Cheer for me!

"Cheer for me!"

Chapter six-The New Singer

Later on that night, Harry told me he found Ron in the hallway with Draco. Ron was punching Draco. Draco had come away with a black eye and bruised cheekbone. Ron had a bloody nose and bruised jawbone. Professor Snape deducted fifty points from Gryffindor. That made Ron even angrier. Ron began muttering profanities under his breath as he walked back toward the common room, but it was low enough that only Harry heard him.

As much as the thought of Ron beating Draco up amused Harry, Harry was worried that Ron's anger would get the better of him at one point and that would be it. Gillian was well enough to go back to class and she sat in the common room reading. Ron was angrily pacing the room.

"I can't believe that (bleeping) git Snape deducted points! I betcha he didn't take any points from Draco! Oh no! Draco's Snape's good-child!" Ron muttered bitterly.

Gillian closed her book and stood up. She went over to Ron and pt her hands on his shoulders, putting her face close to his.

"Please, Ron. Calm down," she said, quietly.

"Calm down? How can I? Draco hurt you!" Ron cried exasperatedly.

"I know! But please! We're worried about you doing something out of line! Please...just calm down...for me," Gillian pleaded, her eyes filling with fear and tears.

Ron stared into her eyes for a moment and he sighed.

"Okay...okay."

Gillian threw her arms around him and hugged him. He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her back also. He buried his face into her hair.

"I'm sorry," he whispered.

"It's all right," Gillian whispered back.

She kissed him then went back to her seat and picked up her book. Ron plopped down next to me.

"What's gonna happen with the squad now?"

"Nothing. We're just going to have to find a singer to replace me," Gillian said.

Her eyes landed on me and widened.

"What?" I asked, alarmed.

"You," Gillian said, brightly. "You can take my place!"

I looked at her like she was mad.

"Gillian, I think you've been drinking out of the toilet too much with those 1000 flushes in the bowl!" I said, shocked. "You drank too much of the blue water!"

Harry snorted. Ron glared at him.

"You saying Gillian is crazy?" Ron demanded.

Harry's jaw dropped.

"No! Of course not! I just never heard Hermione sing before that's all,"

Ron relaxed.

Whoa...Ron's defending Gillian like they were married! He really likes her!

Gillian was looking at me with such a happy and excited expression that it was going to be hard for me to say 'No' to her.

I sighed.

"Sure. I'll do it."

Harry looked at me.

"I've never heard you sing."

I grinned coyly.

"You never asked me to,"

I decided to sing a few lines of Celine Dion's One Heart.

"If you've got...One heart, you are following...one dream...keeps you wondering love lights your way through the night...One wish...keeps you trying...what's your silver lining...love lights your way through the night."

When I was done, Harry, Ron and Gillian all had their jaws dropped.

"Good lord...you sound incredible!" Gillian gushed excitedly.

I smiled.

"Thanks. I don't normally sing in front of people. Just by myself."

"You're bloody fantastic!" said Ron wide eyed.

"I think Gillian's better though," I admitted.

"Don't be so modest," Gillian said smiling. "You sounded great. I think the squad will be happy to have you as the new singer."

I grinned.

"I'll let them know tomorrow at breakfast. There's not going to be any practice tonight," said Gillian. "I'm gonna go to bed. I'll talk to you in the morning."

Gillian got up and headed into the girls' dorm. I said goodnight to Harry and Ron and followed her.

The next morning at breakfast, Gillian announced that I was going to take her place.

"Oh. Gil I'm so sorry," said Emily solemnly.

"It's ok guys. I'll be back in no time. Just do me a favor! Win the competition!"

We all cheered loudly, obtaining reproving looks from the teachers. We all silently giggled and then we went to classes.

I was sharing a cauldron with Ron. Gillian and Harry were sharing another behind us in Potions. Professor Snape walked up and down the aisle, looking at everyone's potion. We were brewing Veritaserum, a truth potion. He paused by Gillian and Harry.

"Potter, I swear nothing penetrates that hard head of yours. I specifically told you to add 3 drops of Enet. Not 4,"

Enet was a strong potion used to relax a person.

