In my mind I went through the monologue I had chosen. It was difficult to focus for a moment after that outburst, but, nonetheless, I composed myself.
A small amount of students had been through their monologues but, to be quite honest, I did not pay any attention to them. A few moments my concentration was broken again by the sound of that ringing voice.

"Draco Malfoy! You're next! Come on down here," Paige called. As I stood up and walked towards her she asked which monologue I had chosen. "Act II, Scene ii, Hamlet is going to put on a play to justify his revenge on Claudius," I answered. She nodded.
"...I'll have grounds more relative than this. The play's the thing wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king."
Once I finished there was a deafening silence. I began walking back to my seat and the students started to clap. I looked over at Paige and she looked as though she had nothing to say, which surprised me.
I sat back down and looked at Bridget. She was whispering something to Neville. She had a small smile on her face and I could not help but wonder if it had to do with me.
"Bridget," Paige said, "Your turn."

I stood up slowly and took a deep breath. Draco was looking at me with interest. I'd better not screw this one up, I thought to myself. I took another deep breath and said, "I'm doing Ophelia's monologue about Hamlet's descent into craziness," again I took a deep breath and recited,

O, what a noble mind is here o'erthrown!
The courtier's, soldier's, scholar's, eye, tongue, sword;
The expectancy and rose of the fair state,
The glass of fashion and the mould of form,
The observed of all observers, quite, quite down!
And I, of ladies most deject and wretched,
That suck'd the honey of his music vows,
Now see that noble and most sovereign reason,
Like sweet bells jangled, out of tune and harsh;
That unmatch'd form and feature of blown youth
Blasted with ecstasy: O, woe is me,
To have seen what I have seen, see what I see!
I quickly walked back to my seat, and saw Draco Malfoy give me an impressed smile. I blushed and returned to my seat. "You're really good," Neville praised. I smiled slightly and shrugged. I looked over at Draco again; he looked deeply immersed in his script. He must really like Shakespeare, I thought to myself. The bell rang and students gathered up their things and headed out the door. I looked over and saw that Draco was still reading his script. It looked like he hadn't even heard the bell.
"Hey," I said as I walked over to him.
Draco's blonde head looked up, startled, "Oh, hi."
"You were really good. Are you planning on trying out for the play?"
He nodded and looked at me, "Are you?"
I shrugged, "I dunno. I might."
He studied me, looking into my eyes. There was something about his eyes that seemed to pierce through me and see right into my soul, "I think you should. You're really good." He stood up and picked up his bag.
"Thanks," I said and smiled.
"You're welcome." He said quietly, "I have to go to class. I hope I'll see you later."
"You will," I promised and smiled as I watched him walk out the door.
"Hm," Paige said from the back of the classroom. I could tell that she was definitely amused by the situation.
I glared at her, "Were you eavesdropping?"
"Absolutely not!" she protested, "I just happened to overhear the conversation." My cousin smiled and looked at me, "You two like each other."
"I hardly know him." I could feel myself blushing as her smile became wider.
"Love at first sight," she said in a sing-song voice.
"You have no idea what you're talking about. Now if you'll excuse me I have a class to attend." I gathered my things and quickly walked out of the door.
I glanced at my schedule and saw that my next class was in the dungeons. Great, I thought to myself, I'm going to be late to my next class because I wasted time talking to Paige. I walked briskly down the stairs and made a few turns. I made it to the dungeons just in the nick of time. I took my seat next to Neville just as the professor walked in.
"What took you so long?" He whispered to me.
"I had to talk to Paige about something." I whispered back. I looked around and noticed that Draco Malfoy was once again in my class.

I noticed Bridget walk in and sit with Neville as usual just before class started. I was unable to focus all throughout the class. Bridget's monologue and the previous class kept running through my mind. I knew how I wanted this play to be cast. Of course I myself would play Hamlet and Bridget Granger would be the perfect Ophelia. In addition to the perfect Shakespearean cast list, this would also be an excellent excuse to spend time getting to know this girl without seeming to betray my house- or my blood.

