Sleeping Bookworm

Chapter One

The Auditions

"Good morning everyone!" Luna said, as she came in and sat down beside Ron. Ever since the previous year, Luna had become the best of friends with the Golden Trio and Ginny. Dumbledore had allowed her to sit with them considering he was very happy about the interhouse relationships going on.

"Good morning, Luna! Sleep well?" Hermione asked her, as Luna reached for a slice of toast.

Luna shrugged. "Well, considering the fact that the other girls were all giggly and stuff until like midnight, I didn't get to sleep until then. Other than that, I slept pretty well."

Hermione smirked. "I know how that goes! Believe me. I've had to put up with it for five years. And then there's this one. So I'm going on six!" Luna smiled at the older

girl, as Ginny came in. She had her eyes half closed and was dragging herself over to the table. Everyone looked up as Ginny plopped down in the seat next to Hermione's and laid her head heavily on the table. Everyone furrowed their eyebrows at her with confusion. Hermione laid a hand on her shoulder. "Ginny? Are you all right?"

Ginny picked her head up and looked over at her with sagging eyes. "No," she said simply before laying her head back down again. Ron was chuckling to himself, and Luna giggled. Ginny reached up and folded her arms over the top of her head to muffle out the sound. Harry reached across the table and set a hand on hers.

"Ginny, what's wrong? Did you not sleep well or something?"

Ginny slowly lifted her head to find herself staring into Harry's concerned green eyes. Harry withdrew his hand, and Ginny crossed her arms on the table. She grinned at him sleepily. "How'd you guess?" she asked him.

Harry grinned. "Well...for one thing, you didn't come in here and start eating right away like you usually do. You're eyes are really droopy, and you're still wearing you fuzzy slippers."

Ginny's eyes widened as she looked under the table to see that she indeed still had on her green fuzzy slippers. Her cheeks turned slightly pink. "Well...looks like I'll be sleeping in the common room tonight," she said, reaching for a muffin.

Hermione furrowed her eyebrows. "Why?" she asked.

Ginny frowned. "Because the girls in my dorm have talked about nothing but Harry for the past week!"

Harry's eyes snapped open and he raised his eyebrows. "What? W-why?" he asked.

Ginny grinned slightly. "Because now that Voldemort's back - Ron, quit! - they're so worried about you!" she said in an annoyed tone. "It's always, 'Harry's so brave!' or 'I wish Harry would notice me!' or 'He's my hero!' or 'I wish Harry would go out with me!' or 'I sure hope that Harry doesn't die!'. The list goes on forever!" She dropped her head on top of her arms once again.

Luna gasped. "You know what? That's exactly what the girls in my year have been so giggly about!" Harry's head snapped over in Luna's direction. His mouth now agape.

Harry was staring at Ginny in shock. He had no idea he was the major heartthrob of 50% or more of the 5^th year girls. "Y-you mean to tell me...that I've been the major topic of 15 year old girls for weeks now? Just because I'm going into battle with Voldemort?"

Luna nodded. "That would be my assumption yes." She buttered another piece of toast and began to eat it.

Hermione looked over at Ginny. "How long did they keep you up?"

Ginny shrugged. "Until about midnight I guess. But then I just couldn't fall asleep. And ask Ron, I need at least nine hours of sleep if I'm going to be nice the next day. Isn't that right Ickle Ronniekins?"

Ron looked up and glared at his sister. "Yes, Ginny Dearest," he mumbled.

Everyone chuckled lightly at this. Hermione reached into her bag and pulled out a small tube of red bubbling liquid and handed it to Ginny.

"Here. Drink up."

Ginny's eyes widened. "Pepper-up potion! Oh Hermione, you really are the best!" She pulled off the cork and swallowed it down in one gulp. Smoke came out of her ears for a second before she took a deep breath and let it out. "Much better!" she said with a smile. She reached for another muffin and set it on her plate along with some toast and eggs.

