Chapter Twenty-Six

The Songs of Spring

Corey ran out of Snape's office the next night and pelted up the stairs to throw on his dress robes, tossing his hair in the mirror before running back down, passing people still coming up from dinner as he ran into the practice room where the rest of the band were waiting.

"Here they are, don't take them until just before you go in if you can help it," Corey said, passing out the phials. "They only last ninety minutes."

"Ninety minutes?" Doug repeated with alarm. "But the dance lasts two hours!"

"Flitwick is bringing his enchanted instrument bands during our breaks, I'm going to just ask him to play the last half hour to spend more time with Myrtle or something. Don't worry, we'll get through it somehow. I'll see you in the Great Hall. I need to go get Myrtle."

"I need to go get Carla. I will have to take it before then, or she'll ask questions," Doug pointed out.

"Let's just hope it holds then," Corey said, nodding to each of them as he headed out.

Finally he got to the door of the girl's bathroom, straightening his robes a bit before rapping on the door. He tapped his foot impatiently for a moment when she didn't come out right away. Where else would she be at, anyhow, he wondered. But finally Myrtle came out, looking as she always looked, but straightening her gown as if she had taken great pains to get that way.

"So sorry to keep you waiting," she said politely, adjusting her glasses.

"Not at all. Shall we go, then?" Corey explained. "I hope you don't mind, I'm not sure how much time I'll get to actually show you around and all, what with the band, but I'm sure we can do that between sets, and I mean to ask Professor Flitwick if he can have his band play for the last half hour."

"You must be so excited to be able to play for the school, I'm sure you're quite talented," she said. Corey felt a slight chill as she wrapped her arm around his. "I bet you're the most popular boy in the school right now, what with the band and everything."

"Everyone knows who I am, if that's what you mean," Corey said, taking out the phial and downing it.

"What's that?" Myrtle asked curiously. "Are you not feeling well?"

"Just something to steady my nerves," Corey said, putting the phial away.

"Don't worry, Corey, you have nothing to be nervous about. I'll applaud for you no matter what, even if you do mess up."

"Er, gee, thanks, Myrtle. You're not a bad person for a ghost," Corey said.

They arrived just as the Great Hall was opened again. All the tables pushed back and chairs around the side, and the enchanted band already getting warmed up. Several of the students had already arrived and Corey couldn't help but notice all eyes were on them as they entered. After excusing himself to talk with Professor Flitick for a moment, he went back over to the dais where is guitar case awaited, waving to Danny who was already setting up her keyboard and Taylor, who was too busy biting his nails to do anything else.

"Where is Doug?"

"Still getting Carla, and he better hurry. I am not setting up his drums for him," Danny said fervently.

"I'm not sure I could even if I wanted to," Taylor admitted. Corey pulled over the stool just to the side of where they were setting up.

"Here you are, Myrtle, now you have a place to sit when we play, unless you find some interesting ghost to talk to," Corey added.

"You will go over with me if we do see someone, won't you?" Myrtle said in a meek voice.

"Sure, Myrtle, anything you like, it's your night tonight," Corey assured her. Doug and Carla had finally made it and he was stepping up to the dais as Corey got the ghost settled and headed back over to the others.

"You had better hope she meets someone tonight, Corey," Doug said in a low voice as he opened a box and the drum stand leapt out, working to get in position while their drum counterparts rolled up beside them. "I've seen that look in a girl's eyes before and it's bad news. You're never going to get rid of her, she'll be plaguing you until graduation."

"I'm sure she knows there isn't any real hope for a relationship with a living person," Corey said. "Don't worry, she just needs some confidence. This castle is full of ghosts, I'm sure there's someone here she can take to."

"She hasn't for nearly sixty years," Doug pointed out.

"Yes, but she's been in the bathroom most of that time," Corey reminded him.

"Yes, but still. There aren't many student ghosts here at all. In fact, except for that girl Danny saw on the field, most of them are adults that got moved here. What if there aren't any boy ghosts around?" Doug asked.

"Finish setting up your drums, the potion is wearing on you know," Corey said. He couldn't tell Doug that the thought had occurred to him as well.

Jennifer and Severus arrived a few minutes later to greet some of the incoming guests; there were quite a few visiting, nearly as many as last year. Vallid had even dropped by in her Order of Merlin robes, stopping to chat with them before walking over to where Belle and Moody were sitting. Percy and Penelope came in along with Molly Weasley, and even Bill and Heather showed up, Heather in complete awe of everything in the castle, nearly bumping into several people as she stared at the night sky on the ceiling and the candles floating above them.

Finally Jennifer noticed McGonagall talking to Corey and his band up front, a smirk appearing on her face before changing into a forced smile as she stepped over to introduce them.

