Chapter 8

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Hogsmeade that Saturday morning was bustling with people. It was not as Harry remembered it last semester; people were smiling and chatting, walking around the streets and chatting. The prospect of the concert seemed to have considerably raised people's morale considerably. Already there was a lineup outside the door of Rufus Records. Sid took one look at the lineup and said, "Bollocks to that!" turned around and walked into the Hogshead Pub. Harry looked rather surprised, because he had rather hoped that this would be Sid's big break into the music world.

Ron however looked astounded and ran after him into the Hogshead, "Oi Sid!"

(Change of perspectives to Sidnay)

He pushed the doors open and strolled through, but was knocked backward by someone else coming through the door. "Sid?" the figure inquired.

When the stars encircling Sid's head ceased to shine so brightly, Sid looks up and saw the face of Weird Sisters stocky, but exceedingly muscular, drummer Jerome, "Err…Sorry man…what are you doing anyways. I thought you would be at try outs…" he reached down and pulled Sid onto his feet, Ron standing there was looking aghast, Hermione helping dust Sid off.

Sid noticed Harry and Ginny's absence, presumably to find a place more secluded.

"Well I was gonna go sit in there, and wait for the line to go down a bit."

Jerome shrugged his shoulders, "Not a bad plan…actually just come to the stadium with me now. You can help us out with sound check if you want…I guess your friends can come too…" Hermione gave a little squeal of excitement, while Ron still looked stunned.

Together they walked, having to drag Ron part of the ways, until his mind caught up with what was happening (You could even see it in his eyes. As they walked through the entrance to the stage area construction site, you could see his pupils shrink and his eyes slide back into focus. It was really quite fascinating watching the brain reboot itself).

The stage was almost complete, though there were still wizards levitating pieces up into rafters, amplifiers and magically enhanced lights and other sound effects. Sid noticed several crates marked "Weasleys Wizarding Weases: Special Custom Job: HANDLE WITH CARE."

Ron however seemed to be more fascinated by Jerome's drum set, which he than began examining along with Jerome who began to show Ron some techniques, partially to show off, and partially to test the drum itself.

Hermione was looking around at all the workers setting equipment up.

Sid however, was characteristically ogling a series of guitars, with the same look most men would give to a naked woman. The guitars were top quality, and in fine condition: a condition Sid could only dream his Stratocaster was in. He picked one up, an old Gibson Les Paul, which looked like one of the original lines from the mid 1950's. He immediately picked it up and began to strum a few chords out, and immediately felt the shadow of the same swooping feeling he felt whenever playing his guitar. Looking out over the makeshift stadium from the stage, he felt that one day he would look out over this with a crowd cheering his name, instead of yelling insults at him.

It wasn't the kind of day Sid wanted to really show his skill off, but even so the roadies would turn around from their duties and listen for a few moments before returning to work.

It seemed only moment later that he felt a hand on his shoulder and found Jerry O'Brien with a hand on his shoulder, "Err, Sid…you missed the tryouts by…like…an hour…" Sid looked around, and it was already dark. He must have gotten really into playing the guitar, "Ah Damn it!" he yelled out, and kicked a stack of cables across the stage angrily. This may have been his big chance, and he'd blown it. Although, he wasn't as angry as he thought he would have been…there was something about playing a smaller stage, to a small group of people who would probably care very little about the overall performance and more about friends performance, didn't appeal to him.

He shrugged his shoulders, "Ah well guess I can't perform than in front of the audience than." He was surprised his insides were dancing so much at this thought…he really had to get over this stage fright.

Gerry laughed, "Yah right…your not getting out of it that easily. Mike wants you to come onstage and Jam with us for a song…"

"It's not like you can back out of it either. We've spent a lot of time speaking your praises to our friends, and many of them are gonna be there, Eric Johnston and 'Blue Moons' among others." The 'Blue Moons' were something that could be compared to the muggle band form the 60's 'Cream'. Sid began sweating; the concert was only a week away, and this…this was bigger than the simple talent contest…this was a public jam session with a group that was heralded as the 'Wizards Beatles'… "Oh man… where's my other hip flask…" Sid thought to himself.

The walk out of Hogsmeade towards the castle was trouble, there were a group of wizards near the edge of Hogsmeade and he could hear them mutter, 'Vimp…' and glared at him as he walked by. Sid shouldered his guitar uncomfortably and continued walking ignoring them. As he neared the gates to the school, Sid could see a group of girls clustered around a rock. Maria was amongst them. As Sid approached them, doing his best to disappear in the folds of his cloak, they glanced his way and he could hear Maria say, "Its ok guys…you go on ahead. There's something I need to do." Her friends turned and glanced at Sid, giggling. Sid gulped and stared at the girls walking away as if they were a group of cannibals, with whom he had just narrowly avoided becoming lunch.

He gulped again and continued walking, suddenly his stomach felt like exploding, and showering everything within several feet with his food for the last few days…that is to say several pints of Blood.

He started to walk forward and was only slightly surprised when Maria stepped beside him and began to walk with him.

"Err…hello." he said shyly, "I'm…"

"Sidnay Ignatious Alexandre Vladimir Dracula." She said with a wry smile. He had never noticed how exceedingly beautiful she was, "I am…"

"Maria Lupin." Sid finished her sentence, "I remember from your sorting…"he replied to her surprised expression.

They walked in silence through the gates; she seemed overtaken by shyness now.

Nonchalantly he looked at her through the corner of his eye, "I wonder have you taken your potion for tonight?"

She stopped and looked at him with wide eyes, "How did you…"

"When you have been around magical creatures, and been on the underground for your entire life, you can tell certain things about certain people."

She looked worried, "You wont…you wont…tell…anyone will you."

He gave her a wry smile, "Your species isn't the only one that has faced persecution." His voice became as dark as the shadows around his eyes, "However, your persecution however extends only to temporal entity, and whereas ours is more…extensive shall we say. However I am sympathetic to your kind." he took her hands and kissed it, "I hope we…meet again" and with a swish of his cape he vanished into a secret passageway.

((I'm sorry this took so long to write…I've been…distracted))