Just then, the sound of glass being tapped upon was heard from the head table. Everyone turned his or her attention there as Dumbledore stood up. He was obviously going to make an announcement. "Attention everyone! I have an announcement to make. Since we received the dreadful news last year, the school has fallen somewhat sullen. So, in order to brighten everyone one's spirit's, a school play is in order."

Everyone around the hall started whispering and giggling to each other. Hermione's eyes seemed to light up. "The play is Sleeping Beauty and the auditions will take place this evening, here, in the Great Hall after dinner. So have in mind what character you would like to portray before entering auditions tonight. This is for 5^th years and up only I am afraid, but everyone in the school will be able to witness it. So with that said, have a great day!"

As Dumbledore took his seat, the school erupted into gossip and talk almost immediately. Hermione had a smile on her face and a look in her eyes that nobody had ever seen before.

"Hermione?" Harry asked, "Are you ok? You're eyes are all glazed over, and I'm afraid that if you smile any wider that your face will be stuck that way."

Hermione mentally shook her head and came back to reality. "I'm sorry. It's just, I love school plays. I haven't been in a school play since I was ten. And also, in this play whom ever plays Aurora, the princess, and the prince Phillip, gets to sing. And I absolutely love singing! I think I'll try out for Aurora," she said rather quickly.

Ron's eyebrows furrowed. "I didn't know you sang! Why didn't you ever tell us?"

Hermione shrugged. "I don't know. It was just never of any importance I guess."

"Well, why don't you sing for us?" Ginny asked.

Hermione stared at the younger girl with wide eyes. "Right now? With everyone in the Great Hall?"

Harry chuckled. "Hermione, if you haven't noticed, 95% of the students have already left. It's just a few Slytherins and us. And their opinion doesn't count anyway. So go ahead. Sing now."

Hermione sighed. "Alright. What do you want me to sing?"

"Why don't you sing a song from Sleeping Beauty. You know, to prepare yourself?" Luna asked.

Hermione sighed again. "Alright. But don't laugh please. And when I get done, be perfectly honest. Even if it is bad."

Everyone nodded. She took a deep breath and looked up at the staff table to see that it was just Headmaster Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall. She stood up behind her chair as she let out the breath she was holding. "Ok. Here I go..."

I wonder, I wonder,
I wonder why each little bird has a someone
To sing to, sweet things to,
A gay little love melody

I wonder, I wonder,
I wonder if my heart keeps singing,
Will my song go winging
To someone, who'll find me
And bring back a love song to me.

When Hermione quit singing, she looked around at her friends to see them staring at her with gaping mouths. She gulped and licked her lips as she stood there, shuffling her feet, awaiting their answers.

"Well? What do you think?" she asked after a few seconds of silence.

"Hermione..." (Ginny)

"That..." (Harry)

"Was..." (Luna)

"Amazing!" (Ron)

Hermione smiled shyly as she resumed her seat. "Really? Do you really think so?"

Ginny nodded. "Of course! I mean, you have a beautiful voice Hermione. Why didn't you ever tell us?"

Hermione shrugged. "I don't know. I guess because I have a reputation to hold right? And I don't think singing is in the description of a bookworm!"

Harry chuckled. "True. But that doesn't matter now. I mean, look over at the Slytherin table." Hermione turned her head to see Draco Malfoy, his cronies Crabbe and Goyle, Pansy Parkinson, and Blaise Zabini sitting there with gaping mouths. She turned back around with a slight blush creeping up on her cheeks. "You see? You even have them speechless and that's saying something!"

Everyone laughed lightly at this. "So you guys really think that I should try out for Princess Aurora in the play and all?"

"Absolutely Hermione! You have a hidden talent that needs to be shown. Show people a side of Hermione Granger that they never thought possible," Luna said.

Hermione smiled. "Alright. I'll do it. But you guys have to try out for a part as well."

Everyone's smiles disappeared from their faces. Hermione chuckled. "So you expected me to try out for this and you guys not do anything? You guys are pathetic!"

"Y-you want us...to try out for a part in a play?" Harry asked.

