Disclaimer: I don't own the characters or the story line as I have said. The adaptation belongs to Steve Shade.
A/N: Here's the background info on "Everyman." I found it in my brother's script. **To understand this chapter better, you WANT to read this.** This postmodern adaptation uses most of the original text, but the characters are reconfigured: Everyman is a rock-and-roll "bad boy" at the height of his career when Death visits him. As Everyman seeks an earthly companion to accompany him -to testify that he has lived a life of goodness, not pure selfishness- he is, in turn, rejected by the very people who have fed off of his wealth and fame: Friendship (his lead guitarist and best friend); Auntie and Cousin (the aunt and cousin who raised him); and Riches (his Hollywood agent). At last, he seeks out Good Deeds (his ex-girlfriend who he abandoned during his rise to fame). He finds her living on the street- homeless, destitute, pregnant with his child, and too weak to go with him- even though she would. Instead, she introduces him to Conscience (a self- help prophet) who advises him to face up to his responsibilities before Confession (a judge) and repay his debts to society. Everyman emerges from prison a changed man, while both Good Deeds and Conscience help prepare him for the last part of his journey. Everyman calls his employees: Beauty (his image consultant); Strength (his personal trainer); Discretion (his press agent); and Five Wits (his lawyer) to help put his affairs in order. But each ultimately deserts him, unable to watch this once powerful man's demise. Only Good Deeds and Conscience remain to comfort him in his final hour (I cut Conscience out of that scene). He dies as the Angel (a hospice worker) arrives to proclain Everyman's worth, and his soul is carried away to heaven.
A Year to Remember
Chapter 4
The walk back to the castle was a long one. It had started to rain and mud covered the feet of a depressed Harry Potter. He decided to ditch his friends and go back to school. He had to talk to Hermione. He still needed her help and he just wouldn't feel right with someone as innocent as Hermione being upset at him. Lost in thought, Harry was surprised to find that he had made his way to the tower already. He slowly knocked on the door, having no doubt in his mind that she would be there.
"You," Hermione said quietly when she opened the door.
"Me," Harry replied. They stared at each other for a moment, not quite sure what to say to one another. Harry broke eye contact, not able to take the pain he saw inside her deep brown eyes. He stared at his shoes. Most of the mud had already fallen off as he walked through the castle. Finally, not able to take the awkward silence any longer, he spoke up.
"Are you going to let me in or not?"
"No," she said stubbornly.
"Then are we going to practice our lines out here?"
Hermione gave Harry a cross look and slammed the door in his face. Harry mentally kicked himself for the insensitive comment. He knocked on the door again. Hermione immediately opened the door and stepped out into the staircase with Harry. She crossed her arms over her chest and stared at him, her expression emotionless.
"Look Hermione," Harry sighed, "I just can't be your friend."
"I never asked you to be." Hermione answered him.
"Then why are you so pissed?"
"Gee Harry, I don't know," she said sarcastically, "all I wanted was to be accepted. But obviously I'm still a freak."
"Hermione," Harry said, absent mindedly taking her hand, "you are not a freak."
Hermione quickly withdrew her hand.
"Really? If that were so, you wouldn't have called me one. And you wouldn't have let your friends call me one either. You know what Harry? I don't care anymore, I really don't. Because I know that once you and your little gang get out of this place, you'll be worthless to society. Voldemort's gone Harry. You may always be a hero, but there's more to just beating the bad guy that makes you one. To me, you'll always be the guy that could have made an impact in the world, but instead decided he was too cool for it. You're nothing but an insensitive coward."
With that Hermione turned to go back inside but Harry grabbed her arm.
"Would I be a coward if I did this?" And before he realized what he was doing, he kissed her. Surprisingly, Hermione didn't draw back like Harry would have expected, at least not until he got a taste of her. Her lips were soft and moist with a hint of strawberry taste that Harry assumed was lip balm.
When Hermione drew back her expression changed dramatically. At first she only stared at Harry with a look of total shock in her eyes. Then her eyes turned into little slits and she glared at him with absolute loathing. Harry had a smirk on his face but it quickly faded when he could sense Hermione's anger growing. Before he had a chance to say anything she slammed the door in his face, and this time he didn't bother to knock again.
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October flew by faster than Harry had ever remembered, and soon November was gone as well. The drama production of "Everyman: Revisited" was to be preformed the night before students were leaving home for Christmas. Since his confrontation with Hermione, Harry had not spoken to the girl unless he was reciting a line. He had wanted to talk with her loads of times, but she always walked passed him or kept her head low, pretending not to hear or see him.
