Night soon fell upon Hogsmeade and the staff of Empress Records was trying to enjoy the rest of the party out on the street. Mitchell Fudge had emerged from the back room and attempted to take over the register, which was blocked by a crowd of people trying to purchase everything they could get their hands on, including what looked like a trash bin from the rest rooms.
Snape pulled Harry aside once they were back in the store. "You knew didn't you?" Harry attempted to feign a look of confusion on his face, but gave up with a sign and nodded.
"You knew what I wanted to do with this place." With a nod, Harry looked up at his former professor, and now friend, and smiled. "I knew you weren't happy Sevvy."
"Don't call me Sevvy," growled Snape as he and Harry walked out into the street to join in on the festivities.
//
Up on the roof, Lee Jordan and his band had set up and were getting ready to play a new tuned they had just written. Ginny sat on the ledge and looked longingly at the muggle microphone that Lee had set up. Seeing her expression, Lee waved Ginny over to join the band.
"What is it Lee?"
Smiling broadly, Lee transfigured a leaf on the ground into a second mic and pushed Ginny towards it. "Umm, Lee, I don't really underst— "
"Gin, look, I know you've heard us practicing before, and you know all our songs. So just, sing along alright? It'll be fun."
With slight trepidation, Ginny approached the muggle contraption, then turned to Lee with a big smile. The band began to play a familiar song and Ginny began to dance and jump around, watching Lee for her cue to sing.
(Lee)
They all said life's just, a bowl of cherry, but
Sometimes it seems like anything but.
Sometimes reputations outlive their applications
Sometimes fires just don't go out, when you're done casting you spell
I feel so funny deep inside, I wanna kiss my self goodbye…sugarhigh
With a wink, Ginny grabbed her mic and sang along with Lee…
(Ginny)
Gotta have it really need it to get by..
(Lee)
Sugarhigh…
(Ginny)
Gotta feel it, can't conceal it sugarhigh!
(Lee)
I could go out and not even leave the common room
Exploding snap and a bottle of smuggled wine's just fine
Crashing out on that old beat up couch
Watching my drunk housemates trying to fly inside
I guess that's why---
//
Inside the store Mitchell Fudge was struggling to keep up with all the items that were being purchased. With a look of fury, his hands clenched at his sides, he let out a guttural yell, "DOES ANYONE WORK AT THIS BLASTED STORE?!"
"I do." Turning around, Mitchell saw a young student in Hogwart's attire with an ID badge that read 'Warren.'
//
"Draco! Draco!" Hermione was slightly out of breath seeing as she had just run up four flights of stairs to the roof of the building. In front of her was Lee's band and Ginny still playing for the crowd below. Behind them was the towering sign that read 'Empress Records,' and sitting on top of the first 'S' was Draco.
//
Mitchell had had enough. He stepped down from the register stand and began pushing people towards the exit. Bumping into a young couple, Mitchell growled and swatted their cups of butterbeer out of their hands. "Leave!" Mitchell's red face was a bit comical to the couple and some customers standing near them. Their laughter only angered Mitch so much more. "Leave the merchandise," he hissed, "take yourselves and your cups and get out! There must be someone out there on the street that you can piss off. OUT!!" Not wanting to anger the Mitchell anymore, the customers scattered towards the exit.
Suddenly, Mitch felt a tap on his shoulder. Turning around, he was face to face with Severus Snape holding what looked like a large barrel. His staff, save for a few people, were standing behind him grinning wildly, especially a red-headed man.
"Here is all you money. Take it, the barrel is charmed so it's light as a feather. Count it."
Taking the barrel of money, Mitch peered inside, then looked back at Snape. "Look, Severus, I hate this place. I really do, and I know you love it. Let me sell it to you, in its present condition…cheap."
"Thanks," muttered Severus, trying his best to contain his happiness, "you won't regret it Mitch." Mitchell just smiled weakly and turned around to walk out of the store. Severus turned around to some of his staff, whispered loudly, "Asshole," as he high-fived, and shook hands with his former students.
//
With the song almost finished, Lee thought of something and nudged Ginny while the lead guitarist was finishing a solo. "Take the lead Gin."
Shaking her head, Ginny pushed her mic towards Lee. "What? Uh-uh."
"Take it.." Lee smirked and disapparated from the roof and stood below in the crowd with Pansy and watched Ginny look frantically for him.
Ginny seethed with anger as she heard her part coming up. Mustering all the courage she could, she stepped up to the mic and smiled.
(Ginny)
I've..I've gone far and wide
I've explored the deepest caverns of my mind
To try and find, an explanation why
I get this funny feeling deep inside
When I think about my life,
I wanna kiss myself good bye!
Sugarhigh…
As the crowd went wild, Severus stood in front of the store surveying the crowd before him. Lee and Pansy were dancing together to Ginny's singing. Ron and Seamus were…well, they were smoking something in the corner. Warren was trying to look up a witch's robes, everything seemed as it should be.
In the back room, Harry was back on the couch examining his fingernails. "Perfect," he muttered. Then he looked up. "Well, not entirely perfect."
//
Draco got down from the sign and was now facing Hermione who still looked like she needed to catch her breath.
"'Mione..umm, well, what the hell are you doing up here?"
Hermione pushed Draco, which caused him to stumble back a few feet. Hermione charged up to him and pushed him again. "Now you listen to me Draco Malfoy. You are so special and talented with your art. You've gone from complete prat to a real human being! You have everything it takes, and you're really stupid and you don't know that!"
No one spoke for a few seconds. Draco broke the silence. "Huh?"
Hermione sighed and sat down on the ledge of the roof, her head in her hands. She looked up at Draco with a few tears in her eyes. "And I know you don't love me anymore and I know that I blew it, but at least know that I know that. And if you decide to muck around this place instead of going to an Art school after Hogwarts and if you still don't understand how special you are no matter what your family says, they you know nothing."
"Hermione, I—"
"And you know what?" interrupted Hermione, standing up to face Draco, " I did love you too, and I still do, only that I didn't realize it was love because it was more than love ad it wasn't just something stupid like putting out for Lockhart. And I'll never really love anyone like I think I love you and I hate you," she screamed, pounding her fists on his chest, "I hate you! Why do you-" Draco caught her fists and brought her so close that the tips of their noses were touching.
"Hermione," said Draco, speaking so softly it was practically a whisper, "I quit. I'm going to an art school, in America, in Boston…so I can be near you."
Hermione looked up, her eyes all welled up with tears, "Really?"
"Yeah," said Draco with a smirk. And as Fred and George let off their latest creation called never-ending fireworks, Draco captured Hermione's mouth in a kiss. As the party went on, the rest of the staff ended up on the roof dancing to music from the WWN (Wireless Wizarding Network) and drinking the rest of the butterbeer. Snape looked up and smiled. So did Harry. "Now everything is perfect," he muttered as Ginny pulled him over to dance with the rest of the staff.
Ron and Seamus sat on the ledge eating more sweets and drinking as much firewhiskey as they could manage per cup.
"Hey, Seamus, you know that bloke, that one with the shaved head? The muggle, a bit off his rocker, the liar, you know?"
His face lost in a cloud of smoke, Seamus put his thumbs up, "Yeah, Henry Rawlins?"
"Right," said Ron, "the guy with the tattoos all over him."
"Why are you talking about him huh?" Seamus looked over at Ron who, like Snape and Harry , was surveying the dancing Empress Records staff on the roof. He chuckled as he watch Harry attempt to fly his broom in a handstand. Taking another swig of his firewhiskey, Ron turned to Seamus and grinned.
"Man, everything is going fine." And he and Seamus got up and joined the rest of the staff.