"Of course! Oh come on, it'll be great fun! Please?" She put on her best pleading face that the boys couldn't ever resist.

"Oh...with the face and the eyes and the...ugh! All right! But don't make me do anything embarrassing," Ron said, trying to be as serious as possible. But you could see the small gleam in his eyes. (AN- Guess where I got that from?)

Hermione smiled. "Ok. What about the rest of you?"

Harry shrugged. "Well, if Ron's gonna do it, I guess I might as well too." Ginny and Luna nodded to agree they would too.

"Great! So what are the parts you guys are trying out for?" Hermione asked.

"Well, I'll be like a townsperson or something. I'm not good at memorizing lines or anything," Harry said.

"That's better than nothing I guess. What about you Ginny?"

"Oh I don't know. I'd like to be the Queen. But then again, I'd also like to be a fairy."

"Well, why don't you try out for both? That way you can have a for sure chance of getting something!"

"Alright. I'll have to think about it. What about you Luna?"

Luna shrugged. "I don't know. I'll be the Queen or something. But not Maleficent. She's mean. I'm not a mean person. It wouldn't fit me too well."

Everyone chuckled. Harry turned to Ron and asked, "What about you? What are you going to do?"

Ron sighed. "Maybe a King or something. I mean, we used to act all the time at our house during Christmas holidays. We'd put on a play for the surrounding neighbors. We did A Christmas Carol and I was Scrooge. So I guess I'll do something important, but not too important. Like the Prince. I don't sing. So I'll just do a King or something."

Everyone nodded in agreement. "So, we're all going to try out for the school play. It would be so cool if we all made it!" Ginny said.

"Yea it would." Hermione agreed. Just then, the bell to leave for class rang. They all rose and gathered their stuff. "Come on boys. It's time for Potions."

They both groaned as they started trudging after Hermione. "Is it double?"

Hermione shook her head. "No. We have double Care of Magical Creatures today though. And then, you guys have Divination while I have Arithmacy."

Harry and Ron let out a sigh of relief. It was bad enough that they hated Potions and they had to take it if they were going to be Auror's, but double Potions was just too much. "Alright. Let's get this show on the road," Harry said.

Ron furrowed his eyebrows. "What?"

"It's just a Muggle saying for let's get this started or whatever," Harry explained.

"Oh. Ok," Ron said. They walked out of the Great Hall towards the dungeons behind a bouncing Hermione.

Ginny turned to Luna. "Do you want to walk to Charms with me?"

Luna smiled. "Sure!" When they started walking down the Charms corridor, Luna spoke to Ginny again. "Listen Ginny, I want to thank you for befriending me. I've never actually had any friends before."

Ginny smiled. "Hey no problem. I know what it's like not to have any friends either. You know in my first year, I was all off on my own in my own little world. So I never made any friends. But then I started becoming friends with Hermione when she kept coming over to the Burrow every year. Since we were the only girls in the house, we shared things together and stuff. So she's like my older sister."

Luna smiled again. "Well, I just wanted to thank you and everything." Ginny smiled at her and nodded. "So? Are you just going to wear your slippers all day?"

Ginny looked down and realized she was still wearing her slippers. She smiled. "Sure! Why not?"

That day at dinner, the Great Hall was full of excited talking. The auditions were to be held right after dinner and everyone was ecstatic about it. Harry and Ron were enveloped in a conversation about Quidditch, and Ginny and Luna were talking about that days Charms lesson. Hermione sat there picking at her food. She was actually nervous about the audition. She hadn't been in a school play for almost six years now and she if she did get the part she was most likely to sing. She was nervous when she was singing this morning at breakfast, but singing in front of the entire school? She was nine the last time she did that. Suddenly she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned to see Draco Malfoy standing there.

"And what gives me this great pleasure of being blessed with your presence," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Draco smirked. "I just came to tell you that I shall see you at the auditions tonight. And don't think that I'm wishing you luck because I'm not."

Hermione crossed her arms over her chest. "And what makes you think I'm trying out?" she asked him.

