Cue No. 22

Solo harp delicately plays, examining Hermione’s internal state despite the party going on around her. Strings quietly enter and hold long notes as to not disturb the harp. Upon Harry leaving the common room and searching for Hermione, a small motif appears in the celesta. Though this is a small connective tissue for the cue, it serves as a sort of “adolescence motif,” capturing the broadening emotional palette of the characters’ internal lives.

Ron and Hermione’s theme begins in the celesta as Harry descends the staircase towards her. An alto flute answers, with the harp playing the “adolescence motif” in tow. This motif moves around the orchestra as the two of them begin talking. Harry sits next to her, and the cellos in their high register begin a full statement of Ron and Hermione’s theme.

Strings move around nostalgically in parallel chords when Ron shows up with Lavender, eventually holding on a G octave. Percussion and harp swirl around magically after Hermione stands up, choreographing the birds she sends after him. The adolescence motif plays once more as he walks away, oblivious to Hermione’s feelings.

Now that Ron is gone, Hermione’s own theme now plays over her distress. Harry comforts her, understanding how this must feel because of his own hidden feelings for Ginny. Outside, a transition shot moves around the castle, accompanied by the Hogwarts Forever B theme. This is the first time it appears in the series, having only been used in the horn quartet version of “Hogwarts Forever.” It provides an “aged” feeling to the castle and the students we know and love.

A repeating triplet and duplet figure keeps the momentum under the texture. Malfoy is seen atop the astronomy tower, and his theme gets a short mention. As the sun comes up on a new winter day, we see a wide shot of Hogwarts, and hear a mature, stressed Hedwig’s Theme high in the strings.