Chapter eight

Over the next few weeks, Harry and the band had rehearsed enough songs to start on their first album. They still wanted to rehearse them a bit more, to make sure everything sounded perfect. Martin had contacted Madeline so she could come listen to what they had. She said she was bringing James Forster, the engineer with her, so Martin told her about Harry being superstitious. He was going to meet them at the end of the drive to give permission to enter his home. She said she'd heard a lot of people are superstitious, so Madeline said they'd be waiting for Harry.

Harry and Hector walked down the long drive and saw the car, 'Hey, sorry about this, it's just something I like to do.'

'It's fine Harry, I know a lot of stars that are like this. But who is you're friend?'

'Oh, he's my body guard, something I never mentioned to you. I'm really wealthy and I've had a few threats, so a friend of mine that takes care of everything for me, he wanted Hector with me at all times.' Harry handed Madeline the paper, 'Just read that, both of you and I'll feel better,' Harry shrugged then watched them both read, 'Okay, we can go up now, the house is up behind all those trees.'

'Get in then, no use walking,' James said and the four of them got in the car and drove up to the front of the house, 'Nice car.'

'Yeah, again for my protection, Hector is also my driver. Let's get inside,' Harry led the way into the house and the back room.

'Well this is a good size room to rehearse in. Let's hear what you've got and we might work on the studio time in the next couple of days.'

Harry and the band went through one song after another but they kept watching Madeline and James while they played, to see their reaction. They wanted to know if they thought the band and songs were good.

'Great, every song was good and you lot are damn tight. I think we've got a hit album here. I thought of a name for the album, what do you think of lightning strikes, to keep the theme going, at least on the first album?' Madeline asked.

'Sounds good to me, what about you lot?' Liam asked and they all smiled and nodded, 'I think we all like it Madeline.'

'Great, so now we need some pictures of you blokes and one for the album. I noticed it's really secluded here, surrounded in trees, we might have some done here if that's all right with you Harry?'

'Sure, through the trees is the ocean as well, if you want to use that?'

'Actually, with the ocean behind, we could digitally do a stormy background, have lightning hitting the water, something like that.'

'She's good isn't she?' John grinned.

'We like the sound of that.'

'Okay, so you need to go buy some different outfits, nothing outrageous. Just try to go with the rock band type look. I will need to bring in a photographer, someone to do the lighting and I would suggest you blokes get a manager, either you're own or a combined one. That way you're interests are always protected.'

'If I leave you with that note, you can bring them in, but make sure they read it. I've had enough bad luck in my life, I really don't need anymore but I'll trust you to do this for me,' Harry said staring intensely at Madeline.

'You can, I know what you types are like. So I'll organise all this for early next week. Then you're going to start getting busy. We'll start recording, working on the films to go with some of the tracks, that takes awhile, then you'll be going out to promote the album. Appearing on television shows, maybe a support act for one of the big bands, things like that. I'll start organising all that which will probably start in a couple of months. Now have you worked out who is going to be the main spokesman for the band?'

'Liam,' Harry, John, Mark and Martin all said together making everyone laugh.

'He likes to talk,' Mark said.

'Excuse me, mind if I ask a question?' Hector asked.

'Yeah, sure,' Madeline said.

'When Harry is doing these television shows, I need to be as close as possible, so we'll need to work on that.'

'We've had body guards before, so you'll be no more than a few feet away, just out of sight of the camera's.'

'Thank you,' Hector said calmly.

'See Hec, you can do you're job without worrying so much,' Harry grinned at him before turning back to Madeline, 'So you want us to keep rehearsing these tracks or do some others at the same time?'

'Mix it up a bit, just play those tracks like you did before, you'll all be huge. Can I go down the back, have a look around, see if it'll look good with the pictures?'

'Sure, take you're time, we'll be here.'

'Actually, will you walk with me Harry, need a word and I know you're guard has to come with you.'

'Okay, we'll be back,' Harry said and left with Madeline and Hector, 'So what's up?'

'The moment you wanted us to read that note, I realised something. This place is under the fidelius charm isn't it?'

'How in blazes do you know that?'

Madeline laughed, 'My sister's a witch, I'm not, that's a shame, I wouldn't mind as I can see what she can do. So you're the one she's mentioned, killed some bloke called Voldemort.'

'This is getting ridiculous Harry, I think more muggles know about us than we think.' Hector said.

'Makes sense though, I know a lot of muggleborns, like Hermione. Her parents have to know about our world,' Harry turned back, 'I told the band as I knew they might happen to see something. I've had some threats from Voldemort's supporters, that's what Hector is, an auror, he catches dark witches and wizards.'