Draco raised an eyebrow at her. "With a voice like that this morning, and it coming from the same play that we're performing, and you say that you're not trying out? That is hard for me to believe."

Hermione glanced over at her friends to see that they didn't even know that Draco was here. She sighed and turned back to Draco. "Look, I'm really not in the mood ok? Yes I am trying out, but I'm not in the mood to mess with you because I'm a little nervous right now ok?"

Draco held up his hands in defeat. "Fine. But as I was saying, I just came over here to tell you that you will have to sing tonight. Again."

Hermione's face paled. "I-I have to what?"

"Sing. You'll have to sing the song where you're in the forest with Prince Phillip with a person who is trying out for the Prince. So I just thought that I'd forewarn you, that if you get stuck with me, we're just singing. We're not going to be doing any touching or anything."

Hermione's jaw dropped. "You're trying out for Prince Phillip?"

Draco nodded. "Yea. So?"

Hermione shook her head, a grin on her face. "Nothing. I just didn't know that Malfoy's participated in Muggle activities."

"What Father doesn't know won't hurt him now will it? And besides, the Slytherins have agreed that this might actually be...fun."

Hermione raised an eyebrow at him. "Really? So you find pleasures in other things besides torturing other people?"

Draco narrowed his eyes. "You know I'm not that cold hearted."

Hermione put her hand to her chest and gasped in a dramatic way. "Really? I always thought that you were an arrogant bastard!"

Draco's eyes flashed dangerously, but it didn't faze Hermione the slightest. "Then you don't know me very well do you?" he asked in a low tone.

Hermione narrowed her eyes. "Obviously not. But I have a question for you before you go." Draco raised his eyebrows at her confirming that she could ask him. "What are you going to do if I get the part of Aurora, and you get the part of Prince Phillip?"

Draco stared at her for a moment as if he was contemplating his answer. "We'll get to that when the time comes. Until then, don't hold your breath on it." With that, he turned on his heel and walked back over to his table. Hermione turned back to her uneaten food and sighed. Luna looked up from her plate and furrowed her eyebrows at her.

"What's wrong Hermione?" she asked. Ginny looked over too as well as the boys. Hermione chuckled to herself. They look over when she's asked a question from one of them, but don't even bother to give her a glance when she's having a conversation with Malfoy.

Hermione shook her head. "Nothing to worry about. Just nerves."

Everyone nodded. "I'm starting to get second thoughts about this," Ron said, as he set down his fork.

Hermione frowned. "Oh come on Ron! What's the worst thing that could happen?"

"Public humiliation!" he said. Everyone laughed at this and Hermione started feeling a little better. Although, she couldn't get out of her mind what she would do if she and Draco were given the lead roles. Just then, Dumbledore stood and everyone in the hall fell silent.

"It is now time for the auditions to be held. If you would please, exit out into the Great Hall. If you are not auditioning or too young, please return to your common room. If you are auditioning, please stay in the Great Hall until someone comes out to get you. Now, off you go!" Everyone stood up at once, and left the hall in a hurry. Hermione stood with her friends over on the left side of the double doors. She could make out a few Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs and saw Draco standing with a few Slytherins on the right side of the doors. She caught Draco's eye. He smirked and she scowled, looking away.

They didn't wait long when Professor McGonagall came out of the doors and ushered everyone inside. Hermione turned to Ginny as they walked into the hall. "Have you figured out what part you're going to do yet?"

Ginny nodded. "Yea. I think I'm going to try out to be a fairy."

Hermione smiled. "Good. Fairy suits you better anyway!"

They looked up to see that the tables were gone as well as the chairs and a large stage was placed at the front of the Great Hall. Hermione suddenly had butterflies in her stomach once again as she took in the scene before her. When everyone was finally inside, McGonagall stood in front of them with her hands raised.

"My I have your attention please? Thank you. Now, there are spots all around the room where you will go for the part that you wish to try out for. The Fairy's, even the evil one, are over there in the far corner, the royal parents are over in that corner, townspeople and others are over there, and the Princess and Prince are up here on the stage with me. So go ahead and start off towards the place you wish to try out for." Hermione said a good-bye to her friends and made her way up to the stage.

