Kicking Buckets Chapter 1: Moving on, a harry potter fanfic

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. I would not be posting little ficlets on a fanfiction site if I did. Do not pester me about this again. Anything that you recognize is most likely Ms. Rowling's. Anything you do not recognize is more probably mine. Also, in this chapter and in future chapters, I begin to use songs from various popular or not so popular artists. I do not own these songs. I do not make money from these songs. They are songs that I feel fit, and that I enjoy listening to. If you do not like them, skip over them.

I apologize to those of you who have already read this. It was not meant to come out yet...since I already posted it and all that, I wanted to post this up in a formal apology. There are, as you know, about five chapters now. I'm still working on the latest chapter...posting it was a major accident. I just hope I've managed to rectify the situation before the story was ruint for too many of you.

Yours,

Allison

"Learn from the Past

Live in the Present

Look to the Future" Maya Gurgeon

Kicking Buckets

Chapter One

"We didn't know just how powerful Maya was, then." Sirius said, softly, staring out a window as he, Severus, and Remus clung to each other for support as they waited for the woman that they had all grown to love to return.

"No, we didn't." Severus agreed. "It was your bad luck that you Marauders always ended up on her bad side. She was really quite wonderful, even then."

"We weren't always on her bad side." Remus pointed out. "Everything changed, come Christmas."

"What changed?" Harry, Ron, and Ginny walked into the room.

Sirius looked at them before smiling coldly. "The fact that Maya Gurgeon hated us from only five minutes after she met us." He paused and looked up at the ceiling.

"Who?" Ginny looked confused. Sirius had already zoned out, however, so it was Remus who answered.

"Maya Gurgeon. Hermione's alias while she was attending her seventh year with us."

"Do tell." Ron said, sitting down. Harry and Ginny followed Suit. Severus and Remus looked at each other, and then Sirius, before turning and beginning to talk.

"Our first days didn't go well." Remus said. "Maya...or Hermione...was cold and distant. Lily was the only one she'd talk to for weeks. When she finally did talk to us, it was to argue..."

SCENEBREAKSCENEBREAKSCENEBREAK

"Maya, as much as I'd like to agree with you...don't you think that you should calm down before you go retrieve your..." Lily sighed and trailed off as she followed Hermione across the common room. "Book."

"JAMES HAROLD POTTER!" Hermione shrieked in a voice much like she would say Harold James Potter in her own time.

James looked up. "You rang, Gurgeon?" His eyes widened in the next second, however, as the tip of her wand was pressed into his throat.

"HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU! DON'T CALL ME GURGEON!" She shrieked.

"S-sorry. You rang, Maya?" He recovered quickly, using his play-boy voice once more.

"YOU. HAVE. MY. BOOK!"

"I-I do?"

"Yeah, you remember, Prongs." Pudge said, completely oblivious to the fact that he was about to get his best friend in deep shit. "The one that says 'Maya Gurgeon' on the cover and has all of her deepest, most innermost thoughts and secrets in it? That you were reading aloud last night?"

"YOU DID WHAT!" Hermione pulled back her arm and balled a fist before she could think twice, punching James in the nose as hard as she could. "HOLD IT!"

The other three Marauders froze where they were trying to sneak off. "Y-Yes, Maya?" Sirius managed.

"Give it." She held out her left hand.

"Give what?" Sirius almost managed to look innocent. He flinched when she balled her fist again, and hurriedly handed her the leather-bound journal that she'd bought in Diagon Alley. "Here!"

"Thank you." Hermione shoved it into her bookbag hurriedly and put up her wand. "Now...about that part in the Band..."

"WHAT!" Peter squealed. "Of course, you..."

"I wasn't talking to you, Pudge." Hermione sneered, reaching for her wand. Peter squealed and hid behind Remus and Sirius.

"You think we'd give you a part in our band after threatening us? You on crack or something, Gurgeon?" James spat in disbelief. "Go shag a Death Eater."

Hermione turned white, and then red, so fast that she almost looked like a candy cane. Her wand moved so quickly and her voice shrieked out so many spells, one after another, that the entire common room turned into a light show. When she turned away, the boys were all sporting various hexes and jinxes...and Peter had even turned into a toad.

"Maya...shouldn't you..." Lily began, but Hermione stormed up the stairs back to the dorm without another word. Lily looked at the Marauders and sighed, undoing Hermione's work.

"Aww, Evans..." James' voice was smoothe and perfect. "You DO care!" For the second time within five minutes, the common room turned into a light show...but this time nobody was around to undo the work of the angry witch that flounced up the stairs to the Girls' dormitories in a huff.

lalalalalala October lalalalalalala

"Maya!" Lily ran into the women's dorm where Hermione was studying and plopped down a paper. "Look!" She said. "The Slytherins are holding auditions for singers in their band!"

Hermione looked at the paper and thought to all of the practice that she and Lily had put in since September first. She grinned. "Let's go for it."

Lilly stopped, her smile falling away. "You can't be serious."

