A/N: Thank you to my loyal reviewers! I couldn't fo this without you.
Ok, so this is the shortest chapter yet. In fact, it's more of an interlude than a true chapter. Still, it is necessary to the overall story. The won't be any shorter ones, though.
Enjoy!
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The Rise and Fall of Harry Potter and the Wizards From Mars
Chapter VIII: Hang On To Yourself
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They had heard thunderous applause before, but they never got tired of it. And they never stop trying to get it.
"Ok," Harry said to others on stage, "let's do an encore of 'Space Oddity'. The crowd'll love it!"
They were about to start, when a stage hand caught Harry's eye. He motioned for Harry to come over.
"I got take five, guys. Do one of the song you three have been working on."
"But, Harry," Ron protested, "were not ready yet."
"Jut do it."
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"What was so bloody important that you had to interrupt us," Harry demanded.
"I'm sorry, sir, There is a lady here to see you. She said it couldn't wait."
"A lady? What lady?"
"I didn't get her name, but she had pink hair."
"Oh, that'll be Tonks. Where is she?"
The stage hand pointed him to a back room.
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The Wizards From Mars were decidedly not amused. They had been working on a few songs that they could without Harry (mostly for concert openings and CDs), but they weren't anywhere close to being ready to play them.
"What do you want to do," Ron asked.
"We could do 'Come On,'" Neville suggested. "That's our best song, and these idiots," he said, indicating the audience, "will never know the difference."
"Fine by me. You ok with that, Seamus?"
"I'm going kill him!"
"Seamus?"
"I'm kill him with my bare hands!"
"Yes, Seamus. But after the concert, ok?"
There was no point in asking Seamus who he meant. He and Harry were always arguing about something.
Thank Merlin the five years are almost up, Ron thought. Those two'll kill each other if they have to put up with each other much longer.
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Tonks steeled herself for what she had to do. She loved Harry. There was no question of that. But he had a problem that he needed to fix if they were going to be together.
She had been staring absent-mindedly at the floor, but looked up when she heard the door open. It was Harry.
"Hey, love," he said as he walked over to kiss her. She turned her head. He sighed.
"Ok, what's wrong?"
"Harry, we need to talk."
"What about?"
"Your addiction to those "milk floats" or whatever you call the bloody things."
"Addicted? I'm not addicted to anything!"
"Are you joking? You can't start the day without drinking one and you've usually had at least five before you go to bed. I don't know what kind of potion they are, but they can't good for you."
"Listen, I can quit any time I want. You don't know what you're talking about!"
"Don't know what I'm talking about! Do you know-do you have any idea how many people I've known who had drug problems? How many funerals I've been to? How many eulogies I've given? Don't you dare tell me that I don't know what I'm talking about."
"Why are bringing all this up now? You never said anything before."
Tonks was crying by now. She wanted to tell him. It felt like she'd die if she didn't say it. But she couldn't bring herself to tell him yet. Instead she just walked away.
When she got to the door, she turned and said, "We've got a great thing going, Harry. But if we're going to get married, you've to hang on yourself. Right now, you're caught up in being the Chosen One.
"I'll be staying with my parents. Let me you when you're ready to be yourself."
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"Our fearless leader has to see a man about a dog," Ron said into the microphone. "So, until he gets back, we're going play a little something we've been working on."
Well, they didn't cheer, he thought, but they didn't boo, either.
Seamus was looking murderous, and Ron prayed that he wouldn't let it affect his performance.
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Harry punched the wall after he was sure Tonks was really gone. How dare she accuse him of having a "problem?" How dare she?!
"Harry?"
He looked up, hoping it was Tonks, but it was only Hermione.
"Oh, hey Hermione. Listen, I've got to go back on stage, but I'll come back after-"
"Harry, we need to talk."
TO BE CONTINUED...
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A/N: Let me know what you think of Prick!Harry Please read and review!
