A/N: Thanks for all of the lovely reviews, they made me happy. I was going to post at the beginning of break but the arrival of cousins for Christmas ruined that. But today I was sick and was banned from watching anymore of the stuff I got for Christmas so I am writing.

A clarification: Ginny and Dean were a summer thing. Dean broke up with Ginny after rendezvousing with Seamus, Pavarti, and Lavendar on the train. I just sorted all that out myself.

Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns the HP series. Song lyrics don't belong to me either (credits at the end).

Hogwarts' First Annual Talent Show

Although the excitement of Christmas left the halls of Hogwarts after a few days, it was quickly replaced with the sounds of rehearsals. There was less than a week for the Talent Show. There weren't any auditions so the list of performers was extensive. It seemed that almost everyone was willing to perform in front of the entire school. Hermione had been one of the first students to sign up; Remus was one of the first teachers.

Hermione walked downstairs on New Year's Eve to see a transformed Great Hall. It had been enlarged and then split it half. The back half was located behind a barrier stage. It accommodated soundproof booths for people to rehearse in, dressing rooms, instrument storage, and a small room next to the stage for the next act to wait. A new door was attached to the other side of one wall so performers could come and go without disturbing everything. Hermione, it seemed, and mistaken the new door for the normal one. She left the back of the Great Hall and went into the normal area to eat lunch.

The long tables of the Great Hall were still there. As far as Hermione could tell, nothing had been changed. A distraught Ginny ran up to her. "Mione! They posted table assignments."

"Really? Who are we sitting with?"

"Ron, Harry, Luna, Colin, Neville, Dennis, Ernie, Hannah, Justin, and, oh yeah, Seamus and Dean."

"Oh, Gin. I'm so sorry."

"That's okay. This way it will be easier for me to see his reaction to my performance."

"Gin. what are you going to do?"

"You'll see," Ginny said with a mischievous look before walking out of the Hall.

Hermione at with Ron and Harry, though the whole meal was rather tense. The incident on Christmas, though fading into memory, would never entirely be forgotten. Hermione still had the frequent urge to harm him in a way that would not only get her expelled, it would also stop him from furthering the Weasley clan.

"So, Hermione," Harry said tentatively, "where were you at breakfast?"

"Breakfast? Oh, I guess I ate before you got here. I had to find a few things for the talent show before lunch."

"We missed you, Hermione," Ron said, half-whispering.

"Thanks, Ron. I have to go, the show starts soon and I have to finish getting everything ready. My mom just sent the fabric today and I don't know how to sew, so."

"Ask Ginny," Ron said, trying to help. "She can't knit, so Mom stuck her with the sewing before she came here." Delighted to hear that, Hermione rushed upstairs to find Ginny to pull her away from rehearsals to sew. After a few hours, and a bit of blood, everyone was ready to go onstage.

The group of friends entered the Great Hall to find it totally transformed. There were small tables scattered throughout the room with a staff table at the back. The hall was light by small candles, giving it all a very intimate feel. Hermione, Ginny, and the rest were seated at the at one of the back tables. Hermione didn't have to get up until about an hour into the talent show. After listening to some mediocre acts, including a group of first-years performing "My Heart Will Go On" with hand-motions and Trelawney attempting to sing an aria, she got up to leave quickly followed by Ginny, who was set to go on after her. After listening to a few more acts, Hermione, changed and ready, took the stage.

Hermione was guided to the center of the stage. Dumbledore presented her. After he finished, Hermione took a single step forward into the spotlight. She wore a long, black, halter-style dress with the minimum amount of makeup required. Her hair was worn loose and out-of-control yet looked like a star. With pre-recorded music beginning to come out of the enchanted amplifiers, she began to sing.

"I lived my life in shadow/ Never the sun on my face/ It didn't seem so sad, though/ I figured that was my place/ Now I'm bathed in light/ Something just isn't right. You make me complete." She sang the whole song looking straight at Remus, though the casual observer would think she was staring at the back wall to stave off nervousness. The audience fell away and the two of them were the only ones there, as far as she was concerned. The song over, she bowed and walked off, leaving a standing ovation.

Ginny greeted her backstage with a squeal. "Mione, you were amazing! They loved you."

Hermione grinned. "I know. Now go, do your thing, I'll watch from here." Ginny was dressed a la Gwen Stefani. She started the song without an introduction, surprising everyone. She did a killer rendition of No Doubt's "I'm Just a Gril" and blew everyone out of the water. She walked off-stage without acknowledging the audience. Hermione hurried to greet her. "Gin, that was- wow. Why'd you pick it?"

"I don't know. For me, I guess. Let's go back and watch Harry." As the girls walked out of the rehearsal area, Hermione saw Remus walk out of the Great Hall.

"Um, Gin, I'll meet you in a sec, okay?

"Tell me about anything I miss."

"Don't I always?" Hermione said, crossing her fingers.

"Hello, Hermione."

TO BE CONTINUED..