Chapter 15-Second Round
Albus and Minerva, who had emerged from the shadows after the three had left, stared at each other. This had been unanticipated; they had been completely unprepared and that was unforgivable. Thankfully for them, Miss Granger's gamble paid off. Albus stood, walked to where Minerva was frozen, and circled her with his arms. "It will be alright, my dear," he muttered softly. "Miss Granger is one of brightest witches ever; she can take care of the three of them. Remember, love holds them together and love is the most powerful thing in this universe."
"I know, Albus." She sighed heavily. "I can't help but worry. Too many lives have been lost already. Too many friends I have yet to mourn…" she broke off and began sobbing into the Headmaster's shoulder.
Albus ran a comforting hand up and down her back; silently soothing her for as long as it took for this storm to pass.
Draco had definitely found a way to get back at Hermione for scaring the daylights out of him. She had not been happy when she discovered the song that he (and Susan) had selected for her. He had made sure that he was in a different part of the castle when that had occurred. Notably, the Room of Requirement had aided him in that endeavor. All of the others had hidden in there with him and were laughing at how hard Hermione was trying to get in to mangle him. Ginny and Luna had let her in and diffused her by assuring her they would sing backup for her and began giddily gushing about possible costumes, hair, and makeup.
Severus was not happy with Headmaster. Dumbledore had picked another song that suited him all too well. Bloody Albus. Severus was an extremely, almost painfully private person and he did not appreciate that the Headmaster continued to select songs that revealed his personality.
"Ladies and Gentlemen: Miss Hermione Granger of Gryffindor House singing Lose My Breath by Destiny's Child. Her backup singers tonight will be Miss Luna Lovegood of Ravenclaw and Miss Ginny Weasley of Gryffindor."
The lights went down, the tap of heels on the stage could be heard and a single spotlight shown on the three of them. Wolf whistles came from every corner of the Hall. The three ladies were wearing modified school uniforms. Short skirts, very high Mary Jane's, and very tight school blouses and sweaters. Hermione was sporting a Slytherin patch and tie, Ginny: Gryffindor, and Luna: Ravenclaw. The music began and everyone (well, all of the warm-blooded males) were completely fixated on the performers in front of them.
All
Can you keep up?
Baby boy, make me lose my breath, bring the noise, make me lose my breath, hit me hard, make me lose my hah hah.
Can you keep up?
Baby boy, make me lose my breath, bring the noise, make me lose my breath, hit me hard, make me lose my hah hah.
Hermione strutted forward, swaying her hips in a very distracting fashion and popped her hip to emphasize her every word, a very feminine smirk on her face; she knew exactly what she was doing to the poor males in the audience and she looked like she enjoyed every moment of torture she inflicted on them.
Hermione
Oooh, I put it right there, made it easy for you to get to.
Now you wanna act like ya just don't know what to do.
After I done everything that asked me, grabbed you, grind you, liked you, tried you, moved so fast baby now I can't find you.
Oooh, I'm starting to believe that I'm way too much for you.
All that talk but it seems like it can't come through.
All them lies like you could satisfy me, now I see where believing you got me; gave you the wheel, but you can't drive me.
All
Can you keep up?
Baby boy, make me lose my breath, bring the noise, make me lose my breath, hit me hard, make me lose my hah hah.
Can you keep up?
Baby boy, make me lose my breath, bring the noise, make me lose my breath, hit me hard, make me lose my hah hah.
Hermione
Oooh, two things I don't like when I'm trying to get my groove: it's a partner that meets me only half and just can't prove.
Take me out so deep when you know you can't swim, need a lifeguard and I need protection, so put it on me deep in the right direction.
Oooh, you understand the facts that I'm trying to give to you, you moving so slow like you just don't have a clue; didn't your mama teach you to give affection?
You're the difference of a man and an adolescent.
It ain't you boo, so get to stepping.
All
Can you keep up?
Baby boy, make me lose my breath, bring the noise, make me lose my breath, hit me hard, make me lose my hah hah.
Can you keep up?
Baby boy, make me lose my breath, bring the noise, make me lose my breath, hit me hard, make me lose my hah hah.
