From now on: lyrics will just be in bold and italics.

------

The halls were freezing and empty, undisturbed by human contact. All was dead silent, dark and eerie, and as Hermione walked slowly, making her rounds, all was so still it seemed her footsteps were multiplied.

She shivered and rubbed her arms, begging the return of their warmth. It was late, but Hermione had wanted to finish her homework before she patrolled, even if it wasn't due for another week.

Hermione paused, noticing her shoe was untied and stopped to tie it. The footsteps continued. Hermione froze, her blood running cold.

She stood slowly, and with one hand in her pocket, gripping her wand securely, she made her way to the intersecting corridor, as the sounds were emitting from it.

Hermione could hear her own breathing was heavy, her heart was pounding. The footsteps paused, and Hermione jumped around the corner, drawing her wand and pointing it at the offending target.

"It's past curfew."

The boy in front of her looked at Hermione skeptically. "So?"

"So? So you're out past curfew, I could dock points off of Slytherin for that."

Xavier Darnel drew his own wand quickly, grinning madly at the Prefect. "Try it."

Hermione gulped, but kept her own determined face. "Five points from Slytherin, use that wand and it will be thirty."

Darnel's smile grew as he twirled and pocketed his wand, walking past Hermione. "Later, Granger."

Hermione stood still before calling out to him. "What are you doing out?" she demanded.

Darnel spun around to face her. "Walking, obviously."

"Walking where, exactly?"

Xavier Darnel shrugged. "Practice."

Hermione was about to question him further when a loud crash emitted next to her. She spun around to see Peeves zooming down the hallway, pushing down every suit of armor in his path.

"Peeves!" Hermione scolded, exasperated. She took a few steps after him and Peeves shot through a wall. Hermione sighed and turned around.

Darnel was gone.

Perfect… Hermione sighed and thought. …I should have deducted more….practice?

------

Ginny hadn't gone back to sleep. She spent the next few hours trying to decide just how she was supposed to join Malfoy's band when she burst out laughing at his offer. She had to think of something.

By the time breakfast rolled around Ginny thought she had a pretty good story for him. She had told her dorm mates that she had gotten in trouble for McGonagall's class, and they bought it easily. Now it was just Malfoy…

A group of Slytherins passed Ginny on her way out of the Great Hall. Ginny took a deep breath, An easy fib… "Malfoy."

The group stopped. "What?" a voice came from the center.

The group didn't part. Ginny pushed her way through. Someone "accidentally" elbowed her ribs as she passed them. ! Bloody bodyguards!

"I need to talk to you."

The group stared at her.

"Alone." She added.

The group didn't move. Malfoy sighed. "Go on, I'll catch up."

The Slytherins obeyed, leaving Malfoy and Ginny behind alone. "What do you want, Weaslette?"

Ginny opened her mouth, shut it, and glared at Malfoy. "One, don't call me that. Two…I'd…" she lowered her voice. "I changed my mind….I'd like to join."

Malfoy smirked at her. "What makes you think the offer still stands?"

Ginny opened her mouth. "….." she promptly closed it.

Malfoy's smirk grew at her silence. "Fine. Give us another song; we'll give you another shot."

"Deal." Ginny was about to leave when Malfoy spoke again.

"Just out of curiosity…what changed your mind?"

Ginny shrugged. "I thought about it. ….Plus Ron was being stupid, I figured it was my revenge."

Malfoy smirked. "Any way I can help to piss off the dolt."

Ginny laughed at the insult, glaring at him in her mind. "I gotta get to class. Later then."

Her and Malfoy had just gotten along….granted it was probably only because they were insulting her brother but still…the fact alone was enough to make Ginny shudder, which she would have done, but stopped herself, realizing that Malfoy could still see her.

She spent her time in classes making a list of excellent songs she could audition with.

------

"Please?"

"No." Came Hermione's curt reply.

"Come on, Hermione, please!"

"No Ron, I told you, you weren't paying attention in class, it's your fault you don't have proper notes to study."

Ron sighed as they climbed the stairs up to the Gryffindor Common Room. Ginny bounded up behind them. "Hey guys, hey Mione, do you still have your Charms notes from last year? I want to use them to study for the OWLS."

"Sure, Gin, they're buried in my trunk somewhere, I'll look for them tonight." Hermione readily agreed. Ron huffed in disapproval.

