THE BOYS WHO LIVED

Chapter 07: Rhythm and Beat Lesson One

As the weeks followed Hakkai did not give them anymore lessons this was due to the fact that she is catching up to her lessons. People were amazed that the great Hakkai hunter would save the life of someone. Rumors were spreading like wild fire about both Harry and Neville and about Hakkai. When they found out it was Hakkai that saved them they went wild. Harry and Neville both received unwanted attention as they were asked again and again about the incident. It became so bad that they both had to hide in the bathrooms for a time or in their lockers.

It was late Thursday a few days before Halloween when Hakkai snapped. She was so sick of everyone that came to ask Harry and Neville about the incident when she growled her fangs showing tore up a girl's clothes. When they ran as far from her as possible she turned to them, "Practice starts on Saturday at my place so be there," she said and they nodded.

Friday went and soon Saturday rolled in as Harry, Neville, Ron, Draco, Dean and Seamus walked into Hakkai's room. Hermione of course was not taking music so she was left to her own devices. Harry and the others on the other hand marched into Hakkai's bomb shelter and was met by Hedwig and Pig. Pig had a small mouse in his mouth as he gave one final gulp and burped. Hedwig only watched amused as Ron scowled at his owl's manners.

"Now you know why you are here right?" she said and they nodded after all it was she who was supposed to teach them how to become a band, or else they would all fail. So Hakkai stood in the middle of her clearing with some strange looking drums in front of them some large others small. "Today we will be starting with rhythms and beats. Now these are hard to come by so be careful with them I had to make them myself when working with a Japanese man in America, and I treasure them more then anything. These are Taiko drums and they are used to tell stories through beats here let me show you," she said and picked up two one inch thick wooden rods and began to beat on the drums. She started with one hand and began to got to two rapidly and then back to one hand again but with each time she struck the drum it was like thunder in the chamber. The ground shook with the beats as she danced around the drums and when she finally stopped.

Sweating she bowed to the drums before turning back to the group. The group stared in shock as Kai turned to them her dark eyes penetrating each and every one of them. "That was bloody brilliant!" Ron said and the others nodded, "Yes and you will be learning how to do them as well." she said handing them each a pair of rods. "Beats gives the music a sense a pattern and those patterns combine to form a rhythm. I figure Taiko drums are the best for learning this, and i am giving you a week to learn them." Kai said and had them proceeding to learn what she told them.

LATER ON

By the time they left their hands hurt a lot and their ears hurt even more so. They felt numb when they left and they all know why, "Hakkai sure as hell is a slave driver!" Harry groaned as he grabbed ice for the group and put them into separate bowls and stuck his hands into them. Kai told them that they have less then ten months to become a band and a band they will become. It was then that Hermione walked in, "What happened to you?" she asked them, "Hakkai," they all said, "Well I see what you mean," Hermione said sitting down and inspected their hands. "Well you should know that the ice is doing a good job at that," she said and the boys glared at her as she wrapped them up in ace bandages and ice gloves. "She also told me that you have practice after study time." She said and the boys groaned at that protest.

"Are you wishing to die early or something?" Eddie asked Harry the next day in physics class when he saw Harry with his swollen hands. They were wrapped in ace bandages and from what the smell was some sort of ointment. Harry being as he was could not write notes so Eddie being his partner did it for him. "Having Hakkai teach you how to play would be a challenge, but to be able to do it pal I give you credit," Eddie said with a look of pity. Harry looked around the room and many students gave him the throat cutting gesture. Some even sang the funeral song. The teacher droned on and when the bell finally rang they walked out. Harry at first struggled to get his backpack on and when he did he was just as sore as he walked towards his next period Art.

When art came around he sat down while the teacher talked about the renaissance and the different styles used then. When he was done he passed out papers and pencils and had them start working on their newest drawings. He then explained the different values of shading and how they can make your work more 3D. "Remember class at the end of the year along with the rest of the art department you have to present a painting 18 by 24 inches no larger and no smaller. The smaller paintings or drawings are your progress and have to do with your chosen subject. Remember your rough drafts of your reports are due next Friday," with that they got to work.

