Chapter 4
Romeo's a little tied up right now
Ron walked into the Great Hall. All last night he and Harry had been working on their plan. He saw Hermione and he couldn't help but smile, she looked beautiful. But that was not the plan! The plan was to stay "mad" at her for the sake of taking her by utter surprise. Ron remembered the events of last night.
~**********~
(Flashback) "So everything ready?" asked Harry getting up from Ron's bed at 2:00, "everything is going to be great. It will just take some time to get the stuff you need like extra clothes and the keys for the closet door."
"Yeah," said Ron, "we'll have to try and get them without Filch catching us!"
"And why would Filch catch you?" asked a voice behind Ron.
Harry's eyes got big and Ron turned to see what he was looking at Ginny stood in the doorway with a long white nightdress on. Her hair was in a loose messy bun.
"What are you doing here?" asked Ron, looking at Harry who smiled nervously.
"Me and Har-," started Ginny but when she saw Harry make a sign to her about Ron slitting his throat she said, "Har, Har, Harold the Kangaroo! We came for a visit."
"Harold the Kangaroo," said Ron slowly, then he looked at Harry, "does this Kangaroo just happen to have a lightening shaped scare on his forehead?"
"Well," started Ginny, "no, no why would he?"
"Oh! Come on!" said Ron, "how thick do you two think I am. Ginny the last time you had an imaginary friend was when you broke mums clock and told her Herb the Hippogriff did it!"
Ginny smiled faintly.
"Okay, so I was here to see Harry," said Ginny frankly, "big deal!"
Ginny saw Harry look at her desperately.
"But he didn't know I was coming, this was a huge shock to him!" said Ginny quickly.
"Whatever!" said Ron, "I'm not mad! Doesn't matter right now all I am worried about is this plan with Hermione!"
"What plan?" asked Ginny.
The boys looked uneasily at each other.
"Ron please!" said Ginny, "she's already upset enough that you think she's in love with Draco!"
"I know she's not!" said Ron, "its just, its just!"
"You're jealous?" offered Ginny.
"Yeah!" said Ron.
"Well," said Ginny, "what's your plan?"
"We can't tell you!" said Ron quickly.
"Oh! Okay!" said Ginny, then she put on her devil smile, "I'll just go tell Hermione you like her and blow everything!"
"Okay!" said Ron, "okay, we'll tell you!"
Ron whispered in her ear. Ginny's smile just kept getting wider and wider until Harry thought her face would rip.
"Can I help?" asked Ginny, wanting to get in on the action.
"Sure!" said Harry.
They spent the rest of the night planning it even more with Ginny helping absolutely nothing would go wrong! (End of Flashback)
~**********~
Hermione looked up at him and gave him a weak smile. Because of the plan he gave her a glare back. The small smile faded quickly from her lips and she began eating slowly again. Ron came by and sat next to Ginny who was talking with Harry.
"How's everything coming?" asked Ron in a low whisper.
"Great!" said Ginny, "I already have the extra clothes, I am also in the clothes department of the play. Plus, I got rope for the, 'you know'."
"Great!" said Ron, "Harry how 'bout you?"
"I made sure there would be an intermission before the last scene!" said Harry, "I checked with Dumbledore!"
"This is going to be brilliant!" said Ron, "now Ginny don't forget to be our little Rita Skeeter whenever you're around Hermione, take notes, and remember everything!"
"Aye-Aye O lovesick one!" Ginny said giving Ron a salute, Harry started laughing, and Ron rolled his eyes.
That day everything went as normal until that day's play practice. Instead of Ron wanting to throw his head under a pillow and scream, he wanted to throw his head under a pillow and laugh until his sides hurt. Every time Draco would throw him looks as he said love lines to Hermione, Ron wanted to laughed at him, "Draco it's not working! I have a feeling you're not going to be so cocky at the actual play."
Before any off them knew it, it was the day of the play. Because of the play all the classes that Friday were cancelled and everyone had a chance to practice, practice, practice. Ron knew his lines as if they were the first words ever to come from his lips. Hermione knew everyone of her lines so well that when she would fall asleep in the common room she would wake up suddenly and say a random one of her lines and fall immediately back to sleep.
Ron would watch her sleep; she looked saintly sleeping there with her hands in her lap. Every now and then Harry would skip (yes SKIP!) by singing, "Ronnie loves Mione! Ronnie loves Mione!" Which was always answered by Hermione shooting up and saying something like, "Hie to high fortune! Honest nurse, farewell." Or, "Where is thy mother?"
~**********~
Harry and Ron watched outside the door on the far end of the Great Hall as people poured into the seats. Parents and relatives of all kinds where taking there places are trying to find there sons or daughters names in the pamphlet being handed out by Neville and Luna on either side of the doors.
