DISCLAIMER: The rights to Harry Potter are owned by the fabulous JK Rowling, and the idea of the choir belongs to Warner Bro's. I own nothing but the plot :(
The first day of my eighth year at Hogwarts happened much like the other years before the War – wake up, packing, station, train, carriages, sorting, feast, announcements, and finally bed. Everyone was more subdued than usual though; we were all still mourning the loss of our friends and family. My life had changed drastically after the end of the War. After I had found my parents and restored their memories, things had pretty much returned to normal. My mother, being the foundation to my equal rights and free will beliefs, still harboured a grudge but luckily my dad had seen the necessity of it to keep them safe and made attempts to talk my mother out of it every now and again. It had taken three months before I had found them living in the suburbs of Adelaide, Australia, and during that time I moved in with Harry and Ron at Grimmauld Place while we tried to regain some kind of normality in our lives. Unfortunately that hadn't been easy with all the reporters, fan-mail and breaking up with Ron, after which I moved back to my old house in Greenwich. It was a little lonely but I had Crookshanks and finding Wendell and Monica Wilkins to keep me distracted. It wasn't so bad, and I was wondering how I was going to cope with being in a dormitory. I guessed I'd have Ginny rooming with me, and at least she would understand about the nightmares. I knew I'd have to put a Silencing Charm on my bed; my neighbours had called the police on several occasions on account of the screaming. I put it out of my mind and walked with Ginny towards the school carriages. Wow, those Thestrals were a little creepy up close but I gave one a pat on the neck anyway before I got in; seeing death had changed my outlook on life a lot.
After a delicious meal of bouillabaisse and green beans (the house elves had taken a liking to the French cooking from our fourth year) and a good helping of rhubarb crumble later, I was feeling pleasantly sleepy and ready to settle down with a good book before bed. I was in deep conversation with Pavarti about the pros and cons of using Sleekeazy's Hair Potion when Professor McGonagall stood up and tapped her spoon against her glass a few times, waiting for the school's attention. I quickly sat up a little straighter, turning towards the staff table in anticipation for her Headmistress' speech.
"Good evening, students! To our new students, welcome; to our old students, welcome back. Another year of magical education awaits us. I have a few announcements – firstly, we would like to enlighten our first years that the Forbidden Forest is completely and unconditionally out of bounds unless they are accompanied by Professor Hagrid. Second, Mr Filch, our caretaker, has asked me to remind students that any Fanged Frisbees, Stink Pellets and Dungbombs will not be confiscated if found, and that there is no longer a blanket ban on all joke items bought from the shop called Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. Merlin knows we all need a laugh after the events of last year." An appreciative chuckle greeted this statement as well as a lot of serious nodding. "Also, any students wishing to play for your house Quidditch teams should give their names to their heads of houses as usual, although unfortunately this does not apply to first and eighth years-" a collective groan came from the house tables as well as several outraged shouts "-as the people in these year groups are either too young to take part or would give their teams an unfair advantage. We would also like to introduce our new Head Boy and Girl from Eighth Year, Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy." Loud cheers and clapping erupted from the Gryffindor and Slytherin tables and I beamed with pride. I had known that Malfoy had gotten the post for a while and I wasn't really that bothered; since turning towards the Light during the Battle of Hogwarts he's pretty much stayed out of everyone's way. Professor McGonagall continued, "We would like them to come to the Headmistress's office at 11 o'clock on Sunday to be shown to their common room. My final notice is that to make up for the loss of Quidditch to the first and eighth years, Professor Flitwick has offered to reinstate the Hogwarts Choir which will be open to all ages and abilities, although he warns that a short audition is required for soloists. There will be a sign up sheet on the notice board outside the Great Hall tomorrow. That is the final announcement and now your beds await, and I know that your top priority is of course to be well rested for your lessons on Monday. Good night."
With the usual deafening screech the benches were pushed back and I began to file back up to Gryffindor Tower, sandwiched between Neville and Dean, with Pavarti and Ginny on either side of me. My mind was buzzing and I had a new glint in my eye from what McGonagall had told us – while I could hear Harry and Ron protesting loudly about the year-wide Quidditch ban, I was mulling over the last notice she had given.
I had wanted to join the choir ever since they had performed Hubble, Bubble at my Sorting but it was stopped - someone hit Professor Flitwick with a badly aimed Canto Bombus Jinx soon after. It made the victim's voice sound like a buzzing bee whenever they sang, and it lasted indefinitely; Professor Rednettle, our new DADA teacher, had only figured out the counter-curse just this week. Unluckily for me, that meant that after throwing myself into my studies the only real practice my vocal chords got was when I was in the shower, so I was quite rusty when I got home that first summer. My parents immediately enrolled me in singing classes (Did I forget to mention, as well as being dentists they also have a passion for music?! They must have an obsession with mouths) during the summer holidays, and we arranged to use my mobile phone when I was at the Burrow or Grimmauld Place. After much convincing on my parent's part, I consider myself an above-average level singer with a talent for mezzo-soprano parts after many hours listening to my mum's Les Miserables and my various muggle pop CDs – I had never really liked the Weird Sisters or Celestina Warbeck.
And I almost forgot the best part of coming of age! With my new freedom I was able to shrink my cello and saxophone enough so they would easily fit in my trunk, along with all of my books, clothes and music. Practically no one knew that when I read at night, it wasn't just Hogwarts: a History – I had brought all my sheet music with me and found it so relaxing, imagining the harmonies inside my head at night. Since the War had ended I had thrown myself into my music, giving me the release I was now unable to take from books after everything that had happened. I wondered why I had never told Harry or Ron – probably because they associated me with books, and friendship, and being good at spells, and camping and free homework help and almost nothing else and the thought of me liking something other than studying, reading or spending time with them would be incomprehensible to them. I thought I would keep it a secret, just for now. I had thought my relationship with Ron would have developed, I even thought I might marry him one day. It took him two months for him to cheat on me with none other than Romilda Vane. I was currently giving him the silent treatment and he didn't really mind, but he persisted in asking for my forgiveness - I guess that's why we never would have worked out as a couple. Still, he had really hurt me by pretending he loved me and I hated him for the humiliation he had caused me. I felt like doing something to stick in his face. A little vicious I know, but I thought I was justified. How can I show I'm over him and embarrass him in the process? I wondered. Hmmm… I could always join the Choir and sing a solo about cheating. That would show him. I found myself liking this idea more and more as we trudged through the castle to Gryffindor Tower.
By the time we reached the portrait hole I had made up my mind – I was signing up for the Choir first thing in the morning.
A/N - For those that don't know, when a choir is harmonized the soprano part is the part that sings the medium-high to the very highest notes in the song, and an alto is the medium range, so mezzo-soprano is being able to do both of those but closer to soprano.
Review pretty please, I really want to know what you think! Who knows, if I get a few before 10PM I may just add the next chapter and trust me it gets more exciting, this chapter was just setting the scene.. ;) xxx