The Wind Beneath My Wings Chapter 1, a harry potter fanfic

Summary: What do you do, when all your hopes and dreams crumble at your feet? Well, you take a deep breath, put on a clean pair of shoes and start all over, that's what.

Wind Beneath My Wings

Chapter 1: The Anniversary Ball

May 15, 2012

"… and, once again, welcome to the Fifth Annual Anniversary Ball! Are you all having a good time?" the lead singer yelled out to the energized crowd.

"YEAH!"

"We're going to take a break now, but when we return we'll have a surprise for you all – a special singer we discovered a few years back who is rather shy but has a voice the angels would envy. Be back soon!"

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"Come with me, Potter."

"Malfoy. I'm working here. Can't you see?"

"I need you to come backstage with me nicely or else I'll have to call attention to you here. You wouldn't want that, would you?" Malfoy asked smugly.

Harry followed reluctantly. "What do you need me... Oh. Oh, no! I'm not getting on that stage!"

"Is he giving you a hard time, Malfoy?" Dean surmised, joining them. Draco and Dean each grabbed one of Harry's arms and dragged him to the backstage dressing room and locked the door.

"I'm going make you both suffer for this," Harry threatened.

"First thing we need to do is get you in some decent clothes," Draco commented, ignoring Harry's murmuring. "I think you'll fit some of my stuff."

"No, Malfoy. I'm not doing this!"

"Too late. You've already been announced. You can't let down your fans," Draco stated while pulling off Harry's robes and handing him a tailored, iridescent green silk shirt. "Put that on. Don't make me imperious you," he added when he noted Harry was about to protest again.

"Imperious doesn't work on me," Harry mumbled.

Draco reached into the wardrobe trunk and pulled out a pair of black leather pants. "Now these. There should be enough stretch in them to fit your legs."

Harry's jaw dropped. "You want me to wear th... those?"

"I'm going to have to transfigure your shoes – we haven't anything in your size. He pointed his wand at Harry's feet and soon his loafers became black boots.

There was applause coming from the stage. Harry looked up and swallowed thickly. "You guys are going to pay big time for this!"

"Finnegan arranged for you to sing some song about a rainbow. I don't recall its title, but he said you used to sing it in the shower. It was one of your favourites, he said."

"Yeah, 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow', Harry muttered, his mouth dry.

"He wants you to pick the encore song."

Harry groaned.

"Come on. He's been telling me for years how good you are. As a manager, he has a bit of experience knowing that you won't be able to get away with only one song if you are as good as he says. So you might as well pick a song that you know and like."

"Fine," Harry submitted unhappily. "Umm... there's this other muggle song, 'The Wind beneath My Wings' that I could do."

"I'll get it right away. One last thing...," he handed Harry a vial. "This is a vision correction potion. It's only good for an hour, but you can't wear glasses on stage. You sweat – they slide, they fog up. Not to mention the reflection from the spotlights."

A deafening roar sounded from the audience. "Welcome back, Ladies and Gentlemen! I'd like to introduce you all to someone whom you all know and love but never knew he had a secret talent. He's going to sing a song for you that holds special meaning for him from his childhood. Put your hands together and give a big welcome to your very own Professor Harry Potter!"

"There's your cue. Drink. Give me the vial," Draco grabbed the vial and pulled off the offending glasses. He pushed Harry out on stage. "Go."

There was a collective gasp. And then tentative clapping began. A figure stumbled out onto the stage and stood immobile in front of the centre microphone. Suddenly there were whistles and catcalls from the crowd in front of the stage.

"Way to go, Professor!"

"Wow – he's hot!"

"I know who my next fantasy is about!"

Seamus walked over to Harry and whispered something to him. Harry nodded. Dean picked up his guitar and started to strum. Draco headed for the drum set-up.

Harry closed his eyes, took a deep breath and began to sing.

Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high
There's a land that I've heard of once in a lullaby.
Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue
And the dreams that you dare to dream,
Really do come true.

The audience was rapt. After a few bars, Harry loosened up a bit, forgetting that he had an audience.

Someday I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me.
Where troubles melt like lemon drops,
High above the chimney tops,
That's where you'll find me.

Somewhere over the rainbow, blue birds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow
Why then, oh why can't I?
If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow
Why, oh why can't I?

As the last note died away, the silence in the hall was deafening. Then, like thunder, the applause became overwhelming. Whistles and "éncores" were heard from every corner.

Again, Seamus approached Harry. They had a short argument then Harry turned to the audience. He looked out, found a pair of dark, expressive eyes, and began to speak.

"Seamus insists I sing one more song, so this is one I wish to dedicate to the person whose support has helped me survive the circus that has been my life."

Continuing to look at the same pair of eyes, Harry began.

It must have been cold there in my shadow,
to never have sunlight on your face.
You were content to let me shine, that's your way.
You always walked a step behind.

