A/N – another DM/HG fic… you know the drill, may not be able to update cuz of MSS, otherwise known as Multiple Story Syndrome.
Summary – A play is being but on at HSoWaW. And you'll never guess who gets what parts. A funny little fic about how opposites attracted.
Rating – PG-13… for now
Disclaimer – Harry Potter… not mine. R&J… not mine. wipes away a stray tear
Just Like Romeo and Juliet
Chapter 1 An Idea is Formed
"We need to think of something to entertain the school… something different."
"Oh here we go again… We need to leave our mark; do something different! Puh-lease! Do tell me you have something else to say Granger!"
"If you don't have any suggestions Malfoy, I suggest you shut up!" Hermione snapped. She was loosing her patience with one Draco Malfoy. They were supposed to be working on some way to bring culture into the school, but would he listen to what she had to say? No way in hell.
"If I may interrupt you two," the headmaster said politely. Malfoy and Granger stopped immediately and turned to look at him. Malfoy had a look of hate on his face and Hermione looked frazzled. "There's something that I have in mind that ALL of the students will be able to relate to; muggle and wizard birth, young and old," he said with a glint in his face. "I believe you are both familiar with William Shakespeare?" he asked knowingly.
"I am, but why would Malfoy be familiar with it? Shakespeare was muggle," Hermione said confused.
"My god Granger and I thought you were supposed to know everything!" Malfoy said mockingly. Hermione glared at him but he continued. "How could someone as brilliant as William Shakespeare possibly be a muggle?? Shakespeare was a wizard, and a frugal one at that. He wanted to make as much money as possible, and to do that he needed to appeal to all the people of Elizabethan England. So he went to the queen, who was muggle, but like your Prime Minister, was aware of wizards. She guided him and told him to make them like muggle plays. He did this and is famous in both worlds, although the wizarding world knows much more about him.
"We know that back in his time all of the muggles were poor and ridden with the plague. Unfortunately for him, he was inopportune enough to fall in love with a muggle. Most of the muggles of today are baffled at why he married at such an old age, 26 to be exact, but that was because he was a wizard and could live longer. Anyway, his children were squibs, his wife didn't even know about his background. His son died of the plague, Shakespeare could do nothing about it.
"He wrote many plays, most of them in muggle style, but he had hidden wizard jokes in it, like in A Midsummer's Nights Dream. He had to please the muggles more because they were poor and sat up close in his theatre. They'd bring rotten vegetables to throw at him and his co-actors if they didn't like it, so most of his plays were muggle." Malfoy finished his little monologue and looked at Dumbledore with a smug smile on his face.
"Now look who's the know-it-all," Hermione said under her breath, but Draco heard her and glared at her disdainfully. The headmaster either didn't hear, or didn't care to acknowledge it.
"That is correct Mr. Malfoy," he said, a beaming smile on him face.
"But where are you going with this sir?" Hermione asked curiously.
"I was thinking," he started, "that we could do the most famous of all of Shakespeare's plays, in both worlds."
"That would be A Midsummer's Nights Dream," Malfoy responded cockily.
"That would be incorrect Mister Malfoy," Dumbledore said.
Hermione thought for a minute and then began to quote:
"Two households, both alike in dignity,
In fair Verona, where we lay our scene.
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes
A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life;
Whose misadventured piteous overthrows
Doth with their death bury their parents' strife."
"Ah, it seems that Miss Granger knows it. We will put on The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. I think that I can leave the both of you to plan auditions and such. You both seem to know quite a bit about the play and its author. I hope that you will do a wonderful job." He stood to leave, but Hermione stopped this idea.
"Who will direct it? Malfoy and I can't do it, we wouldn't be able to control the students," Hermione said logically, "or ourselves," she added as an after thought.
"You can figure that out, but please do so without ripping each others throats out," he said with a chuckle and left the Head Girl and Boy common room.
"Glad that's over," Malfoy said, getting up in the process.
"Oh no you don't," Hermione said standing up. "Professor Dumbledore said that we were work out the bugs; you're going to help!" she commanded.
"Fine!" he said, plopping back down onto the sofa. "What do you suggest?"
"I think we should get Professor Travis to direct. She would be able to get both muggle and wizard points since she's the Muggle Studies teacher," she suggested.
"Whatever… I don't really care," he said, leaning his head back and looking at the ceiling.
"You should care! We-"
"I don't need another tirade from you about leaving our mark on this school! All I'm worrying about are the auditions," he said haughtily.
"Hoping to get a part eh?" she asks knowingly.
"Ya think?" he asked sarcastically. "I'm probably the only one able to get a part, let alone wanting to get one."
"You aren't the only person in this school with talent you know. Then again, you probably are the only talented demon," Hermione said sarcastically.
"Wow! You actually said I have talent! Is that a complement coming from you?" Malfoy bit back.
"Whatever! I'll have to talk to the professor about auditions. Sorry to disappoint you, but you're gonna have to wait," she retorted.
"I can wait… but until then, I think we're done. I don't want to stay in a room with you longer than needed." He began to walk away, strutting as if he owned the place.
"Hold up Malfoy! I'm not going to be the only one planning this! We're supposed to do this together, so you're coming with me to see Professor Travis!" Hermione said as she stood up and grabbed Malfoy's collar, pulling him out of their common room.
"Let go of me Granger!" he yelled, pulling out of her grip. "I don't need my clothing soiled by you!"
"Quit being such a prat! We have a lot more to work to do than you think. There's the script we have to get, auditions to set up, too much to count. We best get started soon if we want to do this before Graduation! Now let's go!!" she said, grabbing his sleeve.
"Fine Granger! Just let go of me!" he yelled yet again. "We're gonna have one hell of a time working on this together," he mumbled under his breathe.
"You've got that right," Hermione said as she walked out towards the muggles studies classroom, Malfoy lagging behind her.
-----------------------------------------
"So you see Professor, we need your help," Hermione said after she had explained the plan to Sara Travis, muggle studies teacher of Hogwarts.
"It doesn't sound half bad… I'm sure most of the younger students won't be interested because it's a 'mushy love story', but most of the older ones should be," the professor said. She seemed quite excited about it too.
"All I need to know is when the auditions are," Draco said. The first thing he had said the whole time. He had preferred to stay in the shadows and just listen as the women planned the whole thing.
"Mister Malfoy, it's so kind of you to finally say something. I'm not sure when the auditions will be yet, I need to order scripts, get a schedule written out, excreta… it's not all that easy. And both of you will be helping," she practically ordered.
"Or corse," Hermione replied with excitement evident in her voice.
"That's all fine and dandy," Malfoy said sarcastically, "but will we be able to get a part?"
"Yes, of corse. Everyone gets the same chance. I would be disappointed if you two didn't try out. It'd be wonderful if you both got in it… it'd show house unity and head boy and girl working together… It'd be perfect!" Professor Travis explained.
"Good… can I go now?" he asked even more sardonically.
"Not just yet… we need to work on some more planning… we should meet every Saturday at 9 until we have everything pinpointed." Malfoy sighed and took a seat on the sofa as they continued their talk. He was going to be there for a while.