This poem is the product of my own mind (muddled though it may be). The characters are, sadly, not mine. They belong to J. K. Rowling. I just play with them, and bend them to my will occasionally.

Dedicated to: Viscountess Babbles-On
With immense gratitude to Dru for all your help formatting my poems into html.

We Who Watch - Third and final Installment
From Dumbledore's perspective - Five years after Harry's return.

By: Mikee

I have watched you, Children
You, the stayed professor
Commanding and unyielding.
You, the misunderstood student
Insecure and uncertain.

I have watched you, Professor
Barking orders, demanding respect
The artful dodger, but who baited evil
Escaping by wit and cunning alone.

I have watched you, Child
Subservient to cruelty, succumbing to none
Another artful dodger, but who eluded evil
Escaping by luck and courage alone.

I have watched you, Children
As your paths crossed and re-crossed
You, Professor, sarcastic and caustic
You, Child, trusting yet guarded.

I have watched you, Professor
Watching him
Protecting, unseen, a kindred spirit
Lurking in shadows protecting the world
and your heart.

I have watched you, Child
Watching him
Protecting the protector
Rushing heedless to save the world
and your love.

I have watched you, Children
You, Professor, foreboding silence
Enshrouded you as closely as skin
You, Child, exuberant joie de vivre
Encircled you like an aura.

You had about you, Professor
A caricature of the Grim Reaper
A touch of Shakespeare
And a strident demeanor.

You had about you, Child
A flotilla of myths
A distain of pathos
And a wary demeanor.

I have watched you, Children
You, Professor, your care obscured
Buried by your torment
You, Child, a camouflage of characters
Mantling your pain.

I have watched you, my boy
Your gradual acceptance of friendship
Your grudging participation in life
Your final reliance on another.

I have watched you, my child
Your assiduous pursuit of friendship
Your industrious quest to belong
Your final acquisition of one you now hold dear.

I have watched you, my children
Learning to accept your lot
Learning to rejoice in your bond
Learning to revel in your lives.

I have watched enthralled, my children
As you grew, as you learned
As you fought and triumphed
As you slew your demons and
Claimed your birthrights.

I have watched all this and more
I have studied you both, my children
And learned lessons taught
By neither book nor school.

I have watched you, my children
Watching each other
I have found joy watching you both
Learning to trust in each other.

I shall continue to watch
As I shall continue to learn
As you continue to watch
As you continue to grow