Ginny came and greeted them and they began talking. They were having a marvelous time laughing and taking large sips of their butterbeers Ginny had brought them for good luck.
Whether they where just doing for the fun of it, they were drunk or both, neither Harry, Ron, or Ginny knew but they started striding down the rows between the tables of Gryffindor and Slytherin singing "I'm every woman!"
As they were passing by the rows of amused or shocked Gryffindor and Slytherin parents, they all saw what they thought they would never see. Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon, and Dudley were all standing by the Great Hall doors getting a pamphlet from Neville.
"And who is your relation?" asked Neville kindly.
"Harry Potter," said Uncle Vernon grimly.
"Oh!" said Neville pleasantly, "Hi! I'm a friend of Harry's! I'm Neville! You'll be sitting at Harry's House Table, mine too, Gryffindor, for those who are brave."
The Dursley family looked confused at which table was Gryffindor.
"That one," added Neville after a little bit. "Just follow my grandmother."
Neville's grandmother showed them to the seats.
Harry grinned at them and they all knew what that meant. They continued there singing and striding to I'm every woman to where the Dursley's were sitting. Harry saw the Dursley's looking at him as though he belonged in a zoo. Then he pretended for the first time to notice them.
"What are you lot doing here?" asked Harry grinning.
"He made us come!" whined Dudley pointing at Dumbledore, "sent us a howl- thingy."
"Howler," corrected Ginny.
"Oh! Yes!" exclaimed Harry, "how rude of me! Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon, Dudley this is my best friend Ron."
"We've met before!" said Aunt Petunia grimly, remembering how long it took to repair her living room.
"And this is my girlfriend Ginny," said Harry kissing Ginny on the cheek, Ginny giggled.
"Oh please!" said Ron teasingly, "Ginny, do you really have to kiss you're brother's best friend in front of him!"
Dudley stared.
"What!" said Dudley, "how does that freak get a girl and I don't?"
Both Ron and Harry looked at him. And started to laughed until there was a rush of brown hair and suddenly they were looking in the eyes of Hermione.
"Harry!" she cried, "Draco's putting on lipstick!"
"Well," said Ron "bitterly", "isn't that good?"
Hermione's eyes teared up and she walked away.
The Dursley family looked very confused.
"Is that your girlfriend, Ron?" asked Dudley.
"No!" said Ron, "she's my best friend, who just happens to have to kiss our enemy tonight!"
"Harry has an enemy!" said Dudley, "I wanna meet him."
"I'm sure you do!" said Harry grinning mischievously, "he loves muggles!"
Ginny laughed, "he sure does! Loves them almost as much as muggle born wizards!"
"Well!" said Harry laughing, "I must get going so the play can start!"
"Yep!" said Ron as they turned to leave.
Then just for a little fun Harry called back, "I love you guys!"
Harry, Ginny, and Ron could all here Aunt Petunia's revolted cry of disgust.
"Geeze!" said Harry when they were out of Dursley hearing distance, "you show the woman affection and that's what ya get!"
They had just made it to the left part of the stage when they saw Dumbledore walk on.
"Lady's and Gentlemen!" he started, "Tonight! We will be reenacting the classic muggle play of Romeo and Juliet."
None of the actors listened to the rest, they were busy pulling down tights that were giving them wedgies or straightening hats and whatnot.
Hermione came up behind Ron.
"Ron," she started sheepishly, he turned around and did his best to stay mad, "I know that you're mad but, I wanted to wish you good luck!"
"Thanks," Ron said, so coldly that even Harry and Ginny shivered.
Hermione walked slowly away.
"Ron," started Ginny watching Hermione go, "I know the plan is for you to stay mad at her, but that was harsh!"
"All the better!" said Ron, "there is no way she's expecting me to kiss her! Would you?"
"No," said Harry, "but I wouldn't expect you to kiss me for other reasons!"
Ginny laughed.
"Oh!" she said quickly, "Ron! You're on!"
"When?" asked Ron.
"Right after Freda Hoffsmen finishes the prologue.
"What here shall miss," said Freda, "our toil shall strive to mend."
There was clapping as Freda walked off the stage. Neville came up next to Ron. They both took a deep breath and walked on.
"Gregory, o' my word, we'll not carry coals," said Neville.
"No, for then we should be colliers," said Ron.
(You've heard the rest so I am skipping to a further part of this scene.)
"Yes, better, sir," said Neville drawing out his sword.
"You lie!" said Dean (Abraham).
"Draw, if you be men. Gregory, remember thy swashing blow," said Neville.
The sword fight began with lots of pleased murmurs from the audience.
Then Seamus walked on.
"Part, fools! Put up your swords; you know not what you do," said Seamus (Benvolio).
Then Justin, who played, Tybalt, walked on.
"What, art thou drawn among these heartless hinds? Turn thee, Benvolio, look upon thy death," said Justin.
