Chapter 28 Auditions
The rest of the first week of the term couldn't go more slowly for the students at Hogwarts. By Friday night everyone knew about the audition, and the house common rooms were taken over by different acts. Harry hadn't been feeling too well all day Friday a a result of his allergies, and spent most of the evening curled up in one of the empty cushioned armchairs towards the back of the common room, watching everyone. He could faintly hear Hermione singing the song "My Favorite Things" from the Sound of Music. She jumped about three feet when Ron came up behind her and sung loudly
"How do we solve a problem like HERMIONE?"
"Ron!" Hermione snapped.
Ron laughed. "I didn't mean to INTERRUPT you or anything, 'Mione." He winked and continued singing the song as he headed over to the otherside of the room. Hermione rolled her eyes and turned to Harry.
"Ooh!" She stomped her foot in irritation. Then she turned to Harry. "So have you decided on a piece for your audition yet?" She asked. "Snape said you could sing anything."
"Not sure," Harry admitted. "The last thing on my mind at the moment is the musical. I feel pretty cruddy today."
Hermione nodded, smiling with sympathy. She suddenly heard the sound of gargling and turned to see Jessica who was laughing hysterically and asking her friend Erin "What are you doing?" after noticing the glass of water in the girl's hand. Hermione shook her head before asking Harry to scootch over so she could sit down beside him.
"You look cold. I hope you aren't running a fever." She placed a hand against his forehead. "Nope." She kissed him. "So any ideas of what you want to sing?" She added. "The audition's tomorrow morning so you have to pick a song now. I can give you some ideas, if you'd like."
He stroked her cheek. "I could just use the song I sang in his class. That's simple enough."
Hermione scoffed, "Oh please, Harry. Try something a bit more challenging. Even if you want to sing a Christmas carol like Ron did-that would be good. Can I hear you sing Jingle Bells?"
Harry sniggered. "Dashing through the snow-in a one-horse open sleigh- o'er the fields we go, laughing all the way."
"Bells on Bobtail ring-making spirits bright," sung Lavender.
"Now what fun it is to sing a sleighing song tonight!" Jessica finished.
"Is that your song, Harry?" Lavender asked with a giggle. "You could sing 'Music of the Night' from the Phantom of the Opera, since that's the play we're doing."
Hermione thought for a moment, and then she grinned. "How about this:
There were bells on the hill
But I never heard them ringing,
No, I never heard them at all
Till there was you.
There were birds in the sky
But I never saw them winging
No I never saw them at all
Till there was you.
And there was music,
And there were wonderful roses,
They tell me,
In sweet fragrant meadows of dawn, and dew.
There was love all around
But I never heard it singing
No, I never heard it at all
Till there was you!
Harry smiled when she finished singing. "I like that. What show is that from?" He asked. Lavener gasped.
"The Music Man," Hermione replied. "I saw it a few years ago on television. Oh this one is PERFECT for Harry-how about: Goodnight, my someone,
Goodnight, my love,
Sleep tight, my someone,
Sleep tight, my love,
Our star is shining it's brightest light
For goodnight, my love, for goodnight.
Sweet dreams be yours, dear,
If dreams there be
Sweet dreams to carry you close to me.
I wish they may and I wish they might
Now goodnight, my someone, goodnight
True love can be whispered from heart to heart
When lovers are parted they say
But I must depend on a wish and a star
As long as my heart doesn't know who you are.
Sweet dreams be yours dear,
If dreams there be
Sweet dreams to carry you close to me.
I wish they may and I wish they might
Now goodnight, my someone, goodnight.
Goodnight,
Goodnight. You'd have to be looking straight at me while singing it, because that'll really bring the passion into your voice."
Harry nodded. "I'll sing that one."
"I think I have the soundtrack upstairs," hermione added. "I have my portable diskman because Hogwarts cant use electricity...but you can use my earphones." she placed a kiss on Harry's lips, causing him to smile afterwards, and bolted up to the girl's dormitory.
"She's loony," Ron whispered, and Lavender punched him playfully on the arm.
While Harry waited for her, he hoped he wasn't going to have trouble singing on a stage. The idea of auditioning for a show didn't thrill him, but he certainly couldn't back out since the threat of loosing points for Gryffindor was on his mind. Those thoughts did not help him to sleep easily that night.
On Saturday morning, the Hogwarts auditorium was packed with students from every house, and Harry could see Professor Snape talking with Professor's Dumbledore and McGonagall. He also caught sight of Professor Lupin who was standing in a corner talking with tiny Professor Flitwick, and Harry also noticed that a big piano stood by the stage. Hermione sat beside him in the audience and she had her eyes closed as though she were trying to remember what the lyrics to her piece were. Harry had listened to "Goodnight my Someone Goodnight" over and over again the night before, and was now officially stuck inside of his head.
"You're actually auditioning, Potter?" A voice suddenly broke through his thoughts and he turned around to see Draco Malfoy sitting in the row behind him.
"What's it to you, Malfoy?" Harry snapped. "You know we all have to audition."
"What part do you think you'll get?"
"The lead of course," Hermione retorted.
"Hah!" Malfoy sniggered. "That'll be the day. It's in the bag for me."
"I wouldn't be so sure of yourself, Malfoy," Hermione warned.
