A/N sorry, this is a shorter chapter than the previous, but I will update soon. To all my reviewers, a happy new year (if I don't update before it's 2004 that is) and please, keep the reviews coming. You know I love them to bits! - Nanja Chapter 11: the Rehearsal, part 1

Hermione made her way down a corridor, ignoring everyone she met on her way. She was angry, but especially feeling guilty towards Ron. She had nothing to do but to find Cho and apologize, although she rather jump off a cliff.

Time was working against her and she hadn't found Cho when she suddenly remembered she had to go to the rehearsal, which would start that evening, in the Great Hall. Because Hermione had missed dinner, she had not seen Ron and Cho making up, but by the looks of it, they were friends again.

Harry was sitting strangely far away from Ron, and was practicing his lines with Viktor. Hermione decided it was best to join them.

"Hi" said Hermione, taking her place next to Harry, opposite of Viktor.

"Hey... how are you?" asked Harry, with his eye on Ron and Cho.

"Oh... well, you know, feeling miserable of course. I mean... not only what I've done to Cho, but I also feel guilty towards Ron..."

"You mustn't veel guilty vor him" said Viktor from behind his book.

Before either Hermione or Harry could reply, Lovehart appeared on the stage, clearing his throat. "Well now, good to see you all back here. Let us hope no accidents will appear among us the evening," he paused and showed off his white teeth. "We'll practice the entire play this evening, so I call forward for the first scene: Ron Weasley, Harry Potter and Blaise Zabini."

Harry threw Hermione one last concerned look and he went onto the stage. Hermione sighed and looked at Viktor, who eyed her closely and bemused.

Hermione raised her eyebrow and Viktor whispered, "Him?"

"How...?" Hermione whispered back, very shocked.

"Instinct," muttered Viktor absently as he watched the people on the stage play. Hermione followed his lead.

"Next scene, Ron Weasley, Draco Malfoy, Neville Longbottom, Cho Chang and Harry Potter. Oh, and just so you know, you-" Lovehart pointed at Cho "- need to learn a concealing charm. You must conceal yourself and then place the toad from your pocket onto the stage, mind you, after I've used the Engorgement charm of course, so it becomes bigger..."

Cho gulped. "What TOAD?" she asked shaking.

Lovehart waved off the question with, "The one you'll be carrying around in your pocket," and clapped his hands.

Draco smirked as he brushed some of his hair out of his face. He threw Ron a hateful look and ignored Harry.

"Good fellow Amarald! Do my eyes betray me, or does that lad hold a hat, perhaps, the same as my eyes have noticed before in the hat factory?" came Ron's voice, looking at Cho, while he should be looking at Harry.

Harry sighed deeply and tried to act with feeling, but his eyes had traveled towards Hermione, who was watching Viktor in disbelief.

*

"Instinct?" asked Hermione, now leaning over the table a bit, to catch Viktor's attention.

"Instinct. There has been a lot ov chemistry between you two," he replied, his eyes mildly focused on the stage.

Hermione sat back again. "So. Chemistry? He doesn't even notice me. For all I know, he might have a crush on Cho..."

Viktor now turned to her, raising his eyebrows. "Then ask him to the Christmas ball! Do something! Don't ask me to judge someone's veelings!" he snapped at her irritably.

Before Hermione could reply, it was Viktor's turn to rehearse and Harry sat down on his place.

Hermione stared blankly at her hands.

"What's wrong?" came Harry's voice.

She shook her head absently, trying to recall Viktor's words... 'There has been a lot ov chemistry... '

"Hermione!" said Harry, and she snapped out of it.

"Sorry... I was thinking," she said as her eyes darted to the stage, where Viktor and Draco were rehearsing.

"It's Cho, right? And Ron, am I right?" said Harry, not taking his eyes off of her.

"Yeah," sighed Hermione, seeing Viktor tripping over his lines "And Colin, and Luna, and Snape, Lovehart, Lupin..." she focused her gaze at him, "...you..." she added.

Harry raised his eyebrows "Me?"

Hermione shook her head again, wanting to say what bothered her so badly, but retrieving from that state before saying anything.

"Just everything. Why's everyone so... different?" she asked, now staring at her hands again.

"Probably the play," replied Harry, still eyeing her closely.

"No... not just the play. Maybe it's the routine. Not having classes... not doing homework... I think it's affected on our... feelings," she said, now watching Cho grab Ron's arm and laughing out loudly.

Harry followed her gaze and looked at her again, with a weird, unsure expression on his face. "Hermione..." he started, "Are you saying you're in love... with Ron!?"

Hermione opened her mouth to reply, but Lovehart called out both their names (and Ron's) to practice the next scene.

"They always told me I was as great of a writer as I was of a singer, so if you don't get your voice to that perfection as mine, I'll be glad to give you some exclusive private lessons." Lovehart told Hermione, who's eyes were fixed on Harry's, trying to give him an answer.

As Ron shouted "Fine fellow!" Harry broke the eye contact with Hermione and Hermione felt as if something heavy just hit her in the stomach.

Harry replied his lines to Ron absently, loathing every bit of the guy who was standing in front of him. He didn't know why, but somehow he felt like giving up the whole play. He realized it was Hermione's turn to talk, and she called out her lines just as bored as he had, still trying to get eye contact with him.

Finally giving up on that part, Hermione remembered she had to sing now.

"Freedom in the right hand, Love in the left! We'll walk on, embracing both, and stumbling from time to time.

The coming of another, same morning is depressing. Suddenly, the square sky seems very empty.

There have been days when suddenly I shed tears at daybreak. I told you while crying: people are short-lived, but they are strong. And I still have you, who will protect me.

Freedom in the right hand, Love in the left! We'll walk on, embracing both, and stumbling from time to time..."

Harry listened and found himself ignoring every thought in his head that had to do with either Hermione or Ron, or both of them.

When she had finished, Hermione walked off from the stage, shaking her head as if something had went terribly wrong. She didn't even notice the remarks and compliments she got from people for her singing, as all she could think about was Harry, and that she had to answer his question.

That she had to tell him it was him, not Ron, who she loved.