"I do but keep the peace: put up thy sword, or manage it to part these men with me," said Seamus.
"What, drawn, and talk of peace! I hate the word, as I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee: Have at thee, coward!" cried Justin.
And then they fight. Many of the extras (the first years, and some second years) that played the citizens joined the fight.
Then Ernie Macmillan walked on with Hannah Abbot (they played Capulet and Lady Capulet)
"What noise is this? Give me my long sword, ho!" said Ernie, who Ron had to admit was good.
"A crutch, a crutch! Why call you for a sword?" asked Hannah.
They played continued.
Ron watching from stage left was watching as the love scenes between Draco and Hermione became steadily mushier.
"But, soft! What light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun. Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, Who is already sick and pale with grief, That thou her maid art far more fair than she: Be not her maid, since she is envious; Her vestal livery is but sick and green And none but fools do wear it; cast it off. It is my lady, O, it is my love! O, that she knew she were! She speaks yet she says nothing: what of that? Her eye discourses; I will answer it. I am too bold, 'tis not to me she speaks: Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven, having some business, do entreat her eyes, to twinkle in their spheres till they return. What if her eyes were there, they in her head? The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars, as daylight doth a lamp; her eyes in heaven Would through the airy region stream so bright that birds would sing and think it were not night see, how she leans her cheek upon her hand! O, that I were a glove upon that hand, that I might touch that cheek!" recited Draco and, unknowingly to anyone, Ron (who did it silently).
"Ay me!" said Hermione on the fake balcony.
"She speaks: O, speak again, bright angel! For thou art As glorious to this night, being o'er my head As is a winged messenger of heaven Unto the white- upturned wondering eyes Of mortals that fall back to gaze on him When he bestrides the lazy-pacing clouds And sails upon the bosom of the air," said Draco.
The play continued. Even Harry and Ginny did not know that Ron knew everyone of Romeo's lines. Perfectly.
Finally the scene that Ron had been waiting for came. The scene were the preparation had to be perfect.
"I do defy thy conjurations, and apprehend thee for a felon here," said Blaise (who played Paris, Juliet's Groom to be, but she doesn't want that).
"Wilt thou provoke me? Then have at thee, boy!" said Draco and both drew their swords.
"O Lord, they fight! I will go call the watch!" cried Terry Boot, Ravenclaw, who played Page.
The curtains closed for the final act. There were many claps. Draco, Blaise, and Terry all walked off stage. Draco smirked at Ron.
Then Ron looked over at Harry and Ginny and nodded and they all followed Draco.
"Hey! Draco!" called Ginny, running to catch up with him, "you're really great!"
"Well," said Draco concededly, "did you have any doubts?"
"Well I never thought anyone could do better than Ron!" said Ginny in mock surprise.
Little bit Draco know that behind him Ron and Harry were creeping and Ron was holding a rope and Harry a gag piece.
Ginny kept "flirting" with Draco until she had lead him so that Draco was in front of a closet.
Then Harry and Ron jumped Draco from behind. Draco tried to scream but Harry had placed the gag piece over his mouth and tied it hard.
Ron shoved Draco into the closet and tied the rope around him while Harry took Draco's wand a Ginny was laughing.
Ron hurried out of the closet and Ginny shut the door and locked it. Then put a silencing spell around it just in case he found a way to remove the gag piece.
"Great work everyone!" said Ron hugging them both.
"Ron, you don't have much time," said Ginny handing him an extra pair of the same clothes Draco had been wearing. "Go change!"
"Right!" said Ron, before dashing away.
"That was fun!" said Harry to Ginny.
"It sure was," said Ginny and stood on her tiptoes and gave Harry a small kiss on the lips. "Now! Let's go get go places to watch the show!"
"Righto!" said Harry and they dashed off.
Then Ron ran on stage with his Romeo costume. Blaise looked at him funny.
"Draco got sick!" said Ron in mock concern, "I'm filling in."
Blaise just nodded his head.
Then they began to sword fight and the curtains began to rise.
When everyone saw it was not Draco as Romeo there was some whispering among the crowds until the actors began to speak.
"O, I am slain!" said Blaise falling to the floor, "If thou be merciful,
Open the tomb, lay me with Juliet."
Then Blaise "died."
"In faith, I will. Let me peruse this face. Mercutio's kinsman, noble County Paris! What said my man, when my betossed soul did not attend him as we rode? I think He told me Paris should have married Juliet: Said he not so? Or did I dream it so? Or am I mad, hearing him talk of Juliet, to think it was so? O, give me thy hand, one writ with me in sour misfortune's book! I'll bury thee in a triumphant grave; A grave? O no! A lantern, slaughter'd youth, for here lies Juliet, and her beauty makes this vault a feasting presence full of light. Death, lie thou there, by a dead man interr'd," said Ron, his plan was working, he pulled back the small curtain (which was meant to be the tomb) and gently laid Blaise down besides the table were Juliet (Hermione) was lying. He could see her face was screwed up because of Romeo's lines being recited in Ron's voice, not Draco's.
