In this Chapter- Tryouts take place and we meet Estella and Phillip, Draco speaks French.
You Only Get One Shot
Hermione, Ron, and Harry left the Great Hall together and Ron and Harry said goodbye to Hermione, who left them to go to her new dormitories.
Earlier Dumbledore had told her that she was to meet Draco outside the Head's dorms to think of a password. Hermione had no idea what to think, because of her past with the Slytherin boy.
She approached the entrance cautiously. Draco was already there, seemingly having a conversation with a portrait of a boy and girl who looked about seventeen.
"Hello." The girl said cheerfully to Hermione. Hermione noted the dress of the girl. It looked to be one of the old fashioned high-class dresses, full skirts, and tiny waist. The girl had on a Gryffindor robe over what looked like hundreds of petticoats. She had very dark brown hair that flowed down her shoulders and back in pretty curls that gave off the appearance that she had just took out many, many pins that kept her hair up. She had dancing green eyes and a small red mouth that always seemed to be smiling a secret smile.
"Hey." Hermione said, grinning. "Who are you?"
"Phillip and Estella." The boy said. He was wearing breeches and a Slytherin robe over his obviously old fashioned attire. He had dirty blonde hair and brown eyes. He was very good looking, Hermione noted, and seemed very happy to be in a painting with this beautiful girl in his arms.
"We're the first Head boy and girl at Hogwarts." Estella said with that secretive smile. "I'm from Gryffindor, as you can see, and Phillip is from Slytherin. We were picked by Professor Gryffindor and Professor Slytherin."
"Wow." Hermione said. "You must know more about Hogwarts than anyone!" Hermione was bubbling over with excitement, but a small cough got her attention.
"Can we at least see the room before you get chummy with the paintings Granger?" Draco said, looking both annoyed and amused, if that was even possible.
Hermione blushed a little. "Do we get to pick a password?" She asked the couple.
"Certainly." Phillip said. "Anything you like, just as long as the both of you remember."
"Skittles." Hermione said with a grin. "Their my favorite candy." She explained top Draco, who, surprisingly, didn't argue.
"I have no idea what they are, but I have an excellent memory." He said with a smug look. Hermione just smiled.
"Skittles." She said to the pair, and they opened up the portrait with a smile on their faces.
"Now who do you think they remind me of?" Phillip asked Estella, as they closed the entrance to the head's dormitories.
~
"It's fantastic." Hermione said, looking at the gold furnishings. "It's like a palace."
"Look's more like home to me." Draco said in a dull voice. "Only brighter."
Hermione looked at him a moment and decided not to comment. "I'm going to go check out my room."
"Whatever." Was the only reply she received.
In her room, Hermione saw that there was a mirror that looked directly into the Gryffindor common room. She was amazed at this, and felt slightly embarrassed. This was like spying, wasn't it? But none the less, she crossed the room and touched it, and instantly her hand disappeared. She walked through and saw that it was just like a door- instant access to her common room.
"Hey!" She said, greeting Harry and Ron.
Harry looked at her, and then at the entrance way that they were facing. "How did you get in?" He asked.
"Direct door from my room." Hermione said with a grin. I'm assuming Malfoy has a door to the Slytherin common room because the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff doors are in the main common room."
"Brilliant." Ron said. "We didn't get that as prefects."
"Nope." Hermione replied, grinning with pride.
Across the room, Parvati was talking loudly about the upcoming musical.
"I'm going to try out for Maria." She declared to anyone who would listed. "I feel pretty!" She sang in a loud, nasal voice, and everyone within hearing distance cringed.
Lavender came up beside Hermione, who was getting ready to leave the Gryffindor common room via the fat lady. "I think I'm going to try out for Anita." She said with a blush. "Especially if Harry is going to be Bernardo."
Hermione smiled. "You would do well at the part, and I don't think Harry would mind one bit."
Lavender grinned widely. "Do you really think so?" She asked happily. "Wow, now I'm the one feeling pretty."
Hermione laughed and left Lavender standing there, grinning like mad. Hermione thought it would be great to be a lead, but the shy factor kept her from striving for something that public.
