Robes of Gryffindor Red
--by Egon Starcollector
Disclaimer: HP characters belong to J.K. Rowling. "The Lady in Red" belongs to Chris DeBurgh.
Harry stood off to the side of the Great Hall, fidgeting nervously. His palms were so slick with sweat that he was afraid he would drop his guitar pick.
It was October of Harry's sixth year. Headmaster Dumbledore had decided that Hogwarts should hold a Non-Magical Talent Show. Any kind of performance was allowed as long as it did not involve magic. Cho Chang had recited Shakespeare, Susan Bones had done a very funny stand-up comedy routine, and Justin Finch-Fletchley had played the violin.
Harry, for his part, was going to do something only one other person knew he could do. He'd been taking guitar lessons from Dean Thomas for well over a year, and Dean swore Harry was soon going to need a better teacher. "You're going to pass me before we know it!" Dean declared.
Tonight, Harry would play his second-hand guitar publicly for the first time. And tonight, he was going to sing a song for a very special witch.
It was almost Harry's turn. Draco Malfoy was finishing a song that had people in tears. Who ever would have guessed that Draco's bored drawl concealed a baritone singing voice as golden as his hair?
"And for our next performer, Mister Harold Potter of Gryffindor."
Harry walked to the stage, trying to get his heart and stomach back where they belonged. He cleared his throat and stepped into the spotlight cast by a hundred clustered candles. "I'd like to dedicate this song to Miss Hermione Granger, fairest of the fair in her Gryffindor robes." He swallowed, and then began to sing in his crystalline tenor.
I've never seen you looking so lovely as you did tonight
I've never seen you shine so bright
I've never seen so many men ask you if you wanted to dance
They're looking for a little romance
Given half a chance
Hermione nearly sank to the floor from embarassment--but Harry noted she was smiling.
And I've never seen that dress you're wearing
Or that highlights in your hair
That catch your eyes
I have been blind
The lady in red is dancing with me
Cheek to cheek
There's nobody here
It's just you and me
It's where I wanna be
But I hardly know this beauty by my side
I'll never forget the way you look tonight
By this point, Ron, Ginny, and Neville were staring open-mouthed at each other. "Did you know he could sing?" Ginny mouthed to her brother, who shook his head in disbelief. Was this really Harry?
I've never seen you looking so gorgeous as you did tonight
I've never seen you shine so bright you were amazing
I've never seen so many people want to be there by your side
And when you turned to me and smiled it took my breath away
And I have never had such a feeling such a feeling
Of complete and utter love, as I do tonight
Seamus Finnegan looked down at his juggling clubs. "Blimey, I have to follow *that?*" he chuckled.
The lady in red is dancing with me
Cheek to cheek
There's nobody here
It's just you and me
It's where I wanna be
But I hardly know this beauty by my side
I'll never forget the way you look tonight
I never will forget the way you look tonight
The lady in red
My lady in red
Harry smiled, looked directly at Hermione, and whispered the last words of the song.
I love you
Hogwarts jumped to its collective feet in applause. There was even a cheer from the Slytherin table and an approving nod from Professor Snape. Harry was swarmed by his friends as he stepped from the stage.
"Harry, that was beautiful!"
"Hermione's so lucky!"
"Harry, you could be a star!"
"I *told* you you'd pass me!" This from Dean, who was laughing and grinning with pride.
Harry felt someone clap a hand on his shoulder and turned to face an impressed-looking Draco Malfoy. "Good job, Potter."
"You too, Draco. You almost melted the whole school."
"And you raised the roof."
"Maybe we should record a duet." Draco genuinely laughed for the first time in recorded history.
And then Harry turned...and looked into the cinnamon eyes of a tearful Hermione. She said nothing, but threw her arms around him and kissed him warmly in front of the entire school.
For Harry, it was better than any applause.
--by Egon Starcollector
Disclaimer: HP characters belong to J.K. Rowling. "The Lady in Red" belongs to Chris DeBurgh.
Harry stood off to the side of the Great Hall, fidgeting nervously. His palms were so slick with sweat that he was afraid he would drop his guitar pick.
It was October of Harry's sixth year. Headmaster Dumbledore had decided that Hogwarts should hold a Non-Magical Talent Show. Any kind of performance was allowed as long as it did not involve magic. Cho Chang had recited Shakespeare, Susan Bones had done a very funny stand-up comedy routine, and Justin Finch-Fletchley had played the violin.
Harry, for his part, was going to do something only one other person knew he could do. He'd been taking guitar lessons from Dean Thomas for well over a year, and Dean swore Harry was soon going to need a better teacher. "You're going to pass me before we know it!" Dean declared.
Tonight, Harry would play his second-hand guitar publicly for the first time. And tonight, he was going to sing a song for a very special witch.
It was almost Harry's turn. Draco Malfoy was finishing a song that had people in tears. Who ever would have guessed that Draco's bored drawl concealed a baritone singing voice as golden as his hair?
"And for our next performer, Mister Harold Potter of Gryffindor."
Harry walked to the stage, trying to get his heart and stomach back where they belonged. He cleared his throat and stepped into the spotlight cast by a hundred clustered candles. "I'd like to dedicate this song to Miss Hermione Granger, fairest of the fair in her Gryffindor robes." He swallowed, and then began to sing in his crystalline tenor.
I've never seen you looking so lovely as you did tonight
I've never seen you shine so bright
I've never seen so many men ask you if you wanted to dance
They're looking for a little romance
Given half a chance
Hermione nearly sank to the floor from embarassment--but Harry noted she was smiling.
And I've never seen that dress you're wearing
Or that highlights in your hair
That catch your eyes
I have been blind
The lady in red is dancing with me
Cheek to cheek
There's nobody here
It's just you and me
It's where I wanna be
But I hardly know this beauty by my side
I'll never forget the way you look tonight
By this point, Ron, Ginny, and Neville were staring open-mouthed at each other. "Did you know he could sing?" Ginny mouthed to her brother, who shook his head in disbelief. Was this really Harry?
I've never seen you looking so gorgeous as you did tonight
I've never seen you shine so bright you were amazing
I've never seen so many people want to be there by your side
And when you turned to me and smiled it took my breath away
And I have never had such a feeling such a feeling
Of complete and utter love, as I do tonight
Seamus Finnegan looked down at his juggling clubs. "Blimey, I have to follow *that?*" he chuckled.
The lady in red is dancing with me
Cheek to cheek
There's nobody here
It's just you and me
It's where I wanna be
But I hardly know this beauty by my side
I'll never forget the way you look tonight
I never will forget the way you look tonight
The lady in red
My lady in red
Harry smiled, looked directly at Hermione, and whispered the last words of the song.
I love you
Hogwarts jumped to its collective feet in applause. There was even a cheer from the Slytherin table and an approving nod from Professor Snape. Harry was swarmed by his friends as he stepped from the stage.
"Harry, that was beautiful!"
"Hermione's so lucky!"
"Harry, you could be a star!"
"I *told* you you'd pass me!" This from Dean, who was laughing and grinning with pride.
Harry felt someone clap a hand on his shoulder and turned to face an impressed-looking Draco Malfoy. "Good job, Potter."
"You too, Draco. You almost melted the whole school."
"And you raised the roof."
"Maybe we should record a duet." Draco genuinely laughed for the first time in recorded history.
And then Harry turned...and looked into the cinnamon eyes of a tearful Hermione. She said nothing, but threw her arms around him and kissed him warmly in front of the entire school.
For Harry, it was better than any applause.