Chapter 4: The More You Know...

The first week back at Hogwarts went primarily without incident. The ghosts were joking as always, and it seemed that lessons were going well. The promise of the first Hogsmeade visit of the year had persuaded everyone to finally go to sleep. Almost everyone at least... Hermionie sat silently in the huge chair beside the fire, as good as invisible to the rest of the room, despite the fact that there was no-one else there with her.
She was almost asleep when Marcus walked downstairs from the dorm room carrying his acoustic guitar. Other than his wand and broomstick, it was his most treasured possession. He sat in the middle of the room, put a soundproofing spell around the room, and closed his eyes. It was always hard for him to decide what to play first, but he hadn't played for so long, he just wanted to play... Hermionie sat silently curious. Marcus, for once, hadn't noticed her.
He started to strum the opening chords for a song Hermionie didn't recognise, but then stopped. Then he began again. This time he played a series of note, sliding down the neck of the guitar...
He began to sing "I'll Be There For You"...
"I guess this time you're, really leaving... I heard your suitcase say goodbye... And as my broken heart lies bleeding... You say true love is suicide..."
Hermionie was stunned. Every note Marcus sung was perfect, exactly to pitch, with such emotion... He continued, ending with a chorus, which would have roused any audience... He began again, another song. Hermionie again recognised it. It was an Eagles song her mother used to play for her as a child. "Love Will Keep Us Alive". She wondered if it was true, and suspected it would be put to the test in the future, though she prayed it wouldn't.
As Marcus finished, she revealed herself. She turned the chair, clapping at the same time. Marcus looked as shocked as was possible.
"Hermionie... How long have you been there?" He asked, visibly confused and agitated.
"Since before you came down... Marcus, that was amazing... You never told us you played..."
"I though you all might think it was a too muggle a thing to do."
"No way, you're amazing... You have to play for the others!"
"Not a chance..." Marcus burst out, without thinking. "I can't play for everyone... I wouldn't have played now if I knew you were there..."
"But why not?"
"Because I'm afraid of performing like that... I play for myself, nothing more..."
"But..."
"No. There's nothing you can say to change my mind either."
"Would you play just for me? I've heard you now anyway..."
"Maybe some other time..." He turned to go, picked up his wand and muttered the counter-spell for his sound barrier. He paused, then looked over his shoulder... "I...Some other time... Goodnight..."
"Goodnight..." Replied Hermionie, disappointed. She watched Marcus climb the stairs, then climbed her own, up to her room. She'd worry about him tomorrow morning.

Meanwhile, in the boy's dorm, while Marcus was talking to Hermionie, Ron and Harry were having a discussion of their own... Harry began...
"Ron, did you notice anything... Different, about Hermionie?"
"What, other than that she's become much more attractive over the summer?"
"Well, yeah... That's pretty much what I meant..."
"Well, it's not a huge surprise is it?"
"What do you mean?"
"Come on Harry... You didn't think she was going to stay the same all the way through the school did you?"
"I never really thought about it... Obviously you did..."
"That's not the point." Ron replied, trying to avoid Harry's prodding. "She's growing up now, it's strange to see, but it had to happen sooner or later."
"What do you think about her?"
"I'm trying not to..." Stated Ron after a short pause. Harry noticed the forced tone in his voice.
"She seems to be attracting a fair bit of attention from all over the school."
"At least it distracts people from you for a while..." Ron added, trying to make the conversation lighter.
"You got that right." Harry agreed. "Maybe she'll start to ease up off the work with her new image." Harry speculated. He looked across at Ron, who simply looked straight back at him. After a short pause they smiled, laughed, and said simultaneously...
"I don't think so..."
"Goodnight Ron."
"'Night Harry."
"Sweet dreams of Hermionie!" Harry joked in an obvious tone.
"Goodnight Harry!" Ron stated deliberately... He didn't want to admit it, but she probably would end up occupying most his dreams that night...