Harry and Ron watched in concern as Hermione toyed with her food. She hadn't eaten in a few days and they were very concerned.
"Mione, you have to eat something." Harry told her unlistening ears.
"I'm not hungry." She mumbled.
"Attention students!" Dumbledore called. The hall fell silent. "I have an announcement. We've all been a bit preoccupied recently, what with the recent war and everything, but now that the war is over we feel that we need to kick back a bit. Professors Flitwick and Snape and McGonagall had the idea to produce a play."
Several students laughed. McGonagall now got up.
"The play we have chosen was written by one of the greatest playwrights ever born. Perhaps you have heard of him? His name was Shakespeare."
"Just as long as it's not Romeo and Juliet." Harry mumbled.
"The play is Romeo and Juliet."
"Oh Merlin." Harry moaned. Next to him Ron snorted.
"Our choice of leads are as follows; Romeo will be played by Draco Malfoy, Juliet by Hermione Granger."
"WHAT??!!" Hermione stood up quickly and then got a head rush and fainted.
Draco Malfoy caught her since he was nearest. A moment later she woke up and saw whose arms she was in. She blushed but made no move to get up.
You see the teachers had been more observant than the students. They had noticed a change in the relationship between Hermione and Draco. No longer did they seem to loathe each other. Times seemed to have changed since the infamous punch and now hormones seemed to have kicked in. The teachers noticed what their friends had not. They saw the glances and heard the sighs. They noted that Draco no longer called Hermione a 'mudblood' and the fact that she hadn't eaten in a few days and would just toy with her food and watch Draco. They noticed and they planned. And they decided to do something about it.
"Ahem!" everyone turned their attention away from Hermione and Draco and focussed on McGonagall. "The reasoning for this unusual casting is as follows. The way we see it, Gryffindor and Slytherin are very much like the families of Romeo and Juliet. Therefore the parts of the other family members will be taken by members of those houses. Tybalt shall be played by Harry Potter, the Nurse by Ginny Weasley and so on. The full cast list shall be posted on the notice board outside the hall."
She sat down again.
Harry turned to Ron who was busy pulling Hermione out of Draco's arms. "I can't believe I have to get killed by him."
"I can't believe I have to kiss him." Hermione sank back onto the bench. Draco frowned at her from behind.
Ron tried to look sympathetic as his friends sunk into gloom, but he couldn't. He let out a huge guffaw of laughter. "I'm sorry," he said as they glared at him. "This is a recipe for disaster… and it's gonna be hilarious."
Although she wouldn't admit it, Hermione was pleased for the first time that Harry couldn't do occlumency. This was just going to have to be one of those things she had to keep secret from her best friends. Truth was…she was quite looking forward to being Juliet.