Chapter 10 – Musings in Music

A/N: Hi everyone! Here's the next chapter of the story, and I hope you all like it. It's pretty soon isn't it? The very next day! See, I told you the near future.

Thanks to nikkiRiddle, Growlithe58, perfectfluke, glazedwater, SaySomethingNiceOrIWillKillYou (please don't, I said thank you, right?), Starlingkingandqueen, mondendana, and loza-pop for following, favourite-ing and/or reviewing.

Disclaimer: Once again, Harry Potter does not belong to me. Belongs to J.K. Rowling. Now really, these disclaimers are really making me sad. They're making me admit over and over that I'm not awesome enough.

Read and tell me what you think!

"How was Potions with Harry? Was he alright?"

"Well, depends on if you're talking about his skill or his personality."

Hermione chuckled at Draco's response and clarified, "Why don't you tell me both then? We have plenty of time before Music."

Draco groaned. He had detested music as a child, and he himself could not understand why he would choose it. But Hermione had chosen it, and for convenience's sake, he had chosen whatever she had.

"Draco?"

"Oh, huh? What were we talking about? Right, Potter's dismal Potion ability, wasn't it?"

"Well, you were going to tell me about his skill and personality, but I suppose you still think his skill is… not the best. So what about his personality?"

Draco shrugged in response, "Yeah, well. He offered to be my friend, and I suppose he isn't bad."

"Well of course, I never make bad friends." Hermione beamed in pride at Harry's mature actions, and reminded herself to praise him later.

They had now arrived at the Music classroom, ten minutes early. But the teacher must have heard them stop outside the door, for the door opened, no doubt with a flick of his, or her, wand.

Well, it seemed like Music would be taught with a jolly attitude.

Professor Sprout stood behind the desk, cheerfully gesturing for the two to enter. Draco had no idea what to think. Here stood Professor Sprout, teaching somewhere other than her beloved greenhouses, robes still stained with dirt and mud.

He had never particularly enjoyed Herbology, deeming it a useless subject which he did not perform brilliantly in. Perhaps he could go back… talk to the new Deputy Headmistress about it…

There were also no chairs in the room, or tables for that matter. He wondered how they were supposed to sit. As if reading his mind, Professor Sprout waved her wand and a carpet began unrolling on the ground.

"Come on, let's sit. Ginny should be here soon."

"Alright, alright. But I'm really starting to regret choosing whatever subjects you did."

"Nonsense, you'll love it. How can you regret it? We haven't even started the first lesson yet!" Hermione reasoned, leading Draco to the front of the newly carpeted classroom.

She sat down easily, with a sense of nostalgia when she thought back to her Muggle primary school days. Draco, on the other hand, was not familiar with seating himself on the floor, having been raised to believe he was superior, and of course, would never even dream of sitting on the floor in such an undignified manner.

Hermione looked up to see Draco looming above her, awkwardly shuffling his feet, trying to sit down gracefully. By this time, several other students had come, and looking around, it could be seen that most Purebloods and several half-bloods were doing the same thing.

Ginny arrived, and sat down next to Hermione casually, as if it was something she did on a regular basis. Draco, realising this, drew a long breath.

'Well, here goes…'

He landed painfully on the ground, attracting an amused glance from both Hermione and Ginny, who had been engaged in a conversation before his sudden move.

"Settle down now, everyone." Professor Sprout hushed. "Now, as you can see, I have decided to seat you like this as it would be most appropriate for what we will do in the lessons. This subject, as you should all be aware, is a new addition to the Hogwarts school curriculum, to promote Muggle awareness. In these classes, we will be exploring both Magical and Muggle sides of music. Today, we will cover some well-known instruments, used by both Muggles and wizards and witches."

At this, Professor Sprout summoned a box of instruments, and instructed the students to pick one. Hermione peered into the box, and discovered that there were miniature models of various instruments, and picked a small grand piano. She saw Draco's pale hand reach in and grab a harp, and Ginny's reaching for a flute.

