Chapter 4- Karaoke Night
It was the night of their first karaoke competition and Mia knew exactly what song she was prepared to sing. She had the voice and definitely the emotion for it but was frightened with what her peers and friends my think of it. It wasn't that she wasn't a great singer because she knew that she was good but it was what the lyrics meant to her and her performance while singing them.
"Hey Mia! I can't wait to go on, I know exactly what song I'm singing."
"Oh hi Layla." Mia said as she turned around and hugged her. "What song?"
"The Last Time by Rihanna. How 'bout you?" (A/N – sorry if you guys don't know the song, you should listen to it it's really good!)
Mia looked down at her fingers while fiddling with them and mumbled, "I'm Ok by Christina Aguilera."
"I'm sorry, what did you say?"
She took in a deep breath and looked up at Layla, "I'm Ok by Christina Aguilera."
"Why that song?"
"Because if I can't at least tell my friends what I feel inside then I want to at least sing it in a song."
"I've heard that song. If you go up there and sing it, everyone will know, or at least Harry will. Are you sure, what if you break down and cry?"
She sighed heavily and said, "I won't, I'm stronger than that" she looked up at her friend and assured her. "Don't worry, even if they do find out it won't matter. I'm tired of keeping secrets."
"Ok Mia. I've never stopped you before from expressing your feelings but promise me that when you tell your friends that you're sure that YOU'RE ready."
"I promise. It's not like any of them will instantly figure it out, it'll give me a couple days to prepare."
"Well here's a hug for good luck." Layla embraced her in a hug before Mia went on stage.
Hermione's POV
"HEY GUYS!" I yelled into the mike, making sure everyone could hear me. Everyone cheered, laughed and yelled. It was a great turn out.
They had turned the Great Hall into a karaoke club. It had a huge stage, just like a concert, and it had a disco ball with a great dj and booths. They even had a piano player for the mellow songs; I knew the show would be perfect even if those stupid ghosts came in and out.
"Welcome to our first Karaoke Night of the year! Draco and I will be your hosts for the evening and we will begin with me singing the first song of the night. It'll be one of the mellow songs tonight."
I paused to scan the crowd. I saw Ginny, Harry and Ron. I began to wonder where Layla was and then I heard someone "psst" beside me and I looked over. I saw Layla behind the stage curtains. She gave me two thumbs up and winked, I winked back and began to feel the butterflies rise in my stomach.
As the lights dimmed the entire crowd hushed and everything was silent except for the piano playing in the background. Everyone's eyes were on me and at that moment I had wished I had picked a different song. The spotlight hit my face and I began to sweat.
The song began...
(A/N- Don't skip the lyrics! Trust me, if you don't read them you won't understand anything later on.)
'Once upon a time there was a girl
In her early years she had to learn
How to grow up living in a war that she called home
Never know just where to turn for shelter from the storm
Hurt me to see the pain across my mother's face
Every time my father's fist would put her in her place
Hearing all the yelling I would cry up in my room
Hoping it would be over soon'
I felt tears wheling up in my eyes but I continued to sing.
'Bruises fade father, but the pain remains the same
And I still remember how you kept me so afraid
Strength is my mother for all the love she gave
Every morning that I wake I look back to yesterday
And I'm OK
I often wonder why I carry all this guilt
When it's you that helped me put up all these walls I've built
Shadows stir at night through a crack in the door
The echo of a broken child screaming "please no more"
Daddy, don't you understand the damage you have done
For you it's just a memory, but for me it still lives on'
The song was nearing its end but it felt like I couldn't hold it anymore. So instead of crying I put every bit of emotion and feeling I had left into the rest of the song.
'Bruises fade father, but the pain remains the same
And I still remember how you kept me so, so afraid
Strength is my mother for all the love she gave
Every morning that I wake I look back to yesterday
It's not so easy to forget
All the lines you left along her neck
When I was thrown against cold stairs
And every day I'm afraid to come home
In fear of what I might see there
Bruises fade father but the pain remains the same
And I still remember how you kept me so afraid
Strength is my mother for all the love she gave
Every morning that I wake I look back to yesterday
And I'm OK
I'm OK'
I had finished my song with my eyes squeezed shut and me breathing heavily. I was afraid to open them and face everyone who I had just sung my heart out to.
Eventually I opened my eyes and saw the shocked faces of nearly 500 students. Slowly, the Professors began to clap and the rest of the students joined in, all except for my friends. I was nearly petrified of how they would respond to that song but I was glad that I had gotten it over with.
As the lights dimmed and the spotlight moved from me to Draco when he stepped on the stage...a single tear fell. I didn't burst into tears or have a break down like I thought I would but just a single tear fell down my cheek. I had then realized that I had no more tears to cry, I was done crying. All the pain and emotions I felt for so long had been put into that song and all I had left was that single tear. I was relieved that my ache was soon healing and that I had begun to except that what happened to me wasn't my fault and that the agony and heartache was all over...
"What the hell was that song all about!" Harry yelled while walking over to me.
Oh God, I guess I spoke to fast. The heartache and pain isn't nearly over...it's just begun.
A/N- Ooooh cliffy, not that great at them but I hope you like it. Sorry this chapter was short.