"O, here Will I set up my everlasting rest, and shake the yoke of inauspicious stars From this world-wearied flesh. Eyes look your last! Arms, take your last embrace! And, lips, O you the doors of breath, seal with a righteous kiss a dateless bargain to engrossing death! Come, bitter conduct, come, unsavory guide! Thou desperate pilot, now at once run on the dashing rocks thy seasick weary bark! Here's to my love!"
Ron picks up the goblet that was next to Hermione. He lifted it up to his lips and drank, it was water.
"O true apothecary! Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die!" said Ron, and he knelt next to Hermione and lied slowly on the floor and "died."
Hermione pretended to wake. With Susan (Friar Laurence) at her side.
"O comfortable friar! Where is my lord? I do remember well where I should be, and there I am. Where is my Romeo?" asked Hermione.
"Thy husband in thy bosom there lies dead; And Paris too. Come, I'll dispose of thee Among a sisterhood of holy nuns: Stay not to question, for the watch is coming; Come, go, good Juliet," said Susan. "Dare I no longer stay."
"Go, get thee hence, for I will not away," said Hermione and Susan exited, "What's here? A cup, closed in my true love's hand? Poison, I see, hath been his timeless end: O churl! Drunk all, and left no friendly drop to help me after?"
Hermione bent down over Ron, "Ron where is Draco?" she hissed.
"Romeo's a little tied up right down," whispered Ron smiling. "Now say the rest of your line!"
Hermione looked flustered but then began, "I will kiss thy lips; haply some poison yet doth hang on them, to make die with a restorative!"'
Ron saw Hermione gulp; he gazed up at her with loving eyes. She gently lowered her head and kissed him. Ron made a mental note to himself in his head before he lost speech, "This is a much longer kiss than in the script! And better!"
Hermione's lips finally parted from his, "Thy lips are warm."
She said and they way she looked down at him when she said it made him think that she was really saying it, not only it being a line in the play.
Noises from behind the "tomb."
"Lead boy! Which way?" called out a voice.
"Yea, noise? Then I'll be brief. O happy dagger!" said Hermione as she snatched the fake dagger than laid beside the tomb, "This is thy sheath!" she cried and "stabbed herself", "there rust, and let me die!"
Hermione made sure that she fell on Ron's body.
"Ron what do you think your doing!" hissed Hermione quietly.
"This is the place; there, where the torch doth burn," said Terry (Page).
Ron and Hermione looked into each other's eyes the rest of the play. Not noting the lines being exchanged or anything. Even when Harry and Ginny walked on to do their lines Ron and Hermione did not hear them.
Then Neville (who played two parts) said the final line, "A glooming peace this morning with it brings; the sun, for sorrow, will not show his head: Go hence, to have more talk of these sad things; some shall be pardon'd, and some punished: For never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo."
"I thought you were mad at me," said Hermione softly over the clapping as the curtain closed.
"I could never be mad at you Hermione," said Ron, kinda out of breath since Hermione had fallen on him.
"Oh!" said Hermione noticing Ron's lack of air, "I'll get off!"
"No!" said Ron as the rest of the cast lined up in front of them and the curtain rose and the line of cast members took a bow. "No don't."
"Ron, I," started Hermione as the curtain closed and the cast members went off stage, but they could still hear the sound of the clapping audience.
But Ron put a finger to her lips.
"I know," he said and Ron sat up with Hermione by his side.
Then it happened. They kissed, a long one, and they were so wrapped up that they did not hear Dumbledore say, "And lets have it for our Romeo and Juliet!"
The curtain rose while they were still kissing. Ron only noticed that they were kissing (not only in front of the entire school, but the entire schools parents as well) when he heard non other than Fred and George's catcalls. Hermione broke the kiss of suddenly as she to noticed their predicament.
"Ron we have to stop," said Hermione, "A lot of these people work for the Daily Profit, they'll talk!"
Ron grinned, "Well, lets give them something to talk about."
And with that they kissed again. Everyone in the audience was standing up now thanks to Harry and Ginny who were the first to stand up. Everyone began cheering sending out whistles. And the curtain finally closed.
Ron and Hermione got up.
"May I escort you to the Great Hall, Juliet?" asked Ron smiling.
"Always, Romeo," said Hermione they walked out hand in hand to the Great Hall where they were met by applause. Hermione beamed and Ron just waved to show Harry and Ginny where they were in the mess.
It began to get to hard for Ron and Hermione to exit the Great Hall. So out of the blue Ron sweeps Hermione into his arms and carried her Damsel in Distress style out of the Great Hall where they were going to give people a LOT more to talk about.
