True Friends
By: Craw/Brad
Author's Notes: I may be moving any time now due to family issues. They have decided that it was more cost effective to move me out into the middle of no where than to hire an assassin to off me. Next week I may feel like dying, so I'll go ahead and get this update out.
AN2: Apparently all of the characters listen to American muggle rock. I would have added some British bands, but I don't really like The Darkness and they are the only current non-American band that has a song I know the beat to.
Disclaimer: Before each song, I state the name and the artist. From there you can conclude that I do not own them. I don't own Harry Potter either; if I did, I would have killed Ron long ago and Harry would never have argued about being in Slytherin.
Chapter Thirteen
Winners put on a rather good rendition of Antigone. Two sixth years I had never seen before played the leads. Anyway, it wasn't my play, and therefore not worth spending much of this monologue discussing.
Last night we were told to sign up if we wanted to participate in the contest, and give the name of the song we would be doing. On the sign up sheet, it stated that only muggle songs would be allowed. Something to do with copy rights I think. Anyway, when the paper was posted, both Harry and I signed up. Funny thing though, the page apparently had a charm on it so that no one could see what song had been written down. Then, when I asked, Raven refused to tell me which song he would do. After that I had decided that if he asked what I would sing, that I wouldn't tell him either. He didn't ask.
We were already seated in the Great Hall for lunch, so the only thing we were waiting on now was for the Headmaster to clear the tables and give us room on the platform. As if cued by my thoughts, the plates and food disappeared and Dumbledore stood. "We have now seen two wonderful productions, well done." He paused to let the applause and cat-calls die down. "Now, however, it is time for the first signing contest held within these hallowed walls. Our contestants shall be call upon in random order and at the end of the afternoon, one winner will be named to receive dinner for two in Hogsmeade on the next Hogsmeade weekend."
There was a round of applause as he stepped down and Madam Hooch took his place. "I expect all of you to be respectful of your classmate's efforts and keep in mind that it isn't easy to come up here and sing. First up, Marius Blair."
A tall boy with Russian coloring made his way to the stage. He stood about 6' 2" and had his shoulder length hair tied back at his neck. After having the charm placed on him, we all heard it when he said, "Tonight I will be singing 'The Game', originally sung by Disturbed.
Tell me exactly what is it I'm suppose to do
Now that I have allowed you to beat me?
Do you think that we could play another game?
Maybe I could win this time.
I kind of like the misery you put me through
Darlin, you can't trust me completely.
If you even try to look the other way,
I think that I could kill this time..."
And so it went, People I didn't know went up to sing songs that I either liked or disliked. They were either good or bad. After a while it just started to blend together. I swear it was at least an hour before she finally called someone I felt was worth really listening to.
"Blaise Zambini," the flying instructor called.
"I'll be singing a song by Pink Floyd," he started. "It's named 'Hey You'."
Looking down he began to sway lightly with the music.
"Hey you! Out there in the cold,
Getting lonely, getting old, can you feel me?
Hey you! Standing on the aisles,
With itching feet and fading smiles, can you feel me?
Hey you! Don't help them to bury the light,
Don't give in without a fight."
He looked up as the music got louder and you could see a rare smile of glee upon his face.
He really was having fun.
"Hey you! Out there on your own,
Sitting naked by the phone, would you touch me?
Hey you! With your ear against the wall,
Waiting for someone to call, would you touch me?
Hey you! Would you help me to carry the stone,
Open you heart, I'm coming home."
Blaise had an amazing voice. He honestly sounded like an angel sent to Earth to preach the word of some god. He would probably win.
"But it was a fantasy,
The wall was too high, as you can see,
No matter how he tried, he could not break free,
And the world ate into his brain."
He moved as if he were a part of the music. As if it was speaking to his soul.
"Hey you! Out there on the road,
doing what you're told, can you help me?
Hey you! Out there beyond the wall,
Breaking bottles in the hall, can you help me?
Hey you! Don't tell me there's no hope at all,
Together we stand, divided we fall."
There was tremendous applause as the last line echoed off and my dark friend exited the stage. A while later, Weasley went up and butchered my favorite Marilyn Manson song, "Coma Black". I'll leave that experience out so as to spare you the joy of bleeding at the ears. The next notable, half-decent act was Granger.
"I will be giving a rendition of "You Oughta Know" By Alanis Morissette.
Granger was leaning on the front of the head table when she started.
"I want you to know that I'm happy for you
I wish nothing but the best for you both
An older version of me
Is she perverted like me
Would she go down on you in a theater
Does she speak eloquently?
And would she have your baby
I'm sure she'd make a really excellent mother."
There was a lot of hand motions and head movement as she sang.
"'Cause the love that you gave that we made
wasn't able to make it enough for you to be open wide, no
And every time you speak her name
Does she know how you told me you'd hold me
Until you died, 'til you died
But you're still alive
And I'm here to remind you
Of the mess you left when you went away
It's not fair to deny me
Of the cross I bear that you gave to me
You, you, you oughta know "
Suddenly her voice became cool and conversational.
