The play starts after this :) wewt wewt!


Chapter Two: Practicing and Dress Sizings

At six o'clock the next night, all who were chosen gathered in the Great Hall. The stage was still there and was crowded with random props, songbooks, instruments, paint cans... Ginny writhed her hands nervously, and Harry put his on top of them. "Don't worry," he said. "You deserve to be here, she's not going to kick you out."

The man can read my mind! she thought to herself before smiling at him.

"Hello, hello. I'm proud of all of you. Now, before we begin practicing, please remember that tommorow - Sunday - after your breakfast, we will be going to Hogsmeade to get you all jewelery, dresses, clothes, etc. Please be ready to shop till you drop. Get everything you think you're going to need - even if you don't end up using it. This is a one-time trip, and we can't spend time going back in the middle of our practices. You're going to need to get sized, all of you. Even if you think you know your size, check anyway! We don't want your tux's going too tight or falling off, and I don't think the girls will want ballgowns that are droopy or restrict breathing... For the girls, you will also need a corset. Remember, this is the 'old days,' hence you need to look like you are in the old days. I know, I know, you may not like it, but this is what you get for being talented! Now, take a script and begin.

Ginny flipped through it casually while others got theres, when something caught her eye.

CHRISTINE and RAUOL kiss.

Her mouth fell open.

CHRISTINE and PHANTOM share a kiss.

And once again.

This was going to be one long night.


The next morning, the throng of students all met outside in front of Hogsmeade. Madame Douzioux tapped her foot, waiting for some lazy actors and actresses to slump their way to the front.
"It's too early for this," Cho cried. "I need my beauty sleep!"

"Don't worry, doll, beauty sleep is just a myth," Madame said happily as the final students arrived. "Good, good, we're all here. Stay together and shop! You each are getting $600, to be paid for by Hogwart's using these cards. Keep track of your money! If you find yourself over, I think you should start reconsidering which items you need and which you just want. I need and want you all back here at ten. Other then you three," she added, pointing to Ginny, Draco, and Harry. "You're our three stars, you need more practice time then the rest, and all eyes will be on you. I want you to get all your belongings and accessories by nine thirty. Think you can handle it?" Everyone nodded. "Good, now shop!"

"I hate dress shopping," Ginny whined, stepping in and out of the stores with Hermione and Harry. "Either I'm too big, too small, too skinny, or too fat, too short, or too tall for all the dresses I have my eye on!"

Hermione nodded sullenly. "I know what you mean," she said, although she didn't. She enjoyed dress shopping, mainly because she fit into anything. Ginny knew this, but smiled anyway. At least she wasn't boasting. "I'm going to go find Ron, okay? He said he wanted my advice on a tux...Watch it be bright blue... Alright then, I'll see you later!"

Ginny looked at Harry nervously. "So, um, do you want to get the dress shopping over with, or tux shopping first?" he asked.
"I think it will be safer to get tux shopping done first. I'll take forever."

They walked into Signor Madigan's Tuxedo Shop, where suits of many colors hung anywhere and everywhere inside. Ginny found a small couch and sat there as Harry picked out a few tuxedos, then stepped into the changing room.

Ginny read a magazine about matching makeup to your dress. After a while, Harry came out, asking, "So...what do you think?" Ginny finished her sentence and looked up.

Oh my god... she thought. He looks gorgeous...

She was silent, and Harry blushed. "Ohhkayy... I'll pick another one, then..."

"No!" Ginny said loudly. "No, it looks much...very..." Nice? Beautiful? Sexy? "great."

It looks much very great? Form coherent sentences much? she taunted herself. Harry blushed and nodded, going back inside. She continued yelling at herself until he finally came out, paying for the tux using his money. Although the school said to charge everything to Hogwart's, he thought the tux was far too expensive to make the school pay for. Besides, he had enough money.

They then walked around for a little more, then they found The Dress Shoppe. Ginny looked at Harry in fear, then opened the door and went inside. Although there was nothing scary about the store - it looked very friendly - all dress 'shoppes' made Ginny a little skeevish.

"Sorry in advance if I take too long," she muttered, sitting him down and handing him magazines. He shrugged and watched her as she ran through the rows of dresses, picking any with any color. Bringing five in with her, she twirled in the mirrors of the dressing room.

She finally found one that seemed to fit her. It was a red dress with off-the-shoulder, small sleeves. The chest area was beaded with black and red beads, then stopped around her waist. The beads then filled out all around the bottom. Masquerade, she said, making a mental note to herself. She put the dress neatly on the floor as she looked for a dress for the other scenes.

She found another dress that would be good for when she would be on stage. It was a white, fluffy gown that had a tie up front with baby-blue threads. In the back, the baby blue threads formed a cascading tie. It was subtle and beautiful at the same time. Since she was going to 'kiss' Harry in it, she figured she should see what he thought of it. Stepping out, she "eh hem'd," causing him to look up. His eyes partially glazed over, then cleared his throat.

"Um, it looks..." he thought for a while, then smiled. "Much very great."

Ginny blushed and grinned, then went back into the store. After they paid, she went in the jewlery store for some nice accessories. Harry smiled at how her eyes went wide at the sparkling jewels, promising himself that he would do anything in his power to mak her eyes like that all the time. She found long, ruby earrings and a ruby necklace for the Masquerade, then she began looking for blue and white items. She found a blue pearl necklace and blue pearl earrings. She was just about to pay when her eyes caught a beautiful emerald ring, shimmering. She gasped and put the ring on her finger: it fit perfectly. She called the shopkeeper over, whispering, "how much is this ring?"

"$520, miss."

Ginny's eyes nearly popped out of her head. 520 for a ring! She slowly put it back, sighing sadly, and paid for her items. She walked out of the store to meet Hermione. "Come on, Harry," she said sadly.

"Oh, I'll be just a minute, I see some nice cufflinks."

Ginny nodded, then walked out the door. When he saw she was out of sight, he picked up the ring and smiled at the shopkeeper. "Charge it to Hogwart's, please." He then took the ring, slipped it into his pocket, and walked out to meet Madame Douzioux.