Hallelujah (Irina)

[Deleted]

Brandon was in the middle of a muggle park, just playing on his guitar. He wasn't recording with anyone today, nor did he have any major plans at the moment. His roommate was working and Rosie was busy with something, so he was just out to enjoy himself. Lately he'd spent a bunch of time playing in Diagon Alley and a few of the people there were starting to recognize him and his music. His producers told him that he needed to be careful not to play too much in front of others or his music would seem commonplace to them. That made sense, but he wasn't going to stop playing. So going somewhere the magical community likely wouldn't follow him sounded like a good option. His back was leaned against the tree as he closed his eyes and just let his fingers do whatever they wanted. He loved this music, the type where it could just flow and he didn't have to think or try. It was just better, somehow.

Irina Rose Krum

[Irina Rose Krum]

Irina had gotten done with training early for the day, and with her new apartment being located in London, she did not have to Apparate all the way home to Northern England. It was still warm, so she decided to go for a run through Finsbury Park, a public garden in the northern part of the city. She liked to push herself when she ran, so she preferred running in a Muggle community so she didn’t lose her focus. Mostly, she just liked running to clear her mind; she was getting close to finally completing her Cursebreaking training, and she was a bundle of mixed emotions. Running would clear those right out.

Irina took the long way to Finsbury Park by way of the Muggle Underground; she wasn’t familiar with any wizarding locations close to the park to feel comfortable Apparating nearby. With a few times of bumping into the gate, she made her way on the Picadilly line towards the park. She stretched for a few moments, breathing in the warm afternoon air, before taking off in a run, her sneakers slapping against the gravel the only sound she needed to focus. About a half mile in, Irina began to hear someone playing guitar; whoever it was, they were quite good. She made a turn and headed into the direction of the music, just barely seeing a figure who looked like they were strumming a guitar ahead. As she got closer, Irina was pleasantly surprised to see that she actually recognized the man sitting against a tree. “Brandon!” she called with a smile, slowing down to a light jog as she approached him. Regaining her breathing, she nodded towards his guitar. “Good to see you’re still playing,” she told him.

@brandon

[Deleted]

Brandon was so lost in his music that he didn't even realize that people were watching him. He didn't care. At least, he didn't care until he heard someone calling his name. Brandon looked up with a smile when he noticed Irina jogging up to him. "Hey Irina," he greeted easily. "What have you been up to?" She mentioned his playing and Brandon laughed as he grinned down at his guitar. "I am again," he told her. "It took a while to get here, but I finally am." He looked up at her aand smiled again. "You have any requests?" he gestured to his guitar, waiting to see what she would ask of him. Brandon was so deliriously happy to be here, playing his music just like he always wanted to.

Irina Rose Krum

[Irina Rose Krum]

Irina could tell Brandon was lost in the music, but it made her smile even more. That was just the way he was; it never meant to be offensive or rude, and she knew this already. She took a seat next to him as she bent down to stretch her arms towards her toes. “Oh you know, the usual post grad agenda - started training to be a Cursebreaker, moved into my own place...got back together with Daniel…” she trailed off, looking up at him before breaking into a smile. “So pretty good I have to say,” she finished with a laugh. It was good, she was happy...it was a peaceful happiness, which was more than she could ask for following the events that had transpired the previous year.

Irina could tell how happy Brandon was to be playing his guitar; though she had not gotten a chance to visit him at the hospital, she knew he hadn’t been able to play for awhile. She couldn’t imagine not being able to do the thing you love most of all, and how unhappy it must have made him. “I’m glad that you’re able to play again, though I’m sure you’re happier than anyone else could be,” she told him teasingly. She pursed her lips, trying to think of a good song request that would be more difficult than “Smoke on the Water”. “What about ‘Here Comes the Sun’ by George Harrison? That’s a lovely one,” she requested.

@brandon

[Deleted]

Irina moved to sit beside him and Brandon put his guitar down on the ground next to him. He could spend a few minutes talking to her without playing his guitar. He could play and listen/talk at the same time, but not everyone knew that and he was always a little hesitant to do it because he didn't want to make someone think that he wasn't listening to them just because he was playing. It was just easier to set it down and talk, then start playing again. He smiled and nodded as she explained all the things she'd done so far. "Sounds like you've been busy and enjoying your new freedom as an adult," he teased a little.

He nodded when she said that he must be happy to play again. "I'm sure you're right about that," he admitted easily. Anyone who really knew him already knew how much his music mattered to him. "It was hard, but I'm glad that I'm finally able to play again." Especially after those weeks in the hospital where he wondered if he'd ever be able to play again. This was much better, sitting in the fresh air and relaxing with his guitar on hand. "You've got it," he answered with a small laugh. He started to play the cheerful tune, singing when the time came. She didn't specifically request him to sing, but Brandon couldn't help it. He also couldn't keep himself from grinning happily when he finished the song. Man, he loved his music. He glanced up to look at her. "How was that? Any other requests?" He loved playing songs for other people.