"Of course not. That's Black's name."

"Maya! This isn't the time to joke! You KNOW that Snape and Malfoy will never let us join!" Lily said, frowning.

"Ah...but what else are black hooded cloaks for?" Hermione pointed out. "Trust me on this, Lils. And just let me do the talking...they know your voice better."

"Man..." Lily moaned. "I just meant to sit here snickering about who would get the part...now you're conning me into actually auditioning! This is almost as bad as the animagus scheme that you worked out last month!"

"That went off without a hitch." Hermione reminded.

"Yes, but what about the whole Pranking the best Pranksters in this school in a century thing?"

"That was perfect and you know it. The Marauders didn't know what hit them." Hermione pointed out.

"What about the joining the Marauders' band scheme that you had before that?"

"Okay, so that wasn't the greatest plan...maybe I should have waited instead of asking right away after I'd met James...or right away after I'd punched James...or right away after I'd just told James that I thought a worm would be a better fuck than he would be...or right after I told James that I'd rather eat flobberworms than touch him with a thirty foot pole...but I promise this time it'll be better. Just remember how we practiced and everything will be fine!"

"Why do I let you talk me into this stuff, Maya!" The head girl groaned. "You're worse than Potter asking me out."

"Maybe he should take a leaf from my book, then." Hermione grinned.

"Hah. Hah. Hah. I'm laughing. Really."

"Just go get your cloak and come on." Hermione stood. "We don't want anyone else to get the part before we do."

"Yeah...right..." Lily walked to her bed to find her cloak, muttering something about 'Damned exchange students and their strange ideas.'

"Oh you love my ideas. Face it. Now, come on." Hermione put her own cloak on, pulling the hood up, and hurried down out of the common room towards the dungeons, pulling Lily along behind her.

SCENEBREAKSCENEBREAKSCENEBREAK

"Damn it, Lucius! Nobody worth their salt is going to audition!" Severus Snape hissed, glaring at the line of people outside of the Slytherin Common Room.

"Nonsense, Severus my dear friend. In fact, I think I see several people who will do well..."

"But not well enough to beat those damned Marauders!" Severus growled.

"Excuse me..." The voice was slightly familiar, but neither man could place it...and all they could see of the two cloaked figures in front of them was below their nose down to their necks. The rest was covered either by cloak or shadow. "Maybe we could help."

"I doubt it..." Severus muttered, not-so-quietly.

Lucius gave him a look before arching an eyebrow. "Alright...let's see what you can do." He allowed them inside before closing the door and turning to the two mystery singers. They looked at each other before one of them waved a wand at the instruments off to the side, muttering under her breath...and then they began. By the time they were finished, Lucius was staring at them in open, if not cold and calculated, amazement, and Severus was having a bit of difficulty shutting his mouth.

"Perfect." Lucius said. "What's the catch?" The girls looked at each other again before pulling off the cloaks. Lucius and Severus both started. Mudblood Evans and her metaphorical twin, Maya Gurgeon. "I had to ask." Lucius moaned softly into the hand that he slid down his face.

"No Mudbloods." Severus sneered.

"Oh please..." Gurgeon said. "Do you really think you can beat the Marauders with anyone else that showed up to audition? I don't. But...really, I suppose that your opinions are the only ones that matter when it comes to this."

"Right." Evans said. "When they kick your asses for having some mediocre witches or wizards as your singers, remind me to send you a sympathy letter..." They turned to go.

"Wait!" Lucius said.

"Lucius, you can't be serious!"

"Actually, I think that's Black's name." Gurgeon piped up, making Lucius grin.

"I'm perfectly serious, Severus..."

"Oh great..." They heard Evans mutter. "Now there are TWO of them. One Sirius Black is PLENTY!"

"Damn." Gurgeon agreed.

Lucius shot them both grins before continuing. "Severus, think on it. What better way to kick their asses and make a big show of it than to kick their asses because they were too stupid to pick up these two before we did?"

Severus studied the two women, intently, before smirking slowly. "Indeed...what better way to humiliate them than to beat them because the two most talented singers in the school came to our band because they were rejected for being female."

"Now you're starting to see." Lucius smirked. He looked at the two women. "Welcome to the band. Now for a name."

"That's easy." Severus said. Gurgeon and Evans paused in the act of giving each other high fives to turn and look at him, and Lucius arched a sceptical eyebrow. "Snake's Halo" He said, sarcastically.

Maya and Lily looked at each other, and then Malfoy, who nodded. All three turned to Snape at the same time, and said in unison. "I like it."

Snape's jaw dropped and he stared at the three of them in shock. "I was being sarcastic."

"Yes, well, in your pointless sarcasm, you seem to have come up with the perfect name." Maya said.

"Sure, Gurgeon, sure. Just...don't touch me." He replied.

"Don't call me that." She said, angrily. "My name is Maya."

"And mine is not Mudblood." Lily said. "It's Lily."

