This is a story co-wrote by Merlin and me!

Thank you to ALL my reviewers and to ALL my readers!

Disclaimer: see previous chapter.

Thank you to Merlin, GoldenSunnyGrl, and Malombra for being such great BETA’S.

AU.

ENJOY!

WISHMASTERS

Chapter Nine

…in which the competition looms.

The Room of Requirement had been magically expanded for this battle. There would be no war. The last battle it had seen was that between Voldemort and Potter. The power that Potter had was from the room, it remembered the jubilation from when the magic had been summoned, the ages old power of its creator, Godric Gryffindor. You could almost feel the room smile as it remembered the horror on the dark lords' face. Once he knew he was beaten, he had attempted to flee- too late. His body and soul were disintegrated. The room knew its master.

Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore stood and grinned; they both felt the room remembering its pleasure at Harry winning. They felt its willingness to comply with their wishes. As they grinned, and burst out laughing, they realized that they really were true Wish-master’s at this particular moment in time.

As the two were laughing like loons, the other bands walked in. This was the first time that any of the bands had seen the others together, with their instruments. They all looked at Dumbledore and Harry wondering whether they were laughing at somebody or something in particular, or whether they were both off their rockers like popular rumor said. As the two wiped tears of mirth away, McGonagall stood on the stage, and coughed in a very Umbridge like fashion. Most of the students jumped, and the few that didn't hooted with laughter. McGonagall did something very out of character and grinned, bowing to the audience.

"Enough levity, I think. This is your..." she consulted a piece of paper, "sound check. You will each play a song from your chosen list. The room will decide on an optimal sound level of treble and bass for each group, and remember it. So, if we could have the Ravenclaw Four on stage first please?"

Five nervous looking Ravenclaw second years got up on stage, thought for an instant, and smiled when their instruments appeared. This got a round of applause from the entire room, including Dumbledore and Harry. Their singer finally found some courage, and as she stepped up to the microphone, winked at the audience. Most of the room found themselves thinking, Hey, for a second year, she's pretty hot! Wonder if she's single...

Most of the room, however, didn't know that she was half Veela.

Ron leaned over to Harry and whispered, "I know she's hot and all, but damn me am I glad I'm not single! The competition for her is going to be insane!"

Harry just grinned. "Where is Hannah anyway?"

"Look at the next band... I tried to get her to join us, but she said we didn't need two singers. I was a tad upset about that, but you have to admit, her style wouldn't really fit anyway. Would have been cool to have her on board though." Ron smiled. He'd been dating Hannah Abbot from Hufflepuff for a while now, and the two were inseparable. Except apparently in this.

Just as Ron finished this sentence, the Ravenclaw Four started to play. A heavy trance drum beat from a very talented drummer, who started to steam as the sweat dried on him, a techno keyboard player, and the two back-up singers started up a remix of the classic Crush on You by the Jets. Before they knew it, the whole room was dancing. As they played the room changed sound levels and decided on the right settings for the band.

“Next up is a band called Nightwishers from Hufflepuff and they will be covering a song called Nymphomaniac Fantasia.” Minerva called out.

As they started to play, Ron's mouth dropped open. Hannah was singing for the group, but what she was wearing was what was throwing Ron off. Hannah had chosen a tight pair of leather trousers, a red flowing gothic shirt and had dyed her hair black. She looked stunning. Ron sat down quickly.

"Mate, are you sure that's Hannah?" Harry asked.

"Unh!" Was the only response from Ron. Hannah began to sing at that moment, staring at Ron the entire time.

The Scent of a Woman much like mine she spoke, in a husky voice.

They keyboard player started on his synthesized flute lines, the guitar softly strumming delicate chords in the background, and the drummer idly twirling his drumsticks, waiting, then suddenly, the guitar morphed, the pace picked up, and the drummer started to play... the effect was so unbelievable that most of the guys in the room couldn't even think, let alone comment. The song continued... Ron groaned. His eyes latched on to his girlfriend.

