I do not own the Harry Potter Characters portrayed in this chapter, this fanfic is, as always, just for fun. By the way, to those who are following this fanfic, this particular chapter is not exactly terribly important in terms of the developing story-line, I included it because it is, I think, vital to the development of the Ewls siblings' characters, and the relationship between Ginny Weasley and Elliot Ewls.

Chapter 14, Irish Punk Rock

December turned into January with the prospect of students returning to the castle. The peace and quiet which had characterized Hogwarts for the past few weeks, replaced with the business of sporadically arriving people scurrying to their various common-rooms, unpacking their luggage.

Hermione once told the Ewls siblings that they could practice their music in the common-room, so long as they were not distracting and did not do so during class periods. Theo and Elliot decided that the afternoon prior to the start of classes would be perfect to round off a practice session. The four had played their music almost exclusively over Christmas Holiday, with Ginny listening, even joining them. They now unpacked their assorted cache of modern instruments in a prominent corner of the common-room.

Theo, who by default as the eldest, was considered the leader of the band, expected that their practice session would definitely not be private, and indeed just setting up their instruments attracted attention from various Gryffindors—mostly female—expecting to hear a song. Ginny assisted the Ewls' with setting up their various instruments and had become, over Christmas Holiday, the equivalent of a groupie.

Ginny was not used to the Muggle music that they played, which was much rougher than the ever-popular Weird Sisters, but it grew on her, and she knew that the muggle-borns would certainly enjoy it. The only question was whether or not their music would attract attention from other adjacent parts of the castle since silencing charms were not allowed. Theo ordered them to do the best they could to keep the noise level down.

After they had set up their instruments in a corner of the Common-room close by the fire place, Ginny slid a couch about ten-feet in front of them and sat down. Four other Gryffindors also sat down on this couch, with several Gryffindors crowding around the it, leaving an area not greater than ten feet in front of the sibling's band.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione stood, leaning on the rail in the loft which hung above the common-room—yet which was open to the common-room—watching in anticipation. Since Hermione had, over Christmas break, made peace with Reverend Ewls, she had also, in her mind, made peace with his children. She was excited at the prospect of an unannounced concert, as were Ron and Harry.

Theo and Elliot Ewls, who lead their siblings in vocals, also playing guitars, were now quite nervous at the prospect of playing in front of the whole Gryffindor house. Their reputation now hung in the balance and depended on the success or failure of the upcoming gig.

"Well Elliot," Said Theo slightly shaking. "Break a leg I guess."

"Break a leg, Theo," Said Elliot, slightly more confident. "Let's start off slow and southern, "In the ailhouse now." You take the lead"

"Right," Theo said.

Theo then turned and mouthed "Jailhouse now" to the other siblings. Theo laid down his guitar; Elliot began to play his, making it sound with a definite American Southern draw. Rachel Ewls accompanied him with her violin, also playing with an American Southern draw. In an attempt to make it sound as funny as possible the four siblings played the American Southern Folksong "In the Jailhouse Now."

Their audience responded well, considering that it was an American Southern Muggle song. They laughed at the parts that were supposed to be funny, especially Thaddeus' yodeling. After the song ended, the room was filled with applause, especially from Ginny. In midst of the continuing ovation, Theo turned to Elliot, re-donning his guitar.

"Ah so an English crowd can like southern music," He said. "Do you think that we should speed things up a bit?"

A smirk grazed Elliot's eyes as he understood exactly what Theo meant. Elliot turned to Thaddeus and Rachel, mouthed something, then turned back and faced the crowd. After quickly giving Ginny a wink, Elliot started playing a very complicated acoustic guitar part, followed by Theo's simpler accompaniment. After the two's duet opening, Theo began to sing "Man of Constant Sorrows," accompanied by Elliot. This song was much faster, much more complicated; the beat was almost powerful, even though Thaddeus' drums were silent. Elliot's solo parts on the guitar were so quick and well done that random female Gryffindors cheered at him, including Hermione from the loft, which made Ron look at her with a strange expression. Hermione simply looked back at him with a smirk. About half-way through the song, the Gryffindors began to clap to the beat of the song, obviously enjoying it

The Room erupted in thunderous applause and cheering from the house after the song was finished. Theo and Elliot smiled at each other. The two's concert was a hit.

"Can you do any rap?" came the male voice of a Muggle-born third-year.

At this, Elliot laughed. Theo gave the third-year a look of harsh sarcasm.

"What's that?" Theo began, sounding almost taunting." Can we do any rap eh. Well boys, what say you we give em some Eminem?

"I'll handle this," said Elliot, laying down his guitar. "Rachel, we'll need your keyboard."

"Will-do," Came back Rachel.

After making sure that his guitar was safely in its case, Elliot came back to the small empty space between the siblings and the audience. He gave Ginny a wink, which Ginny returned.

"Okay ladies and gentlemen," He addressed the house. "You wanted some rap, well here you go, this is the only rap song that we like, and it cooks." Elliot then turned back to his siblings, "Lady and Gentleman?"

