Only Hope

Disclaimer: Hello, this is J.K. Rowling…author of Harry Potter…ha, not…seriously, you've got to be kidding me…I'm not that creative…(starts crying) And the song is from “A Walk to Remember, as sung by Mandy Moore - go and listen to it if you haven't already…it's amazing! ;)

There's a song that's inside of my soul
It's the one that I've tried to write over and over again
I'm awake in the infinite cold
But You sing to me over and over and over again

Hermione crumpled up another paper and threw it onto the pile that was accumulating at her feet. “UGH! I don't see how this assignment has anything to do with defense against the dark arts!” she cried, rubbing her temples in frustration.

“What's my bloody inspiration…how is the bloody hell should I know?” Hermione exclaimed after a minute.

“Wish I could stay and help, Hermione, but me and Luna have a date tonight. Catch you guys later,” Ron replied before heading out the portrait hole.

“Maybe you just need to do something else for a while and it will just come to you,” Harry offered.

“Maybe, but I still don't see what it has to do with defense,” Hermione grumbled, putting away her quill and parchment.

“Do you want to go get something to eat from the kitchens…they probably have some leftover pumpkin pie from dinner,” Harry asked, standing up and stretching.

“Sure, who knows, maybe my inspiration is pumpkin pie,” Hermione laughed as they made their way out of the common room.

“So then Ron said `You're just mad that I've got a girlfriend and friends, while you've just got a tramp and lackeys',” Harry laughed as he finished telling Hermione about his and Ron's recent encounter with Malfoy.

“At least Ron didn't attack him…he's finally growing up somewhat,” Hermione smiled as they made their way back to the common room. They turned a corner and Hermione ran into,

“Watch it you filthy little mudblood whore,” Malfoy hissed, shoving Hermione to the ground.

“Leave her alone, Malfoy,” Harry seethed as he stepped in front of Hermione.

“What are you going to do, Potter? Go tell our sad excuse of a headmaster? I'm scared,” Malfoy laughed and went to step around Harry. “Take you and your little mudblood whore and tell the muggle-lover, see what I care.”

A split-second later, Malfoy was sprawled out on the floor, blood running from his mouth and nose. “You'll pay for that, Potter!” Malfoy yelled, picking himself up off the ground. Harry grabbed him by the collar and slammed him against the wall.

“If you so much as ever think her name, I will not hesitate to kill you. Do you understand me?” Harry growled, putting more pressure on Malfoy. “Go ahead and tell your daddy, he can't do anything to me - you're both the same, cowards through and through. Now go, and don't ever let me catch you saying anything about my friends. There's an advantage to being on the light side - you've got more alliances with the one's that hear everything. Now go,” Harry released him and Malfoy, fear showing plainly in his eyes, took off running down the hallway.

Harry watched him round the corner and then looked over at Hermione, who was still sitting on the floor. “Are you okay?” He asked, kneeling down beside her.

“Harry, what you just did -”

“I'm sorry, I just lost my temper, it won't happen again,” Harry cut her off, glancing down to the floor in shame.

“No, it was really good of you to stick up for me like that…Thank you,” Hermione smiled, tilting Harry's face up so she could look him in the eyes. “Thank you.”

“I'd do anything for you, Hermione, anything,” Harry whispered, pressing his lips gently against hers.

So I lay my head back down
And I lift my hands
And pray to be only Yours
I pray to be only Yours
I know now You're my only hope

Sing to me the song of the stars
of your galaxy dancing and laughing and laughing again
When it feels like my dreams are so far
Sing to me of the plans that you have
for me over again

“Hermione, the elves don't want to be free. How many times do I have to tell you? They like serving people!” Ron exclaimed after Hermione asked if he would help her knit some hats for the house elves.

“But I can try, Ron! No one should have to live that way!” Hermione shouted back, tears filling her eyes.

“But they like it so you need to keep your nose out of their business!” Ron yelled back, before turning and leaving the common room.

“Don't listen to him Hermione,” Harry told her, sitting next to her on the couch.

“He's right…It will never work, so what's the point of it? Really…it was stupid of me to think it would in the first place…” Hermione trailed off, a tear slipping down her cheek.

“I don't think it's stupid,” Harry said after a moment, causing Hermione to look up at him, confusion written all over her face.

“But you agree with Ron…they like how they live,” Hermione told him.

“But I think it's brave of you to believe what really is the right thing…and to go after it. Don't give up, Hermione. I believe in you and I know that you're going to make a difference in the world. I know it.”

“Thank you,” Hermione whispered, finally realizing what her inspiration really was.

So I lay my head back down
And I lift my hands
And pray to be only Yours
I pray to be only Yours
I know now You're my only hope

I give You my destiny
I'm giving You all of me
I want Your symphony
Singing in all that I am
At the top of my lungs I'm giving it back

“As we pack our bags, say good bye to our friends and teachers, and begin the next step of our lives, I find myself stopping and thinking. In our Defense Against the Darks Arts class we were told to write an essay on what inspires us. I couldn't figure out what the topic had to do with the class, but I think I figured it out. What inspires us is our strength. Our courage. Our fear, love, even hate. The essay helped us find the thing that would save us or destroy us during the Final Battle; it's what will make us who we are in 10, 20 or even 100 years from now.

“My inspiration isn't a book,” scattered chuckles came from the assembled class, “or a song, a saying, a teacher…My inspiration is someone much more important. They once told me they would do anything for me - that because apparent during the Final Battle when they almost died for me. They inspire me to keep going when times get hard, when the world turns its back on you, when you've nothing left to live for…because they've never given up - ever.

I'm going to leave this school today, and I may never see some of these people again. But I will remember them, what they did in my life, how they inspired me to do what was right instead of what was easy. My inspiration gave me their all, and now I'm giving them all of me. When you find something that important, never let it go, because if you do, all of this,” Hermione gestured to the room around them, “will have been for nothing. Everything you've worked for will disappear, and what we, as a class, as a group of people fighting for the same thing, worked so hard for, will be forgotten. Take your inspiration, your passion, your love, and live in it. It really is the one thing that will always be there, our only hope. I congratulate my class, for believing, and for making our dreams happen. Thanks you.”

Hermione stepped down from the podium and walked back to her seat.

“That was amazing, Hermione,” Harry told her, pride shining in his eyes.

“Thank you for inspiring me, Harry.”

So I lay my head back down
And I lift my hands
And pray to be only Yours
I pray to be only Yours
I pray to be only yours
I know now You're my only hope

Author's Note: Well…excuse any grammar errors…I'm not sure if it's that great, but I've just wanted to do something with this song for a year or so…anyways - reviews are great! Thanks, Sarah -

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