On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me... Title: Eight Lonely People Author:lee_west Word Count: 100 Characters: Dumbledore, Snape, Voldemort, George, Grindelwald, Merope, Peter, Percy Challenge: Eighth Day of Christmas: Eight Lonely People Rating: PG Disclaimer: Me? Own any of this? Nah. I'm neither English nor rich.
Thanks to my friend Ceria for the beta.
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29. Dumbledore
Everyone knows who he is, the most famous wizard of his generation. He never lacks for invitations for dinner, so he knows he'll never be alone for Christmas or Easter, even if he doesn't stay at school with the students on those days.
In the privacy of his office, with the sole company of his phoenix, Albus muses about the event that made him famous, Grindelwald's defeat. He then remembers the young man with blue eyes, a head of curly blond hair and a mischievous, engaging smile.
Despite all his acquaintances, Albus is nothing more than a lonely old man.
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30. Snape
Solitude was the norm for Severus, an only child reared in a sad house, without friends until the day he met Lily Evans. For a brief period he was happy, in the company of another magical person who would be a house-mate and a friend forever.
But she was sorted into another House, made new friends and eventually stopped talking to him altogether. From that day on, Severus knew he was destined to a life of loneliness, and he fully expected to die alone.
What a surprise for him to die in the company of those two bright green eyes.
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31. Voldemort
How many of his 'loyal servants' would be by his side if he wasn't the most feared wizard of his time? Twisting his mouth in a hideous grimace, the most he can do these days to resemble a smirk, Voldemort realizes the number equals zero.
Bellatrix is extremely loyal, but he knows she would be just as devoted to any other powerful wizard who shared her pureblood ideals. It's not him, it's his might.
All in all, he has only one true ally, his snake Nagini, and she'll be rewarded with being the recipient of a part of his soul.
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32. George
He had heard tales of amputees who still feel pain in the lost limb, just as when it had been attached to their bodies. It seemed an impossible thing then: if the limb was severed, how could it possibly hurt?
He's amazed at how much this is true now, though. The loss of Fred hurts immensely; he knows his brother is gone forever, but he feels his presence every day, in everything he does.
He talks to this unseen presence, his other half, just as if it was next to him, together as they were since the moment of conception.
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33. Grindelwald
In his cold cell, the old man thinks about the irony of it all: the fortress he'd ordered built to house his worst enemies is now his permanent place of residence.
He had grandiose plans when he built Nurmengard: he and another equally powerful wizard, to rule as one, protecting their world against the nefarious Muggle infestation. But those dreams ended in a strange duel, where neither wanted to subdue the other. He knew that Albus would never kill him, as much as he would never slay his friend.
Surrender and the solitude of his cell were the only solution.
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34. Merope
She's completely alone in the house where she lives with the two men. They rarely talk to her and they often behave as if she doesn't exist.
Which suits her rather well, for whenever they talk to her, it's to insult her, to tell her that she's ungainly and a Squib, that she's a shame to the House of Gaunt.
Sitting in her little corner, looking at her father and brother through veiled eyes, she dreams about a day when a handsome man will come and rescue her, to take her to a life where she'll never be lonely again.
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35. Peter
Curled into a furry ball, he tries to sleep, but the young boy kicks him constantly as he tosses and turns.
Peter preferred the company of the older brother, the one with the clean bedroom and a penchant for following rules. But he was given away when Percy thought himself too grownup to own a pet rat.
He hasn't spoken in years and, although his rat life is full of companionship, his human brain would like to have some adult conversation with another person, and maybe eat real food off a plate.
But this is the price of being safe.
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36. Percy
He returns the package without opening it: he knows what it is, another jumper knitted by his mother. He has returned all her owls and avoided his father at the Ministry, openly showing that he wants nothing to do with them.
He wants to associate with like-minded people, the ones who know that You-Know-Who will never return and who believe Potter to be a megalomaniac liar. These people are his friends and his new family.
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On Christmas Day, Percy sits alone by the fireplace, eating takeout out of a container. He closes his eyes and pretends it's his mother's roast.