Disclaimer: All rights belong to J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series.

Warnings: Possible future slash, meaning boyxboy, characters might be OOC

Note: I claim no ownership to any songs mentioned in this fanfic; they belong to their respective bands/singers.

Cadenza

Loud applause sounded from all around him, resonating off the walls and bouncing back to create even more noise. It was thrilling to even be standing on the stage, but when the crowd was actually cheering him on…it was a whole different experience. The bright lights that once blinded him was cleared to reveal the hundreds of encouraging faces. His smile was so wide that it hurt, but he couldn't stop for the life of him. When the clapping finally died down, Harry started to make his way off the stage when he heard Snape state an offhand, snide remark to the judges, stopping him in his tracks.

"He won't go through. He's nothing special."

This wasn't anything compared to the hurtful words and harmful punches aimed at him by his own family. And yet, he couldn't shake off this feeling.

Harry wasn't the only that heard Snape's comment though. People in the crowd started to boo the harsh and least liked judge. Harry felt confidence rise in him where he would've normally brushed off any insults, but for some reason, he couldn't let this go. Whether it was because other people were supporting him fro once or from an inner need to prove himself to a person that intensely disliked him from the start, he didn't know.

Before he could stop himself, Harry brought the microphone still in hand to his lips. His voice left his mouth before his brain could catch up with him.

"You're wrong."

Snape turned and raised an eyebrow, staring hard into his eyes.

"What?"

"You're wrong," Harry repeated. "I can make it all the way." What was he doing? What was he saying? Where did all this confidence come from?

Shut up! Shut your mouth before you say something you'll regret!

"I'm never wrong, you insolent brat."

For a second, Harry froze as shock was dumped over his body like a bucket of ice, cold water. There was a sudden flash of hatred in his eyes, something that Harry was used to seeing thanks to Vernon and Marco, but he was surprised to be on the receiving end of such an emotion from someone he just met. The burning hatred quickly reverted back to aloof apathy. "But I'd like to see you try and fail in the process."

He shakily made his way to the back of the stage, taking a deep breath to calm his racing heart, closing his eyes as he exhaled. His hands were shaking slightly as the adrenaline was starting to come down from its high, chuckling when he realized what had just happened. He had auditioned for and made it to Hogwarts! It felt like he was floating on air. Was this a dream? He smiled stupidly to himself. He couldn't remember when he had last been this happy. His relatives were nowhere in sight, not that it was much of a surprise, an expectation really. The group of redheads were gone now, too. Probably off celebrating somewhere. Harry steadfastly ignored the slight pang in his chest. He stood unsurely, shifting his weight from foot to foot, where would he go now?

Dudley soon made that decision for him as he was dragged into a secluded corridor. He was pinned to the wall before he could so much as blink. He had, however, released a soft grunt when his back collided harshly against the wall. Glaring at his cousin and the snickers of Piers, Harry scowled darkly, eyes flashing in hatred. The hand gripping him by the collar of his shirt tightened before lifting him higher, his shoes barely touching the ground.

"Think you're some hot shot now, huh?" Dudley sneered when all he received was silence, lips pulling back unattractively. "Well, it's time to put you back in your place, right, Piers?"

"Yeah!" The rat cackled maliciously, cracking his knuckles in sick anticipation.

Harry bit his tongue to keep from sniping back at his cousin, the metallic taste of blood coating the back of his teeth, flooding his mouth with the red liquid. He had half a mind to spit between Dudley's baby blue eyes that Petunia always said was "Oh so beautiful!" To keep make it bleed a bright red… He chose to not respond, acidic green glaring poisonously at his tormentors. The lack of response was clearly unnerving the two bullies, who shifted unconsciously in discomfort.

"What? Not gonna say anything? Too scared?" Dudley chose to ignore the unsettling prickling on the surface of his skin as the emerald eyes bore into him, puffing out his chest in mere mockery of courage. He pulled Harry forward before slamming him back against the wall with every question. Beside the slight scrunching of his face and the sharp intakes of air, Harry expressed no pain, not even a small moan escaping his lips.

"Yeah. So afraid, he's practically wetting his pants!" Piers chuckled nervously as their victim continued to stare unwaveringly at them.

Dudley scowled in disgust. "God, you're such a freak. I bet your parents didn't even want you. They're probably glad that they died so they didn't have to deal with you."

With those words, he clenched his free fist. Harry tensed, closing his eyes just as Dudley was pulling his arm back, clenching his teeth in an effort to keep silent through the entire beating. Slowly opening his eyes when the punch didn't land, his body went lax as he caught sight of exactly who came and rescued him.

There standing in all his dark, shadowy glory was Severus Snape, hand gripping Dudley's wrist in nothing short of an iron hold. Harry gulped when cold obsidian eyes swept over him as he surveyed the scene, shivering in fear when he finally directed his unfortunate attention to the boy he latched onto, like a bat sinking its fangs into a victim. In all honesty, he wasn't sure if he was grateful that he was saved. Not when his savior was none other than the judge who hated him the most.

The school year officially started! And I am officially drowning in homework…Incredibly sorry for the long wait, but the updating time will take even longer now that summer is over, so I apologize in advance. - Aldira