Romeo's a little tied up right now
Ron walked into the Great Hall. All last night he and Harry had been working on their plan. He saw Hermione and he couldn't help but smile, she looked beautiful. But that was not the plan! The plan was to stay "mad" at her for the sake of taking her by utter surprise. Ron remembered the events of last night.
~**********~
(Flashback) "So everything ready?" asked Harry getting up from Ron's bed at 2:00, "everything is going to be great. It will just take some time to get the stuff you need like extra clothes and the keys for the closet door."
"Yeah," said Ron, "we'll have to try and get them without Filch catching us!"
"And why would Filch catch you?" asked a voice behind Ron.
Harry's eyes got big and Ron turned to see what he was looking at Ginny stood in the doorway with a long white nightdress on. Her hair was in a loose messy bun.
"What are you doing here?" asked Ron, looking at Harry who smiled nervously.
"Me and Har-," started Ginny but when she saw Harry make a sign to her about Ron slitting his throat she said, "Har, Har, Harold the Kangaroo! We came for a visit."
"Harold the Kangaroo," said Ron slowly, then he looked at Harry, "does this Kangaroo just happen to have a lightening shaped scare on his forehead?"
"Well," started Ginny, "no, no why would he?"
"Oh! Come on!" said Ron, "how thick do you two think I am. Ginny the last time you had an imaginary friend was when you broke mums clock and told her Herb the Hippogriff did it!"
Ginny smiled faintly.
"Okay, so I was here to see Harry," said Ginny frankly, "big deal!"
Ginny saw Harry look at her desperately.
"But he didn't know I was coming, this was a huge shock to him!" said Ginny quickly.
"Whatever!" said Ron, "I'm not mad! Doesn't matter right now all I am worried about is this plan with Hermione!"
"What plan?" asked Ginny.
The boys looked uneasily at each other.
"Ron please!" said Ginny, "she's already upset enough that you think she's in love with Draco!"
"I know she's not!" said Ron, "its just, its just!"
"You're jealous?" offered Ginny.
"Yeah!" said Ron.
"Well," said Ginny, "what's your plan?"
"We can't tell you!" said Ron quickly.
"Oh! Okay!" said Ginny, then she put on her devil smile, "I'll just go tell Hermione you like her and blow everything!"
"Okay!" said Ron, "okay, we'll tell you!"
Ron whispered in her ear. Ginny's smile just kept getting wider and wider until Harry thought her face would rip.
"Can I help?" asked Ginny, wanting to get in on the action.
"Sure!" said Harry.
They spent the rest of the night planning it even more with Ginny helping absolutely nothing would go wrong! (End of Flashback)
~**********~
Hermione looked up at him and gave him a weak smile. Because of the plan he gave her a glare back. The small smile faded quickly from her lips and she began eating slowly again. Ron came by and sat next to Ginny who was talking with Harry.
"How's everything coming?" asked Ron in a low whisper.
"Great!" said Ginny, "I already have the extra clothes, I am also in the clothes department of the play. Plus, I got rope for the, 'you know'."
"Great!" said Ron, "Harry how 'bout you?"
"I made sure there would be an intermission before the last scene!" said Harry, "I checked with Dumbledore!"
"This is going to be brilliant!" said Ron, "now Ginny don't forget to be our little Rita Skeeter whenever you're around Hermione, take notes, and remember everything!"
"Aye-Aye O lovesick one!" Ginny said giving Ron a salute, Harry started laughing, and Ron rolled his eyes.
That day everything went as normal until that day's play practice. Instead of Ron wanting to throw his head under a pillow and scream, he wanted to throw his head under a pillow and laugh until his sides hurt. Every time Draco would throw him looks as he said love lines to Hermione, Ron wanted to laughed at him, "Draco it's not working! I have a feeling you're not going to be so cocky at the actual play."
Before any off them knew it, it was the day of the play. Because of the play all the classes that Friday were cancelled and everyone had a chance to practice, practice, practice. Ron knew his lines as if they were the first words ever to come from his lips. Hermione knew everyone of her lines so well that when she would fall asleep in the common room she would wake up suddenly and say a random one of her lines and fall immediately back to sleep.
Ron would watch her sleep; she looked saintly sleeping there with her hands in her lap. Every now and then Harry would skip (yes SKIP!) by singing, "Ronnie loves Mione! Ronnie loves Mione!" Which was always answered by Hermione shooting up and saying something like, "Hie to high fortune! Honest nurse, farewell." Or, "Where is thy mother?"
~**********~
Harry and Ron watched outside the door on the far end of the Great Hall as people poured into the seats. Parents and relatives of all kinds where taking there places are trying to find there sons or daughters names in the pamphlet being handed out by Neville and Luna on either side of the doors.
