= Wands High =

Chapter 21 - 14 May 1998, Thursday

These kids were alright.

He couldn't remember being anywhere this good back in his day. It seemed like a long time ago now – he had picked up the guitar, a very old and ugly-looking one that also sounded terribly awful, often playing in the hallways or outside within the gardens, when eventually he met Orianna. It wasn't long after when seemingly out of nowhere, Wands High had been formed.

Those first few years were all carefree and wonderful, he thought, at least in his memory they seemed to have been. There were no battle endeavors, no shots for glory, no strives for perfection or reputations to live up to.

All seem to had changed after their second Grand-Battle win. After that it was all about living to expectations and preserving the image, and less and less about the music.

But that chapter was over, Daynen thought, and a new one was just now beginning.

- The Wild Bludgers everybody! Let's hear it for them! – the announcer – Kevin, loudly proclaimed and the final riffs of the song "Peppermint Fudge" echoed through the magically enhanced area, now full of nearly two hundred students and who-knows-how-many outsiders that had come here specially for the event.

- So Wands High are not going first? – Orianna shouted in his ear.

- This year they decided to change it – he yelled back. – It's supposed to be all random. I believe we are going second to last.

- Well what do you know... At least we aren't last. Even so though... pressure much!

Up until now it had always been the previous winner who had the privilege to close the event. And Wands High had won the last 4 years in a row. Some were beginning to say that whoever was last to perform had somewhat of an unfair advantage. It seemed that these concerns had reached the ears of the faculty as well, thus likely leading to the sudden change.

- WELL THEN! – it was Kevin again who spoke, now wearing a bright red shirt with stripes, his voice even more magically enhanced, a bit too loudly to be fair. – THE MOMENT YOU HAVE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR IS ABOUT TO BEGIN – THIS YEAR'S VERY FIRST INNESTRAD PRE-BATTLE! BATTLE ONE! SEVEN BANDS ARE GOING TO COMPETE FOR YOUR, I MEAN YOUR – VOTES! MAKE YOUR CHOICE CAREFULLY, FOR AS ALWAYS YOU CAN ONLY CHOOSE ONE FAVORITE! NOW TELL ME, ARE! YOU! READY! TO! ROOOOOOOOOOCK!?

A plethora of noise literally made the air around them vibrate, as eruption of cheers, whistling and woos resonated all around the castle grounds.

Meanwhile, feeling a slight pat on his back made Daynen turn around and discover a quite splendid sight.

- Hey you! – the crowd was still too loud, but he could read the words off Hermione's lips.

She was wearing her usual pair of jeans – the same ones from the night they had met in the Eastern Tower, but instead of the bordeaux-colored blouse she had put on a simple, yet elegant dark-blue tank top with a collar, that seemed to be made from the same fiber as the jeans. Accompanying the attire were a pair of thin metal bracelets, one on each wrist. Her hair was the same as usual and she was wearing no make-up, and yet she looked beautiful.

- I--- might e--- dressed!

- What? – Daynen asked, lowering his head in order to try and hear better.

Hermione placed her palms around his ear and yelled:

- Judging by what I saw along the way, I feel I might be a little underdressed!

- Are you kidding? – was his response in her ear. – You look stunning!

Instead of words, she just tilted her head to one side, an appreciative smile now on her face.