All
Can you keep up?
Baby boy, make me lose my breath, bring the noise, make me lose my breath, hit me hard, make me lose my hah hah.
Can you keep up?
Baby boy, make me lose my breath, bring the noise, make me lose my breath, hit me hard, make me lose my hah hah.
Ginny and Luna
If you can't make me say oooh like the beat of this drum, why you ask for some and you really want none, if you can't make me say oooh like the beat of this groove.
All
You don't have no business in this.
Here's your papers, baby you are dismissed, dismissed, dismissed, dismissed, dismissed, dismissed, dismissed.
All
Can you keep up?
Baby boy, make me lose my breath, bring the noise, make me lose my breath, hit me hard, make me lose my hah hah.
Can you keep up?
Baby boy, make me lose my breath, bring the noise, make me lose my breath, hit me hard, make me lose my hah hah.
All
Can you keep up?
Baby boy, make me lose my breath, bring the noise, make me lose my breath, hit me hard, make me lose my hah hah.
Can you keep up?
Baby boy, make me lose my breath, bring the noise, make me lose my breath, hit me hard, make me lose my hah hah.
The girls ended in a pose that could have been on the poster of Charlie's Angels to a thunderous, endless round of applause and cheering. All of the girls gave their audience a smirk worthy of a Slytherin and sauntered off stage. It took several minutes for their captive audience to simmer down enough so the Headmaster could be heard above the volume of their appreciative whistles and cheers.
"Ladies and Gentlemen: Mr. Draco Malfoy, our Head Boy, of Slytherin House singing Always by Saliva."
Draco had his slick blond hair spiked with green and silver tips. Just as before, all the females went crazy. He displayed his customary sneer, even though his eyes were still bulging in disbelief at Ginny, Hermione, and Luna's performance. Damn, it was lucky for him he could control his body's reactions to some degree or it would be very discomforting to stand in front of everyone and sing.
I hear a voice say 'Don't be so blind' it's telling me all these things that you would probably hide.
Am I your one and only desire?
Am I the reason you breath or I am the reason you cry?
Always, always, always, always, always, always, always.
I just can't live without you.
I love you, I hate you, I can't live without you.
I breathe you, I taste you, I can't live without you.
I just can't take anymore this life of solitude.
I guess that I'm out the door and now I'm done with you.
I feel like you don't want me around.
I guess I'll pack all my things, I guess I'll see you around.
Inside it bottles up until now as I walk out your door all I hear is the sound…
Always, always, always, always, always, always, always.
I just can't live without you.
I love you, I hate you, I can't live without you.
I breathe you, I taste you, I can't live without you.
I just can't take anymore this life of solitude.
I guess that I'm out the door and now I'm done with you.
I love you, I hate you, I can't live without you.
I left my head around your heart.
Why would you tear my world apart?
Always, always, always, always.
I see the blood all over your hands.
Does it make you feel more like a man?
Was it all just a part of your plan?
This pistol shaking in my hands and all I hear is the sound…
I love you, I hate you, I can't live without you.
I breathe you, I taste you, I can't live without you.
I just can't take anymore this life of solitude.
I guess that I'm out the door and now I'm done with you.
I love you, I hate you, I can't live without you.
I love you, I hate you, I can't live without you.
I just can't take anymore this life of solitude.
I pick myself off the floor and now I'm done with you.
Always, always, always.
Applause filled the Great Hall. Draco managed a courtly bow before swiftly exiting. He really did not want to win this so he was doing all he could to discourage votes for himself.
"Ladies and Gentlemen: Professor Snape, who has informed me that no one can take a picture or record this in any way on pain of death and that he does not possess the means necessary to cry as stated in the first verse, singing Going Under by Evanesance."
Severus crept out of the shadows once again wearing muggle clothing. A dark blue long sleeve sweater with gray jeans and black boots. The few souls brave enough let out whistles and cheered. He scowled at them and defiantly raised his head to sing. His face barely visible due to his hair hanging down.
Now I will tell you what I've done for you.
Fifty thousand tears I've cried.