"My little sister gets your notes, but I don't?"

Hermione furrowed her eyebrows and scowled at Ron. "You remember how hard the OWLS were. Besides, it's good that she wants to start studying so soon. I didn't start studying until about two months into the year! Good job, Gin."

They were about to enter through the Fat Lady's portrait when an abrupt voice made them all spin around.

"Weasley."

"What do you want, Malfoy?" The two Weasley's chorused. Ginny and Ron looked at each other and shivered.

"The time." Malfoy muttered as he passed them, slipping a piece of parchment into Ginny's hand.

"What?...Wait…huh!" Ron looked from Ginny to Malfoy's retreating person back to Ginny. "What was that!"

Ginny shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips. "Nothing." She entered the Common Room and, to avoid a barrage of questions from her elder sibling, headed straight to the girl's dorms.

------

Ginny examined herself in the mirror. She looked pretty good…not overly-dressed, but classy and professional.

A knock sounded at the door. "Everyone decent?"

"It's just me, Mione." Ginny answered.

A second later Hermione was standing in the doorway. "Wow, Gin, look at you!" She walked over to her and flew a circle around her. "What are you all dressed-to-kill for?"

Ginny blushed. "I'm not dressed-to-kill, I'm just…" she glanced in the mirror. "…dressed."

Hermione snorted. "I don't believe you. What are you hiding Ginerva Weasley…?" she questioned suspiciously.

"N-nothing." Ginny laughed. "Honestly." She added to Hermione's skeptically face.

Hermione smiled slyly. "Okaay…nothing then…I found the notes." She held up the aforementioned scrolls of parchment and set them on Ginny's bed.

"K, thanks. Ginny glanced at her watch. I got to get going."

"Where?" Hermione grinned.

"Er…detention. With Snape. The slimy git. Later." Ginny was almost out the door when Hermione called her back,

"Could you please lie about something else because I can't think of you in Snape's detention looking like that."

Ginny sighed and turned back, flopping down on her bed next to Hermione. "One, you can't tell ANYONE, no matter WHAT. Two, you can't criticize me and make judgments, it's all got a good point to it I promise, I just…can't tell you…"

"Is this about Malfoy?"

"What?"

"Malfoy. Pale wanker, freakishly blonde…" Hermione described. Ginny stared in disbelief at Hermione's usage of the word 'wanker'.

"It's okay if it is." She continued at Ginny's silence.

"It is." Ginny admitted. "Very much so. Umm…I have to join Malfoy's band…"

Hermione snorted with laughter. "Malfoy has a band?"

"Uh…yeah…"

"And you…have…to join it."

"For very good reasons, yes."

They sat in silence for a moment before Hermione inquired. "Gin?"

"Mmhmm?"

"Does part of you…want to?"

"I really like to sing." She replied. "You can't tell anyone.

Hermione nodded. "Well you better go then, don't want to be late."

"Thanks, Mione."

"Thanks for what?" Hermione pretended to be oblivious.

Sometimes I really love that girl…Ginny thought on her way out.

------

I need the practice room. Ginny thought as she came upon a blank piece of wall. A door promptly appeared in front of her. Huh…it really is like the Room of Requirements…

Ginny opened the door a crack and put her ear to the opening.

"When is she coming?'

"Soon, I should think."

"Eight sharp." Malfoy's voice answered, seeming slightly annoyed.

Ginny glanced at her watch. 8:02. Wonderfulstart…she scoffed at herself. She pushed the door open and stepped in.

"Fashionably late, Weasley?" the drummer looked up from whatever it was he was reading and raised an eyebrow. "I know you'd like to impress me, but you don't have to dress so formal, love."

Ginny rolled her eyes at this and walked over to the microphone. "Let's get on with this then."

"Not so fast, Weaslette." Malfoy stopped her. "We've got a couple questions for you…"

"Like what?" Ginny sighed. "Honestly, it's a band; all I need is musical talent!"

"You'd be surprised." Blaise commented from a corner of the room.

"Full name?"

"You know my name, Malfoy."

"Full name." Malfoy insisted.

Ginny sighed. "Ginerva Molly Weasley."

"Date of birth?"

"August 11, 1981." She answered. What was the point in trying to resist?

