DISCLAIMER: Harry Potter is owned by the fabulous JK Rowling, and the idea of the choir goes to Warner Bro's. I own nothing but the plot :(
I woke up clammy and shaking and, thanking my own foresight in Silencing the curtains around my bed, glanced at my clock – 7:34am. My body clock still hadn't adjusted from the early starts that came with being on the run, and since I didn't really have to be anywhere today I decided to go for a walk around the grounds. As I got dressed I couldn't shake the feeling that there was something I should be doing. I was used to panic-studying in the morning from my OWLs but it didn't hit me until I was at the portrait hole – the sign-up sheet for the choir should be up by now. Earning an irritated grumble from the Fat Lady for waking her up, I power-walked downstairs to the notice board outside the Great Hall. There it was! I leaned closer to read it –
HOGWARTS SCHOOL CHOIR, it read.
THIS IS THE SIGN-UP SHEET FOR ANYONE WISHING TO JOIN THE SCHOOL CHOIR.
TO SIGN UP FOR A REGULAR CHOIR PART, SIGN THE LIST ON THE LEFT AND TICK THE BOX THAT IS YOUR PREFERRED PART (SOPRANO, ALTO, TENOR OR BASS).
TO SIGN UP FOR A SOLO AUDITION, SIGN BOTH LISTS AND TICK THE BOXES THAT ARE YOUR PREFERRED PARTS (SOPRANO, ALTO, TENOR OR BASS).
IF THERE IS ANYTHING ELSE YOU THINK WE SHOULD KNOW, SUCH AS INSTRUMENTS YOU PLAY OR MEDICAL CONDITIONS, WRITE IT INTO THE BOX BESIDE IT.
Underneath the lists, it read,
OUR FIRST MEETING WILL BE IN PROFESSOR FLITWICK'S CHARMS CLASSROOM, NEXT SATURDAY AT 2PM. TURN UP IF YOU ARE INERESTED IN COMMITING; WE WILL BE TAKING A ROLE-CALL.
I reached for the quill and ink inside my pocket and immediately scribbled my name into the third space on the list (the first had been already taken by Dennis Creevy, the second by Hannah Abbott), ticking soprano and writing I play cello and saxophone into the box beside it. Chewing my lip with indecision, I glanced at the empty column of soloists. I had already signed one, wasn't that enough? I had learned a lot about myself from my year searching for Horcruxes, and one thing I had finally figured out was that I always relished challenges. My intellect was always hungry, always striving for something to occupy my thoughts with. No, I thought, I am Hermione Jean Granger and my vocals are better than a childish little harmony. I need a bigger challenge. And in a moment of pure recklessness, I wrote my name into the space and again ticked soprano, rewriting the sentence from the other list into the space.
Pleased with myself, I packed my ink and quill quickly into my bag and walked through the corridor to the main doors. The date fixed in my mind, I was hyper with excitement as I trotted down the stairs. I wonder what song we'll sing? I mused. I fervently hoped for it to be something from Les Miserables as it was my all-time favourite musical. I knew all the songs by heart, even the men's (but an octave higher obviously), but I doubted it would be that unless Victor Hugo was literally a wizard, seeing as all of the performances were directed, performed and watched by Muggles.
I stepped out onto the lawn in front of the castle and took a deep breath of the cool, cleansing air. Walking slowly I wandered down to the lake and dried a patch of grass beneath the big oak with my wand, dropping my bag next to it. Sitting down, I rifled through its contents until I found my cello – it was too early in the morning for a blast of saxophone, it would have been cruel to those who were still asleep – and whispered "Engorgio," keeping my wand trained on the instrument until it had reached the perfect size. Setting the bow to the strings I began to play, closing my eyes. I didn't need the sheet music I'd laid out; I knew the song by heart. Instinctively I began to sing, the words floating from my mouth like snow, settling softly around me and ringing in the silence. The last notes of the song faded into the air. I kept my eyes closed, savouring the music.
"Trying out for the choir, Granger?" my eyes flew open and I gave a small scream of shock as I realized who was standing above me. "Piss off, Malfoy," I spat, glaring as I shrank my cello back to pocket-sized and collected my sheet music. Trust him to ruin the moment.
"How long have you been standing there?" I demanded. I'd been trying to avoid him after the end of the War – although I knew he had turned to the Light, I still didn't really trust him being a former Death Eater. I knew it was going to be pretty hard in the next few months though, seeing as we had been made Head Boy and Girl though. Harry and Ron weren't particularly happy with it either, but Harry was a little more open-minded than he had been before the end of the War, and I wasn't talking to Ron anyway so I really couldn't have cared less about what he thought about it.
"Never answer a question with a question, Granger. If you must know, only a few minutes. What was the song again? Something about being lonely? I can see why you'd sing that, Granger," he said smirking.
"It was On My Own from Les Miserables. You're giving me a headache, Malfoy, so if you're not going to leave I will." I said rubbing my temples. How could I have been so relaxed just a few moments ago? When he made no move to leave I sighed and slung my bag over my shoulder, starting towards the castle.
"Hey, Granger!" Malfoy called out to me.
I didn't turn around, taking a deep breath to prevent myself from hexing him. "What do you want now, Ferret-Face?"
"See you at Choir." I could hear the smirk in his voice, but also the sincerity.
I rolled my eyes and continued walking. It was obvious he was joking – Malfoy, singing?! I didn't think so. But what if he isn't lying, said a little voice in my head. What if he is coming to the Choir? What will you do then, Hermione? Walking into the Great Hall I put it out of my mind. Dropping into the space next to Ginny at the table, I grabbed a slice of toast and some marmalade and started eating.
It was only in bed that night, mulling over my encounter with Malfoy, that I had a revelation. I sat up in bed, confused and thinking hard.
He hadn't called me Mudblood once.
A/N - hey guys, kind of a filler chapter but still, some stuff to think about. They get to see their common room in the next chapter! Review pretty please :) xxx