Irina Rose Krum

[Irina Rose Krum]

Irina giggled as he easily agreed with her how happy he was to be playing again. She wasn’t surprised; it would be as if she couldn’t lift her flute up to her lips, or use her limbs to climb trees. She wouldn’t entirely mind losing her clairvoyance however - if it would just show her something nice more than one time since its’ presence became clear, that’d be lovely. “Was it like riding a bicycle, relearning how to play?” she asked curiously. She would imagine it would be something like that - he hadn’t lost his memory after all, just the use of his limbs temporarily. His muscle memory would remember how to play, it just would have been incredibly painful in the beginning. She withheld a shudder thinking of the pain that must have been felt by her friend; she was glad he got through it in one piece.

She hummed along as Brandon sang, not wanting to interrupt his vibe. Irina didn’t have the worst voice in the world, but she also wasn’t about to win any talent competitions based on singing anytime soon. When he finished she applauded, smiling widely. “Hmmm…” Irina pursed her lips in thought. “Let’s get you a little more of a challenge….I’m A Believer by the Monkees?” she suggested, sitting back with a small smile. It was reminiscent of the music challenge they had played back and school, which had been fun. Of course Irina would not ask Brandon to try a different instrument right now, not when he was getting back in the feel for his guitar, but it was something to keep in mind. “Do you know it?” she asked him.

@brandon

[Deleted]

It was nice to be around someone as cheerful as Irina. She seemed honestly happy to have found him and Brandon was glad that he ran into her here. He made a face, shrugging hesitantly at her question. "I'm not sure," he answered. "My fingers know what to do, but they just weren't strong enough in the beginning. After being paralyzed for so long it was hard to use them. Guitar was the easiest to start up again though. The piano ... well, I'm still working on that one." Which was disappointing. Brandon loved how mobile playing a guitar was, but the piano was his first instrument and meant a lot to him. 

As he sang, Brandon smiled when he heard Irina joining in softly. He loved it when other people felt comfortable enough to be a part of his music. She might not quite be there yet, but at least she seemed to act normally around him. Brandon appreciated that. When she started thinking, he grinned. It seemed as though this was going to become another one of those competition things between him and Irina. Last time it was with a bunch of instruments. Since that wasn't really feasible now, apparently she was going for obscure songs. He laughed at her song choice. "Yes. I know that one. You'll have to join me in singing though. I'd feel weird doing it on my own." He started playing the short intro, pausing as he waited to see if she was going to sing along. 

Irina Rose Krum

[Irina Rose Krum]

Irina nodded. “Just give it time; the fact that you survived, and recovered so much so far is a miracle in itself,” she told him gently. Of course, magical healing was leaps and bounds over the Muggle remedies, but there had been Dark Magic involved in the two explosions; she had overheard her superiors at Gringotts discussing it quietly. She hadn’t been eavesdropping exactly, just passing by at the right time to hear what they were saying and may have just stopped to listen. Purely accidental of course. It didn’t surprise her that it had taken some time for Brandon to fully heal - she hoped he was proud of the fact that he could play his guitar again at least, as she believed it was a huge accomplishment.

Irina laughed at his request. “Alright deal, but I may scare off the birds,” she agreed, gesturing to the flock of pigeons pecking the ground for bits of breadcrumbs nearby. She sang along as he strummed his guitar, her voice soft but not completely out of key for once. When they finished, she clapped and smiled. “Okay, let me think on the next one,” she told him, scrunching her face up in concentration. After a moment, an idea came to her and she snapped her fingers. “Okay, this time, I want you to close your eyes. Concentrate on the first melody that comes to your head, and play it,” she challenged. She was intrigued as to what was going to come to mind for him; a song of hope, or something more geared towards the sadness of the loss of his companions on the ship. She sat, cross legged on the bench and waited patiently for him to begin.

@brandon

[Deleted]

Irina's attitude made Brandon feel much more peace than he would have expected, talking about the aftermath of his accident. It was nice that she wasn't telling him he needed to just tough things out and realize that other people had things worse. He mentally scoffed as he remembered that woman in the hospital who all but said that to him. He nodded in agreement. "Thanks Irina. I guess it's hard to remember that it's a miracle when I'm trying so hard to move past it all, but that is a good point." The fact that he was alive right now was a miracle, which put his inability to play the piano at the moment into perspective. It would all work out and be just fine. 

