Chapter 4-Only Hope
Harry sat in his chair unsure of why he was here. `Here' was a large concert hall that could seat about a thousand people. The walls were carved intricately with designs and patterns that told ancient stories of love, war, and loss. The ceiling was a rainbow of colors and pictures that weaved in and out of each other. The room was lighted with chandeliers that sparkled magically.
Harry had no idea why he was here at Witch Weekly's annual talent showcase. Every year they held auditions for people to show off their skills. The result was a benefit concert that showed off new talent. The whole thing was quite a big deal and many scouts were often in the crowd, hoping to spot fresh talent. Harry usually never went to such affairs, but Hermione had told him to come. It was important.
Hermione
Harry felt a painful tug at his heart. It had been a couple of weeks since that fateful night in which he had spilled his heart out to Hermione. The amount of words that has been spoken between both of them could be counted on his fingers and toes. For the most part Hermione seemed to be avoiding him. Harry couldn't say he blamed her, but it didn't keep the pain from knawing at him.
Last night she approached him and told him that he should go to the Witch Weekly's talent showcase. She had said it would be to his benefit. That was all that was spoken. She didn't give him a chance to reply and she just turned around and walked off. To say the least, it left Harry floored. He had no idea what had happened and why she would want him to go the stupid talent contest. It was not his type of thing and she knew that better than anybody else.
His mind had been reeling that whole night and debating whether or not he should go or what. He didn't see any reason not to go and he was overflowing with curiosity as to what the whole thing was about. Finally after debating it over and over for a long time he decided he would go, only out of curiosity.
Harry had no problem getting tickets at such late notice. Come on, he was the famous Harry Potter and if he wanted to go Witch Weekly's talent showcase then he would go. They moved some editor of one magazine or another back a few rows, so Harry would have 3rd row, center…the best seats in the house.
Harry dressed in some black slacks and a button up black t-shirt. Since, he had not been to one of these events before, he had no idea about how he was expected to dress. However, he had no idea that if he had shown up in sweats and a t-shirt that they would claim it to be the next big trend and you can guarantee that at the next large affair or concert of some sort, half the guys there would be dress in sweatpants and a t-shirt. Harry just never grasped the extent of his fame.
The ushers had seated him, leaving Harry alone in his thoughts which mainly pertained to the reason as to why he was at such an event. Hermione had been awfully busy lately, as if she was planning something. Harry just thought she was trying to keep busy, so she could avoid him. He couldn't really believe that Hermione would actually perform at such an event. Not that she didn't have the talent to do so. Quite the opposite, Harry was always urging her to come to such an event and perform for more than a bar full of half drunks. She had never had that much confidence in her singing. It was hard enough sometimes to get her to sing in the bar let alone a concert hall full with hundreds of people.
Why else would she have wanted him to come here though? He was left pondering such things as the concert started. An elderly woman came out onto stage in a bright red dress. She opened her mouth to speak. It had been magically amplified to fill the room with her voice.
"Welcome to Witch Weekly's 150th annual talent showcase. That's right. For 150 years this showcase has been having fresh talent come on this stage and perform for many to see. Each and every one of these people on this stage has been through tough auditions, so we as judges could expertly find and identify the ones with the most raw talents. We have done nothing to train or change the people you are about to see tonight. As always this concert's proceeds go to St. Mungo's hospital. Now please join me in supporting these brave souls that come up here to perform for you tonight. I hope you enjoy this evening's entertainment. Thank you for coming." At that the women exited the stage.
Harry clapped among with the rest of the other 1000 people in the hall. He watched as a jittery young man came out with a euphonium in hand.
`Oh great we will have to listen to some kid playing three blind mice on a miniaturized tuba,' Harry thought to himself.
What came out of that instrument was anything but three blind mice. The tiny man filled the room with a warm music that drifted over them all. Harry was soothed by the beautiful music and he felt himself relax in the chair.
Soon however the music ended and on came another person. Over and over the young and old entered that stage ready to perform their talent whether it was singing, dancing, playing an instrument, gymnastics, or even magic tricks.
After waiting for about an hour, Harry saw Hermione enter the stage. His heart stopped. She looked breathtaking. She was wearing a black gown that went to the floor and sparkled under the bright stage lights. Her hair was tied back elegantly with strands of curls falling around her face. She looked calm and resolute. She stopped at center stage and she starting speaking which was magically amplified.
