um... major angst that will make you cry for sure? it was inspired by this fic i read that i forgot the name of, i cried writing this smh, cry with me!
major character death, heartbreak, no happy ending but kinda hopeful ending? major angst, implications of suicide, break up, ghost, mentions of blood
_____________________________________
It started with a rumour floating around among the Slytherins two years after the war when Hogwarts had just been reopened after reparation. Some Slytherin's first years claimed that they heard a sorrowful hum when they passed by the Astronomy Tower but when they came looking, there was no one there except for a ghost sitting at the edge of the Tower, looking at the stars while humming an unknown song. It was as if the ghost was trying to call for someone. They tried to talk to the ghost but it only smiled at them and cried tears of blood. Startled, they ran away from the scene and told a prefect the next day. However, when they returned the day after, at the exact time they found the ghost, no one was there. Thinking it was probably the ghosts of one of the dead that linger within Hogwarts after the Battle, the prefect shrugged it off and never mentioned it to anyone.
It wouldn't have been a problem if it didn't happen again the next year on the exact same date and time at the exact Tower as the year before. This time, a group of fourth year's Hufflepuff found the ghost crying at the edge. The heartbroken cries of the ghost tore their hearts apart. One of them approached the ghost bravely with determination. "Why are you crying?" he had asked. "Are you sad?" another of his friend asked. The ghost quietened down and looked at the children, blood streaming down its face. "I am," the ghost answered softly. "I died here," the ghost pointed right at the bottom of the Tower. "Why are you sad?" a girl asked. "Someone broke my heart," the ghost said simply. "That's sad... I hope one day you'll find solace to move on from here," the first Hufflepuff said kindly. "Thank you, children," the ghost smiled and the kids blinked in surprise, awestruck by the ghost's beautiful smile. They were so awestruck that they forgot to ask for the ghost's name. When they return the next day, the ghost was gone and eventually, the story of the Heartbroken Ghost had spread through Hogwarts.
When a new wave of first years came and heard of the story the year after that, the Ravenclaws were excited to find the ghost. They even went so far as to ask their professors about it. Oddly enough, the new professors didn't know of such ghosts but the old ones had that faraway look when they mentioned it. "It is better if you leave him alone, children," Hagrid had tried to stir them away from the topic but then one of the Ravenclaw had caught on a clue. "'Him', sir?" she asked. "The ghost is a male?" So far as the ghost's random appearances at the Astronomy Tower, no one ever knew the gender of the ghost. For Hagrid to let out the ghost's gender by accident indicated that he knew who the ghost was. They went to find the Hufflepuffs that experienced talking to the ghost to find out more. "Yeah. The ghost is a guy, I reckon. I can't say much about appearance. He was all grey like the rest of the ghosts in Hogwarts. He did say he died because someone broke his heart. We never asked who did that or what his name was." The Ravenclaws waited until the exact date and time when they decided to find the ghost. They asked him for his name but he just smiled at them and shook his head. When he asked who was the person that broke his heart, he turned to the stars and started humming that same heartwrenching song all over again. "What is that song?" one of them asked out of curiosity. "It's a French song. When they had a nightmare, I would sing it to them. They said they love my voice and would always ask me to sing it whenever we're together."
Neville Longbottom became the Herbology teacher at 23 years old when another year passed by and he had heard of the rumour circling among the students. On one particular Monday at breakfast, he sat next to Headmistress McGonagall with a forlorn look. "So it's true then, Minerva? His ghost now resided at the Astronomy Tower? He's still waiting for him?" The Headmistress paused before putting down her utensils. "It is true, Mr Longbottom. I caught him the first time he appeared at the Astronomy Tower. He was very distraught. He couldn't remember anything until I told him who he was before his death, why he was dead. I never mentioned his name to him," she said with a sigh. "I had thought they would end up together. They... had a strong bond." Neville stared at his plate before whispering. "Today's the date, right?" The old woman didn't respond but she had closed her eyes and Neville nodded in understanding. "Why didn't you tell him then? Did he even know he's dead?" They didn't need to say the name. They both knew who Neville was referring to. "They had gotten married, Mr Longbottom. If I tell him... what good would it bring? It won't cure his heartbreak and it would only add more unnecessary guilt to him."