"Of course." Malfoy said. "And we are officially Lucius and Severus to the two of you. So...what did you think of Professor Evenstar's last class?" He asked.

"Her theory on time travel seemed very interesting." Lily said. "That no matter what you do in time, you're meant to do it."

"Well, when you think about it, it makes sense." Maya pointed out. "If you go back in time, then you're not really changing history. You're PART of that history. There is no way to mess with the balance of things, because you're part of that balance...be there two yous or not."

"She has a point." Lucius began, but Severus cut him off.

"Ridiculous. Are you telling me that you could go back in time, and become a part of your own past, even though you're in the present, and be a written part of that history?"

"In a sense, yes." Maya said. "There are lines that cannot be crossed, yes, but say I went back in time to a moment that I heard a twig snap behind me...and at that precise moment in my reliving of this time, I snapped a twig and barely avoided letting myself see me..."

"Ahh...if you hadn't gone back in time, the twig wouldn't have snapped." Lucius said, nodding. Severus just glared. Maya stuck her tongue out at him, and he gave her a slightly shocked look in return.

"Come on, Maya." Lily said, before he could retaliate. "It's nearly curfew..."

"Right..." Lucius handed them each a map. "This'll get you to the room that we'll practice in. See you tomorrow at Seven." The girls waved as they walked out.

SCENEBREAKSCENEBREAKSCENEBREAK

Hermione and Lily sat down to eat, listening to the Marauders, on down the table, as they planned their next prank.

"Damn. That means they'll have pulled one." Hermione muttered. "We'd better keep our eyes open, Lils."

"I think it's too late." Hermione looked up to ask what her friend was talking about, but she trailed off as Lily pointed.

"Oh no." She muttered.

"Poor Lucius and Severus." Lily agreed. The men were absolutely miserable, standing there silently as their hair turned Weasley-Red and their clothes turned Gryffindor-Gold. Lily winced in sympathy before muttering. "Time for a prank?"

"Indeed." Hermione growled. "Lils...keep them busy."

"How?" Lily asked.

"You're Head Girl. Use your imagination." Hermione slipped out of her seat and hurried for the doors.

"Maya...!" Lily hissed, but her friend was already on her way out the door. Lily groaned to herself before whispering a spell, pointing her wand at James's hair. "Let's see what his fan-club thinks of THAT!" She muttered, very carefully not paying attention to the fact that she was jealous. On cue, James and Sirius were suddenly bald.

They looked at each other and froze. "Paddy..." James muttered... "Your hair..."

"You too...Prongs..." Sirius whispered. They felt up around their heads...and together they let out identical, feminine, horrified shrieks of dispair. Their fanclubs fell around them.

"Oh no! Your HAIR, Jamsiepoo!" One particularly slutty sixth year named Viviane Riel, cried, dropping to her knees.

"Wanna join the fun, skank?" Lily hissed softly into thin air, pointing the wand and whispering a spell. The Great Hall filled with shrieks as Viviane realized that she had lost her hair as well.

"Oh too bad." The entire group of wailing girls and Marauders turned to stare at a very unsympathetic Hermione.

"What do you want, Gurgeon!" James snarled.

"Now now, Jamsiepoo...what kind of talk is that?" Maya cooed with a very, VERY fake smile. She glanced at Sirius and winked...so quickly that the boys weren't sure that they'd seen anything at all. She glanced at Viviane. "Wow, Riel. I knew you were desperate for some cock...but I didn't know you were THAT desperate. Tell me...who has a fetish for bald bimbos around here?" She glanced around. "Oh too bad. You're out of luck. So sorry."

Lily took her cue and walked up. "Maya, Darling, don't we have somewhere to be? It's nearly seven, after all."

"Of Course, Lily Dear. I was just complimenting our friends the Marauders on their lovely hairdos. I suppose you're right, however...Musn't keep the men waiting." Maya cooed. She very studiously DIDN'T look at James and Sirius...so of course she saw their faces turn even more grim than before...and she could feel the jealous waves rising from them.

"No, we Musn't..." The two girls linked arms and waltzed out of the Great Hall.

"WHAT THE BLOODY HELL ARE YOU LOOKING AT!" Sirius roared as the entire Hall turned its attention back to the Marauders. He stood up and stormed out, followed by James. Nobody saw when, moments later, three Slytherin boys stood up and left as well.

SCENEBREAKSCENEBREAKSCENEBREAK

"I didn't necessarily mean draw the entire Hall's attention to the Gryffindor table, Lils." Maya said as she whispered the password and pushed open the slab that would let them into the Snake's Halo practice room. "Now they all think..."

"That we have guys. Exactly. It'll get Potter off of my back and Black off of yours." Lily caught the look on Hermione's face. "You DO want Black off your back, don't you?"

"Well...I..." She was saved from answering by the three men that burst into the room. Severus stormed over to his drums, while Lucius came over and gave both girls hugs.

"Thank you thank you thank you thank you THANK YOU!" He whispered. Lily and Maya exchanged amused looks before they pulled back.