"Ladies and wizards, may I present from our own fourth year class our entertainment for this evening," she said, looking even more amused. "The Four Winds."

The students clapped as the four stepped up grinning nervously at them. Corey bowed and then looked over at Taylor, who strummed the first chord. Lightning speed suddenly erupted from Taylor's fingertips as he hit a number of cascading chords, blinking slightly in surprise of himself, as Corey joined in, his deep base guitar adding volume to Taylor's melody. When the others joined in with such perfect timing and harmony, the rest of the Great Hall fell quiet in shock, the students looking at each other in amazement as the Four began singing 'Love is like Poisoned Brew.' The students quickly recovered and enthusiastically got into the music, while the professors stared at them, wondering if this could possibly be the same four squealing up in the Owlery six months before.

Severus immediately became suspicious, his eyes flashing dangerously as those suspicions intensified, folding his arms and squinting at them. Beside him, Jennifer couldn't help but agree with the look on his face. Not in all the time she had known Corey had he ever been able to sing like that.

"Listen to that! They're absolutely fantastic!" Sirius said with delight as he and Anna came up beside them. "They almost sound professional even. Aren't you glad I gave him that guitar now?" he asked. But the look on Severus' face was murderous, and he decided not to say any more.

"I can't believe they got this good in so little time," Anna said, shaking her head. "Most bands without magic I know take years and years to get this good."

"Yes, it does for us too, unless they've had a little help," Jennifer said, obviously irritated.

"What do you think, Jennifer, Liquid Inspiration?" Severus inquired.

"Undoubtedly, it's the only formula they could possibly have pulled off, and even then only one of them could have done it," Jennifer sighed, looking at Corey. Severus also had a suspicion as to how he was able to make them without anyone knowing it.

"Well, I'm going to go up there and drag that little 'superstar' off that stage this instant. I'm not going to let him benefit from a restricted potion," Severus told them, taking a step forward. But just as he did so, Minerva and Dumbledore stepped in front of him, Dumbledore smiling at him knowingly.

"Going somewhere, Severus?"

"Sir, Jennifer and I believe those… 'band' members are playing under the influence, and something must be done about it," Severus said in a low voice, trying not to attract too many student eyes.

"Yes, actually, Minerva and I have been wondering the same thing, but thank you for bringing it to our attention. Minerva, I would handle this myself, but I do have to go to the meeting soon. Would you please take care of this matter for me?" Dumbledore asked her calmly.

"Of course, Professor Dumbledore, you just go to your meeting. I'm sure we can keep things well in hand here," Minerva assured him. Severus frowned in annoyance, knowing he wasn't going to get a say so at how this was handled. Still, he did know something he was fairly sure she didn't…

"Come along, Professor Craw, I'm sure they can manage without us. And it looks like everyone is having a good time," Dumbledore said, smiling at her and waving slightly to Vallid, who moved to join them.

"For now, at least," Jennifer agreed as they left the hall.

Corey grinned as they finished the first set, taking some time to take Myrtle around to introduce to some of his friends. Essie was a tad afraid of her after passing by the bathroom and hearing tales from the Slytherin about the basilisk that killed Muggleborns, but Aelfred, who professed to know all about ghosts, bowed to her in gentile fashion, and even Katie stopped by and politely complemented her on how well she looked.

Then Corey took Myrtle over to talk to Sir Nicholas, who seemed quite pleased to see her out and about.

"We had wondered if you were ever going to come out of there. my dear. After all, there's all of Hogwarts to explore, you don't have to stay in there by yourself all the time."

"But I was afraid everyone would make fun of my glasses again," Myrtle admitted.

"What is that all? You want me to show you what they make fun of me about?" Nicholas offered. Corey quickly decided to excuse himself to head back up to the stage, reassuring her that she would meet her later as he hurried back.

But as he stepped onto the dais, Corey was suddenly aware of eyes on him and glanced over to see Severus glaring at him with his arms folded, leaning on the wall near the back door. Danny had noticed it well as she stepped over to the keyboard, looking at Corey worriedly.

"Do you think he suspects anything?" Danny asked.

"I dunno, he always looks like that," Corey said. "If he's letting us play though, I doubt it. I'd have thought he'd have made us quit by now."

"Maybe," Danny said, but didn't sound so sure. Taylor finally dragged Doug up on the stage, shaking his head.

"But I was just having fun!" Doug protested. "Do we have to play already?"

"Do you believe it? Doug is already attracting groupies! I think nearly every girl he ever studied with was out there talking to him, even Gail!" Taylor said.

