The Art Of War, American Style Chapter 9: More Music and a Fight, a harry potter fanfic

Chapter Eight

The Great Hall was quiet as the slytherin representative for the four judges; Serena Zabini cleared her throat and smiled.

"We had trouble narrowing it down, so we split it between Staff and Students. We have chosen four finalists from the staff, and eight from the students. The top two staff members and the top four students will win the prizes. For the staff, Professors Vector, Snape, Madam Pomphrey and Staff Sergeant Mackenzie. The student finalists are Lisa Turpin, Thomas Matthews, Daphne Greengrass, Hermione Granger, Elizabeth Abbott, Luna Lovegood, Harry Potter and Euan Abercrombie." Serena and her cohorts walked back to their table as the Headmaster stood up.

"I guess we can start with the final round, performing in the order that Miss Zabini called your names. Professor Vector, when you're ready?" Albus sat down, as the Arithmancy professor stood up. He walked to the front, and turned to Alaina to start the music. His next selection brought many in the hall to tears, since everyone knew that the poor man had lost his wife in the final battle last year.

I miss the look of surrender in your eyes
The way your soft brown hair would fall
I miss the power of your kiss when we made love
But baby most of all

I miss my friend
The one my heart and soul confided in
The one I felt the safest with
The one who knew just what to say to make me laugh again
And let the light back in
I miss my friend

I miss the colors that you brought into my life
Your golden smile, those blue-green eyes
I miss your gentle voice in lonely times like now
Saying it'll be alright

I miss my friend
The one my heart and soul confided in
The one I felt the safest with
The one who knew just what to say to make me laugh again
And let the light back in
I miss my friend

I miss those times
I miss those nights
I even miss the silly fights
The making up
The morning talks
And those late afternoon walks

I miss my friend
The one my heart and soul confided in
The one I felt the safest with

Severus was next, and Alaina was definitely looking forward to his selection. The guitar chords of a Tim McGraw classic filled the room and Alaina decided that a certain Potions Master was getting very lucky tonight.

I was standing at the end of my rainbow
With nowhere to go and no pot of gold in sight
All my wishes were just way too much to hope for
But when I saw you I knew I'd seen the light

And not a moment too soon
Without a minute to spare
You touched my heart
When I didn't have a prayer
In my darkest hour
With my world filled with gloom
Your sweet love saved me
Not a moment too soon

I used to think that love would never find me
And the one who cares was lost somewhere in time
But when you found me I knew I'd found forever
You rescued me just before I crossed the line

And not a moment too soon
Without a minute to spare
You touched my heart
When I didn't have a prayer
In my darkest hour
With my world filled with gloom
Your sweet love saved me
Not a moment too soon
Your sweet love saved me
Not a moment too soon
Not a moment too soon

Poppy was next, and she had chosen another Irish folk song that once again had Seamus Finnegan attempting to sing backup, much to everyone's amusement.

Finally it was Alaina's turn. She had originally planned on singing the Marine Corps Hymn, but decided that another love song would be more appropriate. Her song choice described her relationship perfectly…at least in her opinion.

It's amazing how you can speak right to my heart
Without saying a word you can light up the dark
Try as I may I could never explain
What I hear when you don't say a thing

The smile on your face lets me know that you need me
There's a truth in your eyes saying you'll never leave me
A touch of your hand says you'll catch me if ever I fall
Now you say it best, when you say nothing at all

All day long I can hear people talking out loud
But when you hold me near you drown out the crowd
Old Mister Webster could never define
What's being said between your heart and mine

She smiled as she finished and turned back to the Head Table. Suddenly, there was a rather large disturbance caused by Mr. Ronald Weasley. Harry and Hermione were shaking their heads. The outburst was caused when the two brunets commented on the behavior of their Potions master and DADA instructor. Severus walked over with Minerva to see what the commotion was all about, and was a little shocked at Potter and Granger's statements.

"I think that it's sweet. The war is over, and everyone deserves to find happiness." Granger was saying. Potter agreed vehemently.

"Ron, quit being a prat. Professor Snape hasn't had a chance for a normal life since he was our age. If he and Staff Sergeant Mackenzie make each other happy, then I, for one, am happy for them." Weasley's face turned as red as his hair and he glared at the other two.