"You seem very well, things look peaceful
I'm not quite as well, I thought you should know
Did you forget about me Mr. Duplicity
I hate to but you're in the middle of dinner
It was a slap in the face how quickly I was replaced
Are you thinking of me when you fuck her
'Cause the love that you gave that we made
wasn't able to make it enough for you to be open wide, no
And every time you speak her name
Does she know how you told me you'd hold me
Until you died, 'til you died
But you're sill alive "
She became more passionate with every line she sang. It was as if there was some hidden fire that she had suddenly learned how to tap.
"And I'm here to remind you
Of the mess you left when you went away
It's not fair to deny me
Of the cross I bear that you gave to me
You, you, you oughta know
'Cause the joke that you laid in the bed that was me
And I'm not gonna fade
As soon as you close your eyes and you know it
And every time I scratch my nails down someone else's back
I hope you feel it...well can you feel it?"
It wasn't really a song that went with her voice. Hers was a little too high and nasal for the song, but it still worked. She definitely had the attitude down.
Next up was little old me. "Listen up you prats," I sneered at the student body once I stood on stage. It was my moment and I already knew I wasn't going to win, so I should at least have a little fun with it. "This is a song by this band called Avenged Sevenfold. Song is 'Chapter Four'."
I began to jump around to the beat as soon as the music started. I would probably never live this down, but by hell, I was going to have a little fun! The lines in (...) were played for me along with the music so I didn't have to try and sing more than one line at a time. That would have been a mess.
"(Give me your hand,
Blood is spilled and man will follow
Infernal man, punishment to great to bear)
Conceived and born was one of light,
Rain and dark, the other born black night.
Raise your head and taste the courage,
(The one of light)
Fall from grace, unholy night,
I've come here to kill you,
Wont leave until you die,
Murder born of vengeance,
I close my brother's eyes, tonight..."
I could see the a shudder run through the crowed as the heard the song. Kinda funny really.
"It's cold tonight as the clouds turn gray,
And from my hands to my brother's grave,
You took his side, you took his gift,
Feel the power of a fallen man, crestfallen man...
Far away from this land I must go,
Out of the sight of the One,
A punishment sent from his hand,
A hardship none should know.
Now go out of the site of the One,
Away in this land you most go."
I knew that the next part was going to be a little difficult. Malfoy's aren't bred to be able to hold that voice for long. Hell, we were bred to not be able to sound so inhuman at all.
"Where has he gone? What have you done?
A voice commands from high above this earth.
From the soil I hear his blood cry out to me.
Murder, Liar, Vengeance, Deceit!"
I think I sounded excellent, perhaps not as good as Blaise, but still close. When I returned to the table, Raven assured me that I was amazing and that every one in the room was jealous that they couldn't be the one with their arms around me.
Half an hour later, Madam Hooch got up and said, "Last but not least, we have Harry Potter." There was an amazing amount of noise caused by this announcement. I'm not sure which they were happier about, finally getting to hear what the Boy Who Lived would sing, or almost being done.
Raven stood from his place beside me and went to the stage. Once there, he simply said,
"I'll be singing "Storm" by Saliva."
Harry began by swaying his hips lightly and as the beat grew, he added upper body movement.
"Life is like a melody,
Sang deep within my soul,
Sang deep within me,
And all these chains that shackle me,
They wont let me take control,
They want to take control of me,
I've got to rise above my life,
To find the reason I'm alive,"
He gazed up into the heavens for a moment as he sang that last line, as if looking to some divine impression for answers.
"I'll save myself, I'm all alone,
I've opened up my heart to find there's nobody home.
It's up to me, I'm all alone,
The message of life is turning,
Facing the storm,
Life is filled with your memory,
You were deep within my heart,
You were deep inside of me,
With all the pain that I'm wrapped around,
If there's a heaven up above,
I see angels falling down,"
He looked very sensual up there as he ran his hand through his hair. The dejected look on his face made my Raven look like a fallen angel.
"I've got to rise above my life,
To find the reason I'm alive,
I'll save myself, I'm all alone,
I've open up my heart to see there's nobody home,
It's up to me, I'm all alone,
The message of life is turning,
Facing the storm."
My lovely green eyed Adonis sat back down at my side. As the staff had a conference about the contest winner, I leaned over and whispered into his ear, "That was beautiful."
"Thank you," he said, kissing my cheek.
The teachers conferred for a few minutes before Madam Hooch came back to the fore-stage. "After much deliberation, we have come to the conclusion that the best singer and over all performer was," she paused for a moment, "Blaise Zambini."
My friend stood and took a bow. "Thank you, thank you," he said. "Now, I would like to cordially invite Neville Longbottom to join me for dinner on the next Hogsmeade weekend."
Even across the hall, I could see the blush rising in the little lion's cheeks. "S-sure," he stuttered out.
Dumbledore took that as his cue to stand. "Now that that is all sorted," he said once he had attained the students' attention, "Hugglebunnies will have until dinner to come up with an activity. Enjoy the rest of your day."
X
That night at dinner the headmaster informed us of the next day's fun. We were to hold a duel. Really, what were those Hugglebunnies thinking? Was there any real question as to who would win? As I was asking myself these questions, the headmaster went on to explain that there would be three different levels of competition; Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced. The sign up sheet was passed around after dinner.
TBC
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