"Yeah, Perry was not happy," Doug grinned. Danny rolled her eyes.

"Come on, let's get this last set over with before our luck runs out," Corey insisted.

"Before something runs out, at any rate," Taylor agreed.

But as they started the second set, Severus was quite content to bide his time and wait out the inevitable, and at just a quarter past the hour he suddenly was alerted by the sound of a sour note on the stage. Immediately he began to work his way closer to the dais as Corey shook his hand slightly and started playing with a grin, noticing for himself that his voice was starting to give. Danny and Taylor quickly wrapped up the song, cutting off an entire chorus early. But the students didn't seem to notice, clapping lightly as they began talking among themselves.

"Well, I that's it from us, thanks, you've all been great!" Corey said hastily, looking around to see Flitwick's band looking rather excited at the prospect of taking over early. The students were clapping so loudly that Corey hadn't been aware of anyone making their way to the stage until he suddenly noticed Snape standing over him.

"Well, it seems that you have been a big success after all," Snape said. "I think they deserve an encore, don't you?"

"Er, actually, I'm not sure I can," Corey stammered, stretching his fingers, "Hand cramps."

"I'm sure I have something here that will help that," Snape said expressionlessly, taking out a phial and reading the label.

"And besides, Flitwick's band wants to play, and I'm getting tired, and I really ought to spend some time with Myrtle tonight," Corey said quickly.

"Yes, but maybe one more song to appease the audience, or even more important, to appease me," Snape said with a sinister smile.

"But I thought you didn't like this sort of music," Corey pointed out.

"Either way, you had better be getting up there and singing one more song for everyone, now, before I start getting testy. Or is there some other reason that you don't want to play?"

"Trouble, Professor Snape?" McGonagall said, eyes flashing with irritation as she stepped over to them.

"Not at all, I only thought that these four should probably honor the school with an encore," Snape said. McGonagall's lip twitched slightly, looking over at the four.

"You do have a lot of people hoping to hear you play again, are you quite sure you don't want to play one more song?" she asked.

"No thank you, just the same," Corey said.

"Well, I'll give you a choice, Mr. Willowby. One more song, or you meet me in my office in ten minutes," she said calmly. Corey looked at the others, each one pointing upstairs, and he nodded.

"We'll take the office," Corey said. Snape frowned in obvious disappointment. Minerva nodded solemnly and was about to say something else when Aelfred Finch-Fletchley ran up.

"Corey, you'd better come quick! Myrtle was over there talking to some of the students when Longbottom popped his mouth off and told her she was pathetic and you only brought her because you felt sorry for her and you wanted to show her the door. She's gone off wailing again, and just when everyone was starting to get used to her!" Aelfred sighed.

"Professor, would it be all right if I dealt with that first?" Corey asked. McGonagall gave him a stern look before finally sighing in resignation.

"All right, perhaps you'd better. But then straight upstairs, you don't want me to have to come looking for you."

"Don't worry, Professor, I'll keep an eye on him for you," Snape offered, pointedly getting out his watch and looking at it.

"Well then, I guess that means the show is officially over," McGonagall said

"Pity," Snape said, heading back over to Sirius and Anna, but not putting his watch away.

Corey heard Myrtle moaning and sobbing all the way down the hall, and shook his head, growling softly to himself. Trust Amadeus to take advantage of Myrtle's sensitivity and get her all worked up again. He firmly knocked on the door.

"Go away! I don't want to see anyone ever again! Leave me alone!" Myrtle said.

"There's a lot of people in this castle, I doubt you can avoid them all forever," Corey said. "Can I come in so we can talk without shouting?"

"You? What do you want? Came to use me again? Or just to laugh at me? You living are all alike!" she shouted. Corey decided he had yet another reason not to get mixed up with girls.

"You're not the sort to take the word of a Slytherin over me, would you? Whatever he said, you know it's not true. I really did mean to help you and get you out of that bathroom. Lord knows I got teased enough for taking a ghost out but you don't see me locked in a bathroom crying about it, do you?" Corey asked. "Now are you going to talk to me or not?"

"Your friends laughed at you because of me?" Myrtle asked. She had stopped crying, but Corey couldn't tell if that was a good sign or not.

"No, not my friends, really. They all liked you… Essie and Doug and everyone. It's just, well, some people just aim to be mean no matter who you are. You shouldn't let them get to you," Corey said.

"Well, I don't care, as long as there's people like that out there, I'm not coming out," Myrtle said in a final sounding tone. Corey sighed.

"I went to all of this trouble, and all I did was make things worse," Corey muttered. But just then he felt a chill and turned to see Francis Pyther and Nicholas, and behind them was a young, blue-faced boy ghost of no more than twelve, looking around nervously. His robes, oddly enough, had only the Hogwarts symbol on it, and not a sign of any house colors.

