A/N: Thanks so much for your (mostly) uplifting reviews. I am so very sorry this chapter took so long for me to post. But THANKS GUYS!!

Chapter VII: Roles

"HE WHAT?!?!" Ginny squealed in astonishment. The girls had gone back to the common room, and Hermione was recounting all of her adventure with Malfoy.

"Shhhh…" whispered Hermione. "I don't want the whole bloody Gryffindor common room to know!"

"Ok, ok" agreed Ginny. "Now what exactly did he do again?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. This had to have been at least the fifth time she had told her. "He winked at me."

Ginny squealed again, a bit softer than the first time, and then dodged a pillow that Hermione had commanded to hit her.

"Sorry," said Ginny, her voice lowering. "It's just so cute! I mean you and Draco, a couple!"

Hermione's mouth dropped. Never before had she even considered, ever considered, she and Malfoy to ever be a couple. Ginny's next words broke her thoughts.

"So you like that idea, eh?" Ginny's eyes were filled with mischief.

Hermione was quick to retaliate. "No way! He could never like me, and I could never like him! He has always been such a jerk! Plus, what would Harry and Ron say?"

Ginny replied. "Ron wouldn't care. You'd win the bet, and Harry… well…" Ginny went misty-eyed and into a daze. It took Hermione ten minutes to finally snap her out of it. By the time Ginny was out of her "Harry attack" as she called it, Professor McGonagall was standing at the doorway, looking ever so amused.

"Miss Granger, I need you to come with me." she summoned.

Hermione shrugged her shoulders to a baffled looking Ginny, and followed McGonagall down to the Great Hall. When she got there, she was surprised to see none other than Malfoy, Alicia, George, Cho Chang, and Fred join her. Dumbledore was also present. When everyone was seated and quiet, he spoke.

"I guess you are all wondering why you are here. An explanation is in order I suppose. You all auditioned for the play, and we (the professors and staff) have chosen the royal families for our play. When you return to your common rooms, you shall find a stack of script books for your assigned parts. Please practice them, and be ready to go through the first seven scenes next week. You are dismissed. Except for you two, Mr. Malfoy and Miss Granger. I need you two to just stay for a bit longer."

Draco and Mio exchanged confused glances from across the room and shrugged.

"Couldn't have done too bad with that audition." she thought to herself. She smiled. Draco seemed to catch a glimpse of her glee, and smiled back at her. They continued to smile at each other until Dumbledore called them back to reality. Mio blushed a deep red, and broke her eye contact with Malfoy, then straightened up in her seat. Malfoy did the same.

"I have held you two back, because you two showed much talent and promise at the auditions. Therefore, the staff and I have chosen you two to be the lead female and male rolls in this play." He paused while Hermione took a minute to let the shock sink in. "Her? Lead female role? Ugly, old Hermione Granger, beating out some of the prettiest and most talented girls in school, and becoming leading female role?" Hermione grinned. She couldn't wait to tell Ginny and the rest of the girls.

Dumbledore beamed and continued. "I know you are both excited, (Malfoy was grinning too) and now all I need to know is that you two are willing to commit. It will take a lot of effort, but I know with you two being top students, things will not be a challenge. Agreed?"

Both Malfoy and Hermione shook their heads in accord. Dumbledore smiled and popped a lemon drop into his mouth. "Very well. We shall start your rehearsals tomorrow after your classes. Now, speaking of classes. You will need to catch up on your schoolwork; because I am from now until the end of the play letting you only have half-day classes. The assignments you receive are to be turned in on time, and if you need any help on them, the teachers will be glad to assist you. Off to bed with you now, pick up your books in your common rooms… You are dismissed."

Malfoy immediately stood and sauntered out of the Great Hall. Hermione, on the other hand, sat where she was until everything had sunk in… After a few seconds, she started out of the Great Hall. There, Malfoy was waiting for her.

"Congratulations, Granger."

"Same to you, Malfoy."

Draco grinned. "With this play and all, I may not be able to, well, you know, be able to complete all my homework without a bit of help. The teachers never know what you're talking about, so I was wondering, maybe if you could umm…" His words trailed.

"Help you?" Hermione finished.

"No, not help, I mean, just a little… assistance." Draco stuttered.

"Oh…" Hermione began, coyly. "So you don't need my help? Ok then, guess I'll be going…" She turned to go.

"Fine!" Malfoy snapped. Hermione turned. Malfoy was beat red, hands in pockets.

"If 'help' is what you want to call it, then yes, I would appreciate it." he managed to get out.

Mione smiled to herself. She didn't know why she was doing this, it was just so, so fun! "You know, all you had to do was ask me!"

Draco slapped his hand to his head, and muttered something that sounded like 'girls'. "Thank you, Granger." he said, then walked away in the direction of his common room.

Hermione smiled. "Anytime" she whispered. Then, turning on her heal, she went back to her common room to deliver the good news.

A/N: I am so sorry that it took me this long. I had a severe case of writers block, and I had no clue where to go, but it's here!! Please read and review for me!!! And if you can name that movie that I used the "help" thing from, leave me a review and I'll give you brownie points!!!