I would like to thank Evanescence for their contribution to this chapter; this song is not my by any right. Also I would re-iterate that I no claims on the Potter-verse.

Yours truly, Sinister3005

10 – "Hello"

At the request of the headmaster, Jerrod and Beck agreed to perform at the Christmas feast. Instead of his bass guitar, Jerrod sat at a large piano. Once the crowd had quietened, he began to move his fingers smoothly across the ebony and ivory keys. Beck cleared her throat with a quiet cough, and put the violin to her shoulder.

'Playground school bell rings again, rain clouds come to play again.' Beck's voice stretched to the far reaches of the Great hall. Jerrod's mind began to drift.

He was standing on the quidditch tower again, looking forlornly at Beck. Slowly he reached out his hand, and took hers.

She'll never think of me like that, Jerrod thought.

'Has no one told you she's not breathing. Hello, I am your mind giving you someone to talk to. Hello.' Beck glanced over at Jerrod, whom had his eyes closed, seemingly lost in the music. Beck began to think.

She watched him walk into Madam Malkin's. The stout women working on her uniform mutter amongst themselves. A flutter race up her spine when she saw his face, alit with pleasure, but also concealing some pain. The memory changed, as Beck stopped singing for a moment, and played the mournful violin chords with heartfelt sorrow.

She saw him fall. Her soul jerked at that moment, as if it was ripping in half. Tears sprang from her eyes as Jerrod plummeted.

'If I smile and don't believe, soon I know I'll wake from this dream. Don't try to fix me, I'm not broken.'

Jerrod hugged Beck he walked away. He just couldn't bring himself to look back. He could hear Beck crying her heart out for him, and his own cracked in pain.

'Hello, I'm the lie living for you so you can hide. Don't cry.'

Beck glanced behind, and saw Jerrod chasing her across the snow-covered ground. He caught her, and together they fell into a snowdrift. Beck lying on her back could see Jerrod's face, mere centimetres from her own.

'Suddenly I know I'm not sleeping.'

Jerrod got up from the piano, and joined Beck for a bow. Jerrod dispelled the piano, and Beck cast her violin back to its case at the foot of her bed. They walked out of the hall, hand in hand.

'Hello, I'm still here. All that's left of yesterday.'

Jerrod listened to the final strains of the piano echo around the hall, along with the last of Beck's song. Slowly, he got up, the images from the music still in his head. He joined Beck, and together they bowed. Glancing at Beck, Jerrod saw her looking back at him. Together they walked from the hall. Beck poked him in fun, and raced out into the snow. Grinning, Jerrod chased her. He caught her quickly, and together they fell into a small heap of snow. Jerrod caught his breath. He could see Beck, red hair framing her slightly freckled face, watching him. Slowly he lowered his lips, until they found hers. The world could have ended, and neither of the teens would have cared.