My heart bleeds to think that not one of them shall survive, and yet it lifts with the burning excitement of what is surely to come. I have waited, and bid my time well, and now at last the time has come to take revenge. A hint of light begins to rise in the east... The light of a new day..."

*

"Thou hast assembled here this morning to ride against the filth!"

"AYE!"

"We must teach them the suffering which they have taught us!"

"AYE!"

"But it is not for us whom we ride, nor for the present. We ride for the dead: Our fathers, brothers, mothers, daughters. We ride for the unborn: Our sons, and their sons, and their sons after that. We ride for magic. We ride for blood. We ride for revenge. We ride for the future!"

"AYE!"

"Look to the west, and thou canst see no light. But look to the east - to the sunrise, and thou beholds the deep red of a young sun! Red as our blood, and the blood that shalt be spilt. Red as the blood that shall wash away the filth of their kind, and clear a burning white for our future!"

"AYE!"

"This day, we shall cleanse the earth! This day, we shalt avenge our kinsmen! This day shall still the black wind that blows upon us!"

"AYE!"

* *

"It's beautiful, Draco. Touching. Now, good night."