"You're first year of Hogwarts was…"

"1992." Ginny answered slowly after thinking for a bit.

"And you've been at Hogwarts how many consecutive years now, including the current?"

"Five, Malfoy. Enough, these questions are pointless."

"You'd be surprised." Blaise laughed.

:"Just let her sing, Malfoy, honestly." Xavier scowled at Malfoy until he sighed.

"Fine. Sing, Weasley."

"Finally…" Ginny muttered as she took the microphone. "I need…" she started to request the music but stopped. "What should I sing?"

"Rock." Darnel called out.

"Punk." Zabini shouted at the same time.

"Pshh, punk?" Darnel questioned.

"What's wrong with punk? It's better than rock."

"Hey, Hey! NOTHING beats the rock."

Zabini smirked. "Paper does."

"She's playing rock."

"No, she's not! Sing punk, Weasley." Zabini demanded, turning to Ginny.

"Rock!" Darnel insisted.

Punk!"

"ANYTHING!" Malfoy's voice overpowered the other two as he threw his hands in the air. "Anything, and NEVER ask them that question again!"

Ginny thought on this for a moment. She could sing anything she wanted to…Oh…why not? She cleared her throat. "I need my music for Angels."

Immediately the soft music flowed throughout the room. Blaise sat against the far wall. Xavier stood where he was. Malfoy requested a comfy chair of the room and promptly made himself comfortable.

And Ginny began to sing.

Sparkling angel
I believed
You were my savior
In my time of need

Blinded by faith
I couldn't hear
All the whispers
The warnings so clear

I see the angels
I'll lead them to your door
There's no escape now
Now mercy no more

No remorse cause I still remember
The smile when you tore me apart

You took my heart
Deceived me right from the start
You showed me dreams
I wished they'd turn into real
You broke a promise
And made me realize
It was all just a lie

Partway through the song Ginny wondered if her choice was such a good one. After all…No…no…they could never know who it was about.

Sparkling angel
I couldn't see
Your dark intensions
Your feelings for me

Fallen angel
Tell me why
What is the reason?
The thorn in your eye

I see the angels
I'll lead them to your door
There's no escape now
No mercy no more

No remorse cause I still remember
The smile when you tore me apart

You took my heart
Deceived me right from the start
You showed me dreams
I wished they'd turn into real
You broke a promise
And made me realize
It was all just a lie

Ginny had no trouble pouring all she was into performing this song. It was, after all, all she was.

Could have been forever
Now we have reached the end

This world may have failed you
It doesn't give the reason why
You could have chosen
A different path in life

She was almost finished, and Ginny could feel her eyes begin to tear up.No...ah, no, I can't cry, not in front of them.

The smile when you tore me apart

You took my heart
Deceived me right from the start
You showed me dreams
I wished they'd turn into real
You broke a promise
And made me realize
It was all just a lie

Could have been forever
Now we have reached the end

Ginny turned away quickly as she finished the song, blinking the tears away furiously.

"That was excellent." Darnel pronounced nonchalantly. "Excellent."

"Bloody wicked awesome, that one was." Blaise agreed.

"…You okay, Weaslette?"

Ginny gave a short laugh, wiping her eyes as she turned back. "I'm fine, Malfoy." The tremble in her voice betrayed her.

"Stop lying, Weasley, you're no good at it."

"I'll stop lying if you mind your own business." The tears threatened to come up again. Ginny had to get out. She got off the stage and began to walk quickly to the door.

Malfoy's body was inconveniently placed between her and the door. "Move, Malfoy." Ginny demanded.

"No. What's wrong with you?" he nearly spat the words at her, as if accusing her of losing her mind. She might have been.

"Move." She demanded with a little more force

"No." was Malfoy's response again.

A tear escaped Ginny's eye and trailed down her cheek. "Please…" she whispered.

Malfoy, caught off guard at this, stared at her. Ginny pushed past him and, before Malfoy could turn around fully, bounded the corridor.

------

It was another sleepless night as Ginny walked aimlessly around the castle, mentally berating herself for singing that damned song about that damned Tom Riddle.

------

A-ba-de-a-de, a-ba-de-a-de, That's all folks. ….For now at least. Sorry for taking so long, I was looking for the PERFECT song.

Angels by Within Temptation (an AMAZING group)