Chapter Fifty-three

Songs in this chapter are by Avril Lavigne. I 3 Avril, so I wanted her songs in here somewhere! This chapter is for my friend Avigail, too. :)

Araminta turned to Harry. "Hey, there's a pretty good song in the karaoke catalog that's called I'm With You. The karaoke's magic, so you can't sing it wrong! Why don't you give it a try?"

Harry polished his glasses for a second, deep in thought. "Well, doesn't it bother you that you can't do anything wrong tonight? I mean, a wrong note or two...it adds character."

Araminta had heard that before. "Nobody likes to listen to people who can't sing. That's why so many people aren't going up there. Their singing might kill everybody else. Just a little, come one Harry, please?" she wheedled.

"Oh, okay." Harry picked up the microphone Hermione had dropped and walked to the front of the room. The lighting turned blue and a small spotlight focused in on his face.

Ron rummaged through the platters of food that appeared on the table. "Somebody give me an apple."

Sarah Michelle sighed. "Do you know how inappropriate it is for you to ask for fruit right now?"

Harry cleared his throat and began to sing in a voice that was a little wavery but improved as the song continued.

I'm standing on a bridge
I'm waiting in the dark
I thought that you'd be here by now
There's nothing but the rain
No footsteps on the ground
I'm listening but there's no sound

Isn't anyone trying to find me?
Won't somebody come take me home
It's a damn cold night
Trying to figure out this life
Wont you take me by the hand
take me somewhere new
I don't know who you are
but I... I'm with you

The Gryffindor boys started yelling and whistling like wolves. "Show us what you're made of, Harry!" they shouted in a burst of boyish, testosterone-induced good humor.

I'm looking for a place
searching for a face
is anybody here I know
cause nothing's going right
and everything's a mess
and no one likes to be alone

Isn't anyone trying to find me?
Won't somebody come take me home
It's a damn cold night
Trying to figure out this life
Won't you take me by the hand
take me somewhere new
I don't know who you are

Harry looked across the room and sang the last line to Araminta.


but I... I'm with you

"Harry, that was wonderful," Araminta cried, jumping out of her seat to give Harry a big hug as he returned to the table.

"It was slightly better than the last time I heard a troll sing, so good on you, Potter," Draco sneered. Araminta wondered how they'd ever gotten together in her remembered future (which was also her past).

"Well, I'd just like to see you try!" Harry retorted.

"Watch how a master works the crowd." Draco stood up with a determined look on his face.

"Wait! Malfoys don't sing!" said Araminta.

"Didn't you hear him? That was a challenge! I have to!" Draco wrenched the microphone away from Harry. "I'd like the song Complicated," he announced. His eyes went misty and he began to sing to an unseen person.

Uh huh, life's like this
Uh huh, uh huh, that's the way it is
Cause life's like this
Uh huh, uh huh that's the way it is

Chill out whatcha yelling' for?
Lay back it's all been done before
And if you could only let it be
you will see

It was obvious to Araminta that Draco was singing about his shattered relationship with Hermione. They both showed so much emotion when they sang that Araminta managed to keep some hope.


I like you the way you are
When we're drivin' in your car
and you're talking to me one on one but you've become

Somebody else round everyone else
You're watching your back like you can't relax
You're tryin' to be cool you look like a fool to me
Tell me

Why you have to go and make things so complicated?
I see the way you're acting like you're somebody else gets me frustrated
Life's like this you
And you fall and you crawl and you break
and you take what you get and you turn it into honesty
and promise me I'm never gonna find you fake it
no no no

When the song came to an end, Araminta joined the crowd in a standing ovation. Draco had done so well, and she felt very proud of her dad. Even Harry gave a few grudging claps.

Dumbledore stood up then, and announced: "The next song will be the last one for Karaoke Night. Who should we ask to sing for us, students of Hogwarts?"

A hush fell over the Great Hall. Who would it be?