Ginny
Luna and Cielie come barging in, bright and early on the morning of our big performance. We are the only ones awake in the common room and so we slip out, so as to not bother anyone. Luna suggests that we go to the practice rooms, but Cielie decides that she would much rather sing outside this morning. I don't particularly mind this, wishing for some fresh air myself.
And so, we find ourselves on the dew-covered grounds at what feels like the crack of dawn. No one else seems to be awake in the castle and I fear that we will be yelled at for causing a ruckus. As Cielie begins to sing though, all my fear vanishes. She sounds like an angel who fell straight from the heavens. No one would yell at her for singing like that.
Luna and I watch, as if in a trance, as Cielie lifts her voice even higher. She begins to sing Hallelujah, and now it truly feels as though she is not human, not witch, but an angel. A few heads begin to poke out of the tower common rooms and some children are standing just outside the main entrance, listening in awe, just like we are. Cielie doesn't seem to notice, and if she does, she doesn't show it. This is a quality I have always admired about her, I wish I could be so indifferent about what other people think.
Her voice continues to soar, dipping and rising, carrying the melody as though it were weightless. A few teachers join the awe-struck students by the stairs, and still Cielie doesn't even turn her head. She sings for her own pleasure, letting her voice be free, letting it fly out of her mouth and into the wide world.
That's when Umbridge marches out, straight through the students and teachers. She marches right up to Cielie, just as the final line is sung, but it can't be called singing, no. The way the final notes ring out into the air is more than singing, it is the pouring of her soul out into the world. "King of kings and Lord of lords!" It echoes off of the mountains and everyone has heard it, the beauty of Cielie's voice has stopped even Umbridge in her tracks.
Then, after the final echo has been heard, Umbridges' scratchy, unpleasant, tones fill the air. "What do you think you are doing? Making this much noise this early in the morning! Just who do you think you are?!" she shrieks. Cielie seems unfazed by this confrontation and smoothly replies.
"I think, if I'm not heartily mistaken, I just perfected my solo for the Choir performance," she says with the appropriate confidence. "As for who I think I am, well let me tell you. I am Cedric Diggory's sister," she says a little more hesitant, but soon she gets back into her stride, gaining confidence as she goes, "I am a passionate singer. I am a friend to those who need me. I am everything you can never even hope to be. I am Cielie Diggory and you can't stop me from expressing myself because my voice has been heard."
"Oh really, your voice has been heard! By doing what, by belting out some words that were written long ago!" Umbridge starts to laugh. Cielie smiles at her, and then she turns to us.
"We must lift our voices for what we believe in. Join me in spreading joy to all the world. If you stand with me, lift your voices. Lift them to the sky and let yourself be heard. Don't let this hag control you"
At first there is just silence and then, I hear myself begin to sing. It feels as though I am an outsider, watching myself. My voice sounds strange all alone in the cold morning air but then Luna opens her own mouth and lets the song pour out of her. We sing together, calling out for others to join us. And as we sing, the rest of the Hogwarts Choir steps towards us and raise their voices with us. Cielie stands before us all, waiting for the right moment to join in. A few DA members come up to stand with the choir, including Harry, Hermione, Neville and my brother.
Cielie is singing her solo, although this time it sounds more like the embodiment of song, not the lone angel singing all alone. I can feel the joy pouring out of all of us. And I smile as Cielie brings our singing to an epic close. There is clapping and cheering, Cielie is in the middle of it all. Smiling, rosy cheeked Cielie, laughing as Harry tells her something. Everything seems perfect.
A display of unity that cannot be mistaken, it is a sign that we will support and protect each other. With that we disperse and hurry back into the castle since it really is a cold morning and most of the students are only in their pajamas. Luna and I run up to Cielie, joining her in the Great Hall.
"Well, I guess my idea was better than Harry's. Singing brings so many people together and while a defense club isn't a bad idea, it still doesn't reach out to very many people," Cielie says glancing over at the other tables. The whole school is in an uproar.
"You're right, but the DA is still really fun and is teaching us a lot," Luna replies. I nod in agreement, only half listening because Neville has caught my eye and is beckoning to me.
"Excuse me, I think Neville wants to tell me something," I stand from the table, remembering the last time I really talked to Neville was at the Yule Ball. We just went as friends, but since the summer I feel sort of giddy when I see him in the halls. It feels a bit like the way I used to be really shy around Harry, but less awkward and more natural.
It turns out that Neville just wanted to tell me about a change in the DA meeting date. Though I'm glad he told me, I was hoping for something more…relevant. Regardless, I still thank him, leaving quickly to tell Luna.