'Okay, so I'll make sure to get everyone to read that note. But I happen to know at least five people I work with know about you're world. We've all been told to keep it to ourselves and really, who would believe us.'

'When Martin told me he had a cousin who's a wizard, he mentioned the others have heard rumours and saw all the strange and weird stuff that happened over the last few years. I thought since they might be in danger, they needed to know. The car out front is magically protected, like the house. How often would James be coming here?'

'Maybe a lot, to talk arrangements over with all of you. Sometimes when band's rehearse somewhere, they keep a small engineers desk so they can record then show their producer. I thought I'd mention that to you after you made the first album.'

'Okay, well is he one for keeping this to himself if I tell him?'

'Yes, he wouldn't tell anyone, but I don't know if he knows about you're world. I've seen my sister do magic, so I got used to it.'

'Let's go tell him or did you really want to look around down here?'

'I really did, but it was a good excuse to let you know. You go back, I won't be long. oh by the way, my sister, Helena, she's one of the Weird Sisters,' Madeline laughed, 'That's why I got into this business. I used to help her out when she first started out, realised I liked it.'

'Well I have seen them, they played at Hogwarts a few years ago.'

'She told me, at some tournament ball or something.'

'Yeah, the triwizard tournament, I was one of the champions. I never wanted to be one, but Voldemort planned that as well. Anyway, look around and I'll see you back at the house to explain to James.'

Harry and Hector started to walk back to the house, 'I'm even surprised at how many know, do you think it could cause problems?'

'Maybe Harry, as long as they keep it to themselves, it should be fine.'

'Let's hope,' they stepped into the house, 'Madeline's just looking around. Let's show James that other one we were working on while we're waiting.'

'Good idea,' Liam said and the band started to play.

'That's good, but can I make a suggestion?' James asked.

'Sure.' Liam said.

'do any of you play sax, I think a sax right after Harry's first break would sound good in there. Start softer on the first break, the second break, a full on sax bit.'

'I play, but I never brought one here,' Martin said, 'but I think you're right.'

'I might be able to help with that, we just have to wait for Madeline and I'll explain. Oh, she's coming back up now.'

'I like it down there and that photo with you lot standing with your backs to the water, with a lightning strike will look great.'

'We'll try it, so do you want me to explain to James what we were talking about?' Harry asked.

'Might as well, he will be here a lot.'

'Alright,' Harry faced the man, 'Now we're not sure if you've heard rumours or seen something you can't explain. If you haven't, then what I'm about to tell you will be unbelievable at first. It's the reason I asked you to read that note to get in. I'm not superstitious at all.'

'Oh blimey, not another one, you're a wizard aren't you Harry?'

Harry and the band started laughing, then Hector and Madeline did. 'Yeah, me and Hector are. We're finding out a lot of non magical people know about us. Martin told me first as he has a cousin that's a wizard, Madeline's sister's a witch. So how did you find out?'

'My wife is a witch, she works at you're ministry. Um, magical law enforcement squad she called them.'

'What's her name, I've probably worked with her?' Hector asked.

'Susan Forster, are you in the magical law enforcement squad too?'

'No, I'm an auror, we're higher up then them. They handle normal crimes, we deal with dark witches and wizards.'

'So why are you pretending to be Harry's body guard. oh hang on, Susan told me about a young man, well she said boy actually, that was the chosen one or something and he killed some dark wizard.'

'That's me and I was a boy when I started all that. So since you've seen you're wife do magic,' Harry pulled his wand and conjured a saxophone, 'This type Martin or another?'

'No, that's perfect. Is that how you got the piano?'

'No, I bought that. Right after you left I went to buy it. You wouldn't have been at the end of the driveway and I was in London, buying it. I just conjured the sax but they don't last long before they vanish. They will usually last for a couple of hours, the most would be a few days. So let's try that track again with the sax, see how it sounds.'

The band played again, with Martin bringing in the sax and everyone nodded and smiled.

'Sounds better, so that will be for the next album then?'

'Yeah, we've been discussing some other tracks,' Liam said, 'So you're wife's a witch and you sister is a witch Madeline?'

'Yes a member of the wizarding worlds biggest band actually, the Weird Sisters. Our parents and I aren't magical, she is. Does that happen a lot Harry?'

'My best friend Hermione, her parents aren't magical, but she doesn't have any siblings. My mother was a witch, her parents weren't magical neither is her sister, so it can happen.'

'Harry, why are you telling these people about witches?' Kingsley asked as he stepped into the back room with Neville who just shrugged and Harry knew he had some explaining to do.