Brandon loved getting other people involved with his music. As Irina sang with him and his guitar, he couldn't help but smile a little wider. It was obvious that she appreciated the song, which made it all worth it. He loved playing for people, but the whole experience became much more meaningful when she participated. He laughed when she concentrated hard, trying to come up with something else for him to play. It didn't take long and Brandon nodded his head as she explained what she wanted him to play for her. This type of song didn't require him singing, it was just letting his fingers and feelings do the work. 

"All right," Brandon muttered, closing his eyes and taking a few deep breaths. His fingers began to strum and the melody that left his guitar during the next several minutes was a new one, one that had never been played before. It started out a little rough, but it was supposed to. Having just talked about his accident, that was where his thoughts and emotions were at the moment. The song started out with the sorrow of parting from Hogwarts, then became loud, disjointed and jumpy as he thought about the attack. Suddenly, the music was quiet as he remembered waking up in the hospital and mourning when he was told what happened to most of the people who traveled with him on the ship. He thought the song would end there, but it didn't. It continued through the struggle of the healing process, ending with the simplicity and peace that lifted his heart when he was finally able to play again. He played the last chord, swallowed, and then looked up at the friend sitting with him. "Sorry," he whispered, his voice cracking, "I wasn't expecting it to be that intense." Still, even though the entire song was already slipping away from him, he was glad that he had the chance to play it. He felt more peace now than he expected, having just relived the past weeks.

Irina Rose Krum

[Irina Rose Krum]

Irina just closed her eyes as Brandon began the challenge she had put to him. She hadn’t known really what to expect, but the melody coming from the guitar strings was quite powerful. She could follow along with the events she knew had happened to him since the fateful day he had left Hogwarts, Durmstrang bound on their ill-fated ship. She could feel the pain, almost as if it jolted through her limbs into her very soul, and found her cheeks became wet with tears. The song had turned sorrowful, and she knew he was thinking of all those he had lost at sea. If Daniel hadn’t decided to leave, if he had gone back to Durmstrang on that ship...she didn’t know if he would be here, loving her, living and breathing and doing the things he wanted to do. She knew that even though she had tried, she couldn’t imagine her life without him.

Irina choked back a sob as he finished playing and he apologized softly for the intensity of his song. She tried to speak, but found she too was emotional, and instead simply wrapped her arms around her friend in a gentle hug. She stayed that way for a moment, before pulling back, wiping her face and giving a watery chuckle. “You have nothing to be sorry about, that was...magnificent,” she said quietly, offering an encouraging smile. “If you ever find the words to it, or even if you don’t, you should record it. I think people deserve to hear such a work of genius,” she suggested, eyes crinkling as her smile grew. Yes, people would certainly queue to listen to a piece as emotional as this one.

@brandon

[Deleted]

The emotion surrounding the two of them was intense and Brandon knew it was his fault. In all honesty, he hadn't meant to play something so stirring, but it just came out. Since it was what she wanted, at first he didn't think it was a problem, but then he felt bad. He didn't mean to make her cry. She didn't say anything once the song was over, instead leaning over to give him a hug. Brandon hugged her, patting her back gently. He wasn't really sure what to do. He didn't really hug a lot of emotional girls. When she pulled away, Brandon watched her carefully, feeling a little relieved at her words. He smiled, "Thanks," he muttered. Then he shrugged. "I'll have to try and write something similar soon because I honestly can't remember most of that, but I'll try it out. That sound alright to you?" He was sure she would say yes, but wanted to make sure. Brandon chuckled again, "Any more suggestions?"

Irina Rose Krum

[Irina Rose Krum]

Irina quickly waved Brandon’s apology aside, shaking her head as the wetness on her cheeks dried. “Don’t apologize for something so beautiful. Music should stir the emotions, make you feel what the musicians feeling as they strum their string, or move their fingers along the keys. That’s what makes the difference between an amateur and a professional.” She paused, then raised one eyebrow in a mock-quizzical manner. “You ARE a professional aren’t you?” she asked him teasingly. More so than anything else, she wanted to lighten up the mood a little. It had been at her suggestion he play what he was feeling, so it was up to her to bring him back up. “Sounds perfect,” she agreed with a smile. “Any ideas on names?”

Irina thought to herself as he asked for another request. She didn’t want to do anything somber, but she also wanted to talk to him about the goings on in his life. Finally, she had an idea. “Let’s see if you can do this: playing the melody of ‘Ticket to Ride’ by the Beatles, but instead of the lyrics tell me about what’s been going on in your life the past few weeks,” she requested, killing two birds with one stone - figuratively of course.

