Chapter 8
Practice Makes Perfect
Muggle Studies was getting really fun now. Every other lesson they baked something, and every lesson, Malfoy manages to mess it up. One lesson while they were baking Melting Moments (Evi's favourite biscuits) Evi made an announcement.
"Class, Dumbledore has asked me to come up with your OWL exam for Muggle Studies. It has taken me a long while to figure out what I want to do but, I've finally got it. The reason I have had you baking a lot is that in your exam, you will have to bake something." Some of the Slytherins looked worried, along with Neville who had burned every cake he had tried to bake.
"There are four exceptions to this. According to the test, four have a very good knowledge of Muggles and I think it unfair that they should do an easy exam for them. They will have a different task. Harry, Hermione, Ron and Neville come up here please." All four walked up to the desk. They were all nervous about what they would have to do. She took them into the back for a quiet talk. The back room was nothing like her comfy classroom. It was dark and dingy, rather like Snapes classroom, but smaller. It had papers piled high on the desk and there was only one chair, which Evi sat in after they were all in.
"You four have shown that you have a good knowledge of the Muggle world so your exam will be different." Neville, standing at the back, raised his hand.
"Excuse me, Miss, but how did I manage to get a good mark on the test?" a confused Neville asked. He had never done really well in tests.
"I know your magical skills aren't as good as some of the other students, which, I believe, has made you use the Muggle method for doing things. You have learned things that way." Neville seemed quite proud that he could do something.
"I have decided that your exam will be to form a band." They looked at each other. "Don't worry, I don't know if anyone of you know how to play an instrument but I have a devise that will help you learn." She opened the bottom draw of her desk and inside was four boxes. Each had a label on, they were labelled, Singer, lead electric guitar, Bass guitar, and drums.
"I want you to come here tomorrow night and we will see who will be doing what. Some of you might be a natural and others will have to work hard. You will be graded on the difficultly of the song you play. I will assign three songs, increasing in difficultly. You will then play them to your fellow school mates at the end of the end."
"In front of the whole school?" Hermione asked rather worried.
"Yes Hermione, in front of the whole school. You'll do fine. Right, finish off your work and I'll see all four of you tomorrow night at seven o clock, I will pick you up outside of your common room." They left the back room all very quiet and wouldn't tell anyone what they were going to be doing.
Neville had managed to work himself into a state over the Muggle Studies exam and he was sure that he would fail now. At seven o clock they met Evi outside the common room, and they all followed her down two flights of stairs and into a room they had never been in before. When they walked in, the saw that a makeshift stage had been made and a drum kit, two guitars, a microphone and several amps where standing on it.
"Welcome to your studio," Evi said, "this is where you will practice. The room has been bewitched so that people cannot hear you outside this room, unless the door is open." She got out the four boxes she showed them in her back room. "These personal tutors will help you learn your chosen instrument. I will leave you now and you can argue between yourselves about who does what. In three hours I will return and I expect that you will have what you are going to be doing sorted out. Bye." And she left them standing alone in the room.
They walked over to the boxes and Hermione picked up the singer box.
"This would probably be the easiest to sort out. We just have to sort out who has the best singing voice." She cautiously opened the box and out shot a small looking woman wearing glasses.
"Welcome to the singers helper. As your course goes on, you will learn to sing more difficult songs, but we will start off with an easy song, Santa Claus is coming to town. The words will appear in front of you of you do not know them, if you do just say "disappareo" and they will disappear. To go back and rehearse a song, say "tornare" and tap this box with your wand." Hermione closed the box.
"What we will do is each take a turn to sing the song, and the best one is the singer." Hermione walked up to the Mic and Harry opened the box for her. It started the song. She had a beautiful voice and Harry stood there looking at her singing thinking how wonderful she sounds, when he realised what he was thinking and turned to Ron and Neville who nodded at him.
When the song had finished, she came down from the stage and asked, "Who is next?" They looked at each other and Harry told her.
"There isn't going to be a next, you have such a beautiful voice that we don't want to even try. You're our singer." Hermione went bright red and thanked them.
One by one, they filled the placements. Harry seemed to be quite good at the Lead guitar, Ron liked the bass guitar as it only had four strings. Neville was the shock one. He was amazing on the drums; it just came naturally to him. For a boy who's usually so clumsy to have great rhythm was unusual to say the least.
Three hours later, Evi returned and didn't seem surprised at Neville's ability.
"I knew you would do well, as I told you. This is a disused Charms classroom and you may use this whenever you feel you need to practice or when you have a spare five minutes." Evi walked them back to the common room where Ginny and Angeline were still up finishing off homework due in the next day. They all joined them and helped them through Angeline's essay on "Plants that will save your life" and Ginny was stuck on the 7 foot essay on Werewolves she had to finish for Professor Grimalkin. Harry and Ron helped Ginny as they knew what Professor Grimalkin would react like if Ginny didn't finish it.
