Summary/Disclaimer: See first chapter
Marionie and Hermione ran down the corridor their shoes clicking against the hard stone floor as they tried to make it to class before they were too late.
"Bye, you guys!" Ginny called out, speeding in the opposite direction.
Marionie waved quickly. "Good bye Gin, see you at lunch."
Hermione glanced at Marionie and asked, "Do you think the two are okay in the Hospital Wing?"
Marionie smiled. "Of course. What could happen?"
Hermione shrugged as they arrived on the fifth floor.
The girls could see the other students piling into the classroom. She glanced at Hermione and then her watch hoping they still had time to make it before the bell.
Hermione slipped in as the blonde professor looked at his watch.
Marionie tried to step into the class behind her friend but the bell signaled just before she could make it to the doorframe.
Professor Timberlake watched as Hermione took her usual seat next to Ron.
"Miss Hearts, you're late," the professor said sternly as he saw her try to creep in unnoticed.
"I'm sorry professor... I was helping my friend Mika and it took longer then I thought it would..." Marionie answered biting the side of her cheek
"Ahhhh yes, Miss Avalon and Mr. Potter seem to be missing from class...they will be dealt with later. As for you sitting in this class...I have an announcement!"
Marionie stood still for a moment looking at the professor.
"Take a seat, Miss Hearts..." he instructed before continuing.
Marionie scrambled up and sat in the seat where her and Mika normally sat.
Ron whispered sarcastically to Hermione, "This ought to be fun...after the unit on Muggle instruments..."
Marionie turned around to look at her friends. "Great, I can't believe you made it on time Hermione!" She hissed
As more chatter arose, Hermione glanced at Mari grinning and replied to Ron, "Yes, we had a good time of it when you got your hand stuck in your tuba..."
"QUIET!" Professor Timberlake's voice boomed before Ron could reply.
Marionie clamped her mouth shut quickly and looked at the young professor.
"Now, as you all know, Valentine's Day is coming up...and I have gotten special permission from Professor Dumbledore to convert a part of the Great Hall into a stage for the Valentine's Feast. You will be required to perform one Muggle song with your own voice. The background music will be supplied for you but you must use your own voice. No lip-synching like my ex..." The last sentence was said under his breath.
Hermione's jaw dropped. Ron's eyes looked like they were bulging out of their sockets. Marionie blinked rapidly watching the reactions of everyone.
The redhead girl turned to Hermione. "I haven't sung in public since I was in France!"
"Did he just say we had to sing?" Ron whispered.
"Did he just admit he was dating Britney Spears?" Hermione chimed in.
Marionie looked at Hermione rolling her eyes.
From across the room, Justin Finch-Fletchley exclaimed, "I KNEW IT!"
Professor Timberlake handed out the song list. "Now you must pick one of these songs...the ones with checkmarks were picked by my Ravenclaw/Slytherin class..."
Marionie took the list and scanned over it quickly. "Well, I guess I'll take this one." She said pointing to 'God Must Have Spent (A Little More Time On You)' by NSYNC.
"Pass it down after you've signed your name next to a song," the professor instructed.
Marionie dipped her quill into the green ink and signed her name next to the song and passed it to Ron and Hermione.
Hermione whispered something in Ron's ear and quickly, the redhead signed. Hermione thought about what she wanted to sing and signed her name as well.
After all the students had signed for a song, Professor Timberlake stood at the front of the class to teach a spell. "Now students, to be able to learn your song, you need to have the background music...to have this, just take your wand and say 'Musicajam' followed by the title and artist of the song you need. Any volunteers?"
Marionie raised her hand quickly wanting to get back on the good side of the professor. Hermione did the same behind her.
"Miss Hearts, this may be the time to redeem yourself for your tardiness, go ahead," Professor Timberlake said.
Marionie took out her wand and waved it, "Musicajam, God Must Have Spent (A Little More Time On You), *N Sync."
"EWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Justin exclaimed from the other end of the class.