"Really...if you think THAT was good...wait until you hear what happens tonight." Hermione said.

"There's more? What?" Severus looked up, very interested.

"Let's just say that Jamsiepoo and his ickle friendies are going to have to walk up stairs that have been transfigured into a swamp." Hermione said. "It's a little something I learned from a couple of mates of mine back in Durmstrang."

"Won't the teachers be able to take it off?"

"It's keyed to the Marauders. They have to do it. Nobody else can." Maya smirked.

"BRILLIANT!" Lucius crowed. "Now...let's practice!" Hermione and Lily grinned at each other, picking up their guitars and getting ready.

SCENEBREAKSCENEBREAKSCENEBREAK

"Hey Remus, do you see Gur...Maya and Evans?" Sirius asked. Maya had hexed them more than once for daring to call her Gurgeon, and she was still threatening. Sirius would rather not incurr her wrath on the night of the Battle of the Bands...even if she wasn't around to hear him.

"No...but look at what the Slytherins have named their band." Remus said, frowning. It was November first...the night that all of their hard work would pay off.

"Snake's Halo? That's an odd name for an all-guy band." James said, frowning down at his list of bands. They were last, following the Slytherin Band in question...and they were nearly up.

"Maybe they're not an all-guy band." Pudge said. After hearing Maya call him that, the Marauders had all dissolved into laughter and called him that almost as often as they called him Peter or Wormtail now.

"Nonsense, Pudge. Any band worth its salt would be an all-guy band. Just look how horrible those bands with women have been so far." Sirius said, arrogantly...still searching for Maya.

"I doubt she'll show up, Padfoot." Remus said, softly. "She's still pretty sore about not being allowed into our band." He shot a look at James, who had the decency to look a bit guilty, before turning back to his canine friend.

"If Evans is here, Maya will be." Sirius said, determined.

"Hate to break it to you, mate, but it doesn't exactly look as if Evans is here, either." James said, patting his friend on the back. Sirius sighed, looking up as Dumbledore stepped onto the stage.

"And next up is Snake's Halo. This is a primarily Slytherin band, and its members are Lucius Malfoy, on Guitar and Lead Vocal, Severus Snape, on drums and backup vocal, Trevor Zabini, on bass and back up vocal, and two mystery musicians on guitar, Lead, and Backup vocal."

(Note: Regular Actions, Bold Lucius, Italics Backups, BoldItalic All)

Severus began with his drums, and after two measures, Maya joined in...and then Lily, Lucius, and Trevor last.

I thought it was too good to be true... The audience stared, surprised at the easy pitch of Lucius' voice.

I found somebody who understands me

Someone who would help me to get through

And fill an emptiness I had inside me

But you kept inside and I just denied

Some things that we should have both said

I knew it was too good to be true

'Cause I'm the only one who understands me...

Sirius and James stared as one of the one of the mystery musicians...cloaked from head to toe...fell to his knees and played a short solo as Lucius continued

What happened to us? We used to be so Perfect (Perfect)

Now we're lost and lonely

What happened to us? And deep in side I Wonder (Wonder)

Did I lose my only ooh...

Remember they thought we were too young

To really know what it takes to make it

But we had survived off what we had done

So we could show them all that they were mistaken

But who could have known (Who could have known?) the lies that would grow (lies that would grow)

Until we could see right through them

Remember they knew we were too young...

We still don't know what it takes to make it! The mystery person began playing his bit again.

What happened to us? We used to be so Perfect (Perfect)

Now we're lost and lonely

What happened to us? And deep in side I Wonder (Wonder)

Did I lose my only one?

Severus turned into the Mic that was right beside his mouth and sang.

We could have made it work, we could have found a way

We should have done our best to see another day

But we kept it all inside until it was too late

And now we're both alone, the consequence we pay

For throwing it all away, for throwing it all away...

What happened to us? We used to be so Perfect (Perfect)

Now we're lost and lonely

What happened to us? And deep in side I Wonder (Wonder)

Did I lose my only one?

What happened to us? We used to be so Perfect (Perfect)

Now we're lost and lonely

What happened to us? And deep in side I Wonder (Wonder)

Did I lose my only...

What happened to us? What happened to us? What happened to us? What happened to us!

Lucius paused for only a moment after all of the music stopped before he stepped up to the mic again.

There never seems to be, because what I believe, a moment I'm not trying

To show them who I am, why can't they understand the things that

They're denying?

They're denying...

So what should I do, just lay next to you

As though I'm unaffected?

And who should I be, when they're judging me

As though I'm unaffected?

A chance they'd never give to ever want to live the life that I am made of

There's nothing left to prove, my heart's forever true what is it they're

afraid of?

Afraid of...

So what should I do, just lay next to you

As though I'm unaffected?

And who should I be, when they're judging me

As though I'm unaffected?

Before they even saw my face (Saw my face) they knew that I was not the same (Not the same)

And decided that I was not the one

For you

For you...