Welcome Home, you miss me?Let me twirl in delight...

Hannah twirled, and then continued to stare at Ron. Ron simply groaned again.

Touch my milk-like skin...Feel the ocean...Lick my deepest,Hear the sorry cry...

Ron looked pained and delighted at these words... though Harry, Vincent and Draco all understood the pain and hope he was plainly showing. Hannah had chosen a very provocative and enticing song, and was singing it directly to Ron. Harry was the one to find enough voice to whisper to Ron.

"I think somebody's going to get lucky very soon!" He grinned into Ron’s ear. Ron merely looked more pained.

Rebirth this slave,That keeps me imprisoned,But beware the enchantment,My eroticism is so deep-felt!Cold Glamour lies Deep

Hannah was back to her husky spoken voice now, her stare grinding Ron into the ground. Even the others around him were feeling uneasy about this blatant display of sexuality and promise from the Hufflepuff singer.

Deeper shall be their world,Between your legs!

The room stood stock still until one person clapped, just once, upon which there was a veritable wall of sound. Ron closed his eyes and smiled to himself. Hannah had been giving him a message throughout the song. A challenge, too. Ron felt lifted, on a totally new plane of existence. He watched the nest few bands without really hearing them.

When at last their turn to come on stage arrived, they all picked up their instruments, and walked on stage. Harry willed into existence a Marshall stack and the band plugged in, and looked at Harry. Harry gestured at his long-time friend to pick. Seeing as the majority of the bands had chosen covers, Ron gestured for his personal favorite – 12 stones, by Broken.

Hermione grinned and started the tune, Dumbledore and the others joining in as they went. Ron closed his eyes, then stared at Hannah, while his clothes morphed into the bands trademark faded black.

Alone again,I get a long,vision of waiting by the phone,Hoping you will call me home,The pain inside,My love denied,Hopes and dreams,Swallowed my pride,Everything I need in life is you.'Cos I'm broken,You know I need you nowDeeps inside I'm broken,I know,Know your heart is broken,When I turn away,I need to be brokenTake the pain away!Yeah!

I question why,You chose to die,When you know your truth I would denyYou look at meAnd tears begin to fallAnd all in allFaith is blind,But I fell time after timeDaily in my sin,I take your life...

As Ron launched himself headlong into the final chorus, Hannah joined the throng at the front of the stage, the band grinned, and Ron concentrated on changing a few things. Their faded black shirts became stylish leather jackets, their trousers became much tighter, and Hannah flushed. The song concluded and the band jumped off the stage. The room swept with a torrent of applause.

Somebody yelled "NightWishMasters!" prompting a look to pass between the two bands. Harry shrugged and gestured all of them to come towards him, and winked.

"Hannah, how about you and Ron performing together? I have the perfect song for you two. A mix of instrumentalists.... Albus, you as drummer, me as bassist and Ron singing with Hannah... you choose the rest... I think 6 on stage is more than enough."

They all grinned and climbed onto the stage. The audience grew very quiet, unnaturally still, and Ron started to sing. As each of the instruments came in, the cheers grew louder, and the new group relaxed into the song. What they sang isn't important, and I doubt they'll remember it in a week's time. They all left the Room of Requirement, every band gone, until one couple remained. Ron closed his eyes, and changed the room. Hannah closed her eyes and locked it to everyone but them.

"Hannah, that was truly evil... you have no idea what that was doing to me... I hope you realize that!" Ron muttered between kisses.

"Yes... I know it was... and you have no idea what your performance did to ME!" She stopped kissing him and glared. "You know what happened last time you did that?"

Ron winced. He did indeed remember, but felt that this time, he could get away with it... purely because he knew about last time.

"I know, love..." Hannah blinked at this. "But then, after you wound me up like that, I couldn't resist the opportunity to get back at you. Can you blame me? Can you forgive me?"

