Chapter four

Summery: Harry asks Hermione for help on his lines.  

Sorry bout the delay. I had lots and lots of home work, and a load of writers block. Oh and I got really sick. (Not a really bad sickness, just a really bad cold) Sorry if this is a little bit bad; my school work is piling up.

-ManiacMouse.

I own Mrs. Macon (Play director) and Professor Jenkins (DADA teacher)

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Then next few weeks went by quickly. It was all a blur to me, and sometimes I couldn't even remember why he was in the play in the first place. But then, after being reminded constantly by my friends, I remembered it was because Dumbledore wanted me to be a "good boy."

"Mr. Potter, that dull voice will have to go," Mrs. Macon said, pacing the floor of the stage that we had been using since the fourth play practice. "You have to get into your line. Imagine what Merlin would say, and how he would say it."

"Yes ma'am." I replied, in the same dull voice I had used when saying my line.

"Now let's try it again."

I turned to look at Hermione, who was standing by the edge of the stage.

"You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen." I said, not changing my tone at all.

"No, no, no." Macon said, angrily. "Say it like this." She arranged her face to look like she was in aw, and she said: "You are the most beautiful woman I – have – ever –seen." She said dramatically, moving her hands in odd motions.

Many people laughed.

"You may think its funny, but when you are on stage, people don't like seeing an actor standing on the stage, hands by their sides, reciting the line like they were forced to memorize it." Macon said, walking to the end of the stage. "Ok Mr. Potter, I see that you are not going to do that line correctly, let's move on to scene 5. Places!"

   2 hours later, I walked quickly away from the stage, fuming. Why the hell would Dumbledore make me be in this stupid play? If I had to come here one more day, I was going to crack. We had been working on the play for 4 weeks, and I only had a few lines memorized. And my friends weren't helping at all, they would read a few pages with me, then make up an excuse, and rush out the door. I rolled my eyes at the thought of my friends. At the moment, they were all up in the astronomy tower, having a party. Fred and George even showed up to show off some of there new products. But I couldn't go; I had play practice to go to.

Suddenly out of the corner of my eye, I saw Hermione, standing alone. She was reading her script, and mouthing the words. I rolled my eyes.

'I should ask her to help me with my lines' A small voice in my head suggested, but instantly felt horrified that I had even thought about it. But she was the only one in the class who had all her lines memorized, and knew where to stand and how to say the lines. Before I even knew what I was doing, I walked over to her.

"Er…Hermione?" I asked, glancing around to see if anyone was looking.

"Yes?" She said looking up, a little surprised.

"Um…I was um…wondering if you could – help me with my lines." I said, very fast, slurring my words.

Hermione looked at me curiously. "You want me to help – you?" She asked.

"Um…Well my friends aren't helping at all and -"

"Ok…I'll pray for you." And she smiled, and then began to walk away.

"Hermione, Hermione no I -"

"You obviously never asked any one for help before. A request like yours requires flattery and groveling. It can't be all about you; it has to be for the common good of everybody."

"It is for the common good of everybody. Mrs. Macon deserves the best."

Hermione laughed a very small laugh. "Ok." She said finally. "Ok. Meet me at the head girls' dormitory tomorrow after school."

"Ok. Thank you." I said, and then turned to walk away, but she spoke up again.

"But one condition though Harry." I turned to look at her.

"Oh yeah? What's that?" I asked, laughing a little.

"You have to promise not to fall in love with me." She said, her eyes shining. And I knew she was kidding.

"That won't be a problem." I replied.

"Ok. See you tomorrow."

"See you." I walked away, but before I could get even half way up to the common room, I suddenly realized what I had done.

"I just asked Hermione for help!" I said out loud, causing Neville Longbottom to turn around and stare at me.

I ignored him, and walked on. "Why would I do that?" But it was done. I had to meet her after school tomorrow.

"Dude you should have been at the party." Dean said as he and Ron burst through the door.

"I wish I had been buddy." I said, irritated. "But I was at play practice."

"Oh yeah. Sorry. But you still should have been there! Fred and George showed up, with like 3 boxes full of their new inventions. Like this one pill that you take and it can make you invisible for 3 hours. Draco took it, and he's still invisible. I can't find him anywhere. And -"

"Dude, I really don't care."