So what should I do? (What should I do?) I'm not unaffected

And who should I be? (Who should I be?) I'm not unaffected

So what should I do, (What should I do?) just lay next to you

As though I'm unaffected?

And who should I be, (Who should I be?) when they're judging me

As though I'm unaffected?

When the roar died down, Lucius smiled and bowed low, before lifting the mic from its stand. "Thank you, thank you. You're wonderful, really. Now, however, I'm going to give over the microphone to my very very good friend back there under the blue cloak, and Severus is going to give his to our friend under the green cloak, and you'll all get to see just who you've been watching play for the past two songs as they sing their hearts out." He smirked and transfigured the mic into one that would clip onto the collar of a shirt, as Severus did the same. He then stepped back and handed the mic to one of the mystery musicians who put it on silently.

Sirus and James started as the stage flooded with blue-gray smoke, lit dimly. Two cloaks flew into the air as Lucius made his guitar wail and, to the Marauders' surprise, they heard feminine voices...accompanied only by Severus, who they knew to be on drums, and Trevor on Bass. (Note: Regular Actions, Bold Hermione, Italic Lily, & BoldItalic Both.)

Du dum dada dum dadada dum cuhday yeah

Du dum dada dum dadada dum cuhday

The lights rose slowly towards the two shadows standing in the smoke as the two beautiful voices sang in harmony, and the stage cleared without warning, as if the mist were the red sea parting before Moses, only the mist cleared to reveal the two least likely women as they began to sing, Maya stepping forward with Lily right beside her.

Where have all the good men gone,

And where are all the gods?

Where's the street-wise Hercules

To fight the rising odds?

Isn't there a White Knight

Upon a Fiery Steed?

Late at night I toss and turn

And dream of what I need! Hermione's voice became breathy each time she sang the higher notes, (Underlined) and she seemed to look straight at Sirius as she sang the last two lines.

I need a Hero! Hero!

I'm holding out for a Hero

'Til the end of the night.

He's gotta be strong, Hermione pretended to flex like a wrestler.

And he's gotta be fast She pretended she was running

And he's gotta be fresh from the fight She balled her fists and lifted them in front of her face.

I need a Hero! Hero!

I'm holding out for a Hero

'Til the morning light!

He's gotta be sure Maya swept her hand out towards the audience

And he's gotta be soon She pointed to her feet

And he's gotta be larger than life! Hermione brought her hands up under her head, spread out either way as she looked up at the ceiling.

Larger than Life...

Du dum dada dum dadada dum cuhday yeah

Du dum dada dum dadada dum cuhday

Maya and Lily walked in tiny circles so that they were always rotating, one in front and one behind...stopping and moving side by side only as Maya began the next verse.

Somewhere after Midnight,

In my wildest Fantasy.

Somewhere just beyond my reach

There's someone reaching back for me.

Racing on the thunder

Rising with the heat

It's gonna take a super man

To sweep me off my feet!

She pretended to faint, falling backwards into the arms of Trevor, who pushed her back up and continued playing his bass, the sound filling the Great Hall as Hermione once more acted out the Lyrics to the chorus.

I need a Hero! Hero!

I'm holding out for a Hero

'Til the end of the night.

He's gotta be strong,

And he's gotta be fast

And he's gotta be fresh from the fight

I need a Hero! Hero!

I'm holding out for a Hero

'Til the morning light!

He's gotta be sure

And he's gotta be soon

And he's gotta be larger than life!

Larger than Life...

Lucius played a short solo, dropping to his knees, before standing up as Lily stepped forward, whispering seductively into her microphone.

Out where the moon is with the heavens above

Out where the lightning splits the sea

I would swear that there's someone, somewhere

Watching me. James could swear she was staring straight at him, her bright green eyes warm as she put her hands to her chest and shook a little so that her hair flowed.

Through the wind and the chill and the...rain

And the storm and the...flood

I can feel his approach like fire in my blood.

James shuddered as she gave a soft shiver, making herself writhe and running her hands over her body before Maya walked up behind her.

Du dum dada dum dadada dum cuhday yeah

The two women stood one in front of the other as they sang, leaning to either side so that both were visible, switching sides with every two beats of Severus' drums. As they began the chorus once more, they branched out to each side and both acted out the lyrics, rather than just Maya.

I need a Hero! Hero!

I'm holding out for a Hero

'Til the end of the night.

He's gotta be strong,

And he's gotta be fast

And he's gotta be fresh from the fight

I need a Hero! Hero!

I'm holding out for a Hero

'Til the morning light!

He's gotta be sure

And he's gotta be soon

And he's gotta be larger than life!

I need a Hero! Hero!

I'm holding out for a Hero

'Til the end of the night.

He's gotta be strong,

And he's gotta be fast

And he's gotta be fresh from the fight

I need a Hero! Hero!

I'm holding out for a Hero

'Til the morning light!

He's gotta be sure

And he's gotta be soon

And he's gotta be larger than life!