Ginny came and greeted them and they began talking. They were having a marvelous time laughing and taking large sips of their butterbeers Ginny had brought them for good luck.
Whether they where just doing for the fun of it, they were drunk or both, neither Harry, Ron, or Ginny knew but they started striding down the rows between the tables of Gryffindor and Slytherin singing "I'm every woman!"
As they were passing by the rows of amused or shocked Gryffindor and Slytherin parents, they all saw what they thought they would never see. Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon, and Dudley were all standing by the Great Hall doors getting a pamphlet from Neville.
"And who is your relation?" asked Neville kindly.
"Harry Potter," said Uncle Vernon grimly.
"Oh!" said Neville pleasantly, "Hi! I'm a friend of Harry's! I'm Neville! You'll be sitting at Harry's House Table, mine too, Gryffindor, for those who are brave."
The Dursley family looked confused at which table was Gryffindor.
"That one," added Neville after a little bit. "Just follow my grandmother."
Neville's grandmother showed them to the seats.
Harry grinned at them and they all knew what that meant. They continued there singing and striding to I'm every woman to where the Dursley's were sitting. Harry saw the Dursley's looking at him as though he belonged in a zoo. Then he pretended for the first time to notice them.
"What are you lot doing here?" asked Harry grinning.
"He made us come!" whined Dudley pointing at Dumbledore, "sent us a howl- thingy."
"Howler," corrected Ginny.
"Oh! Yes!" exclaimed Harry, "how rude of me! Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon, Dudley this is my best friend Ron."
"We've met before!" said Aunt Petunia grimly, remembering how long it took to repair her living room.
"And this is my girlfriend Ginny," said Harry kissing Ginny on the cheek, Ginny giggled.
"Oh please!" said Ron teasingly, "Ginny, do you really have to kiss you're brother's best friend in front of him!"
Dudley stared.
"What!" said Dudley, "how does that freak get a girl and I don't?"
Both Ron and Harry looked at him. And started to laughed until there was a rush of brown hair and suddenly they were looking in the eyes of Hermione.
"Harry!" she cried, "Draco's putting on lipstick!"
"Well," said Ron "bitterly", "isn't that good?"
Hermione's eyes teared up and she walked away.
The Dursley family looked very confused.
"Is that your girlfriend, Ron?" asked Dudley.
"No!" said Ron, "she's my best friend, who just happens to have to kiss our enemy tonight!"
"Harry has an enemy!" said Dudley, "I wanna meet him."
"I'm sure you do!" said Harry grinning mischievously, "he loves muggles!"
Ginny laughed, "he sure does! Loves them almost as much as muggle born wizards!"
"Well!" said Harry laughing, "I must get going so the play can start!"
"Yep!" said Ron as they turned to leave.
Then just for a little fun Harry called back, "I love you guys!"
Harry, Ginny, and Ron could all here Aunt Petunia's revolted cry of disgust.
"Geeze!" said Harry when they were out of Dursley hearing distance, "you show the woman affection and that's what ya get!"
They had just made it to the left part of the stage when they saw Dumbledore walk on.
"Lady's and Gentlemen!" he started, "Tonight! We will be reenacting the classic muggle play of Romeo and Juliet."
None of the actors listened to the rest, they were busy pulling down tights that were giving them wedgies or straightening hats and whatnot.
Hermione came up behind Ron.
"Ron," she started sheepishly, he turned around and did his best to stay mad, "I know that you're mad but, I wanted to wish you good luck!"
"Thanks," Ron said, so coldly that even Harry and Ginny shivered.
Hermione walked slowly away.
"Ron," started Ginny watching Hermione go, "I know the plan is for you to stay mad at her, but that was harsh!"
"All the better!" said Ron, "there is no way she's expecting me to kiss her! Would you?"
"No," said Harry, "but I wouldn't expect you to kiss me for other reasons!"
Ginny laughed.
"Oh!" she said quickly, "Ron! You're on!"
"When?" asked Ron.
"Right after Freda Hoffsmen finishes the prologue.
"What here shall miss," said Freda, "our toil shall strive to mend."
There was clapping as Freda walked off the stage. Neville came up next to Ron. They both took a deep breath and walked on.
"Gregory, o' my word, we'll not carry coals," said Neville.
"No, for then we should be colliers," said Ron.
(You've heard the rest so I am skipping to a further part of this scene.)
"Yes, better, sir," said Neville drawing out his sword.
"You lie!" said Dean (Abraham).
"Draw, if you be men. Gregory, remember thy swashing blow," said Neville.
The sword fight began with lots of pleased murmurs from the audience.
Then Seamus walked on.
"Part, fools! Put up your swords; you know not what you do," said Seamus (Benvolio).
Then Justin, who played, Tybalt, walked on.
"What, art thou drawn among these heartless hinds? Turn thee, Benvolio, look upon thy death," said Justin.