The band members were getting better at their chosen instrument. Neville just improved on his playing and had learned the songs on the personal tutor off by heart. The rest were still getting the hang of theirs. Hermione was having trouble reaching the top notes on some of her songs, Harry just couldn't get the DM7 chord at all, and Ron was having no problems apart from his lack of rhythm.
One morning they were discussing the Yule ball when Evi walked up to them and handed them a piece of paper each, and then walked off. They all opened theirs and it was a list of he songs they had to play for the Muggle Studies exam.
Easy Level: Livin on a Prayer – Bon JoviIntermediate Level: Damit – Blink 182
Hard Level: Sk8er Boi – Avril Lavigne
Bonus – Run for your life – The Beatles (optional)
They have been put into your studio.
Enjoy
EVI!
"Avril Lavigne! That's great, and the Beatles! This will be fun." Hermione screamed. Harry had to agree; it would be fun. Harry looked up and saw Malfoy from across the room staring at him and Harry just ignored him like usual.
Practice stepped up, and twice a week they managed to go into their studio and have a full practice. Throughout the day, they all managed to get into the studio separately and practice quietly on their own.
Hermione, Harry and Ron we walking to the Great Hall for a break after Herbology when Hermione suddenly turned to them.
I think I'll go and get some more practice in. You know what they say: "Practice makes perfect," and I don't want to muck it up on the stage." And she was off towards the fifth floor and their studio.
"She is so worried about not doing well in these exams. But she needn't worry; we know she'll do the best on the school." Ron told Harry when she was out of sight.
"Yeah I know," Harry said as they walking into the Great Hall. After 10 minutes of a game of wizards chess, in which Harry was losing badly, Ron finished the game and they went off to Potions. On the way they saw Hermione who looked very pleased with herself.
"Had a good practice?" Ron asked.
"Better than expected." Hermione answered and said no more. They had Snape again for Potions and since he came back, he's been the same. Neville was his favourite victim and numerous times Snape made him do the most horrible tasks. But this lesson was different. Snape seemed calmer and not so horrid. Harry was very curious for the reason why when Ron pointed it out. Evi was sitting in on his lesson at the back of class with her feet on the desk in front of her. Most people were grateful for her interference, but the Slytherins. Malfoy was unusually quiet and Hermione seemed to think it was very funny, but Harry was wondering why.
The whole lesson went better than expected. Snape didn't pick on Neville at all instead he picked one from his own house to do it and even when on of the Gryffindor house got something wrong, Malfoy didn't laugh and seemed to be in such a bad mood and strangely he didn't take it out on the Gryffindors.
Evi's hand healed, Mafloy's mood didn't improve and Halloween had been and gone. Halloween had passed relatively quiet with the only major event was one of Hagrid's pumpkins blowing up to 100 times it's original size after one of the younger students discovered the engorgier spell. So now the students turned their attentions to the Yule Ball. After everything that had happened, Harry had totally forgotten about the ball and thought that a ball would be a good way to cheer up the school. The big question was, who was he going to ask? There was only one girl he would want to go with but the moment never seemed right. It was in the library, six weeks before the ball, he got his chance.
She was sitting alone on one of the huge tables, with a large, mauled book open in front of her. Her hair was covering her face and she was copying down a passage. Harry walked straight up to her; he knew that if he didn't ask her now, he would have the guts later. He stood over her, watching her for a moment, and took a deep breath.
"Hermione?" She looked at him and smiled. "I was wondering if you…er…had a date for the ball yet and if you would like to go with me? But if you already have someone to go with then…"
"Harry! I would love to go with you." She smiled at him again and then returned to her work, and Harry left the library feeling quite pleased with himself.
The Yule ball was going to be better then last year, as last year they had the honour of having the Weird Sisters play for them, but, although good, they aren't really Harry's taste in music and he hardly danced. This year was different as Evi had promised that more modern songs would be played, and knowing Evi, Harry knew that meant the Beatles and groups like them. He couldn't count the number of times she put her Rubber Soul album on for them to listen to while they worked. He excitement showed they closer it got to the event.
"It should be great! When I was here, we never had anything like this!" She said spinning round in time to 'Run for Your Life', by the Beatles.
"When did you leave Evi?" Seamus asked.
"It would be…nine years now. I'll tell you, it is weird coming back after so long."
"But that means you left in your third year?" Hermione said rather confused.
"What? You mean you were expelled?" Malfoy shouted out.
"Expelled! No! I willingly left. Probably the best decision I ever made." Harry looked shocked. Who would want to leave Hogwarts? He didn't understand but Evi wasn't going to explain. "Come on, you better finish this topic or I'll be forced to give you homework over Christmas break, and I don't really want to." They got back to The Fascination of Cars, shocked to discover Evi was once a pupil.