When Professor McGonagall saw Hermione standing on the far end of the stage, she walked over to her and brought her to the middle while talking to her quietly. "I was hoping you'd try out for Aurora. That voice of yours this morning was absolutely gorgeous!"

Hermione muttered a thank you and stood next to a 7^th year Ravenclaw that she didn't know. She looked around to see that there were only four girls. One from each house. She also noticed that Pansy was the one from Slytherin. There were also four boys, one from each house. Colin was the one from Gryffindor and of course, Draco was the one form Slytherin. Hermione looked around the room to see a professor with each group of students. She noticed that Professor McGonagall was the one with them, so she let out a sigh of relief. She came up and handed each of them a script and then walked down the stage steps to the front of the stage where she could see them all clearly.

"Now, we are going to be doing the scene in the forest where Princess Aurora is picking flowers and Prince Phillip comes and finds her. I will be splitting you up because you will not do this with someone from your own house."

Hermione's stomach dropped. What if she got stuck with Draco? She bit her lip and looked over the script. The only thing that was on it was the song that she would be singing with her 'prince'. She sighed.

"Now, I want Abigail to go with Creevey here," she said to the 7^th year Ravenclaw. "And Parkinson, go with Adams." Pansy walked over to a handsome looking 6^th year Hufflepuff with a frown on her face. She obviously wasn't happy with not being with Draco. " Amanda, go with Smith. And Hermione, you'll be paired with Malfoy."

Hermione rolled her eyes. She knew it was coming. She walked over to Malfoy and turned her back to him. He just shrugged and listened to what else McGonagall had to say. "Now, we will start with Abigail and Colin. I assume you all know the song?" Everyone nodded. "Good. So when the music starts, you may begin."

The music started and the girl Abigail started singing. She was fairly good, but her voice was soft and quiet. Hermione doubted the people trying out for the fairies could hear her even a little. When it was time for Colin to sing, Hermione had to put her fist in her mouth to help herself from laughing. His voice was cracking because his voice hadn't quite broken completely yet. When they were finished, they walked to the other side of the stage, and it was Amanda Collins and Brian Smith's turn. They did fairly well, although Amanda started getting into it and when she spread her arms she knocked Brian in the nose with her script.

Next was Pansy and Eric Adams. Pansy was not a singer from what Hermione could hear. She hit all the wrong notes at the wrong times and half the time she was yelling. Hermione stole a glance at Draco to see his face scrunched up. She figured he must have agreed. When it was time for Eric to sing, he did really well. Hermione knew Draco had some competition. His voice was loud and clear and very nice to the ears. The only thing he didn't do was get within ten feet of Pansy. Hermione giggled lightly at this, which earned her a raised eyebrow from Draco. She turned to him as they erupted into the chorus.

"Sounds to me like you've got some competition," she said, crossing her arms over her chest.

Draco shrugged. "We'll see. I have a plan. It involves touching you though. But don't get any ideas. This is just for the play. We're not friends or anything, got it?"

"Wouldn't even dream of it," Hermione said.

Draco smirked. "Sure. Anyway, put some movements into it because I know you won't need the script like the others. And neither will I. So it will leave us the movements. That should earn us some points, don't you think?"

Hermione frowned. "So you're hopeful that we might get these parts? You do know that if we do get these parts, you'll have to kiss me?"

Draco's face paled. "Yes. I knew that. But they'll most likely won't do that for a school play. So don't worry about it."

Hermione nodded in agreement. He had a point. She looked up just as Professor McGonagall called them to the center of the stage. Hermione took a deep breath and laid her script down on the stage and walked about five feet in front of Professor McGonagall. The professor furrowed her eyebrows.

"Do you not need your script dear? You either Mr. Malfoy?"

Draco shook his head. "No mam. I know this song quite well," Hermione said.

