Disclaimer: None of the characters that you recognize are mine. They belong to J.K. Rowlings and not to me!
A/N: Thank you everyone! I loved everyone's ideas for songs and as you will see, I did use some this time but others I'm saving for when our favorite characters have to audition for the play!
TheOneAndOnly- I especially want to thank you for your kind words and many ideas! I absolutely love the song for Harry! I downloaded it and it's perfect! I've been listening to it over and over again! The one for Ron was great too! I had been thinking of a different song for him, but I downloaded the one you suggested and I like it much better! Thank you!
Harry Potter Fan and Alejandra- I loved both of your ideas and I will use them, you'll see!
Madame Mad- As always, thank you!
Ok, we needed a little drama in this fic so here's Hermione's depressing secret.
Chapter 10
"I give up!"
Hermione jumped, startled by Ron's sudden outburst.
"I have been sitting here for 4 hours trying to find a good song!" Ron exclaimed as he violently threw his song list onto the table.
The three best friends were seated in the Gryffindor common room after hours. They often just came and sat around, talking, or doing work after they did their Prefect duties of helping the First Years upstairs and patrolling the hallways.
Harry, who was seated on a chair across from the other two who were on the couch, yawned and nodded his head. "I agree. We have been sitting here forever. I don't know most of these songs and we have to tell her the day after tomorrow. The Durley's never exactly let me listen to music. All the music I got to hear was when Dudley went through his 5-day obsession of trying to play the guitar."
"Dudley can play the guitar?" asked Hermione surprised.
Harry chuckled. "No way! Notice I said try. He was terrible. The music teacher that Vernon had hired said something to the effect as 'no power on this earth will ever make you musically talented. Find a new hobby.' Of course, they couldn't have a teacher who spoke ill of their son so he was fired and blamed for Dudley's lack of talent. They, of course, were already contacting Julliard, the performing school in the States, to see when he could be accepted. But, while they searched for a new teacher Dudley took his guitar and slammed it down on his TV when they interrupted his TV show for a weather update. That was officially the end of his guitar lessons."
Hermione and Ron burst out laughing, along with Harry. "Your cousin sure sounds very… emotional," Hermione commented, searching for a good word.
"Well, that's one way to put it," Harry agreed. The trio was silent for a few moments as they pondered their own thoughts
"I wonder what song Malfoy is going to do," Hermione commented, breaking the silence.
"Forget Malfoy. What about Crabbe and Goyle? They could barely remember the words to 'Row Row Row Your Boat." Harry said exasperated.
Hermione giggled. "Yeah. They were pretty bad."
Hermione felt eyes on her and when she turned and faced Ron she noticed a strange expression on his face. It was like he was trying to figure out something but couldn't put his finger on it.
She was just about to ask him what was wrong when he spoke up. "Hey, Hermione. You were really good when we had to sing. Why didn't you ever tell us you could sing like that?"
Hermione looked down and started tracing the thread on her robes. She shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know. It just never came up I guess."
"Did you ever sing before?" Harry asked reasonably.
"Yes."
"And you stopped before you came to Hogwarts?" Ron asked trying to get some information from her.
"Yes."
"Hermione," Harry said as he moved to sit on the other side of Hermione on the couch, "you know you can tell us anything. We are your best friends. You know virtually everything about us. We want to be here for you." Hermione saw Ron nodded his head so hard in agreement she thought it just might fly off.
Hermione sighed. "It's just… I haven't thought about it in a really long time. It makes me…really sad all over again," she finished and try as she might she just couldn't keep the small sob from coming out.
"Hey, it's okay. We're here for you," Harry said as he put his arm around her shoulders.
"Yeah. You mean so much to m-us. We want to help you, whatever the problem." Ron said seriously, desperately hoping she hadn't caught his slip of almost saying "me" instead of "us."
Hermione took a deep breath. "Well, you see, I had a friend, before I knew about witches and Hogwarts. We were best friends and inseparable since birth. Our mothers met in the hospital since we were both born on the same day and became fast friends. They keep in touch and Melanie- her daughter- and I inevitably became friends and did everything together. We went to preschool together and each of us even had bunk beds since we spent the night over each other's houses so much," Hermione said with a faraway look in her eyes.
"Anyway, we were about 4 when we had to sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star for school. The music teacher thought we were very advanced for our age and suggested lessons to our parents. They never thought anything would come out of it but they thought it would be a good learning experience so we went. The teacher was, to say the least, excited about our progress. She sent Melanie and me to a record company when we were eight and, as our voices weren't completely developed yet, were shooting for a record deal at age 11."