At band practice that night they discussed what Evi had said.
"Who would leave Hogwarts intentionally?" Neville asked. Everyone wanted to know why she thought it was the best decision she ever made. Either she didn't make good decisions or she really believed that.
"It can explain a few things though," Hermione said jumping down from the stage. "I mean Evi and Snape, it explains how they know each other. She would have been in his potions class. If it was only nine years ago, he would have been here." She said matter-of-factly.
"But that doesn't explain their relationship. They are very close, we have seen them. Unless, she was his favourite student, but that wouldn't make sense. She is so opposite to him." Harry said polishing his black electric guitar.
"I'm not saying that, it only explains how they know would each other well, not why." Hermione replied rather huffily.
After practicing Livin' on a Prayer until they finally got all the way through without a mistake they took a break and the topic got onto the Yule Ball and dates.
"So, who you taking Neville?" Hermione politely asked.
"Your sister Ginny, Ron, said she would go with me again so I'm going with her. What about you Hermione?" It was a seemingly innocent question, but Hermione went bright red and wouldn't answer, so Harry thought he would.
"I'm going with her." Harry was proud that he asked Hermione, and he remembered how beautiful she looked the last time. Ron seemed a little taken back by this confession and rather hurt. There was an awkward silence eventually broken by Neville asking Ron who his date was.
"Cho Chang." Ron said with pride. Harry was taken back even more than Ron was by this. For a while now, Harry had held a torch for Cho, after he met her on the Quidditch pitch. She was the dark hair beauty who played the same position as Harry on the Ravenclaw team. Harry was rather annoyed that Ron hadn't told him he had asked her, and more upset that last year, she refused Harry, and now here she is going with Ron. Without thinking Harry blurted out.
"When did you ask her?" Ron seemed proud of his date and told them all the details of how he had noticed her last year when she went to the ball with Cedric, and how beautiful she looked.
"I asked about three weeks ago, when she was in the study room one night. I still can't believe she said yes." Ron had the biggest grin across his face, and Harry was almost scowling at Ron. They changed the subject to the songs they needed to play. They had only managed so far to play the easy level song, and they had three other songs to play. They had heard the Beatles song that many times that they wanted to learn to play it. Neville was the only one to have mastered all four of the songs, and had asked Evi for more songs for him to learn.
Care of Magical Creatures was never fun, but it was never Hagrid's fault, it was Malfoys. Malfoy used to mess around in the lesson so much that they hardly got any work done. Over the last few months they have been studying Puffskeins and had been looking after one each. They were strange spherical ball covered in fur and very easy to look after. Ron told Harry one day that he use to have one as a pet but Fred used it for bludger practice one day and they've never seen it since. But they finished their work on the Puffskein and they were starting a new creature.
Harry, Ron and Hermione arrived to the lesson early to see it they could help Hagrid with anything.
"It's alrite, I've got everything sorted. Wanna see what you'll be working on?" He opened up this box and inside was what looked like an overgrown ferret. It looked rather cute until it screamed out
"What you looking at? If you think I'm ugly, you should look in the mirror!" Hagrid quickly returned the lid and it could be heard mumbling some other obscenity.
"Sorry bout im, they're always ike dat. Never had a kind word outta one before." He seemed to think that was the shocking thing, but they were more amazed that it talked to them.
"They talk?" Ron asked completely amazed.
"Yeah, course they do. He's a Jarvey. I named this one Freddy." Harry thought it was just like Hagrid to give him a name like that. They waited for the rest of the Slytherin house who are usually late for this lesson. Crabbe and Goyle arrived, and for once, they parted themselves from Malfoy, who wasn't present. "Where's Malfoy?" Hagrid asked all authoritative. Crabbe and Goyle just looked at each other and answered.
"Don't know, wasn't in the common room this morning." They actually seemed worried about their leader, and so was Hagrid.
"Ave you told Professor Dumbledore?" They both shook their heads. So Hagrid sent them to Snape to tell him what has happened, while the rest got on with the lesson.
It wasn't a pleasant lesson. Everyone had a chance to talk to Freddy but as the lesson went on, the insults got worse. He reached Lavender Brown and she sat down and talked to him for a bit. It was going well to begin with, and Freddy seemed to be nice to her, but then she made the fatal move.
"So, you live underground?" She asked more confidently than the last question. But the Jarvey took it the wrong way.
"Why? Think I should stay there? If I looked as deformed as you I would never come outside." It really upset her and she began to cry and Hermione led her into Hagrid hut to calm down. Hagrid replaces the lid and put him out of sight and whispers to Harry.
"Should've known that he would finally upset someone. I better go an see if she's ok." It wasn't Hagrid's fault; he couldn't have controlled what it was going to say. When Lavender came out, her eyes were all red and puffy and Hermione walked her back to the castle and into the common room.
