Here it is folks! The talent show chapter and it's a long one! Now, if you have never heard the songs before, I really recommend you do…they are great songs, and they are time frame appropriate…I am a freak about that kind of thing…I am already writing the after party chapter so the update, baring any unforeseen tragedy, it should be a quick turn around…ok…on with the show…duck flying tomatoes and extreme fluffies!
It's all about the JKR…
Mina's hands were sore from clapping. The talent show had gone surprisingly well so far in her opinion. The acts had been put on in the order of the houses, with Slytherins first, followed by Ravenclaw, then Hufflepuff. Hermione was surprised that there was even a single act from the Slytherins after the announcement of 'no wands allowed on stage' was made. She was sure that they would take that as a muggle loving trick from Dumbledore. But the punk rock performance by a group of 4 Slytherins was actually pretty good and got a lot of applause, even from the Gryffindors. The Hufflepuffs had done really well also. The tumbling group that Peter's girlfriend Cindy was in was really amazing. Mina had a great time picking on Peter about how athletic and flexible Cindy was, causing the poor boy to blush to the point she thought he might pass out. Next up was going to be the Gryfindors. A live back up band was setting up on the back of the stage. Mina really hoped that James would be able to pull this off. Even though her own heart was broken, she did not begrudge anyone their right for happiness in love…she really wanted to see James and Lily straiten things out.
Mina could see Lily in her formal Head Girl robes standing on the left side of the hall below the stage. Lily was keeping guard of the stage door to keep people from trying to get backstage who shouldn't be. Mina could tell Lily was nervous by the way she held herself so uptight. Mina sighed…she knew all about Niobe and Sirius's plan…she just hoped that Lily wouldn't chicken out at the last minute. For all that she was a Gryffindor, Lily, when it came to her heart, was a very guarded person. Mina hoped between James singing to Lily and what Lily had planned for James would…She was stopped in mid-thought by the arrival of Niobe
"Hey guys! This is going to be so great!" Niobe said bouncing around with a kind of manic glee.
Mina was pretty sure she had never seen the girl this animated. It was almost a little scary. Mina grabbed Niobe's hands to try and stop her bouncing "Ok…calm down…it's just a show"
"Just a show?" Niobe said looking at Mina with amazement "This is going to be Fantastic! Imagine, James and Lily publicly declaring their love for each other…this is sooo cool!" she practically squeaked she was so hyper.
Mina laughed "You are such a closet romantic at heart…or are you wishing someone was singing to you? Maybe someone in leather perhaps?" Mina smiled outwardly as Niobe sputtered, but inside her heart was aching. She knew that as happy as she was for her friends, there was nothing more she wanted than to have Remus by her side…but she pushed those thoughts away. Tonight was for her friends and she would not let her own shattered love life ruin anybody else's night. Niobe was now talking a mile a minute to Peter, who was nodding his head in such a way the Mina knew he absolutely no idea what Niobe was talking about. Just then Dumbledore walked out on the stage, resplendent in gold robes with crimson stars. He had made sure that he had matching robes for each house when he was introducing them. Mina smirked…Her Uncle Al was having a blast being the MC.
"My fellow audience members…" Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling like mad "I would like to thank our house band for the evening, The Magic 8's!" Dumbledore made a sweeping gesture towards the back of the stage where several musicians stood up and were taking small bows. "These fine folk have volunteered to back up our next group of performers from the noble house of Gryffindor." There was loud applause from ¾'s of the room and dead silence from the rest. The Slytherins had already been spoken to, by a very irate McGonagall, about heckling.
"To start off our next group, let us give a warm round of applause for none other than our very own Gryffindor Quidditch captain, James Potter!" Dumbledore swept off the stage as James came out. Mina was a bit concerned about the hesitant way James walked up to the magically enhanced microphone that had been left out for the performers. She could tell he was still nervous about singing.
But James wasn't just nervous…James was petrified. His stomach was churning despite the entire bottle of stomach potion he had imbibed earlier. He grabbed the microphone with a sweaty hand and waited for the band to start playing. His eyes scanned the crowd in a panic. He saw Mina waving and clapping with Peter from the foot of the stage. He gave them a weak smile before his gaze drifted over to the left of the stage…and then he saw Lily. She was so beautiful to him, even standing stiffly by the stage in her formal robes. He locked eyes with her and for a moment he forgot the crowd and just saw her…then, she gave him a small encouraging smile…and that was all he needed.