"Okay Dennis," Harry sighed, "we'll try again."
It was an early Saturday morning in mid December and Harry was trying desperately to reach the young boy. Harry glanced over at Hermione and noticed that she was staring at him. They kept eye contact for a moment before she glanced away, going back to her student.
"Alright Dennis," Harry said as a sudden idea crossed his mind, "I know that Charms isn't always that simple but trust me, there are a lot of tricks involved that don't use magic. When I was learning the Summoning Charm, I learned to play my strengths."
"Your strengths?" Dennis asked, a puzzled look on his face.
"C'mon outside," Harry grinned, "I know exactly what to teach you."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"What are you doing here?"
"I came to say that I'm sorry," Harry said as he stepped closer to the hospital wing bed. Collin Creevey stared at him with a confused yet defensive expression.
"Why?"
"Because I acted like an asshole," Harry admitted. "To be completely honest, you wouldn't have made the gang either way. I should have told you. I'm sorry."
Collin looked towards the window. Harry followed his gaze and saw that the quiditch team was practicing, without him. He shut his eyes, trying to keep out the pain that all this had caused him. Harry reopened them and saw that Collin was watching him.
"Look," Harry sighed, "I made that jump once. It was stupid. I even told everyone that I actually meant to belly flop."
"Did it hurt?" Collin asked shortly.
"Like I was falling into the forever burning fires of hell."
"Good," Collin replied. He looked up at Harry again and split into a small grin. Harry followed in suit. At least one wound was beginning to heal.
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"Why did you call me in here Dumbledore?"
Harry was seated in front of the old man's desk like he was months before. The office was still as beautiful as it had been. The old phoenix was sleeping peacefully in one corner, the rhythm of its breathing setting in Harry's ears.
"Dennis Creevey is speaking," Dumbledore said simply, "and he's doing well in his school work. Teachers have complimented on how promptly you do what you are told, and Professor Sinistra has said that next week's production should be quite an excellent performance."
"So," Harry shrugged, not quite sure what the headmaster was saying, "what's that have to do with anything."
"Harry, I've known you your entire life. Not once have I ever seen you behave like you have since this punishment began."
"Okay, okay I get the point. What did I do this time?"
"Harry," the old man smiled, "you're doing well."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Harry could not believe that it was already intermission of the show. The first act had gone so perfectly that Harry had at first forgotten that there was an audience watching him. And audience that held the gang. When Hermione had made her first entrance, she looked battered and sickly. Harry heard laughter coming from the back of the theater and looked out into the audience. In the back row he saw Ron. Next to him was Draco, then Ginny, Seamus, Dean, and finally Lavender, who sat in an isle seat with a camera in her hand, looking oddly serious.
"Harry," Neville Longbottom said to him, "it's time for act two." Neville played the part of Friendship, Everyman's best friend. Through the weeks of rehearsals, Harry found that Neville was a much kinder and stronger person than he thought. The two had become somewhat friends, though Harry didn't think he could admit that quite yet.
Harry walked to center stage and got on his hands and knees. His character was supposed to be in prison, repenting for his sins. He began to scrub the floor, even though the curtain was not up yet. It was a technique that Professor Sinistra had taught the entire cast at one of the first rehearsals.
The curtain rose and Harry stopped. He looked out into the audience and started the scene.
"Let me not pray to be sheltered from dangers but to be fearless in facing them. Let me not beg for the stilling of my pain but for the heart to conquer it. Let me not look for allies in life's battlefield but to my own strength. Let me not crave in anxious fear to be saved but hope for the patience to win my freedom. Grant me that I may not be a coward feeling your mercy in my success alone; but let me find the grasp of your hand in my failure."
"I thank God now I can walk and go, and am delivered of my sickness and woe! Therefore with Everyman I will go and not spare; his good works I will help him declare."
Harry turned and saw Hermione standing before him. She no longer looked battered but radiant. Her face was clean and pure. Her outfit was white and simple. Her usually dull brown locks cascaded in ringlets down her back and shimmered in the light. Harry's breath caught in his throat and he was lost for words. He could hear some people in the audience gasp and he understood why.
"You're beautiful," Harry muttered.
Hermione's face contracted for a moment, not expecting his adlib. She then smiled and continued the scene like it was meant to be.
"Now, Everyman, be merry and glad. Your Good Deeds has come now, ye may not be sad. Now I am whole and sound, going upright upon the ground."
