Chapter 6- Costumes

It was three weeks before the performance and Hannah Abbot was starting to feel the stress all barrel down on her even more than she had before. "Excuse me… EXCUSE ME!" she shouted. Everyone froze. Hannah gave a forced little smile and continued on speaking quickly and in a high-pitched tone. "I just need everyone to come get your costumes. Make sure you sign them out because we have to return them. And please, please be careful," Hannah pleaded. As people started lining up, Hannah looked at her clipboard, hands shaking.

"Poor Hannah," Ginny said.

"I think this was harder than she imagined," Hermione added. "Ron, why don't you run a rehearsal or two?"

"Me? Run rehearsal? I didn't sign up for that," Ron said.

"Fine, well, how do you think we could help then?" Hermione asked stiffly.

"How about by memorizing our lines," Ron suggested. Hermione rolled her eyes and the two of them started into an argument as Ginny stepped forward with Harry.

"How about we just all stay quiet?" Ginny whispered, looking back at Hermione and Ron. Harry laughed a bit.

"You know, they haven't been this bad for a long time," Harry pointed out.

"They're method acting," Ginny said, nodding very seriously.

"Method acting?"

"That's when you stay in character, even when you're not on stage," Ginny explained. She pointed at them with her hand and added, "Now see? That's not Hermione and Ron… it's Sarah and Sky."

Harry laughed. "Right," he said sarcastically.

Professor Flitwick, who had been the main supervisor, was at the front of the line, handing out costumes and writing down the students name, making each cast member sign the clothing out.

"These are so stupid," Draco said. Ginny rolled her eyes and muttered to ignore him to Harry under her breath.

"Ah, Miss Weasley," Professor Flitwick said, pulling out several costumes and piling them in her arms. "And Mr. Potter." He put two different suits into Harry's arms. "Sign here," he added last. Once Ginny and Harry had done so, both sat down and started looking at their outfits.

"Wow," Ginny said as she pulled out piece after piece of revealing costumes with fishnet tights. She had a feathered robe that she would be using to cover up during some of the scenes.

"Sexy," Dean said as he came over, already dressed in costume.

Ginny chuckled. "Don't get too excited."

"You going to wear that when you help me with lines tonight?" Dean asked, raising his eyebrows. Ginny laughed. Harry scowled. "What's the matter, Harry?" Dean asked sitting down.

"That wasn't funny," Harry retorted.

"Lighten up," Dean said. "I was kidding."

Harry, however, didn't lighten up as advised. Instead he sat back in his chair and attempted to distract himself as Ginny and Dean sat chattering away. Ron came over and sat down next to Harry. "What are they doing?" Ron asked.

"I don't know," Harry replied, "but did you need help bashing their 'study session'?"

"Don't step on my toes," Ron complained from beneath the invisibility cloak.

"I'm sorry that I didn't take dance lessons when I was nine," Harry said.

"Who told you that?" Ron demanded in shock.

"Ginny."

"She's dead… she's so dead," Ron said.

"Quiet," Harry said. Carefully, Harry opened the door to the auditorium and the two snuck in.

"Dean," Ginny said incredulously. "Come on, you had these lines yesterday, and the day before."

"I have a short term memory problem," Dean said with a shrug and a smile. Ginny rolled her eyes at him. "Besides, don't you like running lines with me."

"You know, Mr. Thomas, that I have plenty of my own studying to do."

Dean stood from the chair he had occupied and stepped right up to Ginny. "Perhaps we could run one of your scenes, then. Maybe the one after Bushel and a Peck?"

Ginny stayed where she was. "You mean the one where Adelaide kisses Nathan?" Harry held Ron back for a moment.

"Why Ms. Weasley, what are you insinuating," Dean said, playing with some loose locks while leaning in. "I don't need a script for that do I?"

"DON'T!" Ron said, coming out from the sanctuary of the invisibility cloak.

"Ron?" Ginny said, looking in his direction.

"Hands off!" Ron yelled, pursuing Dean.

Dean got ready to push Ron off of him, even though Ron was taking a bit of time about it, unable to find an aisle and climbing over chairs instead. "Nothing was happening, Ron," Ginny said, "and it's none of your business if there was anyway!"

"Of course it's my business!" Ron said. He finally made it to the last row of chairs, but Ginny stepped in the way before Ron could do anything to Dean.

"Where's Harry?" Ginny demanded.

"What?" Ron asked. Harry froze. He didn't even breath.

"You used the invisibility cloak, so where is he?" Ginny asked, furious that the two of them would be spying on her.

"I, I didn't use the cloak," Ron said. "I tried a disallusionment charm… it didn't last." Dean was out of sight for the moment, and in his place was Ginny Weasley, who was fast matching her mother's temper. She even gave the same skeptical glare as her mother. "Really, I did," Ron said, getting his own fury back which aided him in lying. "What were you two doing alone?!"