Screaming, deceiving, and bleeding for you and you still won't hear me.
Don't want your hand this time, I'll save myself.
Maybe I'll wake up for once not tormented daily defeated by you just when I thought I'd reached the bottom.
I'm dying again.
I'm going under drowned in you.
I'm falling forever I've got to break through.
I'm, I'm going under.
Blurring and stirring the truth and the lies so I don't know what's real and what's not.
Always confusing the thoughts in my head so I can't trust myself anymore.
I'm dying again.
I'm going under drowned in you.
I'm falling forever I've got to break through.
So go on and scream, scream at me I'm so far away.
I won't be broken again.
I've got to breathe I can't keep going under.
I'm dying again.
I'm going under drowned in you.
I'm falling forever I've got to break through.
I'm, I'm going under.
I'm going under.
I'm going under.
Everyone rose to their feet. Not only was this one of their favorite songs, but their snarky Potions Professor had done the song justice. Catcalls, wolf-whistles, cheering, stamping, were some of the various sounds that reached Severus' ears as he quickly strode off stage.
"Ladies and Gentlemen: Professor Sprout singing Un-break My Heart by Toni Braxton."
Professor Sprout was once again in violet dress robes. Once again, the audience was stunned by how different she looked; they hoped she would be able to bring the proper amount of emotion to this depressing love song. She smiled sadly and prepared herself to perform.
Don't leave me in all this pain.
Don't leave out in the rain.
Come back and bring back my smile, come and take these tears away.
I need your arms to hold me now, the nights are so unkind.
Bring back those nights when I held you beside me.
Un-break my heart, say you'll love me again.
Undo this hurt you caused when you walked out the door and walked out of my life.
Un-cry these tears; I've cried so many nights.
Un-break my heart.
My heart.
Take back that sad word goodbye, bring back the joy to my life.
Don't leave me here with these tears.
Come and kiss this pain away.
I can't forget the day you left, time is so unkind.
And life is so cruel without you here beside me.
Un-break my heart, say you'll love me again.
Undo this hurt you caused when you walked out the door and walked out of my life.
Un-cry these tears; I've cried so many nights.
Un-break my heart.
My heart.
Don't leave me in all this pain.
Don't leave me out in the rain.
Bring back the nights when I held you beside me.
Un-break my heart, say you'll love me again.
Undo this hurt you caused when you walked out the door and walked out of my life.
Un-cry these tears; I've cried so many, many nights.
Un-break my…
Un-break my heart oh baby.
Come back and say you love me.
Un-break my heart sweet darling.
Without you I just can't go on.
Can't go on…
Send your love, tender love, un-break my…
From the moment the song's name had been announced, Hermione had glanced towards Professor Snape and locked eyes challengingly with him. Severus didn't quite understand what she was referring to in her silent challenge and her mind was too closely guarded for him to read her. As the applause started up, they immediately broke contact and joined in with the others. They silently watched as Professor Sprout walked calmly off stage, tears shimmering in corners of her eyes.
"Everyone, please quiet down." Dumbledore said softly. "Pull out your wands and cast your vote; remember we are narrowing it down to only one student and one staff member; you have two votes."
It was clear who the audience thought deserved the chance to go on to the next round. Dumbledore waited several moments as everyone held their breathe. He smiled, "The remaining student who will continue is Miss Hermione Granger."
He was interrupted by the thundering approval of all the other students.
He cleared his throat after a few minutes and they settled down. "Once again, I am shocked and pleased by the talents contained within these walls. With that said, I am proud to announce that Professor Snape will continue to the final round to be held the day after exams are completed at seven o'clock that evening in the Qudditch Pitch. Be prepared for an un-precedent event."
He was interrupted once more by the members of Hogwarts.
"Miss Granger and Professor Snape will sing two individual songs, picked by myself, and will sing a duet, also selected by myself. Have a wonderful evening and make sure to get some studying done."
Everyone laughed at this comment and filed out of the Great Hall. It had been some night. Loud conversations about the different songs and how well each person had sung could be heard, ringing, in the Professors' ears even as the students were close to their respective Common Rooms.