She walked across the stage and knelt down before him. She wrapped her arms around him as the script had called for. But Harry held on longer than they had rehearsed, enjoying the new feeling that arose in him. She drew back and looked into his deep emerald eyes, awaiting his next line.
"My heart is light and shall be evermore," Harry whispered, "Now will I work harder than I did before."
The show continued smoothly and Harry said nothing more than what the script had told him to say. It was the final scene in which Harry's character was supposed to die. Special stage make-up made him look aged and sickly. Harry lay on the "death bed" and held tightly to Hermione's hand. Her character was one of the only ones that stayed by him in his hour of need.
"Fear not," Hermione said softly as tears began to fall down her face, "I will speak for thee. Shorten our end and minish our pain, let us go and never come again."
Harry had one last line before he was supposed to close his eyes and act as though he had died. And he would have done it easily, except he couldn't. He was looking deep into Hermione's eyes and couldn't let go. He could see the pain that he had caused her but could see a ray of happiness and hope in them as well. Harry lifted his other hand and gently caressed Hermione's cheek, wiping away a tear.
"I'm sorry Good Deeds," Harry made up in that moment, "for all I have done. The pain I have caused you was no good or fun. I wish I could give you the moon and the stars, but no power I hold could reach so far. You are my angel, my spirit, my friend. In heaven I'll wait for your sweet life to end. And then we shall continue what could have been, and prove that over death, love can still win."
With that Harry kissed her, surprising himself and everyone watching. The kiss was soft and happened quickly but it held something Harry didn't know existed.
"Oh, Everyman," Hermione whispered, not sure what else to say. She tried to keep character but her expression still held a surprised look.
Harry lay back on the bed and said, "Into thy hands, Lord, I commend my spirit." With that he closed his eyes, ending the show. The curtain dropped and the audience burst with applause. Harry reopened his eyes and sat up. He looked at Hermione and she was staring at him in disbelief. They watched each other for a moment before Professor Sinistra told them to take their curtain call places.
The show was a success and many people congratulated Harry on his compelling performance.
"Harry, that was marvelous!" Professor Sinistra said as she embraced him.
"Why thank you," Harry said shortly. Since the show had ended Hermione had disappeared backstage. He was trying to look for her while trying to act calm and casual about everything. It was a lot harder than he expected.
"Interesting rewrite you did back there Potter," Ernie Macmillan had come up to him.
"Thanks."
"Your acting didn't suck too bad either. Good job." Ernie stuck out his hand and Harry shook it, smiling.
And then he saw her. Out of her costume and wearing jeans and a sweater. Her hair and make-up was still done and she looked as amazing as before. Hermione was talking with some girls in the cast and looked up, catching Harry's eye, then looked away. Harry followed her gaze and saw that it fell on a man in his late fifties, standing by the exit.
"Daddy!" Hermione shrieked. She ran up to the man and flung her arms around him. Harry smiled to himself. He knew the Hermione must have missed her parents during the school year. Harry didn't have parents to miss. They were gone, and even though it hurt that he never knew them, he didn't miss them like other kids miss their families. Most of the time he considered himself lucky, but on a night like that one, it would have been nice to at least see them there.
"Harry, Harry, Harry, look at you stud!" a voice interrupted his thoughts. It was Ron and the rest of the gang.
"Not that bad," Ron continued, clapping Harry on the back.
"You were awesome mate," Seamus added, clapping Harry on the back as well.
"Thanks guys," Harry said nervously, hoping that they thought the kiss he gave Hermione was in the script.
"You know," Draco spoke up, "I thought this was gonna suck. But for the parts I was awake for, it wasn't that terrible."
Harry smiled slightly. Draco did the same.
"It was so sad!" Ginny said, wrapping Harry in a hug. "I seriously thought you were gonna die on us."
"Well let's be thankful our Harry is such a good actor," Lavender said emotionlessly. Harry turned to her and saw that she was staring at him coldly. She had suspicions, Harry could tell.
"Thanks Lav," Harry stated, giving her a cold look as well.
"Drama, drama, drama. Where does it end?" Ron said, trying to lighten the mood. "I think we all should get out of the actor's way. I'm sure he's got autographs to sign and stuff. See ya later Harry."
Harry and Ron clapped hands and the gang left. Harry looked around and saw that only a few people were left in the theater, but Hermione was no longer there. Harry sighed and slowly made his way out of the theater, paying little attention to any praise that went his way. He walked all the way to the South Tower, nothing but Hermione's gentle, glowing face running through his mind. He tried to open the door but it was locked. He sighed and sat on the floor in despair. All he could think about was why he was suddenly in love with Hermione Granger.