"Alright, since this is the first play we're doing I'm going to do the auditions a little differently than I normally would," Paige began at the next lesson, "You're going to recite something for the class and I will assign you a part next class. In addition, I'm going to pick the lines you recite." The class broke out in protesting groans and she continued, "That in mind, I would like..." she looked around the room and rested her eyes on me," Draco Malfoy, Please come down here. Yes, thank you. Now, I've already heard you and your monologue so I don't want to hear that again. I know you can do that, but I don't know how you interact with other people." She began to look around the room again as I stood there watching her.

"AH!" She finally said, "Bridget, come on down! Alright here's what's going to happen. Draco, you're going to play Hamlet and Bridget- Bridget, would you hurry up and get down here? You're going to play Ophelia for now."

I looked up at the blushing girl who now stood next to Paige. She seemed to be looking at Paige with a look of utter hatred and I couldn't help but wonder why.

I could have killed Paige at that moment. She knew exactly what she was doing. It suddenly occurred to me that I wanted to smack that smirk off of her face, but instead, I sighed and took the script from her hands.

"Which scene?" I asked with a glare.

"The scene after the 'To be or Not to be' soliloquy" I gave her one last glare and flipped through my script. Draco seemed to be calm as he casually leafed through his tattered script. He looked at me and gave me a small smile.

I blushed and looked away. Then, I took a deep breath and began, "Good my lord, how does your honour for this many a day?" the scene went rather smoothly, and the class seemed impressed with the scene. I looked over at Paige who had a smug look on her face. I quickly took my seat before she could say another word. Neville gave me a sympathetic smile and I smiled back. I think he knew how embarrassed I was to be put on the spot like that. Not to mention with my crush.

The class ended and I gathered my things and headed towards the dungeons for potions with Professor Snape. Neville was terrified of him. I felt bad for the poor kid. I don't ever recall a teacher scaring me that bad and I've had some pretty bad teachers in my day. I didn't have a problem with Professor Snape. If the truth was to be told, he sort of intrigued me.

"Silence!" he snapped when class began, "Today you will be working on brewing the draught of death. I will pair you up." Unlike in Paige's class, there were no groans of protest.

"Draco Malfoy," he began as he read off of a list, "You will be with Bridget Granger." I could feel my cheeks get red as I sank deeper into my chair. The whole world was against me that day. I sighed after a moment and gathered my things. He was sitting in the very back of the classroom. I took my seat next to him and opened my book.

"How good are you at brewing potions?" he asked me almost a little coldly. This couldn't be the same boy that smiled at me during theatre, I thought to myself as I looked a little taken aback.

"I'm alright I suppose." I said, knowing that was a lie, my best friend Becca always carried me through potions. I looked into his eyes and saw that there was definite conflict behind them. I reached over and my hand accidentally brushed his. They were warmer than I expected. A jolt was sent through my body and I could feel myself blushing as he smiled. He then snapped out of the smile and took on a more serious face. I could feel my heart sinking. Maybe he doesn't like me, I thought as I sighed.

Being paired with Bridget in potions was the worst and yet the best thing that could have happened. I loved being around her and I couldn't help but smile when her hand touched mine. However, again I found myself faced with the battle between our conflicting lives.

Bridget had said that she was alright in the subject and therefore I thought we would get through the class without any problems and without drawing attention to our table. When we actually began the potion I found out otherwise. The potion did not turn out well; in fact it was quite amusing. The problem persisted. I was unable tell her how I felt. I was still forced to act as though I hated everything about her and as far as I knew, she had no interest in me.

I wanted to get out of that classroom as fast as I could. Good job Bridget, I thought to myself, you managed to make an idiot of yourself yet again. I walked briskly out of the classroom and headed towards the steps.

"Wait," I heard a voice call me from behind. I turned around to see Draco heading toward me. My eyes widened and I blushed slightly.

