The judge of the competition was announced about a week later, during
Harry, Ron and Hermione's Transfiguration class. Hagrid heaved his way
into the classroom, breathing heavily from his slow walk up the hallway.
"The judge for this competition's been announced, Professor McGonagall,
it's Simon Cowell from that muggle program 'American Idol'. Bit of a
tosser in my opinion but whatever Dumbledore says is fine by me."
Harry gasped in shock. Simon Cowell? He had heard rumours of this Cowell character, and none of them were pretty. He was said to be the toughest judge in all of Britain, Harry sighed as he saw his chances of winning slip further out of his reach. "Shut up Harry!" said Hagrid, annoyed at the variety of inhaling and exhaling that Harry was demonstrating.
The next day, the competition was to begin. Simon had arrived at the castle that night and the competitors had all been announced: Hannah Abbot, Susan Bones, Millicent Bulstrode, Justin Finch-Fletchley, Hermione Granger, Neville Longbottom, Draco Malfoy, Harry Potter, Fred Weasley, George Wesley, Ronald Weasley and Blaise Zabini.
Harry sat in the Gryffindor common room, weighing up the competition. He had no idea that Hermione had entered, but he assumed she had wanted to keep it quiet for as long as possible, she probably thought it was 'really quite silly' anyway. He went to sleep with difficulty, thinking of what tomorrow would bring.
The first day of competition began, and the contestants were all assembled in the Great Hall. Simon stalked to and fro before them, before turning and addressing his audience. "I imagine some of you think this will be a laugh, that it will be easy, well, it wont be as easy as you think. I see very few of you as having supermodel potential." He glared at Neville, who flinched. "But for the few of you who do make it to the final rounds, this will be a taxing competition. Any questions?" You could practically hear the crickets chirping as the tumbleweed bounced past. "Good" Simon continued. "The first round is a talent contest. Think of what you are good at, practice it, and we will begin the performances in two days."
"What the hell am I good at?" Ron thought out loud, when they were in the common room that night. "You do that muggle 'rapping' quite well don't you? You could always do that." Suggested Hermione. "Hey, good idea Herm, cheers," and with that he raced up to his dorm to find his book of angry lyrics written by try-hard muggles trying to make money. "What are you going to do Harry?" "I dunno, maybe I'll sing Freak on a Leash or something, what about you?" "Me? I'm going to sing a song about all the different types of tea in the world!" "Um, ok, I'm. gonna go check on Ron.bye."
Harry had an interesting encounter with Snape the next day. He was sitting in potions with a copy of 'Freak on a Leash' on his knee, when Snape walked up behind him, put a hand on his shoulder, and stared off into the distance. Harry was sure this was a pivotal plot moment, he just wasn't sure why. "Um, Professor?" he tested, no response. "Professor? What's wrong? Are you." "Young Potter, you have much to learn, things that I can teach you, so that you may reach heights that I could not. Come to my office this evening after dinner," and he walked to the front of the room, as if nothing had even happened.
Harry gasped in shock. Simon Cowell? He had heard rumours of this Cowell character, and none of them were pretty. He was said to be the toughest judge in all of Britain, Harry sighed as he saw his chances of winning slip further out of his reach. "Shut up Harry!" said Hagrid, annoyed at the variety of inhaling and exhaling that Harry was demonstrating.
The next day, the competition was to begin. Simon had arrived at the castle that night and the competitors had all been announced: Hannah Abbot, Susan Bones, Millicent Bulstrode, Justin Finch-Fletchley, Hermione Granger, Neville Longbottom, Draco Malfoy, Harry Potter, Fred Weasley, George Wesley, Ronald Weasley and Blaise Zabini.
Harry sat in the Gryffindor common room, weighing up the competition. He had no idea that Hermione had entered, but he assumed she had wanted to keep it quiet for as long as possible, she probably thought it was 'really quite silly' anyway. He went to sleep with difficulty, thinking of what tomorrow would bring.
The first day of competition began, and the contestants were all assembled in the Great Hall. Simon stalked to and fro before them, before turning and addressing his audience. "I imagine some of you think this will be a laugh, that it will be easy, well, it wont be as easy as you think. I see very few of you as having supermodel potential." He glared at Neville, who flinched. "But for the few of you who do make it to the final rounds, this will be a taxing competition. Any questions?" You could practically hear the crickets chirping as the tumbleweed bounced past. "Good" Simon continued. "The first round is a talent contest. Think of what you are good at, practice it, and we will begin the performances in two days."
"What the hell am I good at?" Ron thought out loud, when they were in the common room that night. "You do that muggle 'rapping' quite well don't you? You could always do that." Suggested Hermione. "Hey, good idea Herm, cheers," and with that he raced up to his dorm to find his book of angry lyrics written by try-hard muggles trying to make money. "What are you going to do Harry?" "I dunno, maybe I'll sing Freak on a Leash or something, what about you?" "Me? I'm going to sing a song about all the different types of tea in the world!" "Um, ok, I'm. gonna go check on Ron.bye."
Harry had an interesting encounter with Snape the next day. He was sitting in potions with a copy of 'Freak on a Leash' on his knee, when Snape walked up behind him, put a hand on his shoulder, and stared off into the distance. Harry was sure this was a pivotal plot moment, he just wasn't sure why. "Um, Professor?" he tested, no response. "Professor? What's wrong? Are you." "Young Potter, you have much to learn, things that I can teach you, so that you may reach heights that I could not. Come to my office this evening after dinner," and he walked to the front of the room, as if nothing had even happened.