"It's disgusting. Mackenzie's not a playwizard model, but she could do a lot better than Snape. The greasy bastard must have done something. He probably put a love potion in her drink, since there is no way a woman would willingly shag him." Before either Severus or Minerva said anything, Potter stood up, his body shaking with the pure rage that filled him.

"Ron, get one thing through your thick skull. Professor Snape is one of the bravest and most honorable men I know. If you can't see that, I don't care, but you will not disrespect that man in my presence. No, he's not nice, per say, but he has saved my sorry arse more times than I can count, and yours too." Harry and Hermione both stood, and walked to another end of the table, sitting with Ginny Weasley, Neville Longbottom and Luna Lovegood, who had joined them from the Ravenclaw table. Minerva composed herself, and escorted Weasley from the hall, while Severus went toward Harry and company. He decided that his actions would determine the rest of the school year, and cleared his throat.

"Twenty points to Gryffindor each, Mr. Potter and Ms. Granger, for defending someone who doesn't really deserve it." Several jaws dropped as Harry turned to the older man. Black eyes met green as Harry gave Severus a small smile.

"Thank you professor and I meant every word." Severus nodded and walked back to the teacher's table, where Albus was waiting, and a knowing twinkle in his eyes.

"Now I think we want to get back to the contest. I believe our next performer tonight is Miss Hermione Granger. Hermione stood up and smiled as she looked at Harry. Her boyfriend nodded, and Hermione cleared her throat.

"This song applies to someone that never got the credit he deserved from anyone."

Without a thought for yourselves
You race into the fires of hell
Unselfishly you sacrifice
and give your all to save a life
Anonymity's a pale reward
for all the things you've done
Heroes Unsung

You've seen the worst the world can give
You hold inside what you can't forget
The armor grows to block the pain
It's just so hard to communicate
And you never thought that you'd burn out
But sometimes you feel numb
Heroes Unsung

With uncommon acts of bravery
You rush into harm's way
Giving something to the rest of us
There is no way to repay
Have we taken you for granted
Without counting up the cost
'cause every time we lose even one of you
The best of us is lost

You're a human being with hopes and dreams
You've got a name and a family
If we never stopped to tell you thanks
That day has finally come
Heroes Unsung
You'll be honored for eternity
When all of heaven's stars are strung
Heroes
Heroes
Heroes Unsung

Hermione smiled as she walked over to her boyfriends. Harry greeted her with a kiss, and the two quietly discussed what Harry would sing as the competition continued. Luna returned to the Ravenclaw table after her performance of Evanescence's Hello. Finally, it was Harry's turn, and he had decided once again to go with a Bon Jovi song.

You say you don't like my kind
A better picture in your mind
No it don't matter what I say
I hear ya bitchin' when I walk away
I'll never be what ya want me ta be
You tell me I'm wrong but I disagree
I ain't got no apology
Just because I don't look like you, talk like you, think like you.
Judge and jury, a hangman's noose;
I see them in your eyes...
Good guys don't always wear white
Good Guys don't always wear white
You judge a man who don't stand in line
Just because he ain't on your side
You know the man who wears those shoes
If you cut me don't I bleed like you?
Ya know I do
I don't know whatcha been told
Can't buy guts with a pot 'o gold
A rich man's poor if he got no soul
Rich man, poor man, beggar man can
All that shit don't mean a thing
Do you know which one's behind those eyes?
It's always a disguise...
Hey baby...what side you on?
You think you got it all fired out,
Where we belong
Forget all about your dark dressed knight
Day from night,
Wrong from right...
Don't always wear
Don't always wear...
White

The contest ended, and the judges left to deliberate. Twenty minutes passed, before they returned. This time, it was the Ravenclaw judge, Mandy Brocklehurst, who announced the winners.

"For the staff, Professors Vector and Snape, for the students, Lisa Turpin, Elizabeth Abbott, Daphne Greengrass and Harry Potter." The girl sat down, and the party continued after the prizes were awarded. Pretty soon it was after eleven o'clock at night, and the teachers ushered everyone to bed. Alaina didn't even bother going to her own chambers, but was waiting for Severus at his. Without a word, the two entered his rooms, and shortly thereafter, a silencing charm was cast as the two expressed the emotions that they had sung about hours earlier.

A/N Okay, music done. H/Hr getting closer, and Ron (who is a character I've never liked that much, is on the way out) Pretty soon Harry will be repaying a favor to Sev, and the two couples will be getting friendlier.