Disclaimer: I own nothing. All characters of Harry Potter belong to JKR. All music belongs to Lerner and Loewe, who are among the greatest of musical theater authors/composers/lyricists. This story was inspired by the story "TheSchool Play?" by I think Moony. If you like this, or even if you don't, you'll love that story. Please R/R that one and R/R this one! Hehe. ^_^= Oh, and if there are any references in the books as to who the true creator of Quidditch is, please tell me (politely). I most likely missed it. I just had to come up with a reason for the play to be put on, so if my reason is totally lame and wrong, then let me know, but please, no flames. Hehe, kind of an oxymoron, isn't it?
The students of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry were gathered in the Great Hall for breakfast, when Professor Dumbledore cleared his throat loudly. Don't ask me how everyone heard him, but they all fell silent almost immediately.
"Good morning, ladies and gentlemen," the elderly wizard said. "I have some exciting news. Your fellow teachers and I have decided to put on a production."
A buzz of excited chatter went through the crowd of students. Fred Weasley could be heard shouting, "Is it 'The Bloody Ghost of Christmas Past'?"
Dumbledore smiled and shook his head. "Quiet down, everyone! Quiet down and I shall tell you!" he exclaimed. Everybody obeyed. He cleared his throat. "This year, the students, and teachers for that matter, shall be performing the musical "Camelot" as a welcoming present to Miss Gorgola Schniggle, who will be visiting us in the spring."
Draco Malfoy looked at his headmaster with a look of absolute shock. "Gorgola Schniggle? The Gorgola Schniggle?" he asked incredulously. "The creator of Quidditch?"
Dumbledore nodded vigorously. "The very same. She will arrive on March 3, so we need to get started right away. Auditions for the parts will be held next Monday at 5:00. Callbacks will take place the following day. That is all." He sat down and began to eat.
Immediately everyone in the hall turned to the person next to him and started talking about the musical.
"Of course I know about 'Camelot'!" Hermione was saying flippantly. "I read about it in A History of Great Castles. It was where the great King Arthur lived! Don't tell me you've never heard of it, Ron!"
Ron shook his head. "Hermione, if you told me you hadn't heard of something, I would probably have a heart attack. You know everything from what the very first ant's name was to the king of the Greek gods! I mean seriously, you nearly dislocate your arm every time a teacher asks a question. If Professor Binns asked us who Agoogoo Preliminary was you'd probably know! And I just made that name up!"
Hermione looked at him sourly. "For your information, the first ant's name was Herbert, the king of the Greek gods was Zeus, and you did NOT make that name up, because Agoogoo Preliminary was the inventor of Wizard Scizzerz." She finished eating quickly and gave Ron a very putout look. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go practice my singing and acting for the auditions next week."
"Who're you trying out for, Hermione?" Harry asked.
"Oh! None other than the beautiful Lady Nimue! The Lady of the Lake!" She walked off to the Gryffindor common room, leaving Harry with a smile on his face and Ron still goggling after her.
After breakfast, Harry and Ron went off to the Gryffindor common room to see if they could find Hermione. They approached the Fat Lady's picture.
"Why, hello there, young ones! Come to practice for that play thing?" the Fat Lady asked them pleasantly. "Just a little while ago, a girl came in. Had the most beautiful voice, she did. I think she might still be practicing, if you're lucky!"
Harry and Ron exchanged fascinated looks. Hermione? Beautiful voice? They both smiled at the Fat Lady. "Plastic Wand," they said simultaneously.
"That's right!" She swung open to reveal the common room.
The two boys walked in quietly, so as not to disturb Hermione if she was indeed still practicing. She was.
They stopped abruptly, listening to the beautiful sounds coming down from the girls' dormitory.
Far from day, far from night,
Out of time, out of sight,
In between earth and sea
We shall fly; follow me
Dry the rain, warm the snow
Where the winds never go
Follow me, follow me, follow me
To a cave by a sapphire shore
Where we'll walk through an emerald door
And for thousands of breathless evermores my life you shall be
Only you, only I
World farewell, world goodbye
To our home 'neath the sea
We shall fly; follow me
Follow me, follow me, follow me.
"Wow," Ron breathed. "Is thatHermione?"
"I dunno," Harry said, in a voice as equally awed as Ron's.
Just then, Neville walked in. "Hiya Harry! Hiya Ron! What's up?"
"SHHHHH!!!!" both boys hissed at once.
Neville jumped. "Why?" he whispered.
"Listen," Harry said.
Neville listened, and he too was dumbfounded at the beauty of Hermione's voice.
In a matter of minutes, all of the Gryffindors were gathered in the common room, staring up the stairs and listening to Hermione sing. She sang the song over and over again, yet they never tired of it.
When she finally came downstairs, she nearly screamed at the sight of everyone staring at her. She turned beet red and turned to run back upstairs and cry.
Harry began applauding her. He was quickly joined by Ron, then Neville, then the rest of the Gryffindors.
She turned around and blushed an even deeper red, and tears of happiness rolled down her cheeks.
"That was bloody amazing!" George Weasley exclaimed. "Good Lord, Hermione, where the devil did you learn to sing like that?"
"I don't know," Hermione whispered. "I just, I dunno, learned it. I've loved to sing all my life."
"Hermione, if you sing like that, what are you doing trying out for such a small part?" asked Angelina Johnson. "Nimue only sings that tiny song. If I had a voice like yours, I'd totally try out for Guenevere."
Hermione blushed again. "No, it's ok. I'm happy just trying out for Nimue."
Angelina shrugged. "Whatever you say. I still think you'd make the best Guenevere out of all of us.
There was a murmur of assent throughout the Gryffindors, and Hermione felt like she was going to burst.