That famous James Potter cocky smile came back with a vengeance as he grabbed the microphone and cut loose with the crowd as the upbeat piano kicked in…
Come out Virginia, don't let me wait
You Catholic girls start much too late
But sooner or later it comes down to fate
I might as well be the one
Mina could barely control her laughter at the look of shock on Lily's face. Mina knew that she was going to pay later for telling James that Lily's middle name was Virginia and suggesting this song to him. She just hoped they were going to be too busy snogging once they made up to care…James had the audience in the palm of his hand as he bounced around the stage…
They showed you a statue and told you to pray
They built you a temple and locked you away
But they never told you the price that you pay
For things that you might have done...
Only the good die young
As James danced around the stage, Mina felt a shiver go down her spine at the frightening irony of the words James was singing. But she got caught up with the rest of the crowd and was clapping along with them to the beat as James took over the stage.
You might have heard I run with a dangerous crowd
We ain't too pretty we ain't too proud
Mina, Niobe, and Peter laughed as they heard an indignant "Hey!" come from Sirius from behind the stage
We might be laughing a bit too loud
But that never hurt no one
James turned and sang the next part directly to a furiously blushing Lily at the side of the stage
Come on Virginia show me a sign You got a nice white dress and a party on your confirmation
Send up a signal I'll throw you the line
The stained-glass curtain you're hiding behind
Never lets in the sun
darling only the good die young
You got a brand new soul
And a cross of gold
But Virginia they didn't give you quite enough information
You didn't count on me
When you were counting on your rosary
They say there's a heaven for those who will wait You say your mother told you all that I could give you was a reputation
Some say it's better but I say it ain't
I'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints
Sinners are much more fun...
only the good die young
She never cared for me
But did she ever say a prayer for me?
At this point a good portion of the crowd was dancing, including Niobe and Peter who were doing a passable jitterbug, with Mina clapping and cheering them on. Mina could also see Lily from the corner of her eye and was happy to see her smiling and clapping to the beat as well…James, who had already thrown off his jacket to a swooning Ravenclaw 2nd year, was having the time of his life…
Come out come out Virginia, don't let me wait
You Catholic girls start much too late
Ah, But sooner or later it comes down to fate
I might as well be the one
only the good die young
And when the final cord was struck, James leapt off the stage to loud applause. James went right over and gave Mina and Niobe a sweaty hug while high-fiving Peter. "That's it...I want to start a band!!"
Peter laughed "What about being you wanting to be an Auror?"
James shrugged grinning "I'll do that too…just think, crime fighter by day, rock star by night…" They all laughed
Dumbledore was clapping as he came back on stage "Excellent job Mr. Potter, excellent job. Now everyone put you hands together for our next performer…Sirius Black!"
The crowd was clapping when all of a sudden the entire hall went dark. Everyone stopped and wondered what was going on. Suddenly, at the center of the stage, balls of light began to form as the first chords were struck by the band. Slowly the light swirled up lighting the stage and revealing Sirius Black, God of Rock…
You know the day destroys the night
Night divides the day
Tried to run
Tried to hide
Break on through to the other side
Break on through to the other side
Break on through to the other side, yeah
The balls of light had formed a kind of spotlight on Sirius who, in all his leather clad glory, was making even a few of the female professors have to fan themselves a bit…Mina had to admit, her 'little brother' knew how to turn it on when he wanted to…
We chased our pleasures here
Dug our treasures there
But can you still recall
The time we cried
Break on through to the other side
Break on through to the other side
Yeah!
C'mon, yeah
Sirius at this point had taken off his jacket and thrown it behind him, much to the disappointment of the clamoring girls who where hoping for another souvenir. Sirius took the microphone off the stand and jumped into the crowd jumping from table to table. Even the Slytherin girls were grabbing for him…
Everybody loves my baby
Everybody loves my baby
She get(s high)
She get(s high)
She get(s high)
She get(s high)
Sirius kneeled down on a table at the back and sang to the crowd but his eyes were on Niobe…
I found an island in your arms
Country in your eyes
Sirius jumped up…
Arms that chain
Eyes that lie
Break on through to the other side
Break on through to the other side
Break on through, oww!
Oh, yeah!
…and ran leapt back on to the stage to finish the song with a roar…
Made the scene
Week to week
Day to day
Hour to hour
The gate is straight
Deep and wide
Break on through to the other side
Break on through to the other side
Break on through
Break on through
Break on through
Break on through
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!
With the final 'yeah' the entire stage went black again. When the lights came up again, the crowd roared as Sirius gave a small bow and jumped off the stage to greet his friends.
"So…what did you think?" He said as he took of the gloves and shoved them in his pocket.