They had Defence against the Dark Arts next and were not looking forward to it. Everyone seemed worried about Malfoy. Well, they were almost worried, it was just the Slytherin house who seemed to care.
"What if he's gone with the others?" Pansy Parkinson was saying outside the class. Harry thought it was odd if Malfoy was taken, because why would they take Malfoy when his father was who he was. They didn't have to ponder for long as walking down the corridor was Draco Malfoy, but he was not looking too well Harry thought. As he passed Harry, Harry noticed he had a bandage on his hand, which he was trying to cover up with his cloak.
Malfoy was very quiet the whole lesson and didn't get Harry in trouble once and he spent his whole time trying to write with his other hand and was finding it very hard. It wasn't like Malfoy to pass up the opportunity to get sympathy from people for his injury. Harry thought how much he would to say something, but he couldn't get another bad report from Professor Grimalkin. Just because Malfoy wasn't getting Harry into trouble didn't mean that he wasn't told off by Professor Grimalkin. Ever since that incident with Evi, Harry has been very suspicious of her and was finding it difficult to concentrate on his work as he was watching her carefully to see what he could get on her. He was so busy looking around her room for evidence that he didn't hear her ask him a question till she slammed her hands on his desk.
"ARE YOU LISTENING TO ME? I asked you a question. Where do you find vampires during the day?" Her eyes were piercing and Harry just couldn't think. She stood there waiting for an answer and Harry just couldn't answer, but he daren't look up at her.
"Didn't think you could answer, you should be paying attention Mr Potter. 20 points from Gryffindor for Mr Potter's day dreaming." Harry had had enough of her to last him a lifetime. He used to think Snape was bad, but she was worse. He needed to find something on her soon or he will be put on special report, and maybe even expelled.
Saturday Mornings were the best in Harry's mind. No early wake up call, you can take your time over breakfast and lots of time to spend with your best friends.
Harry got up and made his way down to the common room. It was still early for a Saturday morning anyways and Harry didn't expect to find anyone lese up until at least noon. But sitting on the big chair curled up with a book was Hermione.
"Hermione? What are you doing up this early?" Harry yawned.
"I couldn't sleep. Today is my first meeting at the council," she said closing the book.
"Is that today?"
"Yeah, it's the seventh," she reminded him.
"You're worried," Harry said sitting opposite her and taking the book from her.
"Not worried; nervous. I don't know what to expect. I have no idea what will be discussed or what part I have play," she admitted and turned to watch the fire flickering.
"You'll do fine. You always worry about things but you never have anything to worry or be nervous about." Hermione smiled at the compliment.
"Where is the meeting held?" Harry asked.
"At a Ministry of Magic building not far from here. Most of the members go to Hogwarts." She said continuing to stare at the fire.
"How are you getting there?" Harry enquired.
"A carriage will pick us all up and take us there."
"Hermione?" Harry said getting her to turn her gaze away from the fire. "You'll do fine."
"Thank you Harry," and she got up and gave him a hug, then returned to her chair and staring at the fire. They both sat there in silence till they were brought out of their little worlds by the sound of other students finally getting up.
"Time to go. See you tonight Harry," Hermione said gathering her things.
"Have fun." She smiled and left the common room.
Harry went back upstairs and got changed into some clothes and out of his pyjamas.
At breakfast Harry asked Ron if he fancied a chance to win back some of his wizard cards in a game of wizards chess.
"Sorry Harry, I promised Cho I would spend the day with her," Ron awkwardly told him.
"Oh, that's alright, I'll find something else to do." Harry couldn't help but feel dejected. Hermione was at her meeting, Ron was meeting Cho and he had nothing to do.
Finally he decided to get some guitar practice in since he wasn't very good and was struggling with certain chords. After a couple of hours practice and his figer tips were completely red raw from the strings, he gave up and went back to the common room. Harry felt annoyed at Ron for deserting him, for a girl of all things, but Harry knew if the situation was reversed, he would do exactly the same. Still, he could have told me in advance, Harry thought to himself.
He found the essay he was putting off till tomorrow and decided to start it a day early. As Hermione would say 'it's best to get it over and done with then leave it till it's too late'. Boy, she was starting to rub off on him.
Harry was glad he stated the essay early as it was harder then he originally though and it had taken him the rest of the afternoon to write two foot of it and it needed to be at least six. There was no way Harry was going to let Ron copy off this one, he can struggle with it tomorrow. Sometimes Harry wished he could carry his own personal Hermione with him who could reel out the information he needed. It would be like having a personal talking encyclopaedia.
By late afternoon, Ron returned to the common room and told Harry about everything he and Cho had done, in much detail. Although Harry was not keen on the singular topic, he was glad of the conversation. The day had been too quiet for Harry's liking. Ron seemed quite pleased with his girlfriend, Harry noted and deep down he was happy for Ton and no longer cared about what he used to feel for her.