Chapter Seven; The Audition
Hermione sat inside the stands of the Qudditch pitch and busily scribbling something down on a piece of paper while she used her potion's book for support. She was waiting for Ginny to be done with Qudditch practice. She was unaware that Harry was climbing up the stairs behind her. She picked up the paper and started singing the lyrics to what she wrote. (Cheetah Sisters by the original Cheetah Girls)
"Wait don't stop, that was good." He told her before he sat down beside her. "Did you write that?" he asked her.
"Yes, but it's not important." She began before she turned to look at him. "We're singing another song for our audition anyway. By the way there are four of us now, Ginny let Amber and Casey join." She told him.
"Well that's great." He said.
"No it isn't." she began as she took a deep breath and sighed heavily. "Luna really wants to join but she just won't stand up to Ginny." She explained.
"Hermione," Harry began. "can I ask you something?" he wondered.
"Sure, what is it?" Hermione asked him back.
"Why can't you have enough strength to go out on that stage doing something that you love and you're really good at, but yet you can have enough strength to try and convince somebody else to do the same thing?" he asked her.
"Wow Harry, for the first time in my life,.. I really don't know the answer to that." She admitted when suddenly Ron climbed up to join them.
"Hey guys what's going on?" he asked.
"Nothing really, Ginny's at practice and I'm busy writing a song." Hermione answered.
"And it's really good too, you should hear it." Harry told him.
"Yes but it doesn't matter because no matter what I do I can't seem to get over my stage fright." Hermione said.
"Well why don't you try and picture everyone in their underwear?" Ron suggested.
"Well that's a lovely thought Ronald." Hermione told him sarcastically.
"Well then what if I help you? You know what if I join the group? That way I can always be there for you before you go out on stage." He suggested.
"That would be a good idea other than the fact that it's called The Cheetah Girls and you're a boy." She told him.
"So what? I could always be the manager or something." He said.
"Good luck trying to convince your sister to that." Hermione told him unaware that practice had ended and Ginny was standing before them.
"Convince me of what?" she questioned.
"Well Hermione and I were wondering how you would feel about me becoming the new manager for The Cheetah Girls." He explained.
"Well that depends, are you planning on ordering us around?" Ginny questioned as she folded her arms and glared at him crossly.
"No," he answered.
"Oh yeah? Well why do I have a hard time believing you?"
"Listen Ginny, all I want to do is help. And Hermione is still really nervous about singing on stage. I just want to be there for her."
"Well, alright then. I trust you since I don't really have a choice. And it is rather sweet that you're doing that for her." She began. "Oh my God, I can't believe those words just came out of my mouth." She said as Hermione stifled a laugh.
"See, I told you that she had a heart." She told him.
"Yeah well just don't go spreading it around." Ginny began. "I've got a reputation to hold you know." She finished with a grin to let them know that she was teasing.
….
The day of the auditions came quicker than everyone was expecting. As Harry, Ron, Ginny, and the other Cheetah Girls entered the great hall another girl group had been finishing their audition in front of the judges. With one look at them Ginny could tell that they all were a bunch of bitchy Slytherins. They had chosen "Trouble" by Elvis Presley as their audition song.
"I don't think that that's really fair. They're just using somebody else's song." Ginny muttered.
"I know," Hermione began softly. "but there's nothing that we can really do about it because we don't make the rules. And the rules don't say anything about having to sing originals." She whispered as the girls finished their song and struck a pose.
"Thank you Dragonettes," Professor McGonagall began as all four of The Cheetah Girls exchanged shocked and astonished looks with each other and Ginny's mouth gaped open.
"What copycats!" she exclaimed louder than she originally planned and the lead singer who looked like she could be a direct descendant of Draco Malfoy (physically and emotionally) turned over to look at her with an evil scowl as Professor McGonagall called forward the next group which was Ginny's.
"Hullo and welcome." She began. "What is the name of your group?" she asked.
"We're The Cheetah Girls." Ginny told her happily as The Dragonettes walked off stage and the head singer rolled her eyes.
"Well then welcome Cheetah Girls, good luck." Professor McGonagall told them with a grin while Ginny turned to quickly smile back at Harry and Ron before the music automatically sounded. Hermione looked nervously back at them before Ginny started to sing while Amber and Casey danced behind her.
"We've been through an awful lot, we've been waiting our entire lives to show what we've got!" she exclaimed.
"We have an awful lot to be thankful for, pretty soon everyone will know our name when we walk through the door!" Amber cried out in song.
"Well there's no place that we'd rather be, singing for our friends and family!" Casey sung as they started strutting a crossed the floor and Ginny snapped her fingers above her head as they all sung together.
"We're ready, steady, strong, proud, fast, and furious! We're The Cheetah, Cheetah Girls and we are dangerous! When we all stick together there is nothing that we can't overcome! We're ready, steady, strong, proud, fast, and furious!" they sung together.
"Thank you Cheetah Girls." Professor McGonagall told them as the music suddenly stopped.
"But you didn't even let us finish!" Ginny cried.
"I'm sorry Miss Weasley but everyone gets a minute each to audition, you will receive an owl within the next few days if you've made it into the show." She explained before she called the next person who was a boy who could perform muggle magic tricks.
"Well that sucks!" Ginny exclaimed as she walked away with the rest of the girls behind her before turning to Hermione. "This is all your fault!" she snapped.
"What are you talking about? I think Hermione did a great job, we all did." Amber told her.
"I bet Professor McGonagall would have given us more time if Hermione didn't look so uncomfortable up there!" Ginny yelled before she placed her hands on her hips and wiggled her finger in front of her face along with the same movement as her head.
"That's ridiculous, you heard what she said. Everyone only gets a minute." Casey said as Hermione glared over at Ginny.
"You know what? I think you're getting way out of control. This was my first time performing in front of anybody." She said. "And the only reason that I ever agreed to audition in the first place was because I'm your friend and I wanted to help you win those tickets. Well,.. at least I thought I was your friend." Hermione said before she turned around and walked away.
