Chapter I – The Resurrection.
"Come on! We're going to be late!" said the red-haired girl, running frantically, dodging various shoppers that were milling about the crowded streets of Diagon Alley. A brunette was trailing behind her, trying to keep up, completely unaware of the reason why they were running and where they were running to.
"Come on Hermione! Keep up!" The youngest Weasley held out her hand and as soon as she placed hers, Hermione felt herself being pulled and dragged at such a rapid pace that she stumbled a few times. Catching her breath, she managed to bite out. "Hold on Gin! Slow down a bit! Where are we even going?"
"We can't slow down, 'Mione! We're almost there!"
"Almost where?"
"It's a surprise 'Mione! Just trust me!"
So she allowed herself to be dragged on, unmindful of where she was going, until she felt them stop. She almost crashed into her friend but was able to keep her balance at the very last minute.
"Merlin, Gin! Where are we?" She looked up at the huge building before them that looked like it had previously been a warehouse. She felt the magic reverberating off the walls, the air crackled with static energy and she felt the cool wind blowing in her face. She felt almost afraid, feeling a quiet discomfort that was starting to bubble inside her chest, but hearing Ginny's tiny squeal from beside her, it was quickly dismissed. Her friend was pointing at something over the top of the building. Directing her gaze at what her friend was pointing at, she saw a huge sign that was glowing in Absinthe Green.
Nox, she was barely able to whisper, as her friend pulled at her again leading her into the newest wizard night club.
xxxx
Hermione quickly felt her senses being assaulted as soon as they stepped foot inside the crowded building. It was dimly lit, by shades of cool greens, blues, and whites of the flickering fluorescent candles, some hanging in mid-air, some set up in the tall, iron-wrought candelabras. She could see tasteful drapings that were hung from the ceiling and the walls, providing a sense of privacy over the lounges and chairs strewn about. There was something so eerily romantic of the place.
Dark, mysterious, and gothic. She closed her eyes and let herself be absorbed by her surroundings.
She looked up to the ceiling and it took her breath away. Just like Hogwarts, the ceiling was enchanted. Up in the sky was a dark blue night: A generous scatter of twinkling stars, and the large and glowing pale white-blue moon nestled in soft, fat and dark blue, almost pitch black clouds. She closed her eyes once again and got a whiff of rose prelude, blackberries, and feuille de violette. Incense, she thought, burning somewhere in the room. She felt the bass hammering against the beating of her own heart as she saw a mass of tangled bodies moving against each other, dancing to the music being played by the DJ. She was almost lost to it all if Ginny hadn't tugged at her arm and shouted over the music.
"Do you like it 'Mione? Wicked isn't it!" Her friend giggled, obviously excited at what the night that lay before them could offer.
"This is amazing, Gin." She continued to stare in awe. Although the club was relatively new, having been open for only a mere three months, it had been packed nightly ever since. She wondered how Ginny even got them the tickets! The waiting list could have gone forever, but she shrugged it off. They were already here, anyways. No need to obsess over the details, she thought to herself.
"This isn't even the surprise yet, Hermione!" The redhead winked at her. Hermione blinked.
"It's not?"
The redhead threw her head back and let out a laugh.
"Of course not! Come on! Let's get a place near the stage!"
She felt something got stuck on her shoe. Stopping momentarily, she pulled out a piece of paper and clutched it in her hands before she felt herself being dragged off again.
They wove around the patrons of the club, bumping into a lot of people, some they recognized and some they didn't until they had been able to position themselves directly near the stage. As if on cue, the cool blue and green lights died out with the music being previously played and a couple of gasps had erupted around the room, caught in the sudden blackout.
She heard a low humming. She craned her neck to try and find where it was coming from but they were bathed in complete darkness. She was slightly panicked from the loss of lights and tried to keep herself calm. Then she heard the beginnings of a violin playing and the soft beating of drums that started to get louder, getting closer. Trying not to panic any further, she gave Ginny's hand a gentle squeeze, to which her friend returned. The crowd grew still as a voice pierced through the chatter and the music.
Time to escape the clutches of a name,
No this is not a game,
It's just a new beginning.
The voice was mesmerizing. Rough yet silky and sensual and Hermione felt a shiver run up her spine as she heard the glorious sound.
I don't believe in fate but the bottom line,
It's time to pay,
You know you've got it coming...
This is war!
A chorus erupted, chanting about war, and it was over as soon it had begun. But it was shortly followed by a tinker of notes played on a piano then an onslaught of an electric guitar and drums. The stage began to light up and a spotlight was placed on the figure on the edge.
Lie awake in bed at night
And think about your life
Do you want to be different?
Try to let go of the truth
The battles of your youth
'Cause this is just a game
The crowd erupted into applause and frenzy spread like wild fire. She heard Ginny on her left screaming but she was frozen in her own spot.
It's a beautiful lie
It's the perfect denial
Such a beautiful lie to believe in
So beautiful, beautiful it makes me...
Her gaze was locked on the performer just a few feet away from her.
It's time to forget about the past
To wash away what happened last
Hide behind an empty face
Don't ask too much, just say
'Cause this is just a game
Brought back to her senses by a slight nudge from behind her, she remembered the flyer she had been clutching from earlier. She uncrumpled the paper, muttered Lumos, and brought her wand before it to read. All that she saw was the headline of the music review that doubled as a promotional leaflet.
Everyone's looking at me
I'm running around in circles, baby
The words: "You'd pay to see and hear him scream!" was all that registered in Hermione's brain.
A quiet desperation's building higher
I've got to remember this is just a game
She closed her eyes, shook her head, and slowly opened them once again to find herself gazing at Draco Malfoy clutching the iron-wrought mic stand on stage before the lights went down and they were engulfed in darkness once again.
It's a beautiful lie
So beautiful, beautiful
It's a beautiful lie
So beautiful, beautiful...
Disclaimer: The Characters, obviously, belong to J.K. Rowling.. and the song and lyrics are, if you've realized, from one of the most awesome bands out there, 30 Seconds to Mars! The plot has been playing inside my head for quite some time now so I thought I'd give it a whirl. I think Jared Leto's voice sort of fits Malfoy's, if you ask me. This is my first ever fan fiction, so please be kind. Thanks! x
S.S.