Hermione paused to take a breath and noticed that Harry was looking at her with huge eyes and an astonished expression. Ron just looked confused. Hermione smiled despite the seriousness of the topic.
"Ron, a record deal is when a muggle company wants to sign you on. To sing and sell CD's for them," Hermione explained.
Ron's cloud of confusion lifted and it was replaced by an amazed appearance.
"Well, things happened quicker than expected and by age 9 we were singing publicly and our first CD came out. Our names were different of course. We were known to the public as Harmony and Melody. We even had other lessons in addition to singing. We did ballet, ice- skating, and some acting. We were in the Welch's Grape Juice commercial when we were 6. It was hard since I hate grape juice and I couldn't help making a face whenever I swallowed. We weren't huge or anything given that our CD mostly appealed to kids 8 and under since we generally sang children's songs and sometimes modern-day versions of lullabies, but we were going somewhere. But we never got to there," Hermione said and briskly brushed away a few tears.
"What happened, Hermione?" Ron asked concerned. If Hermione wasn't so upset she might have been nervous about the close proximity of his face and lips.
"Well, one day, on December 2, 1990, her mom was driving us to the recording studio. We were in the backseat. Her van was hit by a drunk driver on the right side and Melanie was killed instantly. Her mom was all right since the she was on the left and I was behind her. I was knocked unconscious and was in a coma for a week but I survived." By now, Hermione was sobbed uncontrollably and Ron and Harry had a hard time making out what she was saying.
"I gave up singing after that. It was never the same without Melanie. It wasn't really fun anymore so I quit. About a year later I got my Hogwarts letter and met you guys. It took my mind off of…everything. I've tried not to think about Melanie and singing and pre-Hogwarts until now when it became inevitable. And now I have to go back to it and I don't know if I can do it without her."
"Oh, Hermione! How could you not tell us? I can't believe it! I am so sorry for…everything," Ron said as he pulled her into a hug.
"You should have said something! We could of…" Harry trailed off, pondering just what they could have done.
"We could have been here for you. We could have been better friends." Ron finished frantically.
Hermione laughed with tears streaming down her face as she pulled Harry into the hug. "You two have always been there for me. I couldn't have asked for better best friends. I knew I shouldn't have told you. Now you'll think I'm disabled or something."
"No, I'm glad you told us," Ron said. "I just wish you hadn't kept such a big part of your life from us for so long. And you can do it, you know. You can sing even if Melanie isn't with you."
Hermione smiled. "Thank you. And now all of my secrets are out. I just want to… thank you guys. You really have been the best friends I could have asked for. And you came at the perfect time for me."
"You're a pretty good friend too," Ron said with a smile.
"Just pretty good?" Hermione asked with raised eyebrows. (Remember, she can't raise just one :) )
"Okay, you're better than 'pretty good,' Ron consented and then grew serious. "Honestly, Hermione you are an incredible best friend. You're sweet, and kind, and smart, and pretty, and loving," and Ron quickly stopped listing qualities as he could go on all day and night. "I know that I would not enjoy being here as much if it weren't for you."
"I agree completely," Harry said, trying to get a word in about how much he cared for his friend. "You always make everything better. Thank you for being the perfect best friend."
Hermione wiped away a stray tear and smiled at her two boys. "Okay. Enough of this sappy stuff. What do we have to do now?"
* * * * *
Later that night Hermione crept into her room and quietly tried to go to her drawer to get out her pajamas. She felt better after her chat with Ron and Harry. She had never expected to just blurt everything out but she was glad it happened. She felt much better now that her friends shared her past. However, as soon as she made it to her bureau, the light popped on and she saw Lavender and Parvati both sitting on their beds, respectively, and looking at her expectantly.
"What?" Hermione asked confused.
"Where were you, Miss Prefect?" Parvati asked trying to feign strictness.
"Well, if you must know, I was with Ron-"
"Oh, Ron, huh?" Lavender asked coyly.
"-and Harry in the common room. We were talking and discussing the song lists," Hermione finished.
"You should do a loooove song to Ron!" Parvati exclaimed.
"Shhh! Not so loud," Hermione said trying not to blush. In actuality, the idea of singing a song to tell Ron how she felt had crossed her mind several times. She figured she could sing it and just pass it off as just a song if he didn't seem affected. But she didn't know if she was ready to take that step. It was actually more like a huge leap and she feared falling flat on her face.