Mina laughed and gave him a hug "I am sure more than one teacher is going to have trouble looking you in the eye in class after that performance." Sirius laughed and hugged her back
James just smiled and shook his head "If it wasn't for Lily, I would hate you right now"
Peter was in full hero worship mode "That was amazing…"
"Thanks Pete…Niobe, it was all your idea…did I do you proud?" said Sirius with a grin
'You could do me any way you want' she thought to herself. 'Shut up brain!' she yelled back at herself silently 'no naughty thoughts damn it!' She kept her cool and smiled at Sirius, "Those gloves worked out great…you looked fantastic up there"
Sirius beamed…then he noticed everyone was looking back at the stage…a stage where Lily just walked up to the microphone. 'I must have missed Dumbledore announcing her' he thought. He gave Lily a big grin and a 'thumbs up' in encouragement. She gave him a small wave back. He had helped her get ready for tonight and she had not allowed anyone else to help…he saw the secret smile on her face as she took the mike in hand and he knew this crowd, especially one James Potter, was going to have the surprise of their lives as the peppy guitar riff started and she began to sing…
My my, at Waterloo Napoleon did surrender
Oh yeah, and I have met my destiny in quite a similar way
The history book on the shelf
Is always repeating itself
And then, to everyone shock and surprise, Lily Evans, Top Student and Head Girl, ripped off her formal robes to reveal skin tight maroon leather pants and a tight gold tee shirt that had a golden snitch wings on the back and large maroon letters spelling out 'Potter's Girl' on the front…her eyes were on James as she danced with the microphone…
Waterloo - I was defeated, you won the war
Waterloo - Promise to love you for ever more
Waterloo - Couldn't escape if I wanted to
Waterloo - Knowing my fate is to be with you
Waterloo - Finally facing my Waterloo
Everyone on the dance floor was laughing, clapping and dancing up a storm…everyone except for James, who was still staring slack jawed, frozen with shock…Lily laughed and smiled at him as she sang the next lines…
My my, I tried to hold you back but you were stronger
Oh yeah, and now it seems my only chance is giving up the fight
And how could I ever refuse
I feel like I win when I lose
James finally realized that this wasn't one of his many dreams about Lily but was actually happening. His Lily was singing her love for him…to the entire school! He gave Sirius and Mina a manic grin as he joined them all dancing, his eyes never leaving Lily…
Waterloo - I was defeated, you won the war
Waterloo - Promise to love you for ever more
Waterloo - Couldn't escape if I wanted to
Waterloo - Knowing my fate is to be with you
Mina gave Sirius a small head nod in James's direction. Sirius grinned back. Then they both grabbed James and boosted him up onto the stage…right into Lily's arms, who laughed and danced with James as she sang the last part of the song…
And how could I ever refuse Waterloo - I was defeated, you won the war
I feel like I win when I lose
Waterloo - Promise to love you for ever more
Waterloo - Couldn't escape if I wanted to
Waterloo - Knowing my fate is to be with you
Waterloo - Finally facing my Waterloo
She jumped up into James's arms. Peter shouted, to everyone's amusement, "Potter has finally caught the golden snitch!" Then, in front of the entire school, Lily Evans snogged one James Potter for all she was worth…the crowd went crazy, clapping and wolf whistling. Dumbledore was clapping as he came on the stage and went up to a still lip locked James and Lily. He finally tapped them on the shoulder to get there attention. They came up for air and realized they were still on the stage. Lily blushed and James gave a rueful grin as they got off the stage and went over to the gang who all cheered and whistled. James and Lily gave a small bow, causing them all to bust up laughing.
Dumbledore smiled at them from the stage "Fine performances, the both of you…"causing the crowd to laugh again at the coy double meaning of his words.
Dumbledore put his hands out to signal for everyone to quiet down "Now I know that is going to be a tough act to follow but we do have one more performer left. I would like you to give a warm Hogwarts welcome to our own Head Boy, Remus Lupin!"
Mina whirled around white as a sheet. Sirius put his hand on her shoulder to steady her she was shaking so badly. She looked at the rest of the gang "Did you guys know anything about this?" she said in quavering whisper. They all shook there heads, looking just as shocked as she was. When she looked back at the stage, there was Remus.
He was wearing a simple black tee shirt and those perfect jeans of his. He was talking to one of the band members. To everyone's shock, Remus strapped on a guitar and walked up to the microphone. He kept his eyes closed as he started to strum furiously on the guitar as the band joined in…
Why do we never get an answer.
When we're knocking at the door?
