The Ballad of the Bandon Banshee

There was a town where ghosts did haunt,
Where banshees screamed and wailed;
Where love was lost with tragic cost:
Here now is that sad tale.

The Bandon Banshee was her name,
She roamed the streets at night;
Her face was green, her hair unclean,
Her form a fearsome sight.

She shrieked and screeched a ghastly song,
Her voice was high and shrill.
Her ghostly moan pulled men from home,
And with it she could kill.

A witch there was named Isabel,
Who had a loving spouse.
The banshee called, and though appalled,
Her husband left their house.

He followed underneath a spell,
The banshee’s call so chill;
He tried to defy her tempting cry,
But could not find the will.

His wife came late and so did find
Her husband lying cold;
She bowed her head, and tears did shed,
Before she left so bold.

With wand in hand she set to find
The fiend without delay;
To right the wrong and fight the song
The banshee used to slay.

She heard the banshee’s cry at length
While traveling ‘cross the moor.
And so did cast revenge at last:
The banshee was no more.

Nearby stood a man who saw
Just what the witch did do;
His teeth were white, his hair was bright,
His eyes a sparkling blue.

This man was known as Gilderoy,
He traveled ‘cross the land;
Chasing leads and gathering deeds
Of bravery so grand.

He saw this witch defeat her foe
And thought to take the praise.
He came behind, to wipe her mind,
His wand upon her raised.

“Obliviate!” He cast the charm;
The witch stared straight ahead.
He stole her story, for his own glory,
And left her as he fled.

He took her tale and wrote it down
As if he’d done the feat;
His name was hailed, his fame prevailed,
Though none knew his deceit.

When Isabel returned back home
She ran inside and cried;
Her husband dead, she laid her head,
Upon her bed and died.

As for Gilderoy, the prat,
Soon had what he was due:
His one last spell upon him fell,
And took his life untrue.

His memory was gone at last
For want of fortune’s fame;
Poor Gilderoy at last destroyed
The famous Lockhart name.

And for all those from whom he stole,
At last the truth prevailed.
Their honor earned, their lives returned:
So ends this tragic tale.

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A/N: This story did not turn out quite as I expected: I set out to write a humorous ballad, but it soon took a tragic turn. The witch who actually defeated the Bandon Banshee had a hairy chin, but with all she’d been through I didn’t want to mention it and make things worse. It is also true that most banshees don’t lure men out to kill them, but I think the Bandon Banshee must have had a hard life and was unfortunately a bit bitter about men.
Thank you to myownmuggle, as usual, for looking this over and offering her reassurance!