A/N: This is my first fanfic, so please tell me how I'm doing as the story goes along :) "Somewhere - Katharine McPhee" is used in this chapter!
The fire in the room cast a warm, orange glow in the air. A young woman sat, wild, curly, brown hair thrown in to a messy bun at the back of her head, wand in hand. She looked up at the ceiling, letting out a large sigh. Pulling a heavy, wool blanket around her shoulders while she sat on Ginny's bed, she cast a silencing charm on the door to block out any noise leaving the area. All she could think about was the darkness that filled the world, what she was about to do, and how she came to be in this position in the first place…
Hermione Granger, and all of her friends, were returning to Hogwarts for her final year. She had kept in contact with Ron, Ginny and Harry the entire summer while staying at her childhood home, and although she was happy to hear they were safe, she couldn't help but feel the sadness around her. The war was now affecting not only the wizarding world, but the muggle world as well.
Muggles were dying, towns were destroyed… and Hermione was scared.
It had been 4 weeks now since the trio returned from hunting the last of the horcruxes, and were relieved to know that the very last pieces of You-Know-Who's soul, other than Nagini and Voldemort himself, resided in the Hogwarts castle, waiting for the three to return. Dumbledore had insisted they spend their last summers with their families… She believed it was because he was well aware that the next few months were going to be difficult. Hermione, not wanting to put her muggle parents in any more danger, took it upon herself to ensure their safety. She obliviated the part of their memories that would remember that they had daughter, and inserted new memories of their desire to move to Australia to open another practice. She hated doing it, but knew it was the only way to keep them safe.
"Now…" she thought, her heart breaking as she watched them leave the house, "…I have nothing."
Hermione had left that night, bringing her trunk and everything she thought she'd need in her small, bottomless beaded handbag. The fireplace roared and green flames licked the brick mantle as she stepped out in to the Burrow; the last place, besides Hogwarts, that she felt like she belonged. She fell in to the Weasley's sitting room, and straight in to the arms of Ginny, her best girl friend.
"Hermione! What's wrong?" the redhead asked, worry laced in to her every word.
Crying, Hermione fell apart and recounted the entire story, from the effect the war was having on the muggle world to her fears to her parents, all the while, Ginny sat rubbing her back and listening steadily.
Sniffing, she turned to Harry and the rest of the Weasley clan (minus Percy), all of whom she had temporarily forgotten were listening, when she heard a choked sob. Mrs. Weasley had been crying silent tears while clutching on to her husband, Arthur.
Hermione's eyes shined for a moment before she gave a choked, "Hello everyone."
Hermione suddenly felt much smaller when, at that moment, all of the men stood up and rushed over to her, sadness in their eyes. Harry was the first to reach her, pulling her in to a tight hug.
"I'm really happy to see you, 'Mione," he whispered as she smiled a watery smile in to his neck.
Ron was next, pulling both of them in to his large embrace, while he kissed Hermione on the top of her wild, brown mane. The Twins stood off to the side, looking at her with small smiles, before one said, "Oi! Harry! Ron! Shove off so we can get in, too!" Hermione gave a small chuckle before releasing her two best friends and turning to Fred and George. Fred proceeded to lift her in to a bone-crushing hug before spinning her in the air and setting her down. Her head whirled a little as George repeated the action before both twins bent down to give her kisses on the cheek.
"You'll find a way to fix this. You're an amazing witch, Hermione. Don't let anyone tell you less," Fred said sincerely.
"Yeah," continued George, "I mean, maybe not-"
"as devilishly sexy"
"or handsome"
"or fearsome"
"as us"
"but you're still pretty amazing!" Fred finished, waggling his eyebrows at her.
She giggled a little, feeling some of the heaviness from earlier lift from her shoulders. She appreciated having the Twins around in moments of hardship. They definitely knew how to make the mood lighter, and how to lift her up when she was feeling down - both literally and metaphorically. Fred and George looked up behind her as she felt a large hand on her shoulder. She turned to look in to the eyes of Charlie and Bill, the two eldest Weasley boys. Although she didn't spend much time with them, she knew Charlie and Bill were very caring men, much like their father. She felt safe when they were around, and they treated her like the second sister they never had.
"Hermione… This is… a dark point in time in the wizarding world," Charlie began, his eyes looking at her intently.
"And from what you've told us this evening, it's just become even harder for you," he continued, his hand reaching out to hold hers,
"But if you need anything, and I mean anything, I want you to know that I will be here to help you," he nodded, turning to look at his brother.
"Both of us." Bill stated, giving her a small smile. "You're a part of our family. You have been ever since you and Ron became friends back in your first year, and us Weasleys, we protect our family."
"Thank you. Both of you. You have no idea how much that means to me to hear you say that," Hermione said as she leaned forward to hug both of them, giving them a blushing smile in the process. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, who had been standing off to the side, hand-in-hand, watching every exchange, reached out to her. Hermione quickly ran in to their embrace, and hugged them both very tightly.