@brandon

[Deleted]

Irina insisted that he shouldn't apologize for his music and Brandon nodded slowly. He wasn't necessarily apologizing for the song. It was one of his better spontaneous pieces. The emotions were there and he felt as though he was able to fully express his feelings through it. The only difficulty- like he already said- would be in trying to reconstruct the song. That wouldn't stop him from trying though. He smiled sneakily when she started talking about the differences between an amateur and a professional. "I don't know. Why don't you tell me? Was that professional music there or amateur stuff?" Technically he was in a place in-between the two options right now, since he had a contract but wasn't making music. Might as well play around with that. His eyebrows lifted. "Names for the song? I don't know if I'll be able to play it again, Irina."

Then she had a new idea. Of course she did. Apparently Irina was full of ideas when it came to music. He lifted an eyebrow as he looked at her. "Bring it." He started to strum the chords to the song as he started to explain. He talked about Rosie leaving while he was in the hospital, about working through his physical therapy and fighting to get his motion back, about going to Adonia when he missed Rosie, about her leaving and Rosie coming back. He told her about how they talked through their problems, but how during all of that he was fighting to get his music back and finally felt like it was getting back to how it was before the accident. As he spoke, Brandon watched his hands, knowing that if he looked at his friend, he was likely to lose his control on his emotions. When he was done talking, he ended the song and glanced up. "So, how was that for overwhelming?" he asked with a small chuckle, trying to make it easier to talk about.

Irina Rose Krum

[Irina Rose Krum]

Irina pretending to think about the question, stroking her chin thoughtfully. “Hmmmmm….” she drawled, then laughed. “Why yes Brandon, I’d say you’re quite the professional musician,” she declared, folding her hands back into her laugh. When Brandon admitted he was uncertain he would be able to play the same tune again, she scoffed. “Trust me, that melody won’t leave you for some time, not really.” Whenever Irina felt truly in tune with a piece for the flute, she could pick up her instrument and play it by heart months, or even years later. She didn’t know if it was merely from muscle memory, or something more emotional, but she bet Brandon knew exactly what she was talking about.

Irina smiled, listening to him sing about his summer exploits; recovering, Rosie’s grand American adventure with a younger Hufflepuff named Georgie, being able to work out the unresolved issues between them, and of course getting his music back. Irina had been quite happy for Brandon when he had sparked a relationship with Rosie; though they had never been as close as she and Brandon had when he attended Hogwarts, she liked the girl well enough. Her mother had been big into Quidditch, and had dated the Triwizard Champion who had died back in 1994; her father had spoken of her often, especially after they moved to England. “I’ve heard worse - remember, I’m dating my brother’s best friend,” she reminded him with a laugh. “That…is another story in itself though - you’ll remember, he left to go back to Durmstrang in January so he wasn’t…” Irina trailed off, not finishing her sentence. Dan wasn’t on the ship back to Durmstrang, so he wasn’t among the injured or dead. Her mind suddenly flashed back to the day she found out about the explosions, and she gripped the edge of the bench tightly as though she was in danger of falling off. “Sorry,” she said, taking in a shaky breath and forcing a smile on her face. “So with Zander run off to Brazil, have you done any tryouts to replace him?” she asked, tactfully changing the subject.

@brandon

[Deleted]

Brandon smirked as Irina pretended to think about her answer to the question. Yes, he knew she was thinking. She was making a big deal out of it just so he would know. He chuckled when she said he was a professional, surprising him. Brandon thought for sure she was going to tease him and tell him that he was an amateur. "Why thanks Irina. That's high praise coming from you," he teased. After all, she'd been the one to contest his musical abilities on a constant basis, always trying to find something he couldn't play well. He nodded slowly at her next words. "Yeah, you're right." While he knew the intricacies of the piece he just created were mostly gone, she was right that the melody would stay with him. From that, he could create something similar and write it down. "I guess there's no excuse for me to not write the song then, is there?" 

Once his next song was over, he waited to hear Irina's verdict, relieved a little when she said that she'd heard worse. He smiled when she started talking about her own story, dating her brother's best friend. She continued talking about Dan for a minute until she trailed off. There was no question as to why in Brandon's mind. His smile faltered a bit and he looked down at the grass, but he didn't say anything. Nothing to indicate the flashes of memory in his mind. It was fine. Someday he'd be able to make it through a conversation without remembering that awful day. He nodded when she apologized, but didn't look up until she finished her next question, successfully changing the subject. Brandon shook his head, "No. Zander and I mostly only did duets occasionally. So I'm working on solo songs at the moment, but when I have a song for both of us, I think he'll come back for a short visit." At least, that was what the two friends talked about before he left. That was the plan.

Irina Rose Krum