"It was my fault, sir. I told him to add four," I heard Gillian's voice say.

"Miss Moss, I suggest you keep out of this. You're just like Potter...thinking that just because your sister is a famous cheerleader. Both of your heads are the size of car tires," said Professor Snape, coolly.

I heard Harry's angry response:

"I'm sorry, sir but it wasn't Gillian's fault. I'm the one who added the four drops. She told me to add three."

Then Gillian replied.

"No, Harry. It's my fault!"

I realized that they were sticking up for each other. Gillian and Harry were the best friends anyone could ever want. The entire squad was like that. They'd give you the shirt off their backs. I was lucky to know them.

Professor Snape held his hand up.

"Regardless of whose fault it is, I expect to see the both of you in detention this afternoon...and ten points from Gryffindor," said Professor Snape coldly.

We heard Draco snorting with laughter across the dungeon. I turned and glared at him. To my surprise, Draco sank into his chair and was quiet the rest of the lesson.

GILLIAN

Hermione assured me that it would be okay. She'd go and talk to the rest of the squad and wait for us. I entered the dungeon again. Harry was already sitting at his usual seat that he had earlier. He looked up.

"Hi."

"Hi," I replied as I sat next to him and we waited for Professor Snape to arrive.

There was an awkward silence that followed.

"Look..."

"I really..."

We started at the same time. We laughed.

"Go ahead," said Harry chuckling.

"Look...I really appreciate you sticking up for me. That was incredibly nice," I said, softly.

Harrry shrugged one shoulder.

"It was nothing. Snape's just a git. He always was."

Another awkward silence. Professor Snape entered the dungeon.

"As for you two, I want fifty lines of "I am not a huge celebrity" and do the potion over. I will come back in two hours to check on you," said Professor Snape stiffly.

He exited the dungeon, his black robe billowing out behind him. Harry and I pulled out parchment, quills and our inkbottles and we began. For a while, all that could be heard was the scratching of quills over parchment. Sighing, I crossed one arm on top of the table and rested my chin on it as I continued to write.

An hour later I had managed to write all fifty lines. When I sat up and turned, Harry's face was inches from mine. I jumped.

"You've got ink on the front of your robe," said Harry, gesturing to the front of my robe just above my chest.

I glanced down at it and shrugged.

"Oh well. I can probably find a spell to remove it," I said, grinning.

Our faces were still inches apart. We stared at each other for a moment.

Then, Harry leaned forward and kissed me. I was so shocked. I didn't kiss him back. We pulled apart in time as Professor Snape entered the dungeon again.

"You two may go," he said, irritably.

Without asking him why we were allowed to leave early, I grabbed my things and hurried out of the dungeon, past Snape and up to the Gryffindor common room.

HERMIONE

Gillian came bursting into the common room with her bag and stuff, which was almost falling out of her arms. I got up and went over to her. We had a break before Transfiguration class.

Gillian's eyes were filled with tears and her face was flushed.

"Gillian? What's wrong?" I demanded helping her scoop up her belongings.

"Oh Hermione! I'm so sorry! I'll understand if you never speak to me again!" Gillian sobbed as she threw her stuff down and sat down on the floor.

"What? What's happened?" I demanded worriedly.

Gillian raised her eyes to mine.

"Harry kissed me," she said quietly.

My heart nearly stopped.

"But I swear I didn't kiss him back. I love Ron," Gillian sobbed.

I was angry with her, but more so with Harry. Gillian wasn't that type of person to break couples up. She was very refined and caring. Harry was like that also. But I was going to get to the bottom of this.

"All right. I'm going to speak to Harry too. Tonight we've got practice. I'll see you then," I said, shortly.

Gillian looked like she had been punched in the stomach.

"Hermione...please believe me," she said in a weak voice.

"As I said...I will speak to Harry tonight and I will see you later," I repeated.

Gillian gathered her things up and headed to the girl's dorms. I felt bad. I knew in my heart Gillian and Harry weren't like that. But something must've caused their reactions. Just then, Ron came into the common room, followed by Harry.

"Hiya Hermione," Ron said, brightly. "Are you excited about starting the singing at tonight's practice?"

