Opening the Door
Disclaimer: See chapter 1
Chapter 9 – Lose Control
The Talent Competition came round soon enough: with the Marauders and Frank Longbottom entering with Evangeline's version of their song 'Teenagers'; Evangeline, Lily, Alice Townsend, Leiko Yamaguchi and Cherie Blackman entering with Evangeline's song 'Lose Control'; and many other acts.
The Marauders and Frank went first, with Sirius singing the lyrics, acting as mad as he pleased – which, considering he had one hell of an audience, was pretty damn mad.
Several acts later, the girls came on.
"You don't remember my name.
I don't really care.
Can we play the game your way?
Can I really lose control?"
James watched as Evangeline seated herself at a piano; Lily and Leiko readied their electric guitars; Cherie sat down at her drums (grinning); and Alice held her bass tighter.
The Marauders weren't surprised to find Evangeline was the lead singer – though she seemed shy, for she kept her eyes firmly on either her music or the piano keys throughout the song.
At the end, they got up and bowed, before walking off.
James smiled and began to dance with a pretty sixth year girl, who nearly fainted when he asked her.
Just once in my life,
I think it'd be nice,
Just to lose control, just once,
With all the pretty flowers in the dust.
He winked at Sirius when he passed, his best friend grinning back again, whilst dancing with a stunned sixth year girl.
Evangeline sighed in relief as she walked off stage, far beyond thankful as she found she hadn't collapsed due to her severely jelly-like legs.
Next to her, Lily grinned. "You did well, Eve." She told her.
Alice, Leiko and Cherie all nodded.
"You betcha she did!" Cherie agreed heartily, slinging an arm round Evangeline's shoulders, smiling at the shy girl.
Evangeline blushed prettily.
"I'm not that good." She protested weakly. "I'll be surprised if we win!" she added, as if to prove her point.
Mary had a lamb.
His eyes black as coals.
If we play very quiet, my lamb,
Mary never has to know.
Leiko laughed.
"Oh please! With your voice, Cherie's drums, Alice's timing and mine and Lily's guitar-ar-ar-ring," she paused to frown on her pronunciation of the word 'guitaring', "only the Marauders might beat us!"
Lily shot a glare at Leiko. "Trust me, what you said did nothing for Eve's confidence, Leiko, nice as the gesture was." She said flatly.
Leiko grinned sheepishly.
"Hehe…whoopsie." She mumbled.
Evangeline smiled and broke out of Cherie's embrace to take a seat at a table near the edge of the Great Hall. Lily and Leiko sat with her, while Cherie and Alice were asked to dance by two boys.
Evangeline smiled as Alice and Frank Longbottom danced past them, Alice smiling joyfully.
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"I am sure you all want to know the winner of the Talent Competition." Called Professor Dumbledore, as the show drew to a close.
The crowd of students yelled in response.
Just once in my life,
I think it'd be nice,
Just to lose control, just once.
Dumbledore smiled and glanced at the envelope he held. Opening it carefully, he smiled at the message on the piece of paper inside it.
"The winner is…'Lose Control', by Evangeline Potter, Lily Evans, Alice Townsend, Cherie Blackman and Leiko Yamaguchi!" he called.
The girls gasped and screamed in joy, hugging each other and their newly-found dates.
James and Sirius scowled as they went up to receive their prizes.
How come they lost?
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Evangeline grinned as she walked down from the stage with – dare she say it? – her friends.
If I cut you down to a thing I can use,
I fear there will be nothing good left of you.
There. She'd said it. They were her friends and nothing could pull her down from the happy mood she was in.
Except the Marauders were close by, in more sense than one, and nothing would ever be simple again.
There was still time for chaos and desperation and fear and pain.
These were the Marauders, after all…