Professor McGonagall grinned. "All right. Here we go." The music started and Hermione pointed her gaze off in the far corner at Ginny who was looking over at her. She then heard her cue and she started singing...

I know you, I walked with you once upon a dream
I know you, the gleam in your eyes is so familiar a-gleam
Yet I know it's true that visions are seldom all they seem
But if I know you, I know what you do,
You'll love me at once, the way you did once upon a dream

Hermione walked to the very edge of the stage and looked around and saw that she had everyone's attention. She smiled as she continued.

But if I know you, I know what you do,
You love me at once,

Hermione then acted like she was dancing by spreading her arms and stepping gracefully from side to side. She then felt two strong hands entwine with her fingers and she gasped as Draco started singing.

The way you did once upon a dream

Hermione turned her head to look at him with wide eyes. There was a gleam in his eyes that she had never noticed before. He whispered, "Lay your head on my shoulder." She furrowed her eyebrows, but he raised his saying 'do it', so she did. He wrapped his arms around her slim waist, not letting go of her hands. He was surprised at how small she was, but didn't say anything. Hermione sucked in her breath as she felt his touch on her waist. She looked over to where Harry and Ron were to see them not even noticing for they were doing their auditions. She sighed. She was brought back to reality when Draco started singing again.

I know you, I walked with you once upon a dream
I know you, the gleam in your eyes is so familiar a-gleam.

Hermione inclined her head to look at him as they both looked into each other's eyes as they both sang.

And I know it's true that visions are seldom all they seem
But if I know you, I know what you do,
You love me at once, the way you did once upon a dream.

They stood like that for a moment before Draco let go of her and side stepped. She suddenly felt cold from the absence of his warmth. She looked at Professor McGonagall to see her quite shocked.

"That was wonderful! Thank you Miss Granger. Mr. Malfoy."

They both nodded at her before catching each other's eye and walking to separate sides of the stage. Hermione saw Pansy standing over by Draco with her mouth hanging open. Hermione smirked. She had to say that the look on Pansy's face was worth Malfoy holding her so close. She then looked up at him. He was looking at her; his face expressionless. She quickly looked away, suddenly interested in a spot on the ground.

"Now, we are going to do the scene where the princess pricks her finger on the spindle and falls into her deep sleep," Professor McGonagall said, bringing Hermione back to earth. She looked up to see a spindle and the professor on the other side of the stage with Draco and Pansy. "Now, the gentlemen trying out for Phillip please stand over here by Mr. Malfoy. Princess' stand over by Miss Granger."

Everyone did what they were told as Professor McGonagall touched the spindle with her wand and a green light appeared in front of Abigail. "Now, follow the green light to the spindle, touch it and fall to the ground like you were really in the play." The light started moving toward the spindle. She followed it as though she were hypnotized with her hand out stretched. When she touched the spindle though, she didn't fall to the ground in heap. She sank to her knees and then fell to the side.

Professor McGonagall shook her head. "Abigail dear, you're supposed to fall to the ground in a faint. I assure you it won't hurt. Now, stand out of the way while we give Amanda a turn." The light then appeared in front of Amanda and she followed it as she was in some sort of trance. She came to the spindle, touched it, but she actually did prick her finger and she stuck it in her mouth.

"Ouch! That hurt!" Hermione giggled. She glanced over at Draco. He chuckled and shook his head at her. Hermione looked back at Amanda to see her walk over to where Abigail stood. Next was Pansy's turn. She lazily walked up to the spindle, as if she did it everyday, touched it softly, gave out a squeal, and fell to the floor with a thunk.

McGonagall shook her head once more. Hermione bit her lip to keep from laughing. "Miss Parkinson, is there any other part you wish to try out for?"

Pansy frowned. "Well, I thought of trying out for Maleficent, but I wanted to be the Princess as well."

McGonagall sighed. "Miss Parkinson, you have to put some more feeling into what you do. So I'm afraid that this is not the part for you. Why don't you go join the fairy group?" Pansy hung her head as she walked off the stage toward the back of the hall. Draco watched her with a bored look. He rolled his eyes and looked over at Hermione. He caught her eye and smirked. She looked away blushing.

