LOCKED IN A HALL CLOSET

WHO WILL BE THE NEXT…WITCHZARD IDOL?

Chapter 2: New Plans

"Professor Dumbledore, I have to talk to you about a matter that concerns a certain student." Severus Snape said, striding up to Dumbledore. Professor Minerva McGonagall, who was talking to Dumbledore while Snape called his attention, looked at him irritatedly.

"Can't it wait, Severus? I've got a matter to discuss here with Albus."

"I'm afraid not, Minerva," he replied coolly. "I need this to be over before it starts."

McGonagall opened her mouth to retort but Dumbledore spoke before she got the chance to utter a word. "It's all right, Minerva." He told her, before turning to Snape. "Now what seems to be the problem, Professor Snape?" Dumbledore asked him politely.

Snape began to look a little -just a little- uncomfortable. "Well Albus," he started "It concerns Hermione Granger. You see, I don't think she's compatible to be a host for the upcoming interschool singing competition. The other professors have agreed with me that Miss Granger needs more people skills. Now-"

"So you're saying Hermione Granger is not qualified for the job?!" McGonagall said angrily, glaring daggers at Snape.

"Exactly my point."

"What?!" McGonagall exploded. "Albus…"she said in a shocked voice "…are you hearing this?"

Dumbledore gave a slight chuckle. "It's all right Minerva." He assured her. "I know what Severus is talking about. Now Severus," he said, turning to the Potions professor. " Since Ms. Granger is no longer going to host the competition alongside Mr. Potter, who will take her place?"

Snape looked gleeful. " Well, sir, I suggest Ms. Pansy Parkinson as a replacement."

Dumbledore nodded at him. "Excellent, excellent. Is there a problem, Minerva?" he asked her, for, she was opening and closing her mouth without that much of a sound.

She nodded. "Now that Ms. Granger was taken off her position as host, isn't that a bit…"

"Unfair?" Dumbledore supplied for her. She nodded at him. "Why, indeed. It does seem a bit unfair for her part, to be chosen as a host, then replaced…" he said thoughtfully. A few milliseconds later, the familiar twinkle in his eyes appeared. "I have an idea. Why doesn't Miss Granger be part of the top 24 contestants? I daresay she's an excellent singer. Is that fine with you Minerva? Severus?" he asked them.

McGonagall looked pleased. "Of course." She replied.

Snape, on the other hand, looked sulky. "I supposed it seems fair." He said moodily.

"Wonderful!" Dumbledore said. "Now, please inform the school of the minor changes, especially Ms. Granger." He added, before going up to his office.

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"What?!" Hermione Granger screamed, when she was informed of the changes.

"Hermione, relax. It's no big deal." Harry said soothingly.

"I'd relax if I wasn't replaced…" she muttered. Ron looked at her helplessly.

The trio had gone out for a stroll around the school when a frantic McGonagall rushed by with a stack of papers and quickly told her that she was no longer host of the interschool singing competition and Pansy Parkinson replaced her. Hermione didn't get a chance to respond, for McGonagall was halfway around the courtyard, barking at every student who came on her way.

Hermione sighed. "I don't get it." She said, sitting down on the grass. "Why was I replaced? I didn't do anything bad, did I? Wait…" she trailed off, just as Harry and Ron sat down beside her. A moment later, a look of realization hit her. "Harry, Ron, do you think I failed a subject?!" she asked them frantically. "Oh…what if mum and dad knew…that's it! I must've failed! But what? Maybe it was Ancient Runes…or Arithmacy! Bloody numbers…" she muttered under her voice.

Harry placed a hand on her shoulder. Hermione quieted and looked at him.

"Hermione, for whatever reason you were replaced," he told her. "I guess McGonagall and the others must've felt sorry for you because…" he said, a grin coming in to his features.

"….you're one of the top 24 contestants." Ron finished, looking gleeful at the idea of his best friend holding a mike and singing into it with thousands of students watching her.

It took a few seconds before Hermione registered what her best friends were saying. She looked at them in horror. "Godric Gryffindor!!" She shrieked. "Are you telling me I have to sing?!"

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"Come on…"

"No."

"Please?"

"No."

"Damn. I regret saying this: Pretty please with sugar on top?"

"No. Absolutely not."

"Come on, Draco, you know you want to…" Blaise Zabini said, wiggling his eyebrows at his best friend.

Draco Malfoy raised his eyebrows at him. "Are you trying to seduce me, Zabini?"

Blaise blanched. "God no! Draco, you pervert! Now are you going to sign up or what?"

"Uh…let me think about it…" Draco said, pretending to look thoughtful. "NO!"

"Come on, Malfoy. You're a good singer and you know it. Sign up!" Blaise said, nudging him to get his arse off the chair and write his 11-letter name on the sign-up sheet.

Draco sighed. "Aren't you ever going to leave me alone?" he said wearily.

Blaise on looked more persuasive. "Not until you sign up." He said firmly.

"Slytherins are very stubborn, aren't they?" Draco said absently, his attention back to the book he was reading before Blaise interrupted him and started persuading him to sign up for the competition.

"Might I remind you that you're one, too?" He said, in mild politeness.

Draco glared at him. "All right! All right! Will you leave me alone if I sign up?" he said exasperatedly.

"Well, duh. That's why I'm pestering you right now." Blaise said, rolling his eyes.