Larger than Life... Maya and Lily both froze, arms outstretched, as Lucius began playing the ending solo...their fists slowly closed, and their arms dropped, as did their heads, so that they were pictures of innocence as Lucius finished off the song, and as the last strain of music faded out, the audience rose to its feet and the noise almost lifted the roof from the Great Hall. Maya and Lily grinned at each other, giving each other high fives before turning to do the same to the rest of the band.

"Think we surprised them a bit?" Maya asked, nodding to the Marauders...who had yet to close their mouths. Lucius smirked.

"Let them beat that!" He crowed, laughing. He'd never felt so happy. He hadn't known he was capable of it. "Hey Maya, are you still going to help me with Transfiguration tomorrow night?"

"Sure thing, Lucius." Hermione said, grinning. She'd never felt so good in her life...even if it was with the Ferret's father and her dreaded potion's master, Snape. She and Lily said their goodbyes to the guys and made their way down the stairs off the stage and over to their roommates.

"Why didn't you tell us!" One of them, Alice Boron, asked.

"We were afraid we'd lose our nerve." Lily lied. They'd agreed that nobody but the band, and of course Dumbledore, could know until the night of the Battle. "That's also why we didn't watch the rest of the bands."

"But still! I thought we were friends!" Alice gushed. "Have you gotten any ACTION?"

Hermione and Lily exchanged glances. "It's time for the Mauraders. Let's watch." Hermione said.

"But Maya!"

"Sh! I'm trying to watch!"

"And now last, but certainly not least..." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as they met those of the two women standing off to the side with their roommates, "The Marauders, with James Potter and Sirius Black on Guitars and Lead Vocals, Peter Pettigrew on Bass, and Remus Lupin on Drums and Lead Vocals."

Sirius fought not to show his nervousness. The Marauders had never had anyone come remotely close to their skill level...and it hurt to think that the very women that they'd rejected so coldly had made Snake's Halo into the kick ass band that it was.

Before he could think on it too much, Remus began playing the drums, and it was soon time for Sirius to come in with James on Guitar. (Regular Actions, Bold James, Italic Sirius and Remus, BoldItalics All)

Starry nights City lights

Coming down over me

Sky scrapers, Star gazers

In my head

Are we? We are!

Are we? We are the waitin unknown.

Steady town

It's burnin down in my dreams

Lost and found

The City found in my dreams

And screamin!

Are we? We are!

Are we? We are the waitin!

And screamin!

Are we? We are!

Are we? We are the waitin!

Forget me nots, Second thoughts

Live in isolation

Heads or tales?

Fairy tales in my mind.

Are we? We are!

Are we? We are the waitin unkown!

The Rage and Love

The story of my life.

The Jesus of

Supurbia is a lie

And screamin!

Are we? We are!

Are we? We are the waitin!

And screamin!

Are we? We are!

Are we? We are the waitin unknown!

Are we? We are!

Are we? We are the waitin!

And screamin!

Are we? We are!

Are we? We are the waitin unknown!

Are we? We are!

Are we? We are the waitin unknown!

Are we? We are!

Are we? We are the waitin unknown!

Are we? We are!

Are we? We are the waitin unknown!

Are we? We are!

Are we? We are the waitin unknown!

They hit the last note and froze. The Great Hall went wild, and James and Sirius couldn't help looking over to where Maya and Lily were standing, watching. They had moved away from their dormmates, the men noticed, and were standing with Malfoy and Snape, watching the band with a calculating eye as they talked quietly. James was the first to pull himself out of his daze, and he stepped up to the mic once more as Remus began to play his drums once more. On cue, James and Sirius began playing, and Sirius trilled his tongue like a spaniard.

She's an extraordinary girl

In an ordinary world

And she can't seem to get away

He lacks the courage in his mind

Like a child left behind

Like a pet left in the rain

She's all alone again

Wiping the tears from her eyes

Some days he feels like dying

She gets so sick of crying

James stepped back from the mic to play a couple of measures before they picked up once more.

She sees the mirror of herself

An image she wants to tell

To anyone willing to buy

He steals the image in her kiss

From her heart's apocalypse

From the one called whatsername

She's all alone again

Wiping the tears from her eyes

Some days he feels like dying

She gets so sick of crying

James stood back to play, his fingers moving in syncronization with Sirius' as they played a short instrumental break, their eyes both finding the women that they liked, only to find them talking to the Slytherins.

She's all alone again

Wiping the tears from her eyes

Some days he feels like dying

Some days it's not worth trying

Now that they both are finding

She gets so sick of crying

She's an extraordinary girl, an extraordinary girl

An extraordinary girl, an extraordinary girl! James and Sirius hit their strings one last time and let them fade out, slowly. They took a few moments to switch places, and Sirius stepped up to the mic and spoke into it.