"If you'll be so kind to stand aside, dear boy, we can take it from here," Nicolas said. Francis knocked on the door for Nicolas, smiling at Corey reassuringly.

"Milady? It is I, Nicolas. I have someone who I'd like to introduce you to," he said.

"Go away! I am not meeting anyone ever again!" she wailed.

"You know, we could just float through the wall," Nicolas said. "But you see, the chap I'm with has a phobia of water and would rather not go in. Now be a good girl and come out a moment, we went to an awful lot of trouble to bring him here."

"I'm not coming out!" she wailed. Pyther and Nicolas looked over at the boy.

"I'm not going in there," he said firmly. Pyther sighed.

"Myrtle, this is Francis Pyther," Pyther said, sounding quite a bit more firm than Corey had ever heard him before. "You will come out now, or I'm fully prepared to go over your head on this one. Do you really want that?" Go over a ghost's head? Corey puzzled over that one, wondering exactly what it was that Pyther did when he wasn't painting.

"You wouldn't dare!" she snapped.

"I believe I'd be taking him seriously right now if I were you," Nicholas said.

"And I am running very late, so you had best not keep me waiting any longer," Pyther added.

"It's all right, I don't want her to get into trouble…" the boy ghost said.

"Oh, no, I'm not going to spend half an hour getting you out of that wretched boat shack only to have her do this," Nicolas said, "I swear, I shall go in after her." But slowly they noticed that Myrtle wasn't moaning anymore, and a moment later she floated through the door, pointedly turning her back on Corey the moment she saw him.

"What is he still doing here? I'm not speaking to him."

"I just want to make sure you're all right," Corey said, folding his arms.

"Myrtle, I want you to meet a friend of mine, Noah Dolan. Noah died over a hundred years ago. He drowned in the lake on his way over as a first year," Nick explained.

"They almost canceled the tradition over it, as I recall," Francis mused.

"But I stopped them..." Noah put in, almost nervously. "I mean, I couldn't have that all ruined just because I was an idiot who couldn't swim. They tried to save me, but it was too late."

"If you've been here that long, why haven't I ever heard of you?" Myrtle said with surprise. Noah looked down at his feet.

"As I was trying to tell you before, the poor chap is terribly afraid of water. Even rain water terrifies him, any water at all, so he doesn't leave the blasted shack," Nicolas said.

"Well, that's rather silly of you," Myrtle said, "Especially since you're dead."

"Well, I hear you keep going on about your glasses, and that's really silly considering you're dead," Noah said back quietly. "Are you sure all the faucets are off in there?"

"I can turn them on if you like," Myrtle teased.

"Now, Myrtle, that's not very nice considering what you've been through tonight," Nicholas pointed out. "Don't you think he gets teased enough as it is by those who know him?"

"If I hear one more joke about a flood I think I am going to roll over and die again," Noah said miserably.

"At least they don't call you 'Moaning' anything, but I suppose it's better than four eyes," Myrtle sniffed.

"Well if you don't tease me, I promise I won't tease you," Noah said cautiously.

"All right. You know, you're sort of cute, for a first year," Myrtle giggled.

"I'm still over fifty years older than you," he retorted.

"All right, you've met him, so you can go back and sulk in the bathroom if you want now, I have a meeting to rush off to," Pyther said, waving to them all before abruptly turning to a bat and flying out a open window.

"No, I think I'll stay out a bit… well, since you don't get out much and all," Myrtle said to Noah. "Do you want a take a walk?"

"Well, as long as it's not raining," Noah said nervously. "And not by the lake…or any puddles for that matter."

"Don't worry, I know where all the bathrooms are in the school too, so we can avoid those," Myrtle said, as the two of them floated down the hall together.

"Nicholas, you are positively brilliant," Corey decided, and he bowed modestly.

"I try to do my best, sir. But I admit I'd never gotten him out of that shack if Pyther wasn't here to help me. I daresay I'll have to get someone to write a note to Hagrid about getting that bloke out of there too, he's been complaining about Noah for years," Nicholas chuckled. "I say, splendid music tonight. Are we going to hear from you again?"

"Great stars, I almost forgot! I'm supposed to be in McGonagall's office!" Corey said, waving a 'thanks' to Nicholas as he dove up the stairs. Well, at least she had spared him the humility of playing again, Corey thought as he took the stairs two at a time, perhaps that was a good sign. No, they were in for at least some detentions for sure, Corey sighed. And Perry wasn't going to be happy to find out whatever sort of points they were going to lose over this one.