With a thousand million questions
About hate and death and war
'Cause when we stop and look around us
There is nothing that we need
In a world of persecution
That is burning in its greed
Remus was playing with a force that shook the listening audience to its core. As the chords from the band swept up to meet his guitar rifts, Remus let out a howl that personified his passion and frustration at the world around him…something many of the other students could identify with…But Mina and the rest of the Marauders could not believe that this was their normally shy, quiet friend on that stage playing with such raw emotion…and they could practically feel their friends pain as he played on…
Why do we never get an answer
When we're knocking at the door?
Because the truth is hard to swallow
That's what this war of blood is for
The band died out behind Remus, and his strumming slowed down and became haunting. Niobe immediately grabbed Sirius and shoved her hands in to his pockets, rummaging around.
"Hey! Hey! What's with the naughty touching?" said a shocked Sirius, who tried to jump away
Niobe finally pulled out the Put Outer gloves "I know this song, I need the damn gloves"
"You could have just asked for them" he said with a raised eyebrow
"Where's the fun in that?" she said with a wink to a jaw-dropped Sirius. Then, she turned to the stage and made some complicated hand movement which lowered the lights in the hall and focused a soft spotlight on Remus…who began to sing, with his eyes still closed, in a quiet, melodic tone…
It's not the way that you say it
When you do those things to me
It's more the way that you mean it
When you tell me what will be
And when you stop and think about it
You won't believe it's true
That all the love you've been giving
Has all been meant for you
On the last word, he opened his eyes for just a beat and looked strait at Mina, whose heart was in her throat. The he closed his eyes again and poured his heart out into the chorus…
I'm looking for someone to change my life
I'm looking for a miracle in my life
And if you could see what it's done to me
To lose the the love I knew
Could safely lead me through
Mina's head was spinning. A miracle in my life? That was what he had said to me in the garden…does this really mean…Mina was mesmerized by the love she was at last feeling again in her heart as her eyes filled with tears…
Between the silence of the mountains
And the crashing of the sea
There lies a land I once lived in
And she's waiting there for me.
Remus opened his eyes at this point, but not to look at Mina. He was staring right at Sirius as he sang the words
But in the grey of the morning
My mind becomes confused
Between the dead and the sleeping
And the road that I must choose
Sirius smiled at the question he saw in his best friend's eyes. He gave Remus a quick nod, and then he took his hand off of Mina's shoulder and backed away. Remus stepped off the stage as the crowd melted away, leaving a clear path to Mina for him. He walked slowly, his eyes locked onto hers as he sang the chorus, putting all of his faith, hope and love for her into every word…
I'm looking for someone to change my life
I'm looking for a miracle in my life
And if you could see what it's done to me
To lose the love I knew
You'd safely lead me to
The land that I once knew
To learn as we grow old
The secrets of our soul
'Our soul'…Mina was openly weeping at this point, but her face shined with a happiness that perfectly reflected the joy in her soul…
Remus got down on one knee and sang the last part only for her…
It's not the way that you say it
When you do those things to me
It's more the way you really mean it
When you tell me what will be
Remus took her hand gently in his "I love you Mina Black and I always will. Please be mine…forever."
Mina had tears pouring down her face as she smiled at him with shining eyes "I was always yours…I love you Remus Lupin and I always will"
Remus leaned forward and almost reverently, brushed his lips against Mina's. Then, they both looked at each other and smiled. Mina laughed and nodded at Remus, who tipper her a wink, then ran back to jump on the stage.
Niobe was so excited that, with out thinking, she clapped her hands together with the gloves still on, causing all the stage lights to come on at once with a bang just as Remus hit the stage. The audience roared. Niobe looked at the Marauders with a grin "Oops"
The band played furiously as Remus sang to every person in the Hall, eyes wide open, challenging them to listen and to believe...
Why do we never get an answer
When we're knocking at the door?
With a thousand million questions
About hate and death and war
'Cause when we stop and look around us
There is nothing that we need
In a world of persecution
That is burning in its greed
With a final flourish of his guitar, Remus ended the song with a howl that was not longer of pain, but of joy.
The Hall shook with applause. Shouts of 'Encore! Encore!' could be heard from every corner. Remus got a smirk on his face. He knew there was another person he needed to bury the hatchet with. He had a quick talk with the band, went back to the front of the stage and said "Sirius, get your sorry ass up here!"
