Chapter 6: Track 11: gotta love it
Rated: PG
Notes: Sorry this chapter's so late… I lost my beloved writing notebook, which had this entire fanfiction written out by hand in it, so I had to type this chapter from memory. I hope it's still as enjoyable as the other one! Anyway, don't expect a new chapter until June 8th… I have final exams next week, so I can't really type anything.
(The next morning, it is apparent that Snape hasn't yet left. All is not well, however. Hermione is again asleep, still deathly pale, when Harry enters the room, all concerns.)
Pomfrey: (grimly) Hermione is dying, Harry.
Harry: (shocked) My little Griffling is dying?
Pomfrey: (nods slowly) She has consumption.
Harry: (quietly) She mustn't know, McGonagal. The show must go on.
Later, in Ron's dorm…
(A bathrobe-clothed, bedraggled Hermione sits despondently on Ron's four-poster, looking out the window, while Ron sits at his desk, quill in hand. The wizard seems to have writer's block again.)
Ron voice Over: All night the penniless Auror had waited, and now, for the first time, he felt the cold, cruel stab of jealousy.
Ron: (quietly) Where were you last night?
Hermione: (sighs) I told you, I was sick…
Ron: (moving over to the bed and sitting beside Hermione) You don't have to lie to me.
Hermione: (stands up and moves to the window) We have to end it…
Ron: What?
Hermione: (softly) They all know, Ron. Harry knows, and sooner or later, Snape will find out… (pauses to gather her words) On graduation night I have to sleep with the Professor, and the jealousy will drive you mad…
Ron: No! (moves over to Hermione and wraps his arms around her) Then I'll write a song, and we'll put it in the show! (desperately) And whenever you sing it or-or hear it, no matter what happens or how bad things are, you'll remember our love. (kisses her forehead) I promise I won't get jealous.
Hermione: The world doesn't work like that, Ron. We have to end it… (walks away slowly, her head bowed and her arms folded protectively across her chest. Ron's pained gaze follows her hopelessly as she exits to the balcony)
Ron: (sings softly) Never knew I could feel like this…
Like I've never seen the sky before
Want to vanish inside your kiss,
Every day I love you more and more.
(scene change to the rehearsal, where Ron is going over a new scene)
Ron: Right then. This new scene is the one in which the auror composes a secret melody for the courtesan, so that no matter how bad things get, they'll remember their love. Can we take it from your line, Hermione? (sits down in his 'writer's chair', his eyes on Hermione's face)
Hermione: (takes her position onstage with Lupin, their hands clasped) We must be careful!
Lupin: Fear not! We shall conduct our love affair right under the Death Eater's nose!
Ron: (sings) Semesters may change, winter to spring-
Lupin: (turns into a Werewolf again and is knocked out – right off the stage)
Harry: Honestly, Moony, this is impossible!
Ron: (grins) But I love you until the end of time
Come what may,
Come what may,
I will love you until my dying day!
(scene change to a dream sequence, where Ron and Hermione are going for a picnic at the Lake. Snape is hopping around looking very much like a mentally challenged squirrel)
Hermione: (singing) Suddenly Hogwarts seems such a perfect place-
Snape: Oh look, a little frog! (bounces off)
Hermione: Suddenly moves with such a perfect grace
Suddenly my life doesn't seem such a waste-
It all revolves around you.
Ron and Hermione: And there's no turret to high, no forest to wide,
Sing out this song and I'll be there by your side!
Storm clouds may gather and storms may collide-
Ron: but I love you-
Hermione: I love you-
Both: Until the end of time.
Back in the Gryffindor Rouge…
Millicent: (standing next to Snape) This ending's stupid. Why would the courtesan choose the penniless Gryffindor? (sarcastically) Oops, I mean auror!
(Snape suddenly realizes what's been going on behind his back, and glares with rage at Ron)
All: Come what may!
Come what may!
I will love you until my dying day!
Snape: (standing and twitching) I don't like this ending.
Harry: (walking forward) Don't… like the ending?
Snape: Why would the courtesan choose a penniless auror over the powerful Death Eater? (waves his hand for emphasis) Once the… auror…. Has satisfied his lust, he will leave the courtesan with nothing. The Death Eater is offering a lifetime of security – that's real love.
Draco: Sorry! (walks down from the back of the stage) Sorry, but that does not uphold the Hogwartsien ideals of truth, beauty, freedom and lo-
Snape: (snarling) Shut up, you stupid little Slytherin! I don't care about your idiotic dogma! Why shouldn't the courtesan choose the Death Eater?
Ron: (standing and shouting) Because she doesn't love you! (everyone turns to stare at the young wizard, whose Weasly mouth has again gotten him into trouble. He realizes his error and tries to correct it) Him – she doesn't life him.
Snape: (sneering) I see. The ending will be changed with the courtesan choosing the Death Eater and without the lover's secret song. It will be rehearsed and ready for opening night tomorrow.
Harry: (thunderstruck) But my dear Professor-
Hermione: (interrupting) Harry! (begins to descend from the stairs, gazing seductively at the angry professor) Poor Professor Snape is being treated appallingly! These silly writers let their imaginations run wild. (leans down in Snape's face) Now, why don't we have a little supper, and afterwards we can let Harry know how we'd prefer the ending, hmm?
Snape: Very well.
(A short time later, Hermione is heading for her dressing room to touch up her makeup. Ron catches up with her, ruining any chance for her to compose herself within the next twenty minutes)
Ron: (quietly) I don't want you to sleep with him.
Hermione: He could destroy everything… (moves in close to Ron and whispers in his ear) It's for us. You promised you wouldn't get jealous… (moves to leave, but Ron clings to her like a frightened child) I've got to go – he's waiting.
Ron: (in a small, desperate voice) No, no, please…
Hermione: (moves in even closer, her arms around Ron's drooping shoulders. She nuzzles his cheek and sings very softly into his ear) Come what may…
Ron: (in a choked, tearful voice) Come what may.
(Hermione tries to leave again, and this time Ron doesn't move to stop her. Instead, the crushed 7th-year stands alone in the corridor, looking utterly helpless)