Hannah just looked confused. "Did you just call me love?"

"Yes. I do love you Hannah, its just taken me a while to realize it."

"Then yes, I can forgive you. And no, I can't blame you. Just don't do it again!" She blushed, and realized something. Deep in her own heart, she loved him too. Briefly debating in her mind, she lowered her eyes, and whispered the three words that Ron needed to hear. "I love you. I really do love you too Ron."

A tear came to both of their eyes, and the two embraced. Hannah concentrated, she told the room, in her mind, to become what both of them needed. The lighting lowered, soft music played, and in the corner of the room, a bed appeared. The door outside the room vanished, and wouldn't appear for anyone again until the two were done.

Hannah gently took Ron’s hand, and led him to the bed. She sat down, and waited. No rushing, no words required. Just one look between the two. A look containing love, passion and pure agreement. Ron sat down, and kissed her.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

In the Bands meeting chamber...

Harry looked around, and saw that Ron was missing. He smiled to himself, and wished him the best. Hannah was a handful at the best of times, and now that the two were secluded, he could only imagine.

Draco, on the other hand, noticed that Harry was deep in thought first. He'd been watching the young Gryffindor all the while the two were on stage, and couldn't get the leather look out of his head. Dumbledore was sat in a corner, watching them all in deep thought. He wished to whatever gods happened to be listening at the time that everything would work out for the couples in the room, and the couple outside the room. Just as it hadn't worked out for him.

Suddenly, a crate of butterbeer and several platters of food arrived at the same time as a very excited Dobby. Dobby bowed to them all, and winked at Dumbledore, then left with the trademark crack. The band tucked in, wishing that Ron were here to share the thoughts. Harry broke the silence first.

"Ok, people..." He winked at Hermione, "I think the Nightwishers are going to be our major competition. I don't know for sure whether we can beat them with cover songs. I reckon that we ought to do something new. And no, Albus, I don't mean that just because it's my songs. I mean it because it's the best thing we can do. I know we can't decide without Ron and I'm not trying to make you. I just want to know what you guys think we should do. Because with Hannah's new look, and her damn voice, it's going to be hard to beat them."

The others looked stunned at this speech. Vincent spoke up next.

"I think we ought to do Queen of the Sun. I know you don't think it's the best one you've written Harry, but to be quite honest, I don't think we can play better than we do when we play that. It's just a pure outpouring of emotion... straight from your heart into everyone else in the room. Still, I'm one voice here. That's just my two galleons."

"Hear, hear!" Came from the doorway. Hannah Abbot and Ron Weasley stood there, grinning and blushing. Ron winked at Harry covertly. Harry smiled back at the pair, and nodded approval, something that meant a lot to the both of them. Approval from the Boy-Who-Lived was a major thing for the majority of the people in Hogwarts.

"Personally, I have no idea what song you're talking about, but I do like the fact that you see us as a threat Harry!" Giggled Hannah, just before Ron rolled his eyes.

"You are a damn threat Hannah and you know it." Ron mock-growled. "Now, go on and I'll catch you later. I suspect your lot are waiting for you too!"

"I know your right, they will be waiting for me. But then I don't want to go!"

"No spying Miss Abbott," chuckled Dumbledore. "You are already enough trouble for us without you knowing what we're doing in the actual contest."

"An endorsement from you Dumbledore, just wait till the guys hear this!" Hannah shot off down the corridor at this, leaving a chuckling band in her wake. Ron flopped down onto the chair waiting for him, and grinned, looking spaced out.

Draco kicked him. "Wakey…wakey! We need your take on what song to do in the actual contest!" He yelled.

"Queen of the Sun." Was Ron's response. "Vincent was right. Its perfect though I suspect at least one of the judges will cry."

The band merely looked thoughtful.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

As I said this is mostly wrote by Merlin.

Please check out my bio for important information on upcoming updates.

ENJOY!

LMG