{ fame will define who you are }

“Mm, right. Give the ‘rents my love when you see them, even if they aren’t crazy about it. I’d give them a present, too, but I don’t want to push it.”

Unlike most Slytherins, I don’t have a clear picture of my future. I really just want to look at ghosts and play quidditch, but those don’t make a feasible career.

“Quidditch does, if you’re into the professional make of it. I dunno about ghosts, but it’s not like there aren’t any options out there. You’ve got time to figure it out... You’re--what, fifth year? I dunno. I just realized I don’t even know your name.”

I’m kind of blessed because I’m really good at bullshitting essays and cramming, but having to make up in-class projects is always a hassle.

“You’ve got loads of time to get your shit together! That puts you at a better advantage than me.”

You agree, then?

“Yeah, I think so. I’ve been working on a lot of stuff over the past few years. I mean, the few singles I have out are good but not really the direction I wanted to go in, so I’ve been writing more personal stuff lately. Stuff for the band, but like―I dunno if the band is gonna happen again so I’ve been forcing myself to work more independently.”

“Of course,” he replied adamantly, “they’re the circle things with the- they spin with the music and the Muggle electricity things. Right?”

“Ooh, that would be interesting! But you’d need to spend hours to cover them all, don’t you think? It would take like ten, fifteen people to cover every single one of them and not have it take weeks.”

“Well, I mean, there’s magic to consider... surely mixing a bit of Muggle stuff with magic can speed up the process? This will need further study.”

Based on that quick snippet, I could envision it being a very bare-bones track, just guitar and the vocal. Maybe supplement uke, maybe integrate a harmony. Higher, on the third. Soprano. Simple and raw, mix it as if it were a live performance in a small venue. Akin to Bright Eyes, if you’re familiar with them, or classic Damien Rice.

Would it be an acoustic piece then?

“Maybe. Ideally some other instruments, but I’ve only brought my guitar to school with me. I have to wait to get home to experiment with piano, uke, and percussion ‘n things. Why?”

Right? Haha! Although I do get more anxious skipping potions more than a lot of classes, because so much in-class participation is required, and it’s harder to make up.

“I guess. I’ve only skipped once or twice this year, y’know, trying to keep a good record for year seven. It’s proving harder than I thought, especially with Kempston all over my arse about getting things right. I’ve never been the best Potions student.”

“Uh…” James hesitated, looking helplessly to Alex. Truth be told, between his internship and bitterness, all he’d had time to do over the summer was rehearse the old stuff, which, by now, he hadn’t touched in ages. “But this stuff’s classic,” he subbed, shrugging. “Can I see the guitar, Doogs?”

Er– guess I could concoct some makeshift percussion things. 

Caelan had to suppress a grin as they offered the guitar to James. “Pop a squat, my friends.” It hadn’t been their plan to really get the guys to join them, but... “I’ve wanted to ask, but I didn’t want to make things weird―Now that you’re here, though, how have you guys been faring? I’m seriously interested in what kind of music you’ve written these past couple years.”

“Yeah, I’ll fuckin’ fight you..”

[ James turned in the direction of the music, startled by the familiar voice ]

Caelan paused their strumming, letting their arm dangle off the body of the guitar. “It’s never too late to relearn the old stuff. I ‘spect your new stuff’s even better, then?”

“Yeah, I was just humming it to see how it sounded without the guitar. I think it still needs a bit of work. If you have feedback, I’d love to hear it.”

Fair enough. The dungeons really can be so dreary, so I thought they needed a little extra help cheering them up. Potions can wait.

“That sounds like a good idea, but then again, skipping Potions for any reason sounds like a good idea to me.”