After everyone had chosen one, Professor Sprout called for silence. "Now, I will come over and enlarge these models to their full size. If you feel confident with the Engorgement Charm, you may do it yourself. However, ensure that you have enough room for you instrument at its full size."

Hermione, naturally, with a practised wave of her wand, non-verbally enlarged her piano to full size, watching it turn into a majestic, sophisticated instrument. She used to have lessons, from when she was four, to before she left for Hogwarts. She had been quite talented at the piano, but didn't have time for it, being caught up in all the affairs of the Wizarding World. She turned around and realises that Professor Sprout had just finished with everyone's instruments, and was making her way back to the desk.

"I would like for you to now fiddle around with your chosen instrument, and try and figure out how to work it, if you don't already. If you think you have damaged your instrument, a simple Reparo will do. I will leave you to it then. In half an hour, we will gather and share ideas."

'Well then,' Hermione thought, 'maybe I should've chosen a more interesting instrument. Too late now though.'

Draco, by this point, had figured out that you could only really pluck the strings to make a sound, unless you wanted to bang on it, and was now happily stroking his fingers across the strings, rather liking the sound, and Hermione had to admit, the sound was much better than Ginny's rather pathetic blows.

She turned to Ginny and sighed. "Here Ginny, pass me the flute."

Ginny gave up her instrument, with a look of relief in her eyes. "What are you going to do with it? I'm blowing hard as I can, but I just get a sound. I thought they were supposed to sound all pearly and nice."

Hermione smiled encouragingly, handing the elegant instrument back to her friend, "Here, I just charmed it so it would be easier for you. Try."

Ginny, casting a doubtful glance at Hermione, blew softly into the hole, which she knew was on the mouthpiece from the magazines her mum read every now and then.

A delighted squeak escaped from her mouth as a solid sound came out of the instrument.

"Wow, I wonder how Muggles can make any kind of sound out of this instrument without magic."

Hermione only smiled in response, and turned her attention back onto Draco.

For the first time this year, all since she met him, really, his features were completely relaxed and happy, eyes carefree. Hermione rejoiced inside, knowing that he would no longer regret choosing music, from the happiness he was displaying at the moment.

His fingers seemed to glide across the strings with a grace that was only befitting of his personality, and it seemed as though he was an experienced harp player. Indeed, it seemed that he had learnt how the harp worked exactly, as he began humming to whatever he was playing.

"Draco?"Hermione started, unwilling to disturb this heart-warming display, but she had realised that she was staring at him.

"Hm?"

"Do you play any instruments?"

"No, why?"

"You're really good at harp. You would be an excellent musician."

"Well I quite like it too. Perhaps Sprout might let us keep out instruments."

Professor Sprout's voice sounded above the din, with the help of a Sonorus, and effectively silenced the class. "I am certain that you have all managed to figure out something about your instrument. I would like those who chose the bagpipe stand up and share your ideas."

The lesson continued in such a way, and as absorbed as Hermione was in learning, she was blissfully unaware of Draco's scrutinising stare.

A/N: So how did you find it? It's much longer than the previous chapter, but I feel like it's more of a filler chapter than anything, really. I'm not sure how I'm going to do this, because I have never, ever written anything close to romance, so help! Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Also, I'm going to start another Dramione fanfiction, Stop All the Clocks, which should be up soon, again, sometime in the near future. I'm still experimenting with different styles of writing, see which one I'm most comfortable with, and enjoy the most. So... check it out! It should be up soon.

And one last thing, right now, my cover image is not very nice (I made it myself, see) and I would like a much more attractive one. So, if you are interested, could you please e-mail me your cover image? My email is: sis2001 at hotmail dot com dot au

I'm going to go crazy. I've reposted this chapter a million times because I everytime I post it something weird happens to my email address. So just get rid of the spaces. Replace the at with the swirly a thing, and the dots with a dot.

I don't really have any requirements, just that it includes the title, Everlasting Hope, and that's it. I don't mind if it's real people or a drawing or something, just send it in and I'll check it. I would be really, really, thankful if you took the time and effort to make one, and I will even give you a preview of the next chapter early. :D