Rachel then began playing on her keyboard the opening piano solo to Eminem's "Lose Yourself." (A/N I know that this story takes place in 1998, and that the song was not yet written then, like I said this is just for fun so bear with me.) With Theo on the guitar, Thaddeus on drums, and Rachel playing her keyboard, Elliot Ewls' disposition turned suddenly angry as he sang "Lose Yourself."

As with "Man of Constant Sorrows," The audience moved to the music, those in the couch could not remain seated but stood and moved up and down to the rhythm. Hermione disapproved of the occasional bad language, but felt oddly apathetic as she too enjoyed the song. After it was over, thunderous applause filled the common-room. Ginny rushed to Elliot's embrace, right in the center of the small empty space between the audience and the siblings. The two kissed. Harry was not only unbothered by this, his lips actually gave way to a smile.

While Ginny and Elliot continued to embrace in midst of applause, Elliot turned his head back toward Rachel and gave her a nod of affirmation. A smirk grazed Rachel's lips as she began, on her keyboard, the opening piano part to the duet "At the Beginning." The moment she heard this, Ginny tried to escape.

"No," She said with a nervous smile upon her face.

"Come on Ginny," Said Elliot, "Just like we practiced over break!

"No!" repeated Ginny still smiling.

"Cant' back out now!"

At that moment, the time for the first female part had arrived, without hesitation, Ginny took Elliot's hands into her own and began to sing. Their two sets of eyes never stopped looking straight at each other through the course of the entire song. In their expressions as they sang together, every positive emotion imaginable could be seen. It was quite clear that there was a deep sense of longing, longing to be closer to each other as they started to dance to the chorus, their eyes still never leaving each-other.

Upon reaching the prelude to the end of the song, the couple sang the last verse bearing the deepest expression of attachment and affection for each other. After the song ended, the two brought their lips to each other gently, sharing a long, soft kiss amidst thunderous applause from the Gryffindor audience, including Harry, whose smile challenged that of Theo's.

"Argh, yer haven't impressed me yet!" Came Seamus Finnigan's voice as the applause died down.

Elliot and Ginny were just breaking apart softly when Elliot heard this challenge. He quickly took his body away from Ginny's and joined his brother Theo in confronting Seamus.

"Why's that boyo?" Elliot said in a very pronounced Irish accent.

"Y'haven't played any real music yet," shot back Seamus.

"To your mind exactly what is real music?" Theo said in a serious American accent.

"What th'hell d'ya think it is?" Shouted Seamus. "Irish music!"

Theo and Elliot traded very pronounced Grins which said something to the effect of "they have no clue what's coming." Theo started to laugh, as he took out his wand, pointed, and waved it at his guitar which magically converted into an electric-looking guitar. He then went back to his siblings, said something silently to them, and returned to his brother Elliot's side.

"Well m'dear Theodore," Said Elliot, still with an Irish accent. "Shall we…" beginning to shout, "FLOG SOME MOLLY!" (A/N Again I know that Flogging Molley wasn't that popular by 1998, nor were these particular songs written by then, at least I don't think so, but this is just for fun so bear with me.)

The Muggle-born students who knew what he was talking about began to cheer loudly. The Ewls Siblings along with Ginny shouted "YARRRR!" at the top of their lungs. The other students gave looks of confusion. Hermione, even though Muggle-born also gave a look of confusion.

"Hermione, you're Muggle-born, what are they talking about?" asked Ron.

"I haven't got a clue."

With a wave of his wand, Elliot's guitar transfigured into a mandolin. Rachel stood by with her violin, Thaddeus gave the sign of the cross as he raised his drumsticks in readiness. Theo came to the front, while Ginny returned to the couch, Elliot backed closer to his other siblings. Rachel started her violin accompaniment while Theo began to sing "What's Left of the Flag."

This particular song started off rather slow, but as they broke into the chorus, Thaddeus began to bang on his drum set as loudly as possible, many in the common-room wondered whether or not he would break them. Theo beat the strings on his magically electric guitar as hard as he possibly could, while Rachel and Elliot were the only one's playing in a rather civilized fashion as theirs were the most complicated parts. While Theo played the guitar, he also sang the lead vocals.

The song was so intense that the audience could not help but move to it. After the second verse, the common-room was filled with people dancing Irish Jigs. In midst of a part where Theo did not sing, Neville Longbottom and Seamus Finnigan were pushed forcefully out to the space between the siblings and the audience, both of them started jigging quite well as the audience cheered them and the siblings shouted "Yarrrgh!"

When the song was over, thunderous screaming and applause filled the common room to the point to where it was deafening. Before even dying down, Theo began playing his electric guitar to another song, while Elliot started off on his Mandolin. Rachel had changed from violin to recorder, while Thaddeus stayed on drums. They were playing the opening to the song "May the Living be Dead." This time Elliot Ewls sang the lead vocals.