Then the green light appeared in front of Hermione. She took a deep breath and followed it with wide eyes. Never blinking. When she was about half way across the stage, she reached out for the light with an outstretched hand. The light settled on the spindle and Hermione reached out and touched it. She then fell to the floor in a heap softly, but it was like she fainted. McGonagall clapped her hands as Hermione took her place next to Amanda, who patted her on the back.

"Well done Miss Granger! Now, I need the Princes over here. We are going to see how well you can ride a horse." Colin groaned, Eric got wide eyed, Brain paled, and Draco smirked. McGonagall came back out on stage with a beautiful white stallion. It had an elegant saddle upon its back and its mane and tail had been curled. Hermione gasped at how beautiful it looked. Draco raised an eyebrow at her but said nothing.

"Alright. Mr. Adams? Why don't you try it first? Just get on it and ride to the end of the stage and back." Eric gulped and walked slowly up to the horse. He then tried to mount it but he just ended up falling onto his back. "Alright. Thank you Mr. Adams. Um...Mr. Smith? You next." Brian casually walked up to it and mounted it, but he over mounted it and fell onto the other side. Hermione giggled, as did the other girls. The boys chuckled. He got up and brushed himself off before joining Eric. "Thank you Mr. Smith. Mr. Creevey?" Colin walked up to it, but he accidentally tripped at the horse's feet, spooking it. It rose on its hind legs and thrashed its front legs in the air.

Amanda and Abigail ran off the stage in fright, as did Eric and Brian. Colin slowly backed away from the horse to the back of the stage. Hermione gasped and took a step back. Draco walked up slowly to the stallion holding his arms up to it. The horse came back down on its feet but was still thrashing its head. Draco set his hands on either side of its face and put his forehead against the horses. He started saying soft things to it and making soft clicking sounds with his tongue. Hermione stared at him. She didn't know he could be like this. So kind and everything. He gently petted the side of the stallion's head as it lowered its head onto Draco's shoulder. Everyone in the Great Hall was now watching the scene on the stage. Hermione then noticed something. She saw Draco smile. She had never seen him smile like that before. It reached his eyes and made his eyes gleam. The ice in them seemed to melt away. McGonagall came onto the stage over to the horse and Draco.

"Thank you Mr. Malfoy for calming him. I couldn't have done it myself for I am not too well with horses. Now, do you think he'll allow you to mount him?" Draco nodded and walked to the side of the horse, never breaking eye contact with it. Hermione watched him as he mounted it with graceful ease, and rode elegantly from one end of the stage to the other. She was awe struck at the site of him. He climbed off of it just as gracefully as he got on and gave the reigns to McGonagall. "That was excellent Mr. Malfoy. Well done!" She turned and handed the reigns to a small house elf who took it off the stage from the back. McGonagall said her thanks to it, which lifted Hermione's spirits a little about house elves at Hogwarts. She then turned to face the other students. "I want to thank you for coming this evening. Now, if you are finished with your auditions, please return to your common room. The results will be posted tomorrow morning on the board outside the doors of the Great Hall."

She then turned to Hermione and Draco who were standing side-by-side. They didn't notice this until they both looked over at each other. "I do have to say that I am very happy about the performance that you two put on tonight. It was quite spectacular. But you have some rough competition I have to say. So look on the post tomorrow morning." They both nodded and exited off opposite sides of the stage.

Hermione went over to where Ron and Harry stood talking obviously about what just happened. She caught the words horse and Malfoy come from Harry's mouth. When they saw her approaching they stopped talking and turned to her.

"So, how were the auditions?" Ron asked.

Hermione shrugged. "They were all right. And pretty weird."

Harry's face scrunched up in confusion. "How so?" he asked.

Hermione sighed. "Well, because we had to sing the song in the forest with Aurora and Phillip, and I was stuck with Malfoy. Well since we knew the words, we put movements into it. And he ending up holding me."

Ron's face started turning red. "How did he hold you?" he asked through clenched teeth.