"I do but keep the peace: put up thy sword, or manage it to part these men with me," said Seamus.
"What, drawn, and talk of peace! I hate the word, as I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee: Have at thee, coward!" cried Justin.
And then they fight. Many of the extras (the first years, and some second years) that played the citizens joined the fight.
Then Ernie Macmillan walked on with Hannah Abbot (they played Capulet and Lady Capulet)
"What noise is this? Give me my long sword, ho!" said Ernie, who Ron had to admit was good.
"A crutch, a crutch! Why call you for a sword?" asked Hannah.
They played continued.
Ron watching from stage left was watching as the love scenes between Draco and Hermione became steadily mushier.
"But, soft! What light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun. Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, Who is already sick and pale with grief, That thou her maid art far more fair than she: Be not her maid, since she is envious; Her vestal livery is but sick and green And none but fools do wear it; cast it off. It is my lady, O, it is my love! O, that she knew she were! She speaks yet she says nothing: what of that? Her eye discourses; I will answer it. I am too bold, 'tis not to me she speaks: Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven, having some business, do entreat her eyes, to twinkle in their spheres till they return. What if her eyes were there, they in her head? The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars, as daylight doth a lamp; her eyes in heaven Would through the airy region stream so bright that birds would sing and think it were not night see, how she leans her cheek upon her hand! O, that I were a glove upon that hand, that I might touch that cheek!" recited Draco and, unknowingly to anyone, Ron (who did it silently).
"Ay me!" said Hermione on the fake balcony.
"She speaks: O, speak again, bright angel! For thou art As glorious to this night, being o'er my head As is a winged messenger of heaven Unto the white- upturned wondering eyes Of mortals that fall back to gaze on him When he bestrides the lazy-pacing clouds And sails upon the bosom of the air," said Draco.
The play continued. Even Harry and Ginny did not know that Ron knew everyone of Romeo's lines. Perfectly.
Finally the scene that Ron had been waiting for came. The scene were the preparation had to be perfect.
"I do defy thy conjurations, and apprehend thee for a felon here," said Blaise (who played Paris, Juliet's Groom to be, but she doesn't want that).
"Wilt thou provoke me? Then have at thee, boy!" said Draco and both drew their swords.
"O Lord, they fight! I will go call the watch!" cried Terry Boot, Ravenclaw, who played Page.
The curtains closed for the final act. There were many claps. Draco, Blaise, and Terry all walked off stage. Draco smirked at Ron.
Then Ron looked over at Harry and Ginny and nodded and they all followed Draco.
"Hey! Draco!" called Ginny, running to catch up with him, "you're really great!"
"Well," said Draco concededly, "did you have any doubts?"
"Well I never thought anyone could do better than Ron!" said Ginny in mock surprise.
Little bit Draco know that behind him Ron and Harry were creeping and Ron was holding a rope and Harry a gag piece.
Ginny kept "flirting" with Draco until she had lead him so that Draco was in front of a closet.
Then Harry and Ron jumped Draco from behind. Draco tried to scream but Harry had placed the gag piece over his mouth and tied it hard.
Ron shoved Draco into the closet and tied the rope around him while Harry took Draco's wand a Ginny was laughing.
Ron hurried out of the closet and Ginny shut the door and locked it. Then put a silencing spell around it just in case he found a way to remove the gag piece.
"Great work everyone!" said Ron hugging them both.
"Ron, you don't have much time," said Ginny handing him an extra pair of the same clothes Draco had been wearing. "Go change!"
"Right!" said Ron, before dashing away.
"That was fun!" said Harry to Ginny.
"It sure was," said Ginny and stood on her tiptoes and gave Harry a small kiss on the lips. "Now! Let's go get go places to watch the show!"
"Righto!" said Harry and they dashed off.
Then Ron ran on stage with his Romeo costume. Blaise looked at him funny.
"Draco got sick!" said Ron in mock concern, "I'm filling in."
Blaise just nodded his head.
Then they began to sword fight and the curtains began to rise.
When everyone saw it was not Draco as Romeo there was some whispering among the crowds until the actors began to speak.
"O, I am slain!" said Blaise falling to the floor, "If thou be merciful,
Open the tomb, lay me with Juliet."
Then Blaise "died."
"In faith, I will. Let me peruse this face. Mercutio's kinsman, noble County Paris! What said my man, when my betossed soul did not attend him as we rode? I think He told me Paris should have married Juliet: Said he not so? Or did I dream it so? Or am I mad, hearing him talk of Juliet, to think it was so? O, give me thy hand, one writ with me in sour misfortune's book! I'll bury thee in a triumphant grave; A grave? O no! A lantern, slaughter'd youth, for here lies Juliet, and her beauty makes this vault a feasting presence full of light. Death, lie thou there, by a dead man interr'd," said Ron, his plan was working, he pulled back the small curtain (which was meant to be the tomb) and gently laid Blaise down besides the table were Juliet (Hermione) was lying. He could see her face was screwed up because of Romeo's lines being recited in Ron's voice, not Draco's.