Ignoring the Hufflepuff student, the professor asked, "Who knows how to turn it off???"
Hermione quickly raised her hand again.
Marionie smiled to herself silently and looked back at her friend
"Miss Granger, take Miss Hearts' wand and turn the music off," the professor instructed.
Marionie looked down at her wand and shrugged handing it to Hermione.
"Musicajam, stop!" Hermione exclaimed, and abruptly, the music stopped. "There you go, Mari," she said, handing the wand back.
"Thank you Hermione." Mari said taking her wand back smiling.
"Very good, girls! Ten points apiece for Gryffindor," the professor announced.
"Thank you professor." The two said in unison
"You may add commands such as 'vocals on' when you are first learning your song but I will be there to ensure that you don't cheat come performance day."
A few people were disappointed at that.
"Who would like to demonstrate?"
Hannah Abbot and Justin from Hufflepuff raised their hands. Hermione nudged Ron in the side. Tickled, Ron jumped up.
"Mr. Weasley, go ahead..." the Professor prompted him.
Ron glared at Hermione as he said, "Musicajam, As Long As You Love Me, Backstreet Boys, vocals on!"
A few giggles were heard from the girls in the classroom. "Oh hush up!" Marionie yelled at the others.
The music made the professor wince and quickly he told Ron to turn it off, who did quite easily.
"So that's it then for your major performance this term. Turn your textbooks to page 379 please..."
Ron hissed, "Hermione, how could you embarass me like that???"
Marionie looked around in her messenger bag for the book before cursing slightly under her breath.
"...and do the chapter review questions numbers 1, 3-4 and 8."
"It was for your own good." Hermione answered watching as Mari began panicking.
"What's wrong, Mari?" Ron asked.
"I can't find my textbook." Mari answered looking under the desk.
Ron pushed his towards Mari and offered, "Here, take mine...I'll share with 'Mione."
Marionie smiled turning to face Ron. "Thanks Ron!"
Hermione's eyes twinkled and Ron recognized it from the train in September. However she didn't say a word.
Marionie looked down at question one. "What is a time signature?"
"It indicates how many beats a measure and what represents a beat..." Ron answered.
Marionie looked at Ron surprised. "You've been studying!"
Hermione's jaw dropped until she realized he had read off her answer. She kicked him under the desk.
Ron looked over at Hermione smiling and shrugged his shoulders.
Since Ron was directly behind Marionie, Hermione passed a note to Ron with three simple words on it: "Ask her out!"
Ron looked at the note and shook his head quickly. Marionie turned around to see his ears turning bright pink. "What's wrong Ron?"
Shoving the note underneath Hermione's book, he replied, "Nothing, nothing at all!"
Marionie looked slightly upset looking at Ron. "Ron, do you want to maybe go out with…me?"
The bell rang before Ron could answer but he pulled her aside and they waited until the classroom cleared up.
Marionie watched as the class filed out and Hermione winked.
"Uh...wow..." Ron said, "This was so unexpected..."
Marionie shrugged... "If you don't want to I'll understand." She said her face brightening to the color of her hair.
"No no no, you see, I want to!" Ron exclaimed, "It's just that I didn't think you were interested!"
"Really?" Mari asked searching Ron's eyes. "I've kinda had a thing for you since the day on the train."
"I didn't know...after Mika pulled you away to hang out with the Quidditch team, I had changed my mind about chatting you up..."
Marionie blushed, her cheeks nearly the color of her hair. "I'm sorry, it was just I was shy and the Oliver has away of distracting people." Marionie corrected herself. "Not liking him... just distracting."
Ron chuckled. "I know...I've had to deal with a distracted Hermione thanks to him!" he explained.
Marionie sighed. "That's good to know... I think."
"Well then..." Ron leaned in and let his nose touch Marionie's.
If it was possible Marionie's face turned five times brighter. "Well..."
Ron kissed Marionie softly before whispering, "We better go to Potions..."
Marionie nodded her head.