"I would like to dedicate this song to Harry, my life and my love." With that a piano player on the side of the stage started
Harry had a problem grasping the meaning of the words Hermione was singing, yet you could not be mistaken about what she was telling him. She loved him. Her voice was shaky and quiet at first but as the song progressed, she starting singing more confidently, letting her voice fill every corner of the hall. She rarely moved, letting all concentration fall on her voice.
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
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
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
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
After the song was finished Hermione quietly bowed as the whole hall stood and applauded her. She then exited the stage.
Harry had no idea what to do. She was in love with him. That was all he could think about. She really did love him. What was he going to do now?
Harry abruptly stood up, not able to wait till the end of the show to talk to Hermione. He ran towards the foyer and then looked around for a door that would lead him backstage. Finally finding an entrance to a hallway, he ran down it until he came to the end where there were people running around frantically. All the people were dressed up in some way or another. Most were frantic trying to work out final details to their performance. Harry looked for somebody that looked like they were in charge.
Finally finding somebody with a clipboard, he walked up and stopped her. "Mam?"
The young frazzled women looked up from what she was doing. "Yes, how may I help you?"
"I am looking for Hermione Granger," Harry answered.
"I am afraid she left immediately after her performance. I am guessing you are Harry?" The woman asked.
Harry was confused. "How did you know?"
"She said if you were to come back here looking for her to tell you that you can find her at the park."
"Thank you," Harry replied quickly and darted back out the way he came until he came outside the building to a point where he could apparate to the park.
What he found there was not what he expected. In the exact same spot as before, Hermione had set up a small table with candles set up on it and food placed on plates. All about were sparkling lights that glittered around them. Hermione stood by the table fidgeting with her hands, looking expectantly at Harry.
Harry was floored for the second time this evening. He couldn't understand all of this. He was still reeling from the fact that Hermione loved him, him of all people. He spoke first in a quiet question whisper, "Why me?"
Hermione smiled sweetly. "Because, you are there when no body else is. You brought me through the tough times and you are always there as a helping hand, sometimes more willing than other times. Nonetheless, you stay by my side and support me even if you don't agree with what I am doing. I never really realized how important you are to me and how I take you for granted. I can't imagine living without you and I hope to never find out what life without you is like."
Harry's mind was working in overdrive trying to make sense of everything that he was being told. "If you love me, then why didn't you tell me that night?"
"I didn't know then. It took many tears from crying in my bed before I realized how I felt. I have loved you so long that it just slowly grew on me until I didn't notice it any more. After I figure it out, I knew I had to do something special for you, like you did for me."
Harry laughed. "You could have just told me that night instead of having me suffer for these couple of weeks."
"Yes, I could have, but then it wouldn't be as special as this." Hermione waved her hands to her surroundings.
"You are right, there is nothing as special as this," Harry spoke softly and slowly walked towards Hermione. "Did I tell you that you look absolutely ravishing? I have never seen anything more beautiful than you."
Hermione blushed deeply as she stepped towards Harry, walking into his arms. "I am telling you, it's just the dress."
Harry shook his head. "No, it's you. You look stunning everyday I see. Nothing can change that. I love you Hermione."
Hermione stared into Harry's eyes, finding herself once again getting lost into their depths. "I love you Harry."
Both leaned in for the sweetest kiss that either have ever had. Years of love was poured into that kiss.
A bomb could go off at that moment and neither would notice for they were so lost in that one kiss that would start the rest of their life together.
A/N. So I have a lot to say. First of all I am glad I finally got this out there and I hope you enjoyed it. If you didn't know already, that song was Mandy Moore's `Only Hope' from A Walk to Remember. Good movie, good song, both highly recommended. The next and final chapter will be out shortly so watch out for it. What else? Ah yes, I seem to be stealing lines right and left. If you noticed or was wondering, the whole thing with Harry saying `why me?' was from my favorite part of the Princess Diaries when Mia and Michael are out in the garden and the first thing he says is why me. Sigh. Also, I dedicate the part about the euphonium player to Anna. Technically she is my beta reader and I hers, but she is never on when I am about to post so since I am too lazy to wait I just post anyways. So thank you Anna for atleast listening to my ideas and thanks to Gabriel who puts up with Anna and I talking about these kind of things during jazz band. Thank you both. Thank you for those that have reviewed.
Oh, and if you would like to see a picture of the dress Hermione was wearing, here is a link.
http://www.cybergown.com/Z20035.htm
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