"This is going out to the girl that my good friend James over here decided that he loved with all of his heart." But his eyes were on Maya as he said it, who was nudging Lily and whispering to her with an evil grin on her face. "Thank you for your support. We're The Marauders, and we hope you had an okay time tonight." When the cheers died down, he stepped back. (Regular Actions, Bold Sirius, Italics Remus, BoldItalic All)

James and Sirius began playing their guitars in perfect unison, and as Remus began to play his drums, they began to sing softly.

There's a pain that sleeps inside

It sleeps with just one eye

And awakens, the moment that you leave

Though I try to look away

The pain it still remains

Only leaving when you're next to me

Do you know that every time you're near,

Everybody else seems far away?

So can you come, and make them disappear?

Make them disappear and we can stay... Sirius looked down and made sure he met Maya's eyes, making her blush brightly and smile a tiny smile...the only smile she'd ever given Sirius that was a true smile.

So I stand and look around,

Distracted by the sounds

Of everyone, and everything I see

And I search through every face

Without a single trace

Of the person, the person that I need... James met Lily's eyes, and neither was able to look away from what they saw in the other's gaze, their eyes intense and unwavering.

Do you know that every time you're near,

Everybody else seems far away?

So can you come, and make them disappear?

Make them disappear and we can stay...

Can you make them disappear? Make them disappear!

Woah Woah Woah Woah Woah

There's a pain that sleeps inside

It sleeps with just one eye

And awakens, the moment that you leave

And I search through every face

Without a single trace

Of the person, the person that I need...

Do you know that every time you're near,

Everybody else seems far away?

So can you come, and make them disappear?

Make them disappear and we can stay... Sirius held the last word out until he couldn't any longer before continuing.

Woah Woah Woah Woah Woah

Woah Woah Woah Woah Woah...

As Remus was still singing his last note, Sirius and James faded out slowly, letting the song end. James turned with a hopeful eye to the audience, while Sirius glanced out once before moving to help with the equipment.

Lily hesitated, torn, and Hermione smiled and gave her a small push. "Go, Lils. Go get your man, before someone else does."

Lily looked at Hermione one last time and smiled. "Thanks, Maya..." She whispered before she ran for the stage, jumping up on it and kissing James full on the lips. Hermione smiled in a slightly sad way, turning to meet the gray eyes of Lucius Malfoy.

"Black was singing to you." He said, quietly.

"Think so?" She glanced at the stage. "I think he was just doing a favor for a friend." She gave him a small smile and touched his shoulder.

"I don't think that was it, Maya." Severus said. "Even I could see that he was looking at you." But she just smiled sadly, and eventually the men gave up. They forgot all about it in the next moment, actually, because Dumbledore stepped back onto the stage and they all turned to look.

"This has been a very, very fun event." Dumbledore said, smiling. "I am pleased to say that this was a very difficult contest to judge. Now...the trophies! For the first place winner, we have a recording contract to Wizards Broadcast, which you will fulfill this summer, and the chance to play at the Yule-tide Ball scheduled this year. Second place gets a recording contract as well, and third gets a 500 Galleon gift certificate, per member, to a store of their choice in Hogsmeade." He cleared his throat, and James and Lily started from where they were kissing on the floor, looking at him a bit guiltily.

Maya couldn't help grinning. "Third place is Raven Red, from Ravenclaw!" Dumbledore said. Maya and Lily exchanged glances, smiling, and the Headmaster continued.

"There is a tie for first and second, between the Marauders and Snake's Halo...so we are going to have a singoff." Maya squealed and turned to Lucius, hugging him tightly. "Each band must have no more than four members, and they will sing one song each. We have reversed the order of the bands, so the Marauders are up first." He stepped off of the stage, and the Marauders made their way back up, getting ready. Lily hurried to the edge of the stage to watch, much to the amusement of her three friends standing in the back of the crowd. (Regular Actions, BoldSirius, Italic James and/or Remus, BoldItalic All)

She's a rebel, she's a saint
She's the salt of the earth
And she's dangerous
She's a rebel, vigilante

Missing link on the brink of destruction Sirius' eyes once more met Maya's, and she was grinning at the choice of song. He found himself playing better than before, wanting to please her.

From Chicago to Toronto
She's the one that they call Old Whatsername
She's the symbol of resistance
And she's holding on my
Heart like a hand grenade!

Is she dreaming what I'm thinking?
Is she the mother of all bombs?
Gonna detonate
Is she trouble? Like I'm trouble?

Make it a double twist of fate or a melody that

She sings the revolution
The dawning of our lives
She brings this liberation
That I just can't define
Well, Nothing comes to mind

She sings the revolution
The dawning of our lives
She brings this liberation
That I just can't define
Well, nothing comes to mind

She's a rebel, she's a saint
She's the salt of the earth
And she's dangerous
She's a rebel, vigilante

Missing link on the brink of destruction

She's a rebel, she's a saint
She's the salt of the earth
And she's dangerous
She's a rebel, vigilante

Missing link on the brink of destruction

She's a rebel, she's a rebel, she's a rebel

And she's dangerous

She's a rebel, she's a rebel, she's a rebel

And she's dangerous

"Thank you, thank you." Dumbledore said, eyes twinkling as he stepped onto stage and the crowd finally died down. He looked out across the viewers. "Now, Snake's Halo, you have five listed members. I'm sorry to say that one of you will not be allowed to play in this last song."