This song was so intense and fast-paced that people started to jig immediately. In midst of singing the second verse, Elliot slung his mandolin behind his back, held to him by a strap and pulled Ginny out from the crowd. He held her hands and sang directly to her…

"One cold winters night behind the clouds stars did hide,

And the ghost of our souls thankin' Christ we're alive,

Our Spirits they crackled with lover's first sight

Till the morning came fresh with a new."

Ginny's face gave a big smile as both of them stared each other directly in the eyes. Elliot's gaze was powerful, like unto his fathers; Ginny's was dreamy, she was overpowered by the intensity of the moment.

"Will you dance with me now heaven's child sang the clown?

We've nothin' to lose but your wings and my frown,

Where over the hills where the valleys will ring

To the sound of our love singin' true"

As Elliot broke into the chorus, Ginny sang with him. Elliot took her waste with his right hand and her hand with his left, while Ginny placed her left hand on his shoulder, and the couple danced to the chorus. As Harry observed this, he applauded and cheered, noticing the huge smile on Ginny's face revealing to all in the common-room her overwhelming joy. In addition to Harry's celebration of the couple's love, Theo's face beamed as he observed his brother and his girlfriend dancing around the empty space. For one instance as he danced, Elliot's eyes caught Theo's who gave him a wink.

"Tell me why No one's listenin'

Is there nothin' at all left to say

In a world so unforgivin'

You'll mean more to me each every day

So may the living be dead in our wake!"

Once the song was over, thunderous applause and cheering erupted from the common-room. Ginny's and Elliot's lips connected for a few seconds, after which Ginny returned to the couch which was directly in front of the siblings. Elliot slung his mandolin back to his chest. Rachel set her recorder down and picked up her violin, she played a long note, in midst of which Theo turned to her and nodded in approval. Taking his wand to his mandolin, Elliot transfigured it into an acoustic guitar.

Theo sang the lead vocals in the slower, yet still intense song "Rare Ould Times." The first verse was quite slow, even meditative, but the choruses were quite fast-paced and intense. In the middle of the song, the portrait hole opened, and through it came an investigative Professor McGonagall, joined by Reverend Ewls, who had apparently heard the noise from another part of the castle. The Gryffindors stopped dancing but the Ewls' kept playing as intensely as ever. McGonagall's expression was confused, she was unsure of what to do until Reverend Ewls leaned toward her ears. What exactly he told her was uncertain but all could tell it was something to the effects of "I'll handle this." McGonagall left the common-room immediately after Ewls said whatever it was that he said to her. After she was gone, Reverend Ewls began to clap with the rhythm and sing along. Seeing this made the audience return to their dancing, clapping, and celebration. Hermione sighed intently, she had originally thought that she was going to be in trouble for allowing this to happen as a prefect.

After the song was over, as usual, applause and cheering erupted all throughout the common-room. Elliot and Theo ran to their father and dragged him to the center. He went along quite reluctantly. When he arrived at the empty space between the audience and the siblings, confused applause came from the Gryffindors, led by Ginny who was cheering and obviously not confused; she seemed to know exactly what was about to happen, though no one else did.

"'Drunken Lullabies' Daddy," begged Rachel.

Reverend Ewls' commonly powerful stare changed into one of almost fear.

"No Rachel!" Shouted Ewls. "Good heavens no!"

"Come on dad, let's make it really cook!" came Thaddeus.

"No I will not!" Reverend Ewls shouted, attempting to sound as thought it was final.

"Come on dad!" begged Theo, not convinced.

"Come on Reverend!" shouted Ginny.

Reverend Ewls rolled his eyes and nodded reluctantly. The siblings and Ginny shouted "YARRRGH!" in celebration. Reverend Ewls took his place center stage. The faces of the audience, especially Hermione, Ron, and Harry was one of extreme confusion. Elliot re-transfigured his guitar into a mandolin and began to play a short opening piece, after which the most intense musical opening of the night began with Thaddeus on the drums, banging as hard as he could, Rachel on her violin, and Theo playing his magically electric guitar incredibly intensely, as the four played "Drunken Lullabies."

When the time came, Reverend Ewls sang in a very pronounced Irish accent. Combining the almost angry tone of the song with his powerful stare, Reverend Ewls made this number the most intense one of the day. Immediately, people began to jig, before the end of the song, the entire common-room was dancing. Ron even grabbed Hermione and took her down to the main floor of the common room. She went with him reluctantly but danced quite well in spite of her pregnancy.

When not singing, Reverend Ewls demonstrated his incredible ability to do an Irish dance. As he did so, the siblings shouted "YARRRGH!" When the song was over, the sound of applause and cheering was deafening. Reverend Ewls was overpowered by a mob of Gryffindors running to him with handshakes and congratulations. To his surprise, the Gryffindors now surrounding him, led by Seamus, Neville, Elliot, and Theo, began to lift Ewls upon their shoulder. On his face was a look of extreme surprise and embarrassment.

The party in the common-room did not subside until midnight, meaning the entirety of the Gryffindor house was, including Hermione, quite drowsy the next day. Other than this, the first few weeks of the second term managed to carry on uneventfully.