"What song are you going to do, Hermione?" Lavender asked rationally.
Hermione sighed and sat on her bed. "I don't know. I have no idea!" she exclaimed as she threw her hands in the air.
"Why? It's just a song. It's not like it's going to matter 10 years from now, much less one month," Lavender asked curiously.
"Well, I don't know," Hermione said in a tone that clearly meant she did.
"Does it have anything to do with our neighbor redhead? And I don't mean Ginny," Parvati asked.
Hermione just bit her lip.
"Hey, it's okay if you like Ron. We started thinking you two would be cute together at the end of third year. The Yule Ball just confirmed it. Ron spent the entire night seething about you and Viktor that he didn't do anything but just sit there. He made a terrible date," Parvati said making a face. "I knew then that he liked you. He couldn't keep his eyes off of you all night."
"Really?" Hermione asked hopefully.
"Really. Now all you need to do is give him a clue. The poor boy has probably been thinking of a way to approach the subject to you but chickened out for fear of rejection."
Hermione looked at Parvati surprised. "When did you get to be so informed about the mind of boys?"
Parvati smiled. "I have my ways," she said mysteriously.
"Oh yes. How is Alex Moon these days?" Hermione inquired about Parvati's newest boyfriend.
"Oh, Alex? He's history," Parvati dismissed. "I'm seeing Terry Boot now."
"Weren't you just starting to date Alex?" Hermione asked doubtfully.
"Yes, but he was getting to be a bit of a bore. Plus he was already starting to get serious. Boys don't understand that I'm not ready to settle on a serious relationship. I want to keep my options open."
"So are you going to do a song to Ron?" Lavender asked abruptly.
Hermione looked surprised at the sudden change of topic, but mulled it over a few seconds before nodded hesitantly in the affirmative, which caused the two girls to squeal in delight.
"Oh, you two are going to be so cute together!" Parvati exclaimed.
"When's the wedding going to be?" Lavender asked.
"We have to be your bridesmaids!"
"We are such good matchmakers!"
Hermione rolled her eyes at this little exchanged and proceeded to go about getting ready for bed.
"Goodnight," she said forcefully trying to end the conversation of what color the bridesmaid dresses should be. She had a smile on her lips though when she turned around.
Hmmm. Mrs. Hermione Weasley. It has a nice ring to it. She shook her head and tried to clear her mind of such silly thoughts. But what if they aren't so silly?
* * * * *
"All right class. It's sign-up time!"
Professor Starr breezed into her classroom holding up a clipboard and waving it around in the air. Hermione sat nervously in her seat and waited for the piece of parchment to be sent her way.
"Now remember, this parchment is enchanted so just write the song and artist next to your name which is already there. No one will be able to see the song but me," Professor Starr announced. "And before anyone says anything about 'no magic,'" she continued, predicting Malfoy's complaint, "this is necessary since some of you, I'm sure, want to keep it a secret until the big day so that's that."
Hermione had thought long and hard about her song. She had taken Pavati and Lavender's advice to the first step by searching for a song that truly told about her developing feelings for Ron. She still had a headache from reading title after title on the song list but, after hours of searching, she finally found the song.
Just then, the sign-up sheet was passed to her. Sure enough, Hermione Granger was written and she took a deep breath and wrote the title and singer next to her name and quickly gave it to Neville so she couldn't change her mind. (A/N aren't you just dying of curiosity? :) Don't worry, you'll find out…eventually!)
The sheet was passed around and finally made it back to Prof. Starr's expecting hands. "All right, very good everyone. I will have your CD's to you tomorrow in class. I was thinking of bringing them to your common room after dinner, but I don't think I will have enough time. I'm not sure if some of you realize this, but some of these songs are not out in the muggle world yet. That is not to say that muggles did not sing them, because they most certainly did, just that it has not happened yet. We have access to muggle songs as far away as 10 years in the future so you may be singing a song from, say, 2002. It's to benefit you so that you have as many choices as possible," Prof. Starr explained.
Hermione nodded unconsciously. So that's why she didn't recognize many of the songs. She thought she was losing her touch with knowing muggle music, which she had grown up with.
"Psst! Hermione!"
Hermione shook her head and looked over at Ron who was trying to get her attention.
"Yes, Ron?"
