AN: Sorry, I went on a Hoping for a Refuge writing spree, but my Beauty and Beast muses have returned!
Disclaimer: Οι χαρακτήρες δεν είναι ορυχείο. Μόνο η πλοκή.
Reviews : Muchos gracias: Aljinon , Rane2920072 , and Sydney-Black . (Thanks for all the offers to help theatre-challenged me! All constructive critisim on that is very welcome.)
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Last Chapter: Someone behind McGonagall muttered, "Dear Merlin, I knew we'd left them in here too long together."
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On the inside, Hermione was rejoicing. She thanked everything and everyone around her; silently of course, nevertheless never had she been so glad to see two weeks go by. No more people accosting her randomly in the hall for papers or a group, wanting to sign up, bombarding her as she tried to get to class. After today, she would no longer have to hear people reciting lines hesitantly in a monotone from empty classrooms or worse catching someone trying to warm up their vocal chords and attempt to sing a line. Better them than me, she thought.
The auditions were to be held promptly after supper around 7:30. Of course, Hermione had to attend; she was the Head Girl. The Head Boy and any prefects that were available also were required to attend. Maybe I should get there early so I can avoid the git or would that look obvious. Actually, the status between the two had improved slightly since their last explosive meeting. No insults had been thrown recently and Draco had even offered to help her with her potions' essay, but he had said with some disdain that she really did not need any anyway.
Neither Harry nor Ron seemed too interested in being in the play. For a moment, they wanted to be in the effects but soon changed their minds at the mention of Snape. Now they resigned themselves to just watch it and have a good laugh. The last statement came after Hermione showed them the list of people going to audition. She was hoping desperately that someone would make a surprise showing today or else the whole business might crash and burn.
Hermione rolled off her Head Girl bed, which she was very proud of, all decked out in red and gold. She had been enjoying the last part of lunch in her personal quarters, away from Harry and Ron's chatting about Quidditch. This upcoming period she had Defense Against the Dark Arts with the Slytherins. Maybe I should walk down there with Draco. Try to mend the fence some more. She snorted aloud to herself. Fat chance of that happening. Hearing her the soft chiming of the clock in the common room downstairs, Hermione started on to class.
Most of the class was standing outside the door when Hermione arrived. It appeared that Professor Lupin had yet to arrive and would most certainly be late for his own class. Harry and Ron stood right next to the door and waved at her appearance.
She budged her way through the group to them. Each greeted her in his own way. Harry waved and said "Hi," while Ron discreetly gave her a peck on the cheek.
"Where's Prof-"
Hermione did not get a chance to finish because suddenly Ron grabbed, pulled her towards him, pushed her against him, and proceeded to try to have a brief make-out session. She quickly broke it off and gave him a raised-eyebrow look. Not that she minded such activities, no; she just rather liked them in private, as in not the entire class within viewing distance. He looked slightly disappointed plus red in the face and did not look at her. His glance was instead at something behind Hermione.
"What was that about?" she asked.
He looked back at her and fumbled a few words then returned stare at the same spot. Hermione turned her head to notice not many of the students were looking at them. It wasn't as if they had not seen it before or had been caught doing the same. She noticed Malfoy with a simpering Pansy on his arm giving her a look, but that one paled in comparison to the one given by the person Ron was staring at.
Lavender Brown.
If looks could kill, then Hermione knew she would be fallen over stone cold dead on the floor. Fortunately, for her, Lavender did not follow through with what her eyes were saying and only gave her another death stare before flipping her hair and huffing off with the ever-present group of giggling girls trailing behind her. Hermione turned back to Ron who looked down at her sheepishly. She pointed a finger at him and started to ask him something before he was saved not by the bell, but by Professor Lupin coming through the crowd to unlock the door.
Once inside, Hermione sat in her assigned seat, which was in front of Ron and beside Harry. Not a good arrangement for discussing, not even with notes since they were seated closest to Professor Lupin's desk. She wondered if Ron would ever stop being so jittery whenever Lavender happened to pop up and they were together. The boy went into a nervous scramble when she came around. Sure, they had been together a long time before but that did not mean they were going out at the moment.
Hermione glanced a look at Lavender. The other girl was staring none too discreetly at her. So, Hermione gave her a grin that she hoped relayed the message 'I've got him and you don't.' It did. Lavender's eyes turned to slits and she turned to talk to Parvati in a hurried whisper. Now satisfied with the situation, Hermione returned her attention to the front of the room where Professor Lupin stood.
"Today in class we are going to go over your last test, correct them, and see what questions you have over it," said Lupin, as he circled the room handing out tests with the occasional one becoming airborne to keep him from going three rows over. Luckily for Hermione, he just handed her hers or else she would have made a fool of herself trying to catch it.
The red ink scrawled on the top paper in cursive said 'As always – 100.' She grinned; it had been a hard test. Obviously the rest of the room agreed since most groaned at their grades and the multitude of red x's on them.
"I told you," Lupin chided, "that it wasn't going to be easy. The majority of you thought otherwise and did not study. Now the entire first page was over Reflexive curses and nearly all of you were off the mark on number four…"
Hermione looked down at her answer which had a red 'Good points' written next to it. Usually she tried to pay attention while they went over tests, but today she found her mind wandering. She glanced back at Lavender again to see if she was staring at her. Lavender's eyes were not locked on her paper or Hermione but instead held the professor at the front in rapt attention.
Oh, please, Hermione thought, she goes from being spitting mad about Ron to practically mooning over Professor Lupin. Pun intended.
Trying not to be obvious, she snuck a few glances out the corner of her eye at the rest of the girls. They all had the same expression on their faces: somewhat slack with eyes gazing dreamily at Lupin. Even a few of the Slytherins were breaking rank and giving him the eye. Not that he noticed any of this. Lupin continued to plow through to page three, still discussing various curses and what they should have put about them.