"You dropped this," he said as he handed me my journal.

"Thanks," I said as I took the journal and once again our hands touched. Our hands lingered on each other and the journal.

"I have to go," I sighed as my hand took the journal.

I smiled slightly to myself as I walked away. I need to make up my mind. I have to do something, I thought. I had no idea what to do. I received my answer the next morning.

I walked into the Great Hall and caught sight of Bridget. She was sitting with Potter again. I saw him put his hand on top of hers. She blushed and didn't take away her hand. That was my answer. Bridget was not interested in me and therefore I was not going to show my interest in her, especially if she was interested in him.

I realised that I was staring and I continued to my seat but I had lost my appetite.

I waltzed into the Great Hall the next morning smiling to myself as I thought about Draco. I had decided last night that I was going to sit with him and see if the connection I felt was mutual. I looked around the Great Hall to the Slytherin table. My spirits fell when I didn't see him.

"Bridget!" I had heard a voice call from behind me. I turned to the Gryffindor table to see Harry beckoning me to sit with him. As I began to walk over, I noticed that my sister and another red headed boy I had seen around were with him. I could feel my sister's eyes yet again upon me as I sat down.

"Hey," I greeted to her so quietly that I wasn't even sure that she heard me.

"Hello," she replied coldly. Okay, well, at least we know her feelings haven't changed toward me, I thought as took a sip of some orange juice that was in front of me.

"How have your classes been?" Harry asked me.

"They're alright I suppose," I said with a small shrug. I was busy trying to hide the disappointment that I didn't get to talk to Draco this morning.

"Met anyone interesting?" Harry said as he looked at me.

I looked around, was this some kind of intervention telling me that Bridget shouldn't be getting involved with a mean, hot, evil Slytherin? I thought as I laughed a little.

"I don't think so, was I supposed to?" I laughed again nervously, feeling the three pairs of eyes on me.

Harry shrugged, "I was just wondering." I notice Draco walk in as Harry put his hand on mine, I blushed because now was my chance to go talk to Draco, the proverbial moment of truth. I barely even noticed Harry's hand on mine.

"I have to go," I said as I removed my hand from under Harry's and grabbed my bag, relieved to be away from the situation. I had started over towards Draco then lost my nerve and headed for Paige's office. Her door was open so I walked in and threw myself on the couch.

"Hey," Paige said not even looking up from whatever she was doing.

"Hi," I replied, looking at her, "What's that?" I asked as I got up and headed over to see what she was working on.

"Finalized cast list," she answered mischievously, "Wanna see?"

I gave her a sceptical look then smiled, "Sure." She handed me the piece of parchment and I looked for my name. I had been cast as Ophelia. My curiosity got the better of me and I found Draco's name under Hamlet.

"Cool," I said indifferently. I looked at the cast list again, and then looked up, "Neville's name's not on here."

Paige looked at me and said hesitantly, "Well, I thought that I'd give him a better job. He didn't seem to like being on stage too much."

"Soo," I said trying to control my anger, "What job did you give him?"

"I decided he could be the prop master. I wanted to make him stage manager, but Dumbledore seemed to think that this might be a better starting place for him. If he does well with this job, he can be assistant stage manager for the musical."

"Speaking of which," I said, "What musical are we doing?"

"Jekyll and Hyde. Professor McGonagall seemed to think that the students would enjoy that better than what Umbit- Umbridge had picked out."

"Which was?" I picked up a pen from her desk and started drawing the cast list.

"The Music Man," Paige rolled her eyes, "I'm so glad McGonagall put her foot down on that one. If that's the one they would have chosen, I would have quit."

"Fun stuff," I said, "Well, I have to get to class. I'll see you in theatre." I walked out thinking about what Paige had said. Umbridge had wanted to do the Music Man. What power does she have in the theatre and just what else is she going to try and take over? I shook the thought from my head and headed for Defence Against the Dark Arts.