Harry began a drawing and was wondering about what to do his report on when he saw Hakkai already busy at work on her drawing. As if sensing someone was watching her Hakkai instead of striking out turned her head to look at him before moving her hand to show him what she was drawing and gasped in surprise.

It was a picture of a shadowy man with long fingers like that of a skeleton with what Harry recognized as a wand but that was not the surprise. The surprise was the man's eyes they were red as crimson blood and snake like. Those very eyes Harry recognized very well. He was pointing his wand upwards towards an unfinished bird no wait! It was not a bird it was a dragon that looks like a bird! Harry recognized the dragon from the hospital. This dragon was surrounded in bolts of lighting that obeyed its command. Hakkai then went back to her drawing and Harry slowly showed her his own picture.

It was the Tri-wizard tournament (not that Kai knew that) and Harry was on his firebolt escaping from a dragon. Intrigued Hakkai raised her dark eyebrow. "Um during fourth year," he whispered and she nodded.

When music class began again that day the teacher did the usual announcement of the contest at the end of the year. She then asked the groups for their progress and this time Harry's group had something to report. "Ah so good to see that you finally found someone to teach you," she said with a smile but the boys could detect a sneer behind it. Getting up she walked towards the front of the class, "Now remember class you will get extra credit if you come up with your own music and if you perform well enough your whole group will get A's for the year as well as the grand prize which will remain a secret till the end." And with that she went over the various notes of the c scale.

As soon as music class was over they went towards study hall to catch up on homework before their grueling lessons with Hakkai. Barely managing to write out their essays they finished just in time for no sooner had they finished their theory homework for Hogwarts did the clock strike eight.

Walking down the long corridor leading towards the school basement they passed the security guard and after seeing them he gave them a look of pity as they walked through the door. They walked down the long stair case towards the bottom and when they arrived at the heavy steel door it was already opened for them to enter.

When they entered Hakkai was already for them with her drums out and ready. The group swallowed till they came to their separate drums and picked up the sticks and began to play.

After four gruesome hours of practice Hakkai had them come to her and she gave them some ointment and cloths to sooth their swollen wrists. "You boys catch on pretty fast maybe Saturday we can get started on our next lesson," she said and they all nodded before going to bed.

For the next week the group practiced the drums to memorize the beats and then she taught them western style drumming used for rockers. By doing the basic drumming it was Ron who caught on better then the others on the sequences of the beats. Hermione took pity on them each morning when they came in for breakfast tired and sore from the night before. She helped them with their studies as well as her own and corrected their work while they were at practice. It was by sure luck that all too soon as the week drew to a close that the boys found themselves thoroughly exhausted. "Let me guess Malfoy, 'Wait till my father hears about this!'" Ron said as he laid back on his bed, looking at the roof. Draco looked at Ron with a glare but that glare was empty as he slowly pulled a Snape-like smirk, "I would have said that but I think I could get used to this," he said closing his eyes, "Oh what do you mean by that?" Neville asked, "Well Longbottom this was the first time I really had to work for something and I think I am enjoying it for once." Draco said and that got the others attention.

"Wait did Malfoy just say that he enjoys Hakkai's torture?" said Dean, "Yeah why not? I mean it would be worth it in the end," Draco said, "And beside I have no one watching me and holding my hand so I feel totally free, no dark lord telling me what to do when I beat the drum, no mom pursing me on what to wear, not even father telling me how to be a Malfoy. You know hanging with Muggles shows me that there is more to life then magic so I have to apologize to every single Muggleborn wizard and witch that I called a Mudblood in existence." He said finishing his speech with a genuine smile. "Ok who are you and what have you done with Malfoy?" Said Ron and they all laughed at the antics until the lights went out a few minutes later.

Harry looked over at all of them and found that they are starting to form a friendship that would bring them much closer. He remembered the words of the sorting hat all to well. "The houses must unite or they will fall," the hat had warned them at the beginning feast. Looking around at the sleeping form of his friends he smiled Draco being the only Slytherin, but now feeling comfortable in the company of Gryffindors and what about everyone else? That will have to wait as Harry curled up in his bed and was fast asleep in no time.

TBC

a/n: sorry it was not in full detail but I am too lazy to do so right now