Chapter Two: I Can Hear the Bells

Hermione woke up the next morning. She threw on her robes, pulled her hair back into a tight bun, and went down to breakfast. When she got down, no one was around. She looked at her watch and realized that she had again woken up at dawn.

"Ugh, why oh why--." But she could not finish her thought as she ran into a large something.

"I don't know Miss Granger, but I hope it is a good reason for you to not watch where you are going." Came a cold voice."

"Oh, I'm sorry Professor Snape, I just can't ever seem to sleep past dawn. No matter how late I stay up--."

"Had I wanted to hear your life story, I would have asked." Professor Snape drawled.

Hermione wanted to say something to wipe that smug look off his face, but refrained.

"Yes, Professor Snape." She sighed as he swept past her, she watched him go.

"Oy vay." She sighed.

Being Saturday Hermione was outside, reading a book, by her two best friends.

"Still studying?" Ron asked as they sat next to her.

"Actually, Ron, I'm not." She replied.

Both of her friends made rather dramatically shocked reactions.

"Will both of you please attempt to act the mature age that you are. I just felt like reading a little poetry."

"Please may we hear your spouts of love sermons?" Ron said less than sincere.

"Alright, Ronald I will. Ahem,

The Dead Woman

If suddenly you do not exist,

if suddenly you are not living,

I shall go on living.

I do not dare,

I do not dare to write it,

if you die.

I shall go on living.

Because where a man has no voice,

there, my voice

Where blacks are beaten,

I can not be dead.

When my brothers go to jail

I shall go with them.

When victory,

not my victory,

but the great victory

arrives,

even though I am mute I must speak:

I shall see it come even though I am blind.

No, forgive me,

if you are not living,

if you, beloved, my love,

if you

have died.

"Is that lovey dovey enough for you Ronald Weasley?"

"That was beautiful Hermione." Harry said "How do you make it feel so real like that?"

"My mum used to read such poems to me at night, I guess it reminds me of her."

"I thought it was lovely Hermione." Came Ginny voice from behind a tree with her own book.

"Ginny, you heard?"

"Yes of course, um, what's wrong with Ron." Ginny said pointing a frozen Ron.

"I think it was too much for our poor, uncultured Ron."

"Hey!" Ron snapped back into it. "So what was that anyway?"

"That was "La Muerta" or "The Dead Woman" by Pablo Neruda." She answered with a teasing chuckle. "It was originally written in Spanish. Besides I let you off easy not reading all of it, I didn't want to completely override your brain." "Hey Gin what are you reading?" Harry said changing the subject; he gently laid his hand on her shoulder.

Ginny was unable to answer as a group if Griffindorrs came over.

"Hey, Quidditch practice." one said stepping forward..

The boys left saying their goodbyes.

"So Ginny, what do you want to do?" Hermione asked as the clock tower struck noon; she didn't receive an answer. "Uh, Ginny?" she asked again waving her hand in front of Ginny's face.

"I can hear the bells." Ginny softly sang in a dreamy voice.

"Ginny, are you all right?" Hermione asked rather confused.

"Well, don'tcha hear them chime?" Ginny excitedly sang.

"I don't hear anything." Hermione replied.

For some reason Hermione had the strange feeling of deja vous. She had heard these exact words somewhere before, and where was that music coming from.

"Can't 'cha feel my heartbeat keeping perfect time? And all because he... touched me He looked at me and stared, yes he… bumped me. My heart was unprepared when he tapped me and knocked me off my feet. One little touch now my life's complete 'cause when he… nudged me. Love put me in a fix, yes it hit me. Just like a ton of bricks, yes my heart burst. Now I know what life's about. One little touch and love's knocked me out and," Ginny sang as the music grew.

Suddenly Hermione looked around and the empty courtyard had filled with other girls from all houses. To Hermione's surprise they all began to sing backup with Ginny. They were swaying and dancing in perfect unison. Hermione was the only one not singing as she was watched in astonishment as Ginny sang a song so familiar, but it seemed to tell her exact emotion. Where had Hermione heard this song before?

Ginny and Girls:

"I can hear the bells, my head is spinning. I can hear the bells, something's beginning. Everybody says, that a girl who looks like me, can't win his love. Well, just wait and see 'cause... I can hear the bells, just hear them chiming. I can hear the bells, my temp'rature's climbing. I can't contain my joy, 'cause I fin'ly found the boy I've been missin.' Listen! I can hear the bells. Round one: he'll ask me on a date and then, round two: I'll primp, but won't late because, round three's when we kiss on his broom. Won't go all the way, but I'll go pretty far! And then, round four: he'll ask me for my hand and then, round five: we'll book the wedding band so by round six. Amber, much to your surprise, this heavyweight champion takes the prize and... I can hear the bells, my ears are ringing. I can hear the bells, the bridesmaids are singing. Everybody says, that a guy who's such a gem, won't look my way. Well, the laugh's on them 'cause. I can hear the bells, my father will smile. I can hear the bells, as he walks me down the aisle. My mother starts to cry, but I can't see 'cause he and I are French kissin'. Listen! I can hear the bells, my head is reeling. I can hear the bells, I can't stop the pealing. Everybody warns, that he won't like what he'll see, but I know that he'll look inside of me yeah,

I can hear the bells, today's just the start 'cause. I can hear the bells, and 'til death do us part. And even when we die we'll look down from up above remembering the night that we two fell in love. We both will share a tear, and he'll whisper as we're reminiscin'. Listen! I can hear the bells

Girls:
She can hear the bells

Ginny:
I can hear the bells

Girls:
She can hear the bells

Ginny:
I can hear the bells

Girls:
Bum, bum, bum, bum!

Then all the girls just seemed to disappear in all directions. Then it was, once again, only Hermione and Ginny, as if nothing had happened. Hermione didn't know what to think or say. This was not normal, and that was saying a lot when you went to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. People, magic or non, did not burst into song.

"Hairspray!" Hermione said.

"What?" Ginny asked.

Hermione did not answer as she had run off toward the castle. She needed help, but who could help. There weren't any books about this, or were there. No there was no time. Dumbledore, he could help, couldn't he? Hermione was too confused, she couldn't think right. Dumbledore was her best bet.