"O, here Will I set up my everlasting rest, and shake the yoke of inauspicious stars From this world-wearied flesh. Eyes look your last! Arms, take your last embrace! And, lips, O you the doors of breath, seal with a righteous kiss a dateless bargain to engrossing death! Come, bitter conduct, come, unsavory guide! Thou desperate pilot, now at once run on the dashing rocks thy seasick weary bark! Here's to my love!"
Ron picks up the goblet that was next to Hermione. He lifted it up to his lips and drank, it was water.
"O true apothecary! Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die!" said Ron, and he knelt next to Hermione and lied slowly on the floor and "died."
Hermione pretended to wake. With Susan (Friar Laurence) at her side.
"O comfortable friar! Where is my lord? I do remember well where I should be, and there I am. Where is my Romeo?" asked Hermione.
"Thy husband in thy bosom there lies dead; And Paris too. Come, I'll dispose of thee Among a sisterhood of holy nuns: Stay not to question, for the watch is coming; Come, go, good Juliet," said Susan. "Dare I no longer stay."
"Go, get thee hence, for I will not away," said Hermione and Susan exited, "What's here? A cup, closed in my true love's hand? Poison, I see, hath been his timeless end: O churl! Drunk all, and left no friendly drop to help me after?"
Hermione bent down over Ron, "Ron where is Draco?" she hissed.
"Romeo's a little tied up right down," whispered Ron smiling. "Now say the rest of your line!"
Hermione looked flustered but then began, "I will kiss thy lips; haply some poison yet doth hang on them, to make die with a restorative!"'
Ron saw Hermione gulp; he gazed up at her with loving eyes. She gently lowered her head and kissed him. Ron made a mental note to himself in his head before he lost speech, "This is a much longer kiss than in the script! And better!"
Hermione's lips finally parted from his, "Thy lips are warm."
She said and they way she looked down at him when she said it made him think that she was really saying it, not only it being a line in the play.
Noises from behind the "tomb."
"Lead boy! Which way?" called out a voice.
"Yea, noise? Then I'll be brief. O happy dagger!" said Hermione as she snatched the fake dagger than laid beside the tomb, "This is thy sheath!" she cried and "stabbed herself", "there rust, and let me die!"
Hermione made sure that she fell on Ron's body.
"Ron what do you think your doing!" hissed Hermione quietly.
"This is the place; there, where the torch doth burn," said Terry (Page).
Ron and Hermione looked into each other's eyes the rest of the play. Not noting the lines being exchanged or anything. Even when Harry and Ginny walked on to do their lines Ron and Hermione did not hear them.
Then Neville (who played two parts) said the final line, "A glooming peace this morning with it brings; the sun, for sorrow, will not show his head: Go hence, to have more talk of these sad things; some shall be pardon'd, and some punished: For never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo."
"I thought you were mad at me," said Hermione softly over the clapping as the curtain closed.
"I could never be mad at you Hermione," said Ron, kinda out of breath since Hermione had fallen on him.
"Oh!" said Hermione noticing Ron's lack of air, "I'll get off!"
"No!" said Ron as the rest of the cast lined up in front of them and the curtain rose and the line of cast members took a bow. "No don't."
"Ron, I," started Hermione as the curtain closed and the cast members went off stage, but they could still hear the sound of the clapping audience.
But Ron put a finger to her lips.
"I know," he said and Ron sat up with Hermione by his side.
Then it happened. They kissed, a long one, and they were so wrapped up that they did not hear Dumbledore say, "And lets have it for our Romeo and Juliet!"
The curtain rose while they were still kissing. Ron only noticed that they were kissing (not only in front of the entire school, but the entire schools parents as well) when he heard non other than Fred and George's catcalls. Hermione broke the kiss of suddenly as she to noticed their predicament.
"Ron we have to stop," said Hermione, "A lot of these people work for the Daily Profit, they'll talk!"
Ron grinned, "Well, lets give them something to talk about."
And with that they kissed again. Everyone in the audience was standing up now thanks to Harry and Ginny who were the first to stand up. Everyone began cheering sending out whistles. And the curtain finally closed.
Ron and Hermione got up.
"May I escort you to the Great Hall, Juliet?" asked Ron smiling.
"Always, Romeo," said Hermione they walked out hand in hand to the Great Hall where they were met by applause. Hermione beamed and Ron just waved to show Harry and Ginny where they were in the mess.
It began to get to hard for Ron and Hermione to exit the Great Hall. So out of the blue Ron sweeps Hermione into his arms and carried her Damsel in Distress style out of the Great Hall where they were going to give people a LOT more to talk about.