"Oh yeah. Thrilled," I said, stiffly, glaring at Harry.

Ron didn't pick up on my tone, but Harry did.

"Blimey...we've got twenty minutes before Transfiguration. I'm gonna go over our homework," said Ron, pulling out his Transfiguration notes.

"Good idea," I said.

Harry was looking at me confused, but I just gave him the cold shoulder and talked to Ron.

After Transfigurations, Arithmancy and the rest of our classes, I headed to the empty classroom after changing into my uniform. The rest of the squad was already there talking amongst themselves.

"Ooh! Hey Hermione! Are you nervous?" Emily asked, excitedly.

"Not really," I replied.

"I can't believe how good you sound!" gushed Laura.

"Thanks," I said, forcing a smile.

Just then, Gillian and Ron entered and stood toward the back. Harry entered next.

"Harry? Can I talk to you for a moment?" I called to him.

He came over.

"Sure. What's up Hermione?" he asked.

"What's up? I'll tell you what's up! YOU KISSED GILLIAN!" I cried.

At that, the entire squad fell silent and was listening.

Harry's emerald green eyes filled with remorse and he hung his head.

"Yes. I did,"

"WHY?"

Harry was silent for a minute before he replied.

"I don't know," he replied quietly.

"YOU DON'T KNOW WHY YOU KISSED ANOTHER GIRL? Harry, we're supposed to be a couple! I TRUSTED YOU!" I screamed angrily.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Ron and Gillian talking. Gillian looked like she'd never be happy again. Frankly, I was starting to believe her.

I rounded on Ron.

"Ron, don't be mad at Gillian. Harry was the one who just decided out of thin air to kiss her. She didn't initiate it."

Gillian was crying quietly.

I turned and glared at Harry.

"She's right, Ron. Don't be mad at Gillian. It was my fault," Harry said, in an even lower voice.

"Damm right!" I snarled. "And it's my fault I got involved with someone like you!"

At that, Gillian spun on her heel and fled the classroom.

GILLIAN

I couldn't believe I'd just split up Harry and Hermione. They were destined to be together since the first year and now look what I'd done. I ran right up to the girl's dorm, grabbed my trunk and started packing. I was going to send an owl to my parents in the morning asking them to come and get me. I heard the dorm room door open. I looked up. It was Hermione.

"Gil? What are you doing?" she asked surprised.

"Leaving," I replied tossing my dress robe into my trunk.

"Why? You didn't do anything!" Hermione said startled.

"That's just my point! I didn't stop Harry! I just let him kiss me! I broke you two up! You were destined to be together!" I said, facing her.

Hermione's expression softened.

"I know Harry's crazy about you! I can see it in his eyes! If you let something like this ruin your relationship, then you're just as crazy! I understand how you feel...but Harry would never hurt you," I said, tossing a pair of knee socks into my trunk.

"Gillian...none of this is your fault...and it's not Harry's," Hermione said, softly.

I turned to her, shocked.

"I guess I take Harry for granted not realizing that it might be possible for him to think of another girl. He was just curious. I realized that after you'd ran from the room," Hermione said. "I feel totally stupid right now. You don't have to leave."

Hermione came over and threw her arms around me drawing me into a hug. I hugged her back.

"Unpack," said Hermione grinned as she released me.

Grinning, I began unpacking.

HERMIONE

I left the dorm room and walked back to the classroom. I had told everyone to skip practice for today, that we'd pick up tomorrow definitely.

I slowly entered the classroom and spied Harry still standing there.

He looked up.

"I'm so sorry, Hermione. I love you and only you," he said, pleadingly.

His emerald green eyes were brimming with tears.

Sighing, I went over to him and hugged him.

"I'm sorry too. I guess I take you for granted sometimes. Forgive me?" I asked, pulling back from the embrace.

Harry grinned.

"Sure...if you forgive me."

"Absolutely."

We hugged and kissed again.

"I can't wait to see you in practice tomorrow," said Harry as we walked with our arms linked out of the classroom.

"Neither can I...believe me."

We entered the common room and then headed to our dorms.