= Wands High =

Chapter 26 - 14 May 1998, Thursday

- You don't think you guys are going to win, do you? – the girl asked once they were far enough from the others. – I am even getting the feeling that you don't really want to win either.

- It's hard to say – he admitted, laughing. – I think I'm a bit on the fence about it, honestly. It's not that I didn't like the way we shaped up or anything, but there are also many other factors in play here.

- Such as?

- Well, the fact that we are a new band, for instance. Most of the people that will end up voting for us are likely fans of me or Orianna from our days in Wands High. Not that James and Jessie are inferior musicians or anything, they just aren't known here and in these sort of competitions that can be an influence. It will take a while before we are really out of that shadow, I think. As for the winning part, I never joined these things for the sake of winning alone, you know this. Sure, it would be nice to win, it would make me happy, but if we don't - it wouldn't ruin my evening or anything.

- Even if it's Ender? – Hermione dared to suggest.

- Well – he said, taking her hand with his again. – Let's just say that I would very much mind his insufferable demeanor afterwards. That aside though – no, I don't think it would bother me.

- How uncharacteristically mature of you!

He tried to tickle her, but ended up getting a slap across the wrist instead.

- They put on a good show. Not so much musically in my opinion, but a solid performance nevertheless. But hey, what do I know...

- Quite a few things, I'd say – said Hermione, shooting him a devilish look. – You know, for a boy.

- What kind of boys have you been hanging around, Ms. Granger?

- Don't you be mean now!

She was too good at feigning those shocked or outraged reactions, her voice alone the indication that she hadn't taken anything seriously.

- Daynen! A few words, please?

Their path was literally crossed by a young reporter, who was accompanied by very eager looking cameraman.

- Our frontman and the rest of the band are right over there, Cassidy – he said, motioning towards the way they'd come from.

- Nothing has changed then, eh? Never the spokesperson for the group, dear Daynen.

She looked at him with what almost looked like pity, before stepping aside so they could pass, the photographer taking half a dozen shots of them anyway. Daynen knew that he was going to see some of them in the school paper tomorrow – "Leaf and Horn".

- You two know each other? – Hermione asked, looking over her shoulder towards the red-haired, dressed in full leather attire girl, with numerous piercings and nose rings on her face. – I have to say, prior to me coming here, I wouldn't have believed a look such as this was possible at a wizarding school facility.

- Believe me, prior to me seeing her for the first time - neither did I.

- You two... seemed to know each other. – Daynen heard her inquire, an unspoken question within the sentence.

- She studies here, writes for the monthly paper, always noses around looking for spicy stories when it comes to the battles and the bands, so yes, we've spoken before.

- I see.

- Everything alright?

They had stopped walking, the barrier separating the crowd from the pre-stage area now just a few meters away.