She left the cheerful Gryffindor common room and took a walk to the Heads dormitories.
After saying hello to a couple younger students, the head girl entered the head's common room and looked around. Draco was absent, but a warm fire was dancing brightly in the fireplace. Sighing with fatigue, Hermione climbed the steps up to her room and changed her clothes. Her head had barely hit the pillow before she was asleep.
The next morning was a dreadfully dreary one. Hermione awoke to the sound of thunder crashing down outside her window and rain splattering against the ancient glass.
She sighed and turned over, wishing she could go back to whatever it was she was dreaming about. Not that she could really remember, consciousness was already stealing the night's memories.
She swung her feet over the edge of the bed and gave a small shiver at the stone cold contact of the floor on her previously warm feet. She slugged through her morning routine and threw on her Hogwarts robes over some muggle jeans and tee shirt. She would take the robe off for the try-outs that morning, but school dress code insisted that she wear it to class.
She crept down the stairs and was greeted by the smell of coffee, but other than that, it was empty. Hermione wondered for a minute where the mystery coffee was coming from, but decided just to go to breakfast and get some for herself.
"Morning." She said as she plopped down beside Harry. "Are you ready to try out?"
"Hardly." Harry said, grinning. "But everyone has to try out, so there's not much I can say about it."
"Too true." Ron said from across the table. "I doubt I would try if I didn't have to."
"Aw." Hermione said murmured. "It could be a lot of fun if you give it a chance. And Harry, I hear Lavender has her eyes on Anita's part."
"Bernardo's girlfriend?" Harry couldn't hide his smile. "Wicked."
Ron snorted into his eggs and Hermione rubbed Harry's back. "My ickle Harry is all grown up." She wiped away an imaginary tear. "Soon he'll be married and the world will be taken over by small little pip-squeaks in glasses."
Ron laughed out loud that time, and Dean, who caught the very end of the conversation nearly spit out his bacon.
"I believe I walked into that conversation at the wrong time." He said with a smirk. All poor Harry could do was blush.
~
After breakfast, Professor McGonagall rounded all the older students for the Musical try-outs. Hermione, Ron, and Harry walked side by side toward the end of the Gryffindor group, listening to the bits and pieces of other people's conversations.
Finally Professor McGonagall lead them to the third floor corridor, and Hermione felt Ron stiffen up beside her.
"Relax!" Hermione said with a smile. "I'm sure Fluffy had been moved to a proper home."
Ron gulped. "I sure hope your right."
And boy, was Hermione ever right.
The Fluffy-less room was huge. Maybe they were too busy keeping an eye out on all the heads Fluffy had, but the trip never noticed how enormous the room was. Hermione caught sight of the trapdoor that lead to the devil's snare, but she was sure there were probably enchantments on it, too keep nosey students out.
The room was well equipped in both muggle and wizard stage props. A sound check in the corner, a huge stage took up nearly an entire wall, a lush red curtain hiding to backstage from view. There were enough audience chairs to easily fit the population of Hogwarts and Durmstag.
"Space charms enthrall me." Hermione said to Harry and Ron. "You wouldn't think this room could hold so many people, and yet there are enough seats there to fit at least half the population of Whales!"
Harry was still staring at everything, but Ron shrugged.
"Mum has a friend in the acting industry, I've been to places like this before."
"And yet you didn't know what a musical was?" Hermione smirked. "Really Ron."
Ron grinned feebly. "Well, sorry." He laughed.
The group of Gryffindors found a place to stand, and watched as the other houses separated into their own groups as well.
Soon Dumbledore entered, and turned his face to each of the four groups in turn. Harry wasn't sure, but he thought he caught a look of disappointment in Dumbledore's usually twinkling eyes.
"Will the Gryffindor house please remain here, all others go to the waiting room, we will call you out when we are ready." He said in a soft but strong voice. After a little grumbling, the other three houses made their way through another door Hermione hadn't noticed before, and soon it was just the fifth, sixth, and seventh year Gryffindors.
