Chapter 7

Disclaimer: The main characters belong to JK Rowling (at least, their names do), but the setting, plot and some other characters are mine.

A/N: Hello everybody! It feels so good to be back at the keyboard again. I have had, by definition, a cruddy afternoon. I've been trying to do my GCSE Citizenship coursework, but failing as Citizenship is so boring it makes me feel like it would be more productive to sleep. Seriously. So here it is, another chapter.

Anegativegrl: Yeah, well done. My fics are very predictable like that, I just love HPDM. And something positive? Don't hold your breath. But I'm not sure how much longer I can hold out before I lapse into joyful fluff.

Katatonia: Glad to hear it! Thanks for reviewing.

zoomaphonethepirate: That's a #5 with a little HarryDraco on the side? Please pull up to the service window! Love your name. And it won't be long before they do get together.

Immortal Tears of: I will be keeping it up. I'm even planning a sequel!

M'Lady: Harry has enough issues as it is! But thanks for the ideas.

Invisible Voice: Yes, go away Melfin! By the way, about that note on the last chapter. Please ignore it. I got you mixed up with someone else – sorry!

The Earth Mystic: Thank you! See below for why I chose Romeo and Juliet (I just think I should explain). And the last part of Hamlet is so good (I so prefer tragedies to comedies, don't ask me why)!

TruthxInxShadow: Yeah, I made the name Melfin up myself. I thought she needed something a little eccentric.

Lucky Dragon Smile: They'll realise sooner or later. Probably sooner. Oh well. It's OK that you didn't review earlier; you're here now . More the merrier.

Shaleen: Thanks!

Cherry0214: It might be a while before I can fit in Draco in a towel. But I'll try. And Harry as Juliet? Draco is SO the more effeminate one!

Natasha AKA: Tash: Yes, Melfin is totally wrong for him etc but that's how I want her. And no, I've never seen Card Captor Sakura. Wish I had now. And the phrase is 'get jiggy with it'. Not jiggly. Funny though.

lampshadesrgreat: As ever, thank you. And yes, Romeo and Juliet is great!

Cookies: (:)(:)(:)(:)(:)(:)(:)(:)(:)(:)(:)(:)(:)

OK, about my choice of play. I chose R and J because it is the perfect tragic love story, I've just read it, it has lots of characters, and I'm studying it for GCSE English Literature. That and I like it.

QUESTION: Just something my English teacher said the other day, kind of worried me. How old are you in Sophomore year? Cause I thought Sophomores were 15 and 16, but she said my class would be Sophomores and we're Year 10, which is 14 and 15. Help! Anyone?

Oh yeah, and… Whooo! 55 reviews! With your support, I might just hit the 100 mark before this fic reaches its natural end, which won't be for a while.

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It was Wednesday, it was three forty five, and nothing was happening. About forty Sophomores were waiting in the auditorium for the Head of Drama, Miss Trelawney, to turn up. She had a reputation for being shockingly disorganised, and was usually about ten minutes late for her lessons, so nobody was surprised by her absence. They were taking the opportunity to talk amongst themselves and work on their audition pieces. Most people had planned something; Minster was a highly drama-focused school.

"Ow!" Harry broke off from his line and bent over, cradling his left hand. "Shit, that hurts!"

"What is it?" Draco asked in a concerned tone.

"Like you don't know!" Harry snapped. "It's where you exploded that test tube in Chemistry!" He knew he was being unfair overreacting like this, but he was mad at Draco at the moment, and this was a good excuse to vent his rage over their relationship that would never be.

Draco flushed, Harry fumed, and Ron and Mione burst out laughing.

"Guys!" Harry cried indignantly. "It hurts you know!"

"Sorry," Mione giggled. "But it was so funny when you guys did that! I thought Snape was going to go through the roof!"

Harry couldn't stop himself; he laughed too, forgetting the pain. The cuts weren't even that bad; after all, it had only been a few bits of broken glass. He couldn't really blame Draco for it either. Even if it had been the blond that blew up the test tube, Harry really should have pointed out to him beforehand that it generally wasn't all too clever to mix acid with rubidium. Oh well, live and learn.

Their fit of laughter was suddenly interrupted as Miss Trelawney entered, ten minutes late as usual. She went to the front of the room, which was silent by now. She smiled round at all of them.

"Thank you all for coming," she began cheerfully. "It's most refreshing to see how enthusiastic you all are. Who has an audition piece prepared?" Most of the assembled people put their hands up. "Oh, excellent! Shall we get on with some warm-up exercises then?"

Ten minutes later, they were all settled on chairs, scribbling down their names and details on pieces of paper for her reference. Then they broke off into brief rehearsals in groups.

Harry and Ron had chosen part of the scene at Capulet's ball, Harry as Tybalt and Ron as Capulet. Draco and Mione were doing a conversation between Romeo and the Nurse.

They didn't have long to practise. The first group was soon called up, and everyone else sat down to watch. The first piece went a bit wrong, as Millicent forgot her lines as Juliet. Then Harry and Ron were called up, and they started. Draco and Mione sat in the audience with their fingers crossed for their friends. They didn't need to though; it went well. Then it was their own turn.

Harry watched with bated breath as they performed. Draco made a fantastic Romeo. 'God I wish I could be his Juliet,' he thought. 'Whoa, did I just think that?'

It was Thursday when the auditionees found out the result.

Recess found Mione and Ron huddled round the pinboard with a load of other people.

"Score!" Ron grinned. "I got Montague!"

Mione laughed. "And I'm 'Apothecary of Mantua'!"

At that moment, Harry and Draco entered the room having been at the lockers. They came over.

"Hey, Romeo!" Mione called to Draco. "Nice one!"

"I got it?" Draco asked disbelievingly, dodging quickly through the desks to get to where she was standing. "Yes!"

"And Harry…" Mione added, as he reached them.

"What? Did I get anything?"

She grinned wickedly. "I'll give you a clue. Dark haired, sulky and I hope you like cats!"

Harry gasped. "I got Tybalt! Great!"

"Quite a skilled little group, aren't we?" Ron asked jokingly. "Oh, look! Draco, there's a note on here for you." He unpinned a note from the sign and handed it over.

Draco opened it. "Oh my God. Um, who got Juliet?"

"Blaise Zabini," Harry read from the list.

Draco looked up. "Hmm. Isn't that the one from English class that-"

"'Doesn't like to be called a redhead'." Harry joined in. They laughed.

Draco nodded. "That's the one. Says here they reckon it'd be a great publicity stunt if Romeo and Juliet went to the dance together, if that's OK with us." He shrugged. "Fine by me."

The first meeting to organise rehearsals was on Friday lunchtime, and by the time the bell went it was all organised. Draco and Blaise would be going together. By some stroke of luck, she'd left it till the last minute to get a date; the dance was the next Saturday. So it was all fixed. Harry felt oddly glad. At least if Draco was with a girl, he'd know there was nothing serious going on.

A/N: I've started going quite quickly now. The dance will be full of action! And angst. But it'll be cute angst. I think. Bye for now!