"We got some stuff for you." Ron assured me. I nodded, but still didn't really care.

"Here." Dean said, shoving a pile of oddly colored candies into my lap. "That red one over there is 'fire tongue'. It's supposed to set your tongue on fire, but its cold fire, and as everyone is going crazy, and sending you straight to the hospital wing, you can feel a nice tingle in your mouth." Dean explained.

"How'd they do that?" I asked, picking the candy up and examining it closely.

"I don't know. But they did it. Try it."

"Um…I don't know if that's a good idea."

"C'mon man. I tried it. It really is a tingly feeling in your mouth." Ron said, opening his mouth, and showing me his black tongue.

"But it burned your tongue."

"No that's just the side affect. It stays black for a few hours, just to make it look real."

I nodded, and then popped the candy into my mouth. Right away I felt a tickling sensation in my mouth.

"Is id workin?" I asked, trying to speak with a mouth full of flames, something I never thought I would have to experience.

"Yeah." Dean said, laughing at the horrified look on a passing second year girl.

"Ow do oo it the ames away?" I asked.

"Just stick your tongue under cold water for three seconds." Ron said, leading me up to out dormitory, and into the bathroom. I stuck my mouth under the flow of water, and immediately felt the tingle disappear.

"Well, that was an odd feeling." I said, running my finger along the inside of my cheek.

"Uh-huh" Ron said, turning around, and walking out the door. Dean was sitting on the couch, laughing at something.

"What's up?" I asked.

"I know where Draco is." He said after he had stopped laughing.

"Where?" Ron and I asked together.

"Well Lavender just came in, and told me he snuck into Potions, and changed all our grades to E's. So we all have Exceeds Expectations."

"Good for him." Ron said, laughing.

"But that's not the funniest part. He began to become visible, while he was changing our charms grades as well, and Flitwick caught him. So now he has detention."

I smiled.

"Well did he change them?" Ron asked as soon as he had stopped laughing.

"No. Only potions. But he got close."

We all laughed, and stopped abruptly as Hermione walked into the portrait hole. She looked at me, and smiled, but didn't come and sit down. I sighed in relief, and looked down at the floor. I didn't want to tell my friends that I had asked for her help, and I was afraid that she was going to tell them. If they found out, I may never live it down.

"Well, its 10:00, and we still have a ton of homework." Dean said, taking his bag out from under the couch.

"Yeah, and that test in Defense against the Dark arts is coming up. And I still don't know how to tell the difference between a male and female werewolf." Ron said.

"Really dude? I knew that years' ago." I said.

"No you didn't. You asked Professor Jenkins last week."

"Fine, but I still know it."

Ron glared at me, and then looked back at his book.

"Well I need to go find Hedwig. I need to write a letter to Lupin." I said, getting up.

"Say hi from me." Dean and Ron said at the same time.

"Ok." I replied, and I walked out the door. Now that we were in 7th year, we could be out in the halls until 10:30. I walked quickly up to the owlry, and found Hedwig. I pulled out a piece of parchment and a quill from my cloak pocket, and began to write.

Dear Professor Lupin.

Hey. I haven't talked to you in a while, and I just felt like writing.

How are you? I got in trouble a couple weeks ago, and I was forced

to be in a play. It's a romantic play, and I have to pretend to fall in love with

Hermione Granger. I'm not very happy about it. Well I hope you're well.

Harry.

"Ok girl." I said to Hedwig, as she fluttered down on my shoulder. "Take this to Lupin. You know where he lives." I tied the parchment to her leg.

Hedwig gave a small hoot, and took off out the window. I smiled as I watched her fly across the grounds. And I walked back to the common room. It was 10:20, and I had 10 minutes to get back before I got in trouble. I was dreading tomorrow, and I wished more than ever that I hadn't asked Hermione to help me. But what's done is done. And I walked silently to the portrait hole.

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Hope you liked it. The romance is coming up soon.

Next chapter real soon. No more writers block, but still a lot of home work.

R/R ppl.

TTYL

ManiacMouse.