"Well then." Professor McGonagall said with a tight smile. "I see no reason why we shouldn't start now, please walk up to the stage for you tryout, and I will put a simple charm on you, as some of you might not know the word. This will not effect your singing."
With that said, McGonagall pulled out a roll or parchment, and Hermione felt as though she were to be sorted all over again.
"I need to remind you." McGonagall was saying. "That the charm does not last long, so do not dawdle. Aaron, Rena, please step up.
Hermione craned her neck and saw a small girl walk to the stage. Rena was in her fifth year, and was a muggle born.
Rena walked up to the stage, looking as though she would rather be anywhere but there, then turned and faced the professors and student.
Professor McGonagall said a quiet charm and a brief light shown in Rena's eyes.
"Please begin." McGonagall said.
Then, out of no where, music started to play. Harry looked over at Professor Dumbledore and saw him lazily waving his wand, as purple vapor spilled out. Harry figured that's where the music was coming from.
Hermione listened politely but didn't think much of the girl's voice. Too breathy for her taste, although she wasn't sure how good she herself would be.
Student after student went, right down the alphabet. A….B….C…D….E…F…
"Garrow, Shane!" McGonagall's voice rang out. Hermione tensed up, she was next after Shane.
She didn't know how she was going to compete with some of these people. Some had outstanding voices that rang through the hall loud and clear, they had proud posture, they knew they were excellent. Hermione was just…Hermione. There was nothing special about her.
"Oh lord." She breathed. Harry placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"You're going to do fine." He said with a small smile. "You just need to believe you can."
"Wow Harry." Ron said. "That was just a little corny."
Harry smacked Ron and Hermione laughed. She really loved her friends.
"Granger, Hermione."
Hermione gulped and started for the stage. Every single singing tip she had ever read was running through her mind. Spine straight, head tilted slightly downward, tong in, chest out….
She stepped up to the stage and looked out, and suddenly the lights were too bright, the room was too warm, the people were too quiet, Snape's hair was too greasy, and the number of student in Gryffindor was insanely high. Hermione felt as though she was going to pass out any second, but she held her head high and walked to the middle of the stage.
"I'm a Gryffindor," She reminded herself. "I have come face to face with a basilisk and lived, saved lives, helped defeat Voldemort, this should be a piece of cake, funny, this is much worse."
The idea cheered her slightly and gave her confidence a small boost. Just as McGonagall went to put the charm on her, Hermione put up her hand to stop her.
"I know all the words professor, this is my favorite musical."
McGonagall allowed herself a small smile for one of her more promising students and said, "Go ahead then Miss Granger, the music will start when you do."
Hermione took a deep breath and gave a small tremble. She opened her mouth, but nothing came out. She gulped again, and calmed herself.
"Tonight…..tonight…." Hermione started slowly and quietly. "I'll see my love tonight….tonight there will be no morning star!"
Hermione gradually grew louder, her voice becoming more stable and clear and…good!
"Today! The minutes seem like hours! The hours go so slowly, and still the sky is light…"
Hermione's voice echoed through the great room, Harry and Ron looked at each other, then back at their quiet friend in complete and utter shock Hermione was never this loud in her entire life, and she was standing up in front of a hundred people singing her heart out like there was no tomorrow. Once she got over the trembling waver in her voice, it was so clear, how was Hermione hiding this excellent voice from them for six years?
"Oh moon! Grow bright! And make this endless day, endless night!" Hermione slowly opened her eyes, not even aware that she had closed them, and continued quietly but strong. "To night…."
She stood there for a moment, looking out to the quiet, awe-struck audience. She looked at her favorite Professor, who was looking at her quiet pupil with amazement.
Unfortunately, Hermione misread the expressions aimed at her, and she said in a tiny voice, "Am I done?"
All McGonagall could do was nod, and that proved too much for the already shaken Hermione. She bolted off the stage and out the door, Harry and Ron calling after her.
Hermione didn't start crying until she reached the blissfully empty hallways of her beloved school. There, beside a suit of armor, she slammed against the stone wall and sunk to ground, pulling up her legs to her chest.
"Damnit Damnit, Damnit." She said, hitting her head against the wall with each curse. Her head hurt, but her heart was bleeding.