So I was the one with all the glory,
while you were the one with all the strength.
A beautiful face without a name for so long.
A beautiful smile to hide the pain.

Did you ever know that you're my hero,
and everything I would like to be?
I can fly higher than an eagle,
'cause you are the wind beneath my wings.

It might have appeared to go unnoticed,
but I've got it all here in my heart.
I want you to know I know the truth, of course I know it.
I would be nothing without you.

Did you ever know that you're my hero?
You're everything I wish I could be.
I could fly higher than an eagle,
'cause you are the wind beneath my wings.

You, you, you are the wind beneath my wings.
Fly, fly, fly away. You let me fly so high.
Oh, you, you are the wind beneath my wings.

Fly, fly, fly high against the sky,
so high I almost touch the sky.
Thank you, thank you,
thank God for you, the wind beneath my wings.

Harry finished the song, gave a bow to the audience and walked off the stage. As soon as he was hidden behind the curtain, he spun on Draco. "Don't ever do that to me again! I was humiliated! How can I face my students after this? I will have no control over my classes. Merlin, Draco, what have you done to me?" he collapsed onto the small couch, his head cradled in his hands.

"Harry, they loved you! Come with us! You can headline every show. We'll be sold out months, years in advance!"

"Are you crazy? I finally got out of the spotlight. My life was finally getting good. It took me three years, but Severus has finally been taking me seriously. You just destroyed every bit of trust and respect I built with him!"

"Harry – he'll be impressed! You should have seen his face when you came out on stage! Keep the clothes."

Harry just shook his head. "You really don't know him all that well, do you, Draco? I've just lost him." Harry picked up his robes and glasses and left.

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The students left for the summer holidays two days later. As per tradition, the teachers gathered in the lounge to toast the successful end to another year and try to predict the futures of their most recent graduates.

Harry walked in carrying a stack of reports and set them down on the table. The other teachers gathered around complimenting him on his incredible performance at the graduation ball.

"Have you ever thought of going professional, Harry?"

"You gave me goose bumps!"

"That was impressive, Professor."

Suddenly the door slammed open. "How dare you!"

Harry shut his eyes, steeling himself for the tirade he had been expecting.

"You are an embarrassment to the teaching profession! You have undermined any modicum of authority you may have begun to achieve in your classes. I spent all day yesterday taking points against next year for inappropriate comments from students. How dare you flaunt yourself like that in front of them? Have you no inkling of decorum? I had believed you'd finally begun to grow up. But I was guess I was wrong. Or rather, I was right all along to see what an egotistical, arrogant child you are."

Severus turned around and stormed out of the teacher's lounge, leaving shock and silence in his wake.

After a few moments, Harry whispered, "I still have a few things I need to finish up," and he left.

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August 15, 2012 – Three Months Later

The teachers were gathered in the lounge gossiping with each other about how they spent their summer holidays.

The Headmaster walked in and called the room to order.

"Harry's not here yet, Albus," Minerva noted.

"Just like Potter to be late – thinking only of himself. Why should he care that we are waiting for him and wasting our time," Severus sneered.

"Harry won't be joining us," Albus commented.

"Special treatment for your Golden Boy, Headmaster?"

"Harry has elected not to return to Hogwarts."

The other professors gasped. "What? Why? Where is he? What is doing?" they all said one over the other.

"Has he decided to take his voice on the road? Was he missing being in the spotlight?"

"Now, now, Severus. You know he's not like that," Albus signalled for calm. "I have a letter from Harry which he asked me to read to all of you. May I have your attention please?

Dear Professors,

As Albus has by now no doubt informed you all, I will not be returning to Hogwarts. This was not an easy decision, but certain circumstances have conspired against me.

For most of my life, Hogwarts has been my home and you have been my family. But just like with every child, the time has come for me to spread my wings and leave the nest.

I cannot even begin to tell you how much I shall miss you all – my 'home' and my 'family', but I will think of you often

Thank you for being there for me and teaching me to to fly with my own wings.

With fondest wishes,

Harry Potter

"Just like him to leave us in the lurch. What is he doing now? Touring with his band?"

"He didn't abandon us at the last minute, Severus," Albus admonished. "He told me he would be leaving the morning after the students left for the summer. I have had all summer myself to find his replacement. This letter arrived yesterday by muggle mail via regular post owl."

"Where is he, Albus?" Minerva asked.

"He did not say where he is nor what he is doing. I surmise that given the method of delivery he chose for his letter, that he does not wish to be found."

"Just wait. He can't help but be noticed and land himself in trouble – it's as easy as breathing for Potter. He's bound to come crawling back soon."

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(A/N: The first song is called Somewhere over the Rainbow from the film The Wizard of Oz. The second song is called The Wind Beneath my Wings by Bette Midler.)