Wow, he is absolutely clueless. Hermione stared at Remus now. Her chin propped in her hand, she began to get still more lost in thought. Not that I would ever have such an expression on my face or would ever entertain such thoughts.
Another part of her conscious shot back. Well…there was just a bit of something in 3rd year. Not that it meant anything. I've been over that since…umm…forever. Right, forever.
Her eyes followed as he moved back and forth in front of the class taking questions. I mean, she looked him over, just because he's been looking better recently: less gray, less tired, livelier, and even go as far as say younger doesn't mean all these sappy expression ought to be going on. Sure he's intelligent, really kind, and sweet with a great laugh. It's not like I'm going to stare at him…with…dreamy, fluttering eyes.
"Miss Granger?"
Hermione jumped a mile in her seat and rose her eyes to meet the gray ones right in front of her desk.
"I've asked you three times to read your excellent answer to number 24, but it looks like you're still on page one." He grinned. "Please turn to page four and enlighten us on jinxing."
She fumbled to the page and began reading with a slightly pink face. Accidental staring, she kept repeating to herself, completely, wholly, utterly accidental!
The rest of the day Hermione was much more attentive in her classes. Snape could have not been anymore annoyed by her diligence since she managed to brew a flawless Veritaserum. He even let her keep a vial of the truth potion after she asked; he wanted her out of his site that bad. She considered stealing a bit of a senses duller; maybe it would keep her from having to actually listen to the auditions.
Unfortunately for Hermione, Snape kept his potions under lock down and she was indeed going to be suffering through hours of wailing solos and fake emotions. Her designated seat right behind McGonagall gave no chance for escape either. The set crew had constructed a short-term magically bound together stage for the night, which she was told was nothing compared to what they were actually planning on for the play. Even more unfortunate, Lupin had already had a mishap involving a loose board on that stage which raised a few questions about the competence of the set crew.
The DADA teacher was alright in the end and took his seat next to McGonagall (seeing he was the one who actually knew about theatre), signaling the auditions could start. Hermione did not try to hide her groan. At least Draco isn't here.
All of the potential 'stars' were kept out in a room to the side until their particular character was called up and they could go in. It had been decided ahead of time to leave the two main roles last and to start with the supporting cast incase it became desperate at the end and someone had to be moved up to being Belle or Beast. Anybody left was stuck being a townsperson or a minor piece of talking furniture.
Maurice, Belle's father, was the first one ordered in to face the panel. By the number of names on the paper, not many boys seemed too keen on being the old guy. Hermione stared off as they began reading with the only good part being when Ernie from Hufflepuff actually was able to conjure up, naturally he said, some tears over his daughter being held by the Beast. Who knew he had that in him? Shoe-in.
The other main parts for the furniture dragged on. Colin Creevey's still high-pitched voice went well with his part of Chip, the teacup. Everyone visibly cringed when any of them started to sing. Hermione's ears were never going to be same after Hannah Abbott's rendition of Tale As Old As Time. That's when she finally broke down and a simple Quietus directed at her ears solved all her problems.
She began reading the script absentmindedly. She looked up briefly to see who was up and did a double take. There stood Luna Lovegood, belting a tune that Hermione could not hear. Quickly, she reversed to hear Luna end her note smoothly and with harmony. All the teachers looked stunned and pleased at the same time. Hermione gave Professor Lupin a quick poke that she hoped he would not mind.
"What part are we on?" she whispered.
"Belle," he answered equally low as Luna continued.
Puzzled, Hermione said, "But that's not…"
The rest of the room began to realize the same thing Hermione had. Luna might be in the Belle auditions but she sure was not singing any parts of Belle's.
"Luna," McGonagall said, holding up a hand for her to stop, "what part are you auditioning for?"
Luna's big eyes gazed at the row in front of her. "I'm here for Mrs. Potts," she said matter of factually and continued with a note Hannah had not come close to hitting earlier.
The Transfiguration teacher held up her hand again. "Luna, this is the Belle audition. The Mrs. Potts one has already been held."
"Oh," the girl said, "well some humferlumps held me up in the hall, terrible pests."
McGonagall shook her head, arguing was futile. "Okay, okay. We'll put you down under Mrs. Potts. Thank you."
She left and the auditions transitioned to Beast. Hermione placed her charm back on. It had been very usual during the majority of the auditions; just watching the grimaces at Parvati's attempt at Belle was enough for her. Hermione returned to the script as a huge Ravenclaw entered.
Around page 45, she realized people were staring at her. Apparently, the auditions were over, since no one was on the stage, but the few who were left at the staff table just kept looking at her.
"What is it?" she asked. Their mouths moved without sound. She removed the spell again.
"Huh?" she tried again.
McGonagall looked agape. "Miss Granger, where did you learn to sound like that? And why didn't you tell us!"
Hermione scrunched her brows. "Learn to sound like what? I don't know what you are talking about."
"You're singing!" she said exasperated as if was obvious.
"I don't sing," Hermione said quickly.
"We've been sitting here listening to you sing it," she pointed to the script, "under your breath. Well, you were trying to but you've become increasingly louder."
Hermione could only look around surprised and mortified at the same time. Stupid spell! She had not heard herself singing aloud, assuming the entire time only she could hear it. This one was going to be hard to get out of.
McGonagall furiously scribbled out something on her papers and wrote out Hermione's name next to Belle. The older witch turned around to face Hermione again, gave her a stern look, and said, "Of course, you'll agree to play the part of Belle since you are so well suited for it."
"Well…" even sterner look, "of course. I'd be delighted." Delighted came out as a grumble. The rest of the staff congratulated her on the spot even Remus who laughed a little at her cynicism. Absolutely no way out of this one.