Draco smacked his arm. "Shut up." He said, standing up from his seat to write his name in the sign-up sheet that was taped in the Slytherin notice board.

"There. You happy?" Draco asked him.

Blaise grinned. "Exceptionally. Now that's the two of us, a 1 in a 10 chance we might be in the top 24."

Draco looked at him grimly. "You made you're point, forced me to sign up, and I'm still in the same page you disturbed me in. Now get out and leave me in peace!" he snapped.

Blaise stood up and pretended to bow to him, as if he were his servant. " As you wish, Master Malfoy." He said in a deep voice as he began to walk away.

"Bloody git." Draco muttered, returning to his book.

"Hey, I heard that!"

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Dumbledore joined the rest of the professors at the staff meeting. He handed out rolls of parchments with various names on them, otherwise known as the sign-up sheets. "Now, professors, please deliberate amongst yourselves for the top 24 contestants. Feel free to raise a question or two." He instructed them. Soon, every professor began to unroll a piece of parchment, talk among himself or herself and cross out names. A few rolls of parchment later, Snape spoke up. "Interesting. Draco Malfoy signed up?" A few professors raised their eyebrows at him, not believing what he said.

Dumbledore chuckled. "Put him on the list."

An hour and a half later, the list completed, Dumbledore read the names of the top 24 contestants:

"Michael Corner, Dennis Creevey, Hektor Divorski, Seamus Finnigan, Neville Longbottom, Draco Malfoy, Poliakoff, Zacharias Smith, Dean Thomas, Vladimir Volchov, Ron Weasley, Blaise Zabini, Hannah Abbot, Katie Bell, Lavender Brown, Millicent Bullstrode, Cho Chang, Gabrielle Delacour, Hermione Granger, Padma Patil, Parvati Patil, Cassandra St.Pierre, Romilda Vane, and last but not least, Ginny Weasley."

Flitwick wiped his forehead. "That's quite a long list, Dumbledore." He commented.

"Yes, now all we need is for Mr. Potter and Ms. Parkinson to be informed and ready for the start of the competition, which will start next week." Dumbledore said. "Oh, and Professor Sprout, would you mind posting the lists of the top 24 contestants along with their photographs?" he added. Professor Sprout nodded.

"Good" he replied. "Minerva, after your last class, could you gather all the contestants from Hogawarts and the 2 hosts and ask them to meet me in your classroom?" he asked her. McGonagall nodded.

"Excellent, excellent."

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"Arghh!!" Draco yelped in a strangled voice.

"What? What happened??" Blaise asked him in a slightly alarmed tone, and appeared next to him. Draco pointed to a list that was thumbtacked to the notice board. THE list that was thumbtacked to the notice board. And he was on that very list.

"What the hell did you get me into, Zabini?!" he yelled at his best friend.

Blaise seemed to ignore him and peered at the list. "I don't know what you're talking about, Dra-hey! I'm on the list!" he said gleefully. "Whoa! I'm one of the top 24! And so are you!" He scanned the list again. "Hey look! Granger's on the list! I wonder how she got there?" he said.

Draco stopped moaning about being on the list and looked at where Blaise was pointing. "Hey, she a mud-"

Blaise clapped a hand over his mouth before he could complete his sentence, or rather, the word he was saying. "Draco, its over. Give it up. No more names, alright?" he said in a firm tone.

Draco slapped his hand away. "Whatever." He said, walking away from his best friend.

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Dumbledore cleared his throat. "Okay, contestants and hosts, a few days from now, our inter-school singing competition will begin. There are 12 rounds and for the first round, you will be singing in groups."

Hermione's hand shot up in the air. A few people snickered and Hermione glared at them. "Professor, what about the other contestants from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang? Will they be informed?" she asked him.

Dumbledore smiled. "Of course, Ms. Granger. I will owl them shortly after our meeting. Now, where was I? Oh, yes, the rounds. Now, for the first round, you will be divided into 6 groups, with four people of the same sex, and your team leader will pick a song that you are comfortable with. You will listen to various songs made by that particular singing group, for the males, the Black Eyed Peas, and for the females, S Club. Now, the contestants from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be arriving here tomorrow, 'till then, we will form the groups and pick the songs."

He paused, then continued. "I have a bag here with all the names of the contestants, I will choose 3 boys and girls to be the team leader. For the boys, " he said putting his hand in the bag and picking 3 scraps of paper. " Zacharias Smith, Ronald Weasley, and Blaise Zabini." A few people applauded. "For the girls," he said, digging his hand into the bag. "Katie Bell, Cho Chang, and Parvati Patil." A few girls squealed in surprise. "Now, tomorrow, when our other contestants are present, team leaders will pick 3 members, their songs, and practice. Any queries?"

When nobody answered, Dumbledore smiled and said, "You may go now."

As soon as the contestants were outside, they began to talk animatedly to one another.

"I can't believe you're a leader Parvati!" Lavender squealed.

"Yeah, I hope we get to be on your team!" Padma gushed.

"Congrats being a leader, mate," Harry said, clapping a hand on his back.

"Yeah, Ron, for once, you get to lead!" Hermione told him excitedly.

"Hey team leader, wait up!" Draco said, jogging up to Blaise.

"Aww…Draco…I wish you were a team leader…" Pansy cooed, holding on to his arm.

"Go away." He said, yanking his arm away from her grip and running up to Blaise.