Drums, Guitar, Bass, and Vocals
Hermione’s first thought as she entered the dusty classroom was that this was the most beautiful girl she’d ever seen. The girl sitting on one of the desks with her legs crossed as she read had long black curls that covered her face, glinting like embers in the light of the candle. Her second thought, as the girl looked up, was that she knew this girl. Sort of.
Raven was in her Defence Against the Dark Arts class, and Hermione really only knew her as Professor Lupin’s favourite. She’d heard gossip and rumours exchanged about the girl at parties, mostly calling her things that would make her cheeks go pink if she were to repeat them.
Her skin was pale, unnaturally pale, as if she avoided the sun like one avoids a lover after a quarrel. Her red contacts looked startlingly real, and shown in the flickering flames like a ruby embedded in the quartz of her skin. Her long black lashes fluttered over the red eyes that Hermione had to force herself to look away from. The silver of her jewellery, of which she was able to conclude were at least two pounds of it adorning the girl's body, sparkled slightly in a very very captivating way.
“So um, hmmm. Do any of you know any instruments? I was thinking I could be first guitar and vocals, if that’s ok with you guys,” Raven said, her words spoken with a certain urgency to thems if she felt that the trio would disappear any moment.
Ron’s eyes lit up. “Yeah, I play the drums.”
Hermione and Harry’s heads whipped to look at him. “You do?” She asked him The ginger shrugged.
“Could you show me what you’ve got?” Raven said, her red eyes lighting up in a way that made her wish that Hermione could be the one to make her look like that.
Ron smiled and made his way to the, albeit dusty, drumset, setting down behind them with an easy confidence she envied. He took the drumsticks between his fingers, twirling them once before he began to play.
He was properly good, Hermonie couldn’t believe it. Nimble in his movements, not only that but his sense of rhythm and tempo was outstanding. The way he played made the cymbals sing and each crash of the drums echo around the tower. She could tell that Ron was likely versatile in his skill too. Beats ranging from Rock to Jazz flowed out from the sticks. She couldn’t belive the bloody fool had hidden this from them .
Raven looked impressed as she pulled her black curls into a ponytail that made the pale white of her neck stand out in a rather distracting way. “That was great!” She said as she could feel the girl getting a bit more comfortable around them. “So you’ll definitely be on drums, and you two…?”
“I don’t play anything,” Hermione said sheepishly, looking at her boots.
“Neither do I,” Harry replied, his hand at the back of his neck.
“It’s fine, I’ll teach you two. So Harry hmm. How about bass for you?” Raven asked, her eyes narrowing as she looked him up and down. Harry nodded, “I can get behind that.”
Raven visibly relaxed. “Great, and you, Hermione, you can be the second guitar.”
“Whatever you want,” Hermione replied and internally cringed at how stupid she sounded as she quickly backpedalled, “I mean, you probably know more about this than I do–”
Ron wisely cut her off, “What she means is that we’re happy to do whatever you think is a good idea.”
Raven nodded. “I’ll go by the library to check out some beginner bass and guitar books, I’m not the best teacher but I’ll try.”
“Thanks,” Harry said, as he jumped up to sit on one of the desks.
They didn’t actually get anything done that practice. Hermione learned that Raven’s favourite class is Defence Against the Dark Arts, that her favourite colour is purple, and that during the summer she and Professor Lupin travel around England looking for lesson ideas.
Raven learns that Hermione is muggle born, that she likes the smell of fresh cut grass, and that her favourite class is potions. The quartet talked long into the night, to the point that when Ron looked down at his tattered watch he was surprised.
“It’s 10. We should try and get back to the dorms before Filch catches us.” Ron said, the feeling of disappointment filled the air.
As the boys left Hermione lingered, watching the candle flames dance as Raven cleaned up the room with her wand, watching her swift movements and precision. “Same time next week?” She asked tentatively.
Raven jumped, turning around as if she didn’t realise she was still here. “Oh! Yeah, yeah sure.”
Was Hermione imagining the blush on Raven’s cheeks?
“It was um, nice to meet you,” Raven mumbled before grabbing her things and all but running out of the room.
-
Raven. Raven. Raven. The name repeated over and over in her mind as Hermione stared at the red and gold embroidery of her canopy bed.
The way she moved, so fluidly, like a dancer moving to an ethereal tune only she could hear.
The way her hair shone in the candlelight, the orange glow akin to embers at the bottom of a fire pit.
The way those strange red eyes looked at her when she asked about meeting again.
Hermione was already losing it. After what, 2 hours? She had seen Raven around a few times but she’d never really noticed her, not like this.
She quietly sat up, pushing the curtain on her bed aside. “Lavender?” She whispered to the girl sleeping next to her.
“Hmm?” Lavender replied groggily, “Nooo I won’t repent Evil Chocolate frog!” She still seemed half asleep.
“Lavender. ” Hermione repeated and the other girl propped herself up on her bed.
“‘Mione, it's so late, what is it?” Lavender asked quietly.
“What does having a crush feel like?” Hermione asked, wringing her hands.
“Ooooh–” Lavender cut herself off and began the actual answer.
“It’s not like, the same for everyone but…have you ever had something you really wanted? Like that feeling of not hunger, but something like it? When your stomach gets all weird and all you can focus on is whatever that thing is. That’s kinda what having a crush is like.” Lavender explained before her eyes lit up.
“So? Who is it? Is it someone in our grade? Is it one of the boys you’re always hanging out with?” Lavender noticed her grimace. “ Oh. So you’re like um…”
“I can swing both ways.”
“Hmm. I guess I can see being into some of those girls from Slytherin. I mean, they’re like, alluring almost.” Lavender mused. Hermione groaned and buried her face in one of her pillows.
“Oh, it’s definitely one of the Slytherin girls.” Lavender grinned and her cheeks burned in shame.
“Please stop talking.” Her muffled voice said.