Disclaimer: See Chapter 1. The song "Fame" belongs to its licensing agent. Reviews are welcomed. Flames aren't.

Chapter 29: Fame, I Want to Live Forever

"Are you ready for this year? It will be your hardest to date. We have prepared you and trained you to face anything that comes your way."

"I know, Father. He will make a bid to come back, won't he?"

"Yes."

"I have't. It is engendered. Hell and night must bring this monstrous birth to the world's light," Garion quoted softly as he took comfort by moving closer to his father.

Jareth closed his eyes, resting his chin on the top of his son's head. "No truer words have you spoken, my Garion. We of the Fae will stand with you in your fight against this great evil. You aren't alone, this time."

0o0o0o0

That summer flew by for Garion and his uncles. Sirius wanted to take him to the World Cup, but Garion wasn't as quidditch obsessed in this time line.

He was busy with the summer production of "Fame." He played the part of 'Bruno, the musical prodigy, while his brothers had parts in the chorus.

Remus decided to go as he had been invited by Arthur Weasley to help chaperone his brood and of course, he had to take his dog, Snuffles with him.

On the train ride to Hogwarts the talk was all about the World Cup and the Death Eaters. Garion was now glad he hadn't gone.

Holed up in a compartment with Ron and Hermione and several other Gryffindors, Harry listened to Ron's play by play description of the game and the DE's appearance.

Harry and Ron weren't as close friends as they should've been according to the original time line. Harry found it difficult to deal with Ron's continual jealousy and envy. Ron, for his part, couldn't understand all the literary references that Harry spouted nor could he understand why Harry needed to play musical instruments all the time. Music wasn't much use in the magical world in Ron's opinion. This time around, it seemed they little to nothing in common.

Hermione wasn't as close a friend either. She was always the one that tried to rein in some of his wilder antics and off the wall humor and grew frustrated when she failed. She was a very controlling person. However, he did like how she was one of the few that could put chapter and verse to his quotes.

Harry was bored silly. Pulling out his keyboard, he started to work on a tune he was composing, thus losing himself in the music and ignoring the talk around him. He never heard the sarcastic snort from Ron or the rolling of eyes from Hermione.

0o0o0o0

Dear Snuffles,

The first week of Hogwarts is the same old same old. The only interesting news was old Dumbles cancelled Quidditch for the year which almost caused a riot. He announced that there was going to be a thing called a Tri-Wizard Tournament with two other schools. Guess that's why it's a Tri-wizzie thing, duh?

The most scary thing was old Dumbles hired an old friend of your's to teach DADA. Remember ol' Mad-Eye? Yeah. He's as paranoid as ever, if not worse. Did you know he decided to teach us the three unforgiveables? Poor spiders.

Got to go. Give ol' Moony a scratch behind the ear for me.

–G

0o0o0o0

Dear Remus,

Ol' Dumbles is so clueless it's scary. I mean doesn't the guy know when unforgivables are being used in his school? Ol' Mad-Eye tried to use an Imperious Curse on me! As if I couldn't slough it off with all my training, get real!

I mean really Moony, I'm suppose to be his Golden Boy? Wouldn't you think he would want to know everything that happens to me, in his school?

Anyways, both schools have shown up and tomorrow a flaming goblet will announce the names of the champions. Everyone thinks I should enter. I tell them to get real, or stuff it, or go away. I don't need to prove anything to anybody. I know who and what I am and they can very well kiss my grits. Do they honestly think that I want to compete in a hot and sweaty competition that could kill me before I had a chance to fulfill my 'destiny?' If my name does come out, be assured, I DID NOT put it there. You can take that to the bank!

Got to go. Make sure that ol' Padfoot takes a bath. You know how he gets.

– Harry.

0o0o0o0

The evening was quiet now that everyone had left the Great Hall. Harry remained sitting at his place at the Gryffindor Table. He looked over at the Goblet and sighed. Well, he wasn't looking forward to the Tasks, but like the original time-line, his name had been tossed out of it. He'd been praying hard that it wouldn't, but both he and his father knew it would. His only companion now in the Great Hall was a small owl with mis-matched eyes perched on the back of a chair.

With his guitar in hand, Harry's fingers strummed listlessly. Then with more purpose, his fingers started to pick out the chorus of "Fame" and the words soon followed:

"Fame
I'm gonna live forever
I'm gonna learn how to fly
High

I feel it coming together
People will see me and cry
Fame

I'm gonna make it to heaven
Light up the sky like a flame
Fame

I'm gonna live forever
Baby remember my name . . ."

A hand came to rest on his shoulder startling him out of the song. Harry turned a teary-eyed glance to the ethereal blonde girl sitting beside him.

"So sad," she said in a dreamy voice. "The nargles are dancing to your song, Harry."

Harry took a deep breath and gave her a smile. "Hello Luna."

"You know as well as I that things must be played out," she said.

Giving her a surprised look, he replied, "I know but I don't have to like it."

"No, but then who else will the nargles dance to?"

"Potter!" Snape snapped at him, interrupting them. "Arrogant as ever I see. Singing about your fame, Potter? Just how big will your head be before it explodes?" He gave the pair a sneer. "Miss Lovegood. Shouldn't you be in your common room? 5 points from Ravenclaw for being out after curfew."

Harry looked sadly at the professor. "What a waste of a beautiful voice," he said, placing his guitar back into its case, giving a slight nod to Luna.

"The Headmaster wants to see you in his office," Snape ordered. "Come along, Potter."

"See you later Harry. Watch out for old mumblies. They like to fly upside down and up people's noses, making them do crazy things. They like lemon drops, you know," she waved as she skipped away. "Night Professor. Sleep tight and don't let the grable-bugs bite."

The owl took flight barely missing the potions master's head with its wings as the girl skipped from the Hall. He snarled, glaring at the bird. "Bloody Bird! Go to the owlery where you belong!"

0o0o0o0

Well, NaNoWriMo is over. Frau and I did manage a whopping 50,400 words. Yeah us! The story isn't the greatest and it's an original work. I plan on posting in on my yahoo group.

Thanks to everyone that's reviewed and/or wished Frau and I good typing last month.

Until next time. --GF and The Frau