Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the Harry Potter characters. I also do not own "Here I am" by Carly Patterson.
A/N: Sorry that I have been slow on the updates but I have been super busy. I hope everyone continues to read the story and review! Thank you!
Chapter Nine: Here I Am
Many things changed since that performance three years ago. One of the changes was that Harry began to receive more recognition for his talent in singing, piano, and guitar. He played in all the music performances and even helped play the music for the dance performances in ballet. Because he was so heavily involved in the school, he got to meet many of the students. Many of the older students thought of him as an adopted brother and looked out for him but none more so than Ron. Ron was closer to Harry than anyone. They practiced guitar together, sat with each other at dinner and talked all the time.
Harry still looked small for his age which might have been the reason that everyone wanted to watch out for him. He was only two inches taller than he was as a first year student. Now, at the end of his third year, he is still only 5'4'' with his bright emerald eyes and messy and silky pitch black hair.
Harry wasn't the only one who changed. Neville was not coming back for the next year. His grandmother decided that she needed to remove him from the school. Neville knew from the beginning that she did not support him in his artistic goals but he never thought that she would him leave. But, alas, Neville was not able to return for his fourth year and must say goodbye to all the close friends that he made over the years.
"Harry! Wait up!" Ron called down the hallway as Harry was walking down to the stage room.
The raven haired boy stopped and patiently waited for his best friend to be by his side before they continued walking down the corridor.
"Can you believe that our third year is almost over?" Ron asked Harry while peering down at his small friend.
Harry shook his head and they continued to walk in peaceful silence, each one thinking about all the things that had changed over the years and all the things that were going to be different next year.
"So, we'll be getting a new roommate." Ron said, breaking the silence.
"I hope that he's nice." Harry said in a quiet voice, the way his voice naturally sounded.
"I hope so too. But, at least we're getting rid of Riddle this year, anyone is better than him" Ron said, his face suddenly darkening at the mere thought of the older boy. Tom was never caught for harassing Harry over the years and Ron could not let it go.
"I'll miss Neville." Harry said when it looked like Ron was about to explode with anger.
This statement extremely pacified him and he turned to look at his friend.
"I will too, but he'll visit as much as he can and we'll always be friends." Ron said to reassure the boy. He knew what was going through Harry's mind. Harry was always afraid that they were going to leave him, that one day they would realize what a freak that he is and would just up and leave. They always reassured him when he got that look on his face and they tried their best to make sure that he knew he was loved.
"If you're sure" Harry said as they just approached backstage where most of the music department already was.
"Hey Harry!" a few people called out as they saw the small raven-haired boy enter the room. He was ushered to the piano side of the room where the piano students were practicing. The list had been posted and the girl whom ushered him over, Hermione, told him that he was going fifth.
Each of the students knew that Harry did not like to be touched by now so they kept a safe distance from him. No one knew the full story aside from Harry's roommates but they each knew that the young boy liked to keep to himself. So, they let him have a chair to himself to sit down and close his eyes as he went over his piece in his mind.
Sooner than he imagined, he was called up to the stage to perform his piece.
The audience fell silent when they realized who was going to be performing: he was someone that was a highlight of the shows and some people came just to see him perform.
He sat down at his bench by the piano and closed his eyes before laying his hands gently over the starting keys. He gently let the song begin before singing his original song.
Looking back
Where I'm from
Can't believe that I'm here
Gave my all
Paid the price
And I do it again
I've walked alone in my head
I've cried in my bed
But the morning lights
Oh so bright
Wake me again
He opened his eyes when he got to the chorus and began to play more dramatically on the piano, letting the feeling of his hands gliding over the keys overtake him. This was his favorite part of music- when he got lost in it himself.
It's about faith
It's about fate
It's about risking it all everyday
It's about holding when you wanna let go
It's just believing in all that you know
Here I am
Now standing on the edge
Everything I know coming together
All my life
I've seen it in my dreams
Waiting for the day
I'm just a second away
I'm taking time
Reaching down
To walk through my fear
Break it down
In my head
I can see it so clear
I work it out
In my heart
I see it appear
The world is so beautiful
From the view up here
It's about living
Not just getting by
It's about reaching when
There's nothing inside
It's about breathing
When it all is too much
It's about standing when you wanna give up
Here I am
Now standing on the edge
Everything I know coming together
All my life
I've seen it in my dreams
Waiting for the day
I'm just a second
Everything is disappearing
Standing up here alone
And I feel like
I'm standing forever
This is where I belong
Here I am now
Yeah
Here I am
Now standing on the edge
Everything I know coming together
All my life
I've seen it in my dreams
Waiting for the day
I'm just a second away
Here I am
Now standing on the edge
Everything I know coming together
All my life
I've seen it in my dreams
Waiting for the day
I'm just a second away
I'm just a second away
I'm just a second away
Harry finished his song and piano piece and stood up to bow in front of the room filled with applauses before walking off the stage and listening to the other performances of the night.
"Can you pass me that shirt?" Neville asked Harry while they were packing up at the end of the year. Since Harry never went anyway else, he helped his roommates pack when they needed to leave. This time, Neville would be leaving for good and Harry was one of the saddest to see him go.
Harry passed Neville the polo shirt next to him in the dresser before closing the drawer and looking around at the empty room.
"That's the last of it." Neville said while zippering up his last suitcase.
He turned to Harry and took the boy's smaller hands in his, ignoring the stiffening that always occurred from such an action if it wasn't from Ron or McGonagall. He sat down on the empty bed and Harry sat down as well.
"I want to tell you something before I leave." Neville said in a serious voice.
Harry nodded his head, for his eyes were partially in tears and his throat was constricting on him.
"I know you Harry and I know that you think that this is the end of our friendship. That I am simply going to abandon you but I am not. Why would I leave a person like you? You are kind and sweet and gentle and anyone would be a fool to suggest otherwise. Do you hear me?" Neville said to Harry who now had tears streaming down his face.
Harry nodded his head and Neville continued.
"I will come back and visit as many times as I can but you still have all your friends here at school that aren't going to leave you." Neville continued.
Harry looked up at him with glistening green eyes.
"But I want you to welcome love as well. I have a feeling that someone is going to come into your life soon for you to love and I want to make sure that you accept him." Neville said.
Harry looked up at his questioningly. "How did you know that I was gay?" Harry asked in a raspy voice.
Neville smiled at him and responded "I've lived with you for three years and I know you by now. Don't worry though, being gay is not looked down upon in our society. Most of the people in the arts are open about homosexuality." Neville said.
Harry nodded and smiled weakly at his friend as he stood up and left the room, leaving Harry with an empty room and a lot to think about.
A/N: We finally get to see Draco in the next chapter so continue reading! I hope you enjoyed! I love reading all the feedback I get so a review is much appreciated! Thank you!