Chapter 6

Hermione got so engrossed with all the tasks she got from teachers that she didn't keep track of the passing days. It had been three weeks since Mr Richard assigned them with the work of writing brief reports on organic chemistry in Pharmacy. She put all her heart into delving deep into the subject before creating her assignment with her own sets of ideas.

She was a creative person. She did not believe in copying and pasting data from text-books and internet websites. She strived to express her own opinions on data and information from those sources. That's why she was accustomed to reading a lot. It enabled her to form her ideas.

The day of submission of Mr. Richard's report rolled around. Mr Richard did not seem to forget it. Before starting his lecture, he stood in front of the table; steepling his hands over his face; announcing,

"I want you guys to submit your assignments on organic chemistry."

"Put them here on my table," he declared; gesturing at the table before which he was standing.

"One by one, " he went on; holding up one of his hands.

Hermione stood up from her seat; clutching her assignment carefully with both of her hands close to her chest as if it needed to be protected until she succeeded in submitting it. She walked up to the table and put her report on it. She acknowledged Mr Richard with a slight bow before going back to her seat.

Hermione watched Draco submit his assignment. What did not escape her eyes was the fact that his one was so much thicker than hers. He seemed to be getting more difficult to beat in academic tasks. She had to admit to herself that Draco would certainly be tough competition for her in their A-level exams.

She moved her gaze down to her lap the moment Draco started walking back to his table. Her abhorrence for his insolent attitude ran so deep that she would not give him any satisfaction of watching him doing something even though that particular something was quite a mundane task of submitting an assignment on organic chemistry in Pharmacy.

An hour of lecture on the grueling processes of biosynthetic reactions kept Hermione's hands busy in taking notes to a point that she did not feel any ounce of boredom fray her nerves. After chemistry class, all the classes she attended went rather smoothly.

After all the classes, Hermione and the other students who were elected to perform in Romeo and Juliet were summoned in their college auditorium for a short rehearsal by Miss Rachael. The words nervousness, annoyance, exhilaration, anticipation, would not even begin to cover the swarm of emotions she was experiencing the moment she walked up on the big podium.

Miss Rachael called Draco to stand beside Hermione. His eyes twitched when he started walking towards her until he stood a few paces away from her.

Miss Rachael handed him a few sheets of white paper which were apparently Romeo's lines.

"Start with the first page where Romeo first sees Juliet, " she said; coming close to stand beside Draco and gesturing with her right-hand towards the spot where the particular dialogues were written.

Draco's mouth quivered in an expression of derision like he was completely repulsed by what he was about to do. He cleared his throat with a very clear "Ahhhmm"; clenching both his hands into tight fists over his face before starting his lines.

"If I profane with my unworthiest hand; this holy shrine, the gentle fine is this. My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand to smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss….

"Stop, Stop! " Miss Rachael commanded; holding up her right-hand.

Draco stopped the second Miss Rachael's annoyingly shrill voice reached his ears. He looked like a sword was hanging over his head. He had no way out of this current plight. He was stuck just like Hermione. If they had their way, they would walk out of this at that very instant. They were virtually forced into it by an astounding irony of fate. College's stringent rules were compelling them to do things they never imagined in their wildest dreams.

"Your delivery of dialogues is not right."

"There is no life in your voice."

"You sound like a robot who is being forced with no feelings whatsoever, " She said; wildly gesticulating with her hands.

"Romeo is supposed to be a passionate lover."

"You are making him sound like someone who is very miserable in love, " Miss Rachael almost yelled holding her hands close to her chest in a very aghast manner.

"I am trying my best, " Draco protested through gritted teeth; looking at Miss Rachael with blood-shot eyes.

"It is not my fault if I can't feel the passion of a fictional character, " he argued; running his fingers through unruly strands of his silvery hair.

"Clearly, you are not trying hard enough, " Miss Rachael glowered; giving him a hard look.

"If this continues, both of you will come here to rehearse everyday after your classes."

"I won't put up with any excuses, " she said; pointing a threatening finger strictly intended in Draco's direction.

"What about the days when we have our class tests? " Hermione questioned; scrunching both her eyebrows.

"This is as important as your class-tests, " Miss Rachael clarified; fixing Hermione with an incisive glare.

"This is a play only held in the final year of college as a commemoration of all the classes students have passed to earn their places in A-Level exams."

"You guys will represent all the students of the final year, " Miss Rachael stated in a very matter of fact way.

Hermione had been a witness to many bizarre things in her life. But this easily took the cake for being the strangest state she had ever been in. She had to act lovey-dovey with a guy who annoyed her with his stinky manners. The fact that he also excelled in chemistry and maths did not help things. This fake pretense of affection was going to be one heck of a journey. Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy who were actually sworn enemies for life had to go with the charade of being star-crossed lovers under Miss Rachael's trill instructions.

"