Hermione walked up to him and turned her back to him. She took her hands in his and wrapped them around her waist. She laid her head against his shoulder and looked up into his face. "Like this," she said.

Ron's face turned even redder. "Did he hurt you or force you to do that?"

Hermione stepped away from Ron. "No Ron. He didn't force me to do anything. He's actually been somewhat civil this year. So you don't have to go and beat him up or anything."

Ron looked to Harry and nodded. "We're taking you to Madam Pumphrey. He has obviously did something to you," Harry said, taking her by the arm and leading her out of the hall.

Hermione rolled her eyes and snatched her arm away from him. "I assure you that I am perfectly fine. He didn't do anything. We were only acting. What are you going to do if him and I get the part?" she asked him.

Harry and Ron looked at each other with worried looks. "I-I'm pretty sure that won't happen-"

"But it might. I have to say that we were the best ones up there. So what are you going to do?"

"Well is there anything that we can do?" Harry asked desperately.

Hermione smirked. "No. There isn't. And besides, we'd just be acting. It wouldn't mean anything. So don't worry about it."

Harry and Ron sighed. "All right. But if he tries anything, I will beat his ass to a bloody pulp!" Ron said, punching his fist into his hand.

Hermione smiled. She appreciated how protective and everything they were. But sometimes she wished they would give her just a little bit of space. "Ok. I'll let you know if you have to do anything alright?" They both nodded. They walked over to where Ginny was talking with a Hufflepuff in her year. Ginny waved good-bye as she saw them approaching.

"Hey guys! How were auditions?"

"They went pretty well actually. I think I have a pretty good chance," Ron said.

"Well that's good. Hey Hermione, I saw you and Malfoy up there." Ginny smirked as Hermione paled. The boy's attention was now on the girls. "He was holding you awfully close." Hermione was trying to get her to hush without the boys noticing, but Ginny was staring off into space. "The way you two were looking into each other's eyes I would have thought that you two were long lost lovers or something. You two looked so perfect up there. And your voices are amazing together. Is there something going on between you two?"

Hermione sighed. She looked over at Harry and Ron to see them looking absolutely livid. "You didn't tell us about this eye gazing thing."

Hermione looked innocent. "Oops! Did I leave that tiny detail out?"

"Tiny detail my ass! There's something going on and I want to know what it is!" Ron demanded.

Hermione sighed. "I told you, nothing happened. We were acting!"

"That doesn't sound like acting!" Ron said, pointing a finger at Ginny.

"Well I assure you it was and nothing more! You don't have to worry about me falling in love with Malfoy, all right?"

Ron shook his head. "Fine. But you better not be secretly dating him or something!"

Hermione frowned. "Even if I was, what's it to you?"

Ron paled and his ears turned red. "You are aren't you?"

Hermione laughed at this. "Of course not you git! Do you think I'm that thick?"

Ron sighed a sigh of relief. "I guess not. How about we head back to the common room, eh?"

Everyone nodded. They were about to leave when they heard, "Hey guys wait up!" They turned to see Luna running towards them. Ron smiled.

"Hey Luna. How was try outs?" Ron asked her.

Luna shrugged. "Oh they were all right. You make a pretty good King Stephen, Ronald. You sang the Scrumps song really well. It was funny like it's supposed to be."

"Well thank you, Luna. And considering the only people trying out for the Queen were you and Elizabeth Anderson, I do believe that you are our new Queen. Did you see what happened when she did the scene with the baby? She dropped it on its head!"

Everyone laughed at this. "Yea I remember. That was pretty funny."

They all stood there in silence for a moment. Then Ron cleared his throat. "Hey um...would you mind if I walked you back to your common room?"

Luna stared at Ron for a moment as though he were another creature before she smiled. "Sure. I would like that." They turned in the opposite direction of the Gryffindor Tower towards the Ravenclaw commons. Harry, Hermione, and Ginny looked at each other with raised eyebrows before they started giggling and chuckling all the way back to Gryffindor Tower.