"I was helping Dean with lines," Ginny said. "And we weren't done practicing, so out! OUT!" Ginny repeated, pushing Ron towards the aisle and pushing him up towards the exit. "If you come near here again, I will jinx you all the way to Bulgaria, where you can tell Viktor Krum what you think of him!" Ginny took a chair and put it in front of the handles to the entrance.

"Reverting to Muggle tricks?" Dean asked.

"Something Hermione taught me," Ginny answered. She took a deep breath before turning around. "You know, Dean, I don't think we should—well… I don't think we should go down that road again."

"Oh," Dean said. He looked down at his feet. "You know, I really like you," he added as he looked back up to match her gaze.

"I know, but I can't do that again," Ginny told him. "You'll always be my friend, but I don't know that I want it to go beyond that." Ginny walked towards Dean.

Dean gave a forced grin. "Mind being the one I long for?"

"Only if you forever worship me," Ginny teased with narrow eyes. Dean laughed. "I'm sorry," she said.

"It's okay… Doll," Dean said, doing his gangster impression by flipping the fedora he had been issued that day and placing it on his head. "We better get back to the common room." Dean put out his arm to escort Ginny.

"Why thank you, my good sir."

"Any time, my lady," Dean said. Arm in arm, they exited the auditorium. Harry took off the invisibility cloak and looked towards the door with a smile.

Slap!

"'I'll just keep in mind Matt 5:39. Don't bother looking it up it's the bit about the other cheek'," Ron said, then turned upstage and exited out the false door.

"That wasn't right!" Hannah shouted. Madam Pince put an arm on Hannah's shoulder and started talking to the stressed girl.

"I'm so sorry," Hermione said as Ron entered the stage again. "Are you okay?"

"Fine," Ron said. "You keep hitting that spot, it's okay."

"Oh good. I'm so worried that I'm going to hurt you one of these times," Hermione said. She relaxed a bit and waited for Hannah to start up the scene again.

Instead, the girl in pigtails turned around and simply shouted, "Moving on!" before sitting and putting her head in her hands.

Ron and Hermione sat as the Hot Box Girls and Ginny got up. Sinistra stayed at the bottom of the stage and did the moves as the girls—still in sweatpants and t-shirts—all mimicked her in their own positions on the stage. Lavender and Parvati got too close, and on one of the kicks during the number, Parvati fell down hard onto the ground.

Always the Drama Queen, Parvati immediately started to hold her ankle and cried. "Oh! It hurts!" she said loudly. Everyone gathered around her.

"Out of the way," Madam Pince said. "Come on, dear. Let's go to the hospital wing," she suggested. "Mr. Thomas, come help me please." Without complaint, Dean helped Parvati up with Madam Pince. With one arm around each of their shoulders, the three started going to the hospital wing.

"Fine! Fine!" Hannah said. "Tomorrow's the first dress rehearsal, be ready please," Hannah said. With that, she grabbed her clipboard and stormed out of the auditorium.

Most of the cast didn't know what to do. Ernie followed Hannah out quickly. The Slytherins left first. Slowly people stopped feeling guilty, and soon the theatre was nearly empty. Ron, Hermione, Harry, and Ginny were left there with Neville when he excused himself to go to the library. "I better be going too," Ginny said.

"Wait," Ron said. "Harry will go with you."

Harry looked over at Ron, wanting to beat up on him. "No, actually, I was going to go out to the pitch," Harry said with a deep blush.

"Thanks for the offer anyway, Ron," Ginny said, picking up her book bag. She rolled her eyes. "See you later," she said.

Harry left, as he said he would, as well. "So much for that idea," Ron said.

"Why don't you ever just let things run their course?" Hermione asked.

"Because the last time things ran their course, Ginny ended up dating three people other than Harry, and she has a stalker."

Hermione scoffed. "Dean is not a stalker," Hermione said.

"I don't know, but we have to think of something," Ron said. He leaned forward and started to think.

"Maybe you should listen to yourself and start opening your own eyes!" Hermione said. She quickly stood and stormed out, leaving Ron alone.

A/N: There's chapter six for ya'll. I missed a day I know! I'll try and keep up, but I don't know how much I'll be able to update this weekend (color guard camp). Please review and let me know what you think.

Thank You!

JamieBell: I'm glad you liked the Cho bit. I wanted it to be believable as well as clear. I can't wait for your review on chapter 5 ;) But thanks for the review. I'm await your reviews, and I hope you end up having fun on your little vaca.

luckyducky8200: bows Thank you, thank you very much!

Korah: I can't wait to see the poster! Email it to me ;)

Phillipa of the Phoenix: Ron will do just fine :) I think there's more to Ron than we know.

dancerrdw: Thank you

CountessMel: My roommie is obsessed with Butler lol. I'm glad you liked the chapter.

EponineWeasley5: You have my two favs... Harry Potter and Les Mis :) Rock on! Thank you for the review, and I hope to see you around soon.

VoicezWithin: Awwwww.... sometimes Walmart has it for five bucks... save your change ;)

Emrisah: Thank you! I really enjoy your comments, and I think they could really take from your river statement.