"Hermione, my darling," Mrs. Weasley said softly as she stroked Hermione's hair, "You are welcome to stay here for as long as you want, whenever you want."
"This is your home too," Mr. Weasley finished, before she let go and was brought upstairs by Ginny to show her to her bedroom…
Hermione was inspired that night. She had lost hope that day, a week ago. The day when the heaviness of her situation finally crashed down on to her shoulders. The day when she let go of her family to keep them safe. The day she thought she was alone in the universe. But being welcomed in to her surrogate family brought her back. The moment she set foot in to Ginny's bedroom she vowed never to lose hope again until Voldemort was destroyed.
An idea struck her that evening, a plan to help lift the spirits of all of those in the wizarding world that were currently living scared and without hope. While Hermione was not a capable athlete, nor a capable artist, she wasa capable musician, not that anyone knew that. Having taken singing and instrumental lessons for the entirety of her life, she knew that music was a universal language. Music was something that brought people together… brought people a creative outlet to show their feelings… brought people hope.
Hermione began to write a song. She started in secret, casting silencing charms around the room in the hopes that no one would hear her when she practiced. One day, however, Ginny walked in on her as she was doing a quick run through before dinner. Hermione, after making Ginny swear not to tell anyone about her hidden talent, performed it for her. After receiving Ginny's teary-eyed stamp of approval, she then explained to her what she wanted to do, and it was then that Ginny found a solution.
That is how she came to sit on the bed in Ginny's room. She accio-ed a small, orange radio from her bag and turned the dial until she found the station she had been looking for.
"Welcome to the evening broadcast of WWW, this is Rapier here with Raptor, here to bring you exclusive updates on what is currently happening in the war-"
Fred and George's underground channel.
Hermione proceeded to raise her wand to the small orange box before giving it a tap and murmuring "Finiks Tumultus".
This was the first time Hermione ever used the password the Order of the Phoenix assigned to the channel. The Order selected Finiks Tumultus, or "Phoenix Uprising", as the password in case anyone needed direct access to the channel for emergency purposes.
Hermione reached forward to switch on the output, when she froze, briefly recalling that wand activity was monitored. She let out a small breath when she remembered Ginny telling her that the witch or wizard's identity would remain hidden for confidentiality purposes.
Steeling herself, Hermione flipped the switch. A small red light blinked to life, and Fred, who had been in the middle of speaking, stopped.
"…Uh… I-It seems that we have a visitor on air with us this evening, Raptor" Fred began, slowly.
"Yes, I see that, Rapier… Welcome to the show. May we ask who's on?" George continued.
Hermione cleared her throat and, after a few moments of silence, in a slightly trembling voice, spoke.
"Good evening, Raptor, Rapier, and all the witches and wizards in our world. This is Sparrow," Hermione said, her confidence building. She had chosen the code name 'Sparrow' as it was her mother's favorite bird.
"I am terribly sorry for interrupting your broadcast, but I have a rather important message I want to send to all that are listening.
"This war has had a huge impact on all of our lives. For the past few years, after Voldemort's return, those of us that fight for the light have suffered. Villages destroyed, families torn apart, futures ruined. Now, it passes through our world to the non-magical world as well, and I will admit, I was scared. I amscared, as I'm sure many of you are. The message I wanted to send was never to lose hope. Never lose hope in yourself. Never lose hope in your family. Never lose hope in your friends. Music, for me, has been a huge part of my life since I was a child. For this reason, I wrote a song for all of you. This is dedicated to you, the people that will help bring balance to our world. May we all find the light in the darkness. Someday."
With that, Hermione flicked her wand at the group of instruments in her room. It consisted of a grand piano, string quartet, drum kit and a reduced band. With that, the instruments began to play. The piano first, with a fluttering arpeggio and glissando.
And then, Hermione began to sing. ( watch?v=wBNvhdnebIA)
"Someday… Somewhere…
We'll find a new way of living…" she sang, in a quiet voice, the strings playing smooth, steady notes.
"We'll find a way of forgiving… Somewhere
There's a place for us,
Somewhere a place for us,
Peace and quiet and open air" she continued, a smile forming on her lips
"Wait for us… somewhere
There's a time for us,
Someday there'll be a time for us
Time together with time to spare
Time to learn, time to care,"she sang, the instruments and her voice rising.
"Someday, somewhere
We'll find a new way of living…
We'll find a way… of forgiving
Somewhere…somewhere…"small tears formed in her eyes.
"There's a place for us,
A time and a place for us
Hold my hand and we're half way there
Hold my hand and I'll take you there!
Somehow!
Someday!
Some… where!"
She ended in a crescendo, pouring her heart and soul in to her words.
And with that, she switched off the output.
Sparrow.