A/N: Am I right in assuming you guys don't notice when I update really fast? Some people do, but it seems if I post a chapter one day and post again a few days later, I don't get as many comments from you guys. Any way, I hope you guys enjoyed the last few chapters. I think rehearsal will be fun. Unfortunately, there was too much writer's block, so there's not a lot of focus on rehearsal like I planned.

Chapter 23

"Thank you, Hannah. I can't believe I didn't notice who you were."

"I get that a lot these days. My parents transferred me to Beauxbaton's academy after I ended up having issues with a few too many students. And they don't have houses or separation like Hogwarts. And it really boosted my confidence. I made a few friends who gave me a huge make over. It was just really good for me."

"Trouble with students?"

"Yeah, if you don't remember I was a very shy meek girl, who wasn't fat but wasn't skinny and a Hufflepuff. I got teased a lot, and ended up making out with the first guy to show me attention, but he said it went farther. From there it got worse. Once I left, I heard more rumors, but honestly they died down. He admitted he lied and everyone apologized. I don't know if it's because they think I'm pretty now or what, but they have."

"Oh wow. I'm so sorry that happened to you. I can't even imagine what that's got to feel like."

"Aren't you even expecting it? You're married to the potions master, and pregnant with his child. Everyone knows he's on You-Know-Who's side. If you think what I went through was hard, I pity what you'll be going through."

"Thanks, but I think I can handle it."

"Hermione, you couldn't handle a spell that enlarged your teeth. When you have the stares and the whispers and the name calling. When you raise your hand in class."

"I've also grown since then Hannah. What if when you returned nothing changed? What if those rumors never died down? Would you be able to handle it still?"

Hannah stared at Hermione, almost with a look of betrayal. But Hermione continued, "We are all different, and we grow in different ways. I've seen things and dealt with things you can't even imagine. I think I can handle the student body. Sure, it will be hard at times, especially with the hormones. But I can still handle it."

"I guess I didn't think of that. I heard all the stories, but guess I didn't think about you would have changed."

"I'm sorry if I was harsh, I just get frustrated. And lately there's been a lot of frustrating things. Wait, so are you transferring back this year?"

"I am. I actually auditioned and got Meg's understudy. So unless Luna can't perform, I will be in the ensemble."

"Well, you never know what could happen, so I would definitely study those lines."

"You act as if you know something," Hannah said with a confused look.

Hermione shrugged and responded before turning away, "This is theater, anything can happen."

Hermione wandered the halls of Hogwarts, waiting until rehearsals started. There was something truly magical in the way she felt connected to the school. As if it was her true home from day one. For the first time in a long time, she felt utterly relaxed. Her mind was free from the stress of the outside world. A weight had been lifted from her shoulder and Hermione took a deep breath. She leaned against the cold stone walls and closed her eyes, emptying out her mind of everything, just breathing deeply and relaxing.

"Hermione! There you are!"

Hermione groaned as she opened her eyes to the running sound coming towards her. Of course, it was Luna, and Hermione couldn't stay irritated for long.

"Hello, Luna," she greeted with a small smile.

"Come on, by the time we get back, it will be time to start rehearsing."

Luna, though they both knew she wouldn't actually be in the musical, seemed the most excited about the whole thing.

With Luna's running, they still arrived ahead of most the cast and crew. Hermione wondered how Luna could be so grown up and childish at the same time. She feared for Luna's safety in her upcoming adventure with Ron and Harry, but knew Luna could take care of herself, and the boys.

"Alright students, today we begin rehearsal and set design. Those of you in crew will go over by Professor Flitwick and you will be working under his instruction," McGonagall spoke without hesitation, "The rest of you follow me and we shall begin practicing lines. At some point our costume designers will begin taking measurements."

Hermione and Luna followed the rest of the cast to McGonagall's classroom.

"I expect us all off book by the end of the week. So let's not waste anytime. Auctioneer and opening scene to the front."

Hermione walked through the door at Spinner's End, hair mussed and a little sweaty. All she wanted to do was take a bath and eat and go to bed.

"I'm home," She called out, wondering if Severus would be or if he had been summoned.

Not hearing an answer, Hermione headed for the bathroom, hoping to draw a warm bubble bath and just relax.

"Dancing Bears, painted wings, things I almost remember. And a song, someone sings, once upon a December," Hermione sang as she walked into the bathroom and began to undress. Eyes closed she began to think about the day's rehearsal, "Someone holds me safe and warm, horses prance through a sil-"

"Singing again?"

Hermione turned around to see Severus lounging in the tub; a few candles lit, and turned bright red. He may have seen her naked, but she was still nervous about it.

"I'll just wa-"

"Hermione, please join me," There was a softness in his eyes that had a similar effect to puppy dog eyes, "I promise, it is nothing more than a bath."

Hermione was tired, and the bath looked warm. So she let down her guard just enough and steeped in the bath, sitting opposite of Severus.

"How was your day?"

"Long but fun. I'm just glad we were able to get Minerva to change her casting for the time being. So we are without a Raoul for the time being. I realized that Hannah Abbott hadn't been at Hogwarts like I thought, but she's returning. And everyone just had a lot of fun."

"Sounds like it was a good day then. Not to stressful?"

"No, not stressful at all."

"Good," Severus spoke as he held out a hand, pulling Hermione closer when she took it. "Now, turn around please."

Hermione did exactly as she was asked, thankful to not be looking at Severus so he couldn't see her continued blush. He picked up a wash cloth and ran it across her back."

"We need to go grocery shopping very soon."

"I suppose, I have rehearsal everyday until Friday."

"We will need to go sooner than that. As in, tomorrow we won't have dinner."

"Oh."

There was an odd silence between them for a moment.

"Well, we could make a list tonight, that is, if you don't mind going tomorrow."

"Hermione, I know you think that I'm not busy during the day, but between death-eater meetings and planning for classes, I am actually quite busy."

"Oh, I'm sorry."

"Don't be. We'll just have to go after you get home tomorrow. So try not to over do it, okay."

"I'll try."

A/N: Alright, I know, I'm terrible. I apologize for the wait, but I really struggled to get this chapter out. I do mean struggled. I'll see what I can do about the next chapter maybe being faster. The song was "Once Upon a December" from Anastasia.