Hermione and Lily exchanged a glance, and Lily stepped forward. "I will be sitting this one out, Headmaster." She said, softly. Hermione followed the men onto the stage and began hooking up her guitar, getting it ready. The mics were switched off, and Lucius walked over to her.

"What are we going to do?" She asked him softly as she double-checked to make sure her guitar was in tune.

"I was thinking something that you and I both can sing." He said, softly. "The one we practiced so often just to fool around?"

"Do you think we could pull it off?" She asked him. He smiled.

"I'm sure of it." He gave her shoulder a squeeze, not able to get any closer to her due to his guitar, but she smiled and turned, taking a mic all the same. Severus relaxed. He would not have to sing this time. Hermione transfigured the mic once more and clipped it on, charming a piano off to the side. She then nodded to Lucius and took a deep breath, closing her eyes for a moment to steady herself. When she opened her eyes, Lucius was ready, and she smiled and nodded.

(Regular Actions, Bold Hermione, Italic Lucius, BoldItalic Both.)

The piano began playing a haunting Melody as Hermione stepped forward, feet shoulder width apart, hands down at either side, palms forward.

How can you see into my eyes like open doors She drew her hands up and crossed them, waving them before her eyes, slowly.
Leading you down into my core where I've become so numb She slid her hands along her body, slowly.

Without a soul my spirit sleeping somewhere cold
Until you find it there and lead it back... The men stopped playing all of their instruments. ...home

Wake me up
Wake me up inside
I can't wake up
Wake me up inside Hermione looked out across the audience, making each and every one of them feel like she was singing to them
Save me
Call my name and save me from the dark She gave a little writhe, making them shudder
Wake me up
Bid my blood to run Maya threw her head back, clenching her fists
I can't wake up
Before I come undone She threw her left hand around in front of her so that it crossed her chest, and she flung it down emphatically
Save me
Save me from the nothing I've become She flung her right fist out to mimic the left one, and she was standing in the position that she'd started in.

Now that I know what I'm without She relaxed and looked back out across the audience once more.
You can't just leave me
Breathe into me and make me real Maya arched her back, falling to her knees.
Bring me to life

Wake me up
Wake me up inside She stood up and began to dance out the chorus once more.
I can't wake up
Wake me up inside
Save me
Call my name and save me from the dark
Wake me up
Bid my blood to run
I can't wake up
Before I come undone
Save me
Save me from the nothing I've become

Bring me to life Maya whispered into the microphone, reaching longingly across the audience.
I've been living a lie, there's nothing inside
Bring me to life

Frozen inside without your touch without your love darling only you are the life among the dead She let herself tense up, moving her hands back into the position they'd started in and lifting them slowly until, as she spoke the last word, she was frozen with her face tilted upwards and her hands stretched over her head.

All this time I can't believe I couldn't see Hermione clenched her fists and brought them down quickly, staring out across the audience.
Kept in the dark but you were there in front of me!
I've been sleeping a thousand years it seems
Got to open my eyes to everything Hermione drew her hands from her nose outwards, arching her back.
Without a thought without a voice without a soul
Don't let me die here
There must be something more
Bring me to life

Wake me up
Wake me up inside
I can't wake up
Wake me up inside She acted out the chorus once more, mimicking her earlier actions.
Save me
Call my name and save me from the dark
Wake me up
Bid my blood to run
I can't wake up
Before I come undone
Save me
Save me from the nothing I've become

Bring me to life
I've been living a lie, there's nothing inside
Bring me to life Hermione froze in the position she'd started in, though her eyes were upward instead of down as she held out the last note, finally dropping off and stepping back. She and Lucius paused for a moment as they fought not to cover their ears from the roar of the crowd, and then they turned and jumped at each other, hugging tightly

"I think we did it!" He shouted to be heard, making Maya giggle.

"I think so too!" She shouted back before running to hug Severus, who stood up to recieve her, and Trevor as well, who'd put his bass down so that it wasn't smashed. Lily climbed up onto the stage and the rounds of hugging began again, until the whole band was hugging. They quieted down only when Dumbledore walked up to them.

"Congratulations, Snake's Halo." He said, smiling. The audience began to shout again at their name, and the headmaster had to wait for them to quiet down before he continued. "On winning First Place. You will recieve a recording Contract from Wizards Broadcast and you will also be playing for the Yule-tide Ball that will be held on Christmas Eve. Any objections?" He studied them.

"No sir!" Lucius gasped out, a bit shell shocked, and Hermione laughed, turning to hug Severus again.

"We did it!" She shouted, oblivious to the looks from a certain black-haired Marauder. Lily ran and jumped off of the stage and into James, who caught her and kissed her deeply before he smiled and nodded to Dumbledore, accepting the second recording contract for the band.