"Miss Granger, I can assure you that the wall is innocent of all charges, and that further punishment shall not be neccisary." A kind voice called out to the crying girl.
Hermione looked up into the child-like blue eyes of Professor Dumbledore, and quickly got to her feet, coming to his shoulder level.
"Professor! I didn't see you there!" She muttered quietly.
"Quite understandable, Miss Granger." Dumbledore said kindly. "But I'm afraid I don't understand why you are so distraught."
"I made a fool of myself." Hermione said sadly. "You were there, everyone was so…so quiet. I bet the second I left they all started to laugh."
Dumbledore smiled. "I can assure you, no one was laughing when I left, although Miss Patil was having a sort of fit."
Hermione looked at her Professor. "Why would she do that?" She asked.
Dumbledore looked down at Hermione kindly. "After you left, the professors decided that the role of Maria needed to be awarded immediately." He smiled again.
Hermione sighed in defeat, not understanding why they all decided to gang up on her today. She started to head back to her private bathroom and sulk.
"Miss Granger?" Dumbledore's voice inclined before she could move three steps. "Would you be interested in playing the lead part of Maria in Our musical?"
Hermione whirled around, staring at her professor with wide
eyes. "Me?" She asked unsurely. "But I did- I did-"
"Beautifully." Dumbledore finished. "Professor Sprout threatened to set a fresh crop of Mandrakes loose if we didn't award you the part, and who am I to disagree?"
"Was I really alright?" Hermione said, quiet, soft tears rolling down her cheeks. She whipped them away, furious at herself for getting so worked up.
"Even Professor Snape agreed with your excellence, now, will you join me to listen to the rest of the try-outs? I believe we have a Bernardo and Chino to find."
Hermione smiled and followed Dumbledore back to the enchanted room. Upon re-entering, Harry and Ron both started clapping furiously for their friend, and soon the whole room was a deafening explosion of claps, cheers, and wolf whistles- all for quiet Hermione Granger.
~
Hermione woke up the next day feeling like she could take on the entire world. She jumped form the bed and skipped to the large bathroom, ready to start her day. She showered, brushed her teeth, and left her hair to dry her natural curly way. She skipped the makeup and put on jeans and a cheery yellow turtleneck and threw her Hogwarts robe over it.
"I feel pretty!" Hermione sang happily to herself as she bonded down the stairs to the Heads common room. "I feel pretty and witty and-Malfoy?"
Draco was sitting in one of the armchairs, his back to her facing the fire, he looked as though he had been sitting there awhile.
"Malfoy?" Hermione asked again tentatively. "You're going to be late for breakfast, how did your try out go?"
Again, Draco didn't answer.
"Malfoy?" Hermione was a bit concerned now, Draco was not quiet by nature.
Hermione was just about to approach him, to see if something was amiss, when he finally spoke.
"Vous me pardonnez, Hermione."
Hermione stopped mid-step. "What?" She asked quietly. "I'm sorry, I don't speak French very well."
He didn't answer her. "You'll be late for breakfast, and we have potions this morning." Hermione repeated, but to no avail.
She turned and left for the door, satisfied that he was alright, after she left, she didn't hear him murmur,
"Vous me pardonnez, Hermione. Please forgive me."
(A/N)
Ok, I warned you I wasn't going to update this one very often, but I have a very good excuse. My &$#$&$%^% Computer crashed with this chapter nearly completed, and it took another week to re-write. That chapter was about 5,000 words, compared to thins, one, which is only 3,000 L yes, I know, I'm slacking, I'm sorry! Anyway, the next chapter will have a lot more Draco/Hermioneness, I'm going to cut right to the chase, lol. Also, we're going to have a very interesting potions lesson, and if you ever played the computer game Myst or read the books (Mostly the Book of T'ana) you'll particularly enjoy it. If you haven't though, no worries :D Also, if you are regular readers of mine, you'll recognize two original characters….Estella and Phillip! Yes! They will be in this one of course, the all-knowing original head boy and girl, aren't you excited?? I know I am :D hehe, until then!
Xoxoariel