"What song did you decide on?" Ron asked
"Ron! I have told you at least 200 times yesterday and all this morning that you'll have to wait. I'm still not telling. I'm not changing my mind," she said stubbornly. Every time he asked her what song she was doing her heart jumped in her chest. She feared that he knew exactly what song and her feelings, which was impossible. Right?
* * * * *
"Ow! Stupid bed! Oh, hi Lavender. What are you doing in here?" Hermione asked as she rubbed her sore ankle that she had banged.
"Hi, Hermione. I just…thinking," she said smiling faintly.
"About what? Where's Parvati? Don't you two look through magazines or something about now?"
"Parvati is with Terry," Lavender informed her.
"Oh. Oh. I see. Parvati is out and leaving you behind."
Lavender sighed. "Its not that. It's just… Parvati always has someone begging to date her. And then she goes and dumps them because they, and I quote, 'get too serious.' Some of us would love to have a boyfriend that were serious about them."
"And some of us would just love to have a boyfriend," Hermione muttered.
"Yeah," Lavender agreed quietly. "Listen, Hermione. Guys don't see you as just some ditzy, stupid girl. Guys ask you for help and know that you are smart and studious. Me? I'm just another pretty face that guys can use."
"Well, I don't exactly see them lining up around the block for me," Hermione said dryly.
"Not yet. But they will be and they won't cheat on you, either!" Lavender said as she flung herself on her bed.
"What happened?" Hermione asked coming over to comfort the distraught girl.
Lavender was sobbing now and tried to explain. "I was dating someone. A Ravenclaw. 6th year. He said he couldn't make our date in the Astronomy Tower because of studying. But then what do I see? I'm coming from the library, don't get excited because I was just checking out a long-lasting daylight lipstick spell, and guess who's holding hands with some 6th year Hufflepuff? Yep. My supposedly loyal boyfriend. And when I approached him, do you know what he said?"
Hermione opened her mouth to answer but never got a chance.
"He said… I thought you knew we weren't exclusive! Your friend Parvati knows to look around, why don't you? I couldn't believe it! I wish guys took me more seriously! You are so lucky, Hermione. Ron would never do that."
"Ron and I aren't together," Hermione objected.
"Yet. Give it time. Thanks for listen to me moan and groan. You're a good friend. I'm going to go try-out my new face mask. Want to come?" Lavender offered.
"Maybe next time," Hermione answered with a smile.
"Okay. See ya."
Hermione smiled to herself. Ron and Hermione. Hermione and Ron. Maybe we could work.
* * * * *
Saturday
Hermione laughed as she walked around Hogsmeade with Harry and Ron. This would be their chance to get any supplies or props they need for their performance.
"Oh! Look!" Hermione pointed to a store that carried young witch's clothes.
"Aww, Hermione! Do we have to go in there? We already spent an hour in Flourish and Botts," Ron complained.
"Fine. You two can go to Zonko's and we'll meet in the Three Broomsticks in… 30 minutes, okay?" Hermione asked, consulting her watch.
"Sounds good," Harry said and they split up.
In actuality, Hermione was glad to be alone. She wanted to pick out her materials without anyone seeing. She walked into The Witches Shop and was overwhelmed by all the bright vivid colors. There were robes of every color and style but that's not what she was here for.
"May I help you?" A polite voice asked.
Hermione spun around to see a pretty witch looking at her. "Yes. You see, I'm in this Muggle Arts and Entertainment class and…" Hermione trailed off as the woman held up her hand.
"Oh, yes. Professor Starr has already been in here to explain the situation in case anyone came in for costume ideas. I think I have a few things you could use. Come with me."
Hermione followed the woman to the back and emerged exactly 29 minutes later and ran all the way to the Three Broomsticks to meet her friends. In her hand was a shopping bag filled with all sorts of clothing for her to put together a killer costume.
Hermione, panting, opened the door to the Three Broomsticks, and slid into a seat between Ron and Harry at their table.
"Hey, what did ya get?" Ron inquired as he reached to open the bag.
Hermione playfully slapped his hand away. "No way! You can't see until the actual day. I have to put my costume together and all and I don't want any peeking!"
"Fine. Have it your way," Ron said grumpily.
"Ron, don't get all mad," Hermione said.
"I'm not mad," he said crossly.
"No?"
"No! I'm-" but whatever he was will remain a mystery to everyone, including him, as their butterbeers were served and the three friends just talked for the remainder of their visit, the bag, forgotten.
~
Well! I promised a longer chapter and you got one!
Next chapter: They sing!
And give me something to sing about! Review!