Sirius needed no encouragement. With a leap he was on the stage and grasping his best friend's hand. Remus leaned over and whispered something into Sirius's ear. Sirius let out a bark of a laugh and high fived him. Remus signaled to the band with a thumb up. Then he took his guitar at let out a riff that shook the rafters as Sirius let out his own howl. Then Remus sang, with Sirius as back up…
R: You say you want a revolution
S R: Well you know
R: We all want to change the world
R: You tell me that it's evolution S R: Don't you know it's gonna be alright
S R: Well you know
R: We all want to change the world
But when you talk about destruction
Don't you know you can count me out
Alright, alright
The two of them singing into the same mike, one in leather, one in denim, painted quite a pretty picture. But the two old friends didn't care. They were having a blast! Remus nodded for Sirius to take the next verse. Sirius grinned as he sang…
S: You say you got a real solution
S R: Well you know
S: We'd all love to see the plan
You ask me for a contribution
S R: Well you know
S: We're doing what we can
Sirius leaned forward with the mike and pointed at Regulus and his gang as he sang...
S: But if you want money for people with minds that hate
All I can tell you is brother you have to wait
Sirius went back to Remus, who ripping it up with the guitar as they sang the last part together...
S R: Don't you know know it's gonna be alright
Alright, alright
S: Alright R: Alright
S: Alright R: Alright
S: Alright R: Alright
S: Alright
S R: Alright!
The audience was on its feet cheering and screaming. Remus leapt off the stage and was quickly grabbed by the rest of the Marauders in a group hug.
Mina grabbed him laughing "He's mine!"
Remus smiled down at her "You better believe it girl" He then dipped her and kissed her with passion as James wolf whistled and Lily laughed.
Sirius was still on the stage. He grabbed the mike and addressed the crowd. "Well I don't think I am alone in thinking that this has been one hell of a night!" the crowd roared in response. When the noise had died down Sirius spoke again "But I think you would all agree with me that there is no way this night could be over with out one more performance, give it up for our beloved Headmaster and MC…Albus Dumbledore!!"
The students screamed, laughed and cheered as a blushing Dumbledore came back onto the stage. He grinned and signaled to the band. He brandished his wand and suddenly a top hat appeared on his head and cane appeared in his hand. The queen's march played as he walked up to the microphone. Then that band started singing and the crowd joined in…
Crowd: Love, love, love…Love, love, love…Love, love, love
Then Dumbledore joined in and sang to all of his beloved students…
There's nothing you can do that can't be done
Nothing you can sing that can't be sung
Nothing you can say but you can learn how the play the game
It's easy
There's nothing you can make that can't me made
No on you can save that can't be saved
Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be you in time
It's easy
All you need is love…All you need is love…All you need is love, love
Love is all you need
All the students at this point had joined hands and were singing…
C: Love, love, love…Love, love, love…Love, love, love
All you need is love
All you need is love
All you need is love, love
Love is all you need
Dumbledore actually started softshoeing a bit around the stage as he sang
There's nothing you can know that isn't known
Nothing you can see that isn't shown
No where you can be that isn't where you're meant to be
It's easy
All you need is love
All you need is love
All you need is love, love
Love is all you need
Sirius jumped up, sat on the edge of the stage, and conducted the crowd…
All you need is love (all together now)
All you need is love (everybody)
All you need is love, love
Love is all you need
(Love is all you need)
That is all you need
(That is all you need)
That is all you need
(That is all you need)
As the crowd dissolved into cheer and shouts and applause, there were at least two people who were oblivious to it all. As the crowd surged around them, Mina and Remus were in their own little world…Remus held onto Mina and he finally felt a kind of peace fill his heart. Mina looked up at him, her eyes full of love and hope for the both of them. He took her face into his hands like he was holding something precious…and he was…
"I love you Mina and I am sorry I hurt you…" he said as he gently brushed away a stray lock of hair from her forehead
Mina stopped him with a hand to his lips, her face glowing with happiness. She couldn't resist teasing him a bit though "About time you figured it out…" she said with a grin.
He winced, and then grinned back "Yeah I deserved that. What can I do to make it up to you?"
Mina's smile became sultry "I could think of a few things…" she said in a low voice
Remus turned beat red and got a goofy grin on his face. Mina laughed then she kissed him and the world melted away.
AWWWWW!! Even I got a bit sappy and I wrote the damn thing! The names of the songs by the way are James: Billy Joel, Only the good die young…Sirius: The Doors, Break on thru…Lily: Abba, Waterloo…Remus: Moody Blues, The Question…R S; Beatles, revolution…Dumbledore: Beatles, all you need is love…I am willing to email the files to anyone on their private email if you want….well back to the keyboard…got an after party to write about…
Let me know if it sucked…even better if you liked it….
dye