Hogwarts' Next Top Witch

Epilogue

"Bad Day" belongs to Daniel Powter, and yes, I blatantly stole the ending from the "American Idol" results shows. I'd like to thank those of you who read my story, and double thanks to those of you who read AND reviewed my story. I really appreciate it each and every review.

"Congratulations!"

As soon as Hermione entered the Burrow, Ron, Harry, and Ginny had leapt in front of her, huge smiles on all of their faces. There were red and gold balloons and streamers scattered behind them. A banner hung across the room with the words "Hermione is Hogwarts' Next Top Witch!" no doubt created moments before her arrival with a magic paintbrush, although somebody forgot to use a drying spell for gold paint was dripping down the letters. Ginny was holding a chocolate cake that had "Congratulations, Hermione!" written in red icing.

"Welcome back, Hermione." Ron leaned forward to kiss her on the cheek.

"Wow, you guys did all this for me?" Hermione asked.

"Of course!" said Harry. "We wanted to give you a proper greeting. So how does it feel to be Hogwarts' Next Top Witch?"

"I don't know," Hermione said as she pushed past Ron and Harry, "why don't you ask her?" She plopped down onto the middle cushion of the couch.

Ron, Harry, and Ginny swiveled around to face her, the smiles on their faces replaced by completely different expressions: confusion for Ginny, shock for Harry, and outrage for Ron.

"Wh-what do you mean?" Ginny asked.

"I didn't win," Hermione replied simply. "Lavender did."

"WHAT?!" exclaimed Ron.

"But how?" said Ginny.

Hermione shrugged. "That's just the way it is, I guess."

"'That's just the way it is'?" Harry repeated. "Hermione, you are one of the most - no, scratch that - you ARE the most competitive person I know. And all you have to say is, 'That's just the way it is'?"

"Oh, I was upset at first, and I still am a little," Hermione admitted. "But I'm not that surprised. Fleur told me that if it were Hogwarts' Smartest Witch, I'd win that without any question. Lavender was the girl she was looking for to win the competition. Fleur liked that she was the most enthusiastic about it. And you know how large Fleur's ego is." Hermione looked at Ginny. "When we had the one-on-ones, Lavender told Fleur that she was her role model."

"I knew it!" Ginny cried. She glanced down at the cake and said, "I'm going to fix this"

and headed to the kitchen.

Harry and Ron each took a seat on either side of Hermione

"So Lavender won because she sucked up to Fleur?" said Harry.

"Well, that was part of it," Hermione replied.

"I still think it's bullocks," Ron grumbled as Hermione squeezed his hand.

"Think of it this way," said Harry. "Anyone can be Hogwarts' Next Top Witch, but not anyone can defeat the Dark Lord!"

"But that's not true, Harry," Hermione said, frowning at him. "There can only be one winner of Hogwarts' Next Top Witch as Fleur has reiterated again and again.And I'm not the only one helping you to deafeat You-Know-Who, you know. You have Ron and Ginny and the rest of the Weasleys, Remus and Tonks, the Order…"

"Okay, okay, okay, I know!" Harry interrupted her. "I was only trying to make you feel better."

Hermione smiled. "I'm sorry, I know you were. Tell you what: I'll give you a do-over."

"Thank you." Harry cleared his throat. "As I was saying, anyone can be Hogwarts' Next Top Witch, but not anyone can defeat the Dark Lord, right?" He held up his hand.

"Right," Hermione replied with a grin as she gave him a high-five.

-------------------------------------

Where is the moment when needed the most?

:::clip of all ten girls grumbling as they hand their wands over to Fleur:::

You kick up the leaves and the magic is lost

:::clip of the girls gasping in horror as they realize Professor Crunk is one of their judges:::

You tell me your blue sky's fade to grey

:::clip of Susan looking annoyed as Luna opens Horace Hufflepuff's cell:::

You tell me your passion's gone away

:::clip of Ginny screaming "Shut up!" to Susan on the bus:::

And I don't need no carryin' on
:::clip of Susan being the first girl eliminated from the competition:::

You stand in the line just to hit a new low

:::clip of Hermione looking indignant at the idea of getting a make-over:::

You're faking a smile with the coffee to go

:::clip of Lavender and Pansy screaming from the chemicals being put into their hair:::

You tell me your life's been way off line

:::clip of Hermione looking revolted as Ginny and Luna show her a pink hoodie and rainbow belt she should try on:::

You're falling to pieces everytime

:::clip of Ginny throwing a remote at Pansy while playing Truth or Dare:::

And I don't need no carryin' on

:::clip of Parvati being the second girl eliminated from the competition:::

Cause you had a bad day
You're taking one down

:::clip of Pansy finding her mutilated brownies and freaking out:::

You sing a sad song just to turn it around
You say you don't know
You tell me don't lie

:::clip of Pansy accusing Ginny of writing in her brownies and Ginny screaming back:::

You work at a smile and you go for a ride
You had a bad day
The camera don't lie

:::clip of Cho pointing to RESPEITO on her shirt:::

You're coming back down and you really don't mind
You had a bad day
You had a bad day

:::clip of Romilda being the third girl eliminated from the competition:::

Well you need a blue sky holiday

:::clip of Cho looking incredulously at Ginny's Gushi Chiaki:::

The point is they laugh at what you say
And I don't need no carryin' on

:::clip of Hermione being the first eliminated from Quidditch Dodgeball:::

You had a bad day
You're taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around

:::clip of Dean Thomas falling off the ledge of the commentator's box:::

You say you don't know
You tell me don't lie
You work at a smile and you go for a ride

:::clip of The Sultans of Swing victoriously celebrating their win over The Black Mambas:::

You had a bad day
The camera don't lie

:::clip of Padma being the fourth girl eliminated from the competition:::

You're coming back down and you really don't mind
You had a bad day

:::clip of Pansy looking offended at being the elephant for the interpretive dance exercise:::

Sometimes the system goes on the blink
And the whole thing it turns out wrong

:::clip of Cho trying to get across the room as a snake during the interpretive dance exercise:::

You might not make it back and you know
That you could be well oh that strong
And I'm not wrong

:::clip of Hermione spotting Ron and Harry at the Magic Shack:::

So where is the passion when you need it the most
Oh you and I
You kick up the leaves and the magic is lost

:::clip of Lavender giving Ron a lap dance:::

Cause you had a bad day
You're taking one down

:::clip of Pansy being screamed at by Fleur and being the fifth girl eliminated from the competition:::

You sing a sad song just to turn it around

:::clip of Hermione and Lavender both trying to get to Transfigurations at the same time

for the Witch-Sees:::

You say you don't know

:::clip of Ginny just barely beating Cho to Charms for the Witch-Sees:::

You tell me don't lie

::clip of Hagrid telling Luna to leave his cabin during the Witch-Sees:::

You work at a smile and you go for a ride
You had a bad day

:::clip of Luna being the sixth girl eliminated from the competition:::

You see what you like
And how does it feel for one more time

:::clip of Cho in slow motion being captured by a vampire:::

You had a bad day

:::clip of Cho tossing holy water at a vampire, but missing:::

You had a bad day

:::clip of Cho being the seventh girl eliminated from the competition::::

Had a bad day

:::clip of Ginny being the eight girl eliminated from the competition:::

Had a bad day
:::clip of Hermione being the ninth girl eliminated from the competition::

THE END