Malfoy was just about to comment on her statement when Professor Snape announced that the auditions were about to begin. Hermione took a deep breath and grabbed Harry's hand as a stress-reliever. "I will call all of you up in alphabetical order!" Professor Snape began. "Professor Lupin has graciously accepted the responsibility of playing the piano for the audition, so I would like it if you gave him a big round of applause."
Ron nudged Harry's arm. "He never told us he could play an instrument!" He whispered in surprise.
Hermione shrugged. "Professor's don't have to tell their students EVERYTHING," She whispered back, clapping along with the rest of the school as she watched the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher sit down at the bench and position himself so that he was comfortable. Harry sniggered.
"I wonder if Sirius knows about this."
"Did you write him about the play yet?" Hermione asked.
When Harry didn't respond, she folded her arms. "I can't believe you didn't write to him about it! You HAVE to write to him tonight!"
"Harry would probably be too nervous if Sirius wanted to see him audition," Ron whispered, trying to block out one of the first year Ravenclaw's number "Doe a Deer" from the Sound of Music.
"I promise I'll write to him tonight," Harry insisted. "I've been kind of out-of-it lately and didn't think about it."
Hermione nodded, leaning back in her chair, her eyes fixed to the stage. Usually the singing part of an audition was the most difficult. When she was called to go up, Harry mouthed "I love You" to her and she smiled with a wave. She stood up on stage, facing the enormous audience and could feel the beads of sweat start to pop out on her forehead. She handed the sheet music to Professor Lupin before going onto the stage and he gave her the thumbs up as he began to play. It took a few moments to get over her nerves, but soon her voice broke out loud and clear and she noticed the expressions of shock on the Slytherin students who were sitting along the left side of the auditorium. She also caught sight of Jessica who was rolling her fists in a little dance and mouthing "Go Hermione" "Go Hermione".
Hermione sang "On my Own" from Les Miserables, and Harry actually felt tears choking his throat as she wandered about the stage, making eye contact with him.
"I love him...but every day I'm learning! All my life...I'll always be pretending! Without me, the world will go on turning, the world is full of happiness that I have ever known...I love him...I love him...I love him...but only on my own..."
When she finished singing, Hermione didn't even notice the students from her house standing up, cheering and clapping and whistling. She just wanted to get back to her seat and burry her head against Harry or fall through a hole in the ground. "You were great!" Harry cried, hugging her.
"I-I was?" Hermione asked with a small grin. "Really?"
"Would I lie to you?" Harry asked with a raised eyebrow. She smiled again.
"I suppose not."
"Breathe, Hermione." Ron laughed as she sat down again, still appearing very stiff.
The auditions seemed to take forever, but it was too soon when Snape called out "Harry Potter!"
It seemed as though the entire school stopped speaking, and all eyes were on him as he made his way down the isle and towards the stage. He looked at Professor Lupin on the piano bench who whispered "Good luck, Harry."
"Thank you, sir." Harry whispered back, climbing the stairs. Snape had his arms folded and was sitting in the front row.
"Show us what you can do, Potter." He spoke. Harry nodded and took a deep breath, looking at Hermione and Ron, who were leaning forward, keeping a close eye on him. When the music started to play, it was absolutely amazing. Harry blocked everything around him out and focused only on the notes. His voice came out in an almost angelic tone and he hit every key perfectly. The music seemed to carry him away to a distant land where he was safe from any danger, and he wished he could stay there. When he finished the song, noticed the looks of complete awe in the faces of the Professors and his classmates. Hermione had tears rolling down her cheeks from where she sat towards the back of the auditorium, and the expression on Malfoy's face was priceless-his mouth was hanging open and his eyes were as wide as saucers.
"Thank you." Snape broke in. "You may go back to your seat now."
"Huh?" Harry turned.
"You're finished, Harry." Lupin sniggered. "Got a bit carried away there, did we?"
Harry nodded. "Guess so. Um-thank you." He stepped down from the stage and headed back to his seat. When he got there, he noticed that Ron wore the same expression as Malfoy. "What?" He asked with confusion.
"Harry-where did you learn to sing like that?"
"I-I didn't," Harry admitted.
"You were-amazing," said Hermione, wiping her tears away. "Absolutely amazing."
"Not bad, Scarhead." Malfoy spoke up.
Harry turned around. "Uh-thanks."
The rest of the audition was not as stressful. Snape called students up two by two to read lines from the 42nd Street script. "There are also dancing numbers and that will be held on a different day," Snape told them. "Ballet will be the main form of dancing. Those auditions will be held this coming Wednesday after classes end."
It was at that moment that they were dismissed, and Hermione grabbed Harry's hand and pulled him out into the hall. "You HAVE to write to Sirius right this minute," She said. "I swear-you're going to get the lead!"
"I wouldn't go that far, Hermione." Harry chuckled. "There were plenty of good voices out there."
"But YOU," Hermione breathed. "You were inredible! I think a few people were crying!"
Harry smiled and put his arm around Herimone's shoulders. "Let's say you and I take a walk around the grounds outside." He suggested. "I need to spend some time alone with you-away from everyone else."
"But..."
"And don't say we shouldn't because of my allergies," Harry interrupted. "I don't care about them right now. I only care about you." He kissed her softly. "I need you so much. I feel so much stronger when you are here with me."
Hermione leaned against his shoulder. "I'm glad you do, Harry. I need you so much, too. Let's get away now before anyone sees us."
The two of them made their way out of the castle before the crowds left the auditorium.