Disclaimer: J. K. Rowling is a genius. I'm not. Following my logic here, that means *gasp* I don't own Harry Potter. If I say that Wicked is also the work of a genius…do you see where I'm going here?

Chapter Two, Act Two, Scene Eleven: March of the Witch Hunters

Saturday arrived far too late in Harry and Madeleine's opinion. The constant chatter about the up coming auditions and the absolutely terrifying singing in the hallways was driving them both crazy. Fortunately, however, the Room of Requirement was a perfect safe haven. They spent much time in there, doing their homework and just being together.

Their sets of friends were among those driving them crazy; Ron and Hermione weren't good singers, but they put enough effort into it, and Blaise and Tracey were alright, not spectacular, but alright. All four of them were auditioning: Hermione for Nessarose and Elphaba, Tracey for Glinda and Nessarose, Ron for Fiyero and Boq, and Blaise for the Wizard and Boq. Madeleine and Harry were highly doubtful that they would actually get the parts, but that all depended on the amount of talent that Hogwarts had.

Now that auditions were here, the noise level would hopefully drop, since the only ones that would be having to worry about it were the ones in it, and they would be away most of the time for practice. It was a bit of a bittersweet moment when Harry and Madeleine realized that they would have significantly less time together if their friends didn't make it in. They were philosophical about it though; their time wouldn't have lasted very long anyway.

It was noon that Hermione came bounding down the entrance hall steps. The smile on her face told them she had just got done with her audition, and in her opinion had done very well.

"Hey Ron! Hi Harry. Zabini, Davis, Nyx." She nodded in acknowledgement at the Slytherins that stood nearby.

"Hey." Both boys muttered as Hermione latched herself onto Ron. The Slytherins merely turned away, though not before Madeleine threw Harry a smirk as he rolled his eyes at his friends' embrace.

"How was your audition? Did they like it?" Ron asked.

"Ron, I don't know. I think it went well. Hey, are you trying out Harry? I haven't seen you around lately."

Harry shook his head while Ron frowned.

"Harry's not, but I am."

Hermione kissed him on the cheek.

"I know, and that's great, who are you trying out for? You never really told me."

Ron grinned smugly, throwing a scathing glance at Harry.

"Fiyero and Boq."

"Weasley, what ever made you think that you could actually play two of the leading male roles? If you get either one, I'm sure it will be out of pity for your poverty."

Harry sighed and threw Madeleine a pleading glance as he watched Malfoy saunter up with his Crabbe and Goyle, his two goons, and Pansy Parkinson, his fiancée. Madeleine had revealed that the two were betrothed, and Harry had had a good laugh at Malfoy's misfortune. Then he'd kissed his girlfriend more passionately than ever, thanking every deity he knew of for his kitten.

"Hey Potty, where you going? Too afraid to stick around? You couldn't sing your way out of a chamber pot."

Harry snorted. "Malfoy, I am not going to have anything to do with this idiotic play. You are all completely insane – well, except for Nyx over there," he replied scathingly, throwing a quick wink over at Madeleine, who smirked at Blaise and Tracey's startled expressions. He turned and headed up the steps to the Gryffindor common room, wishing more than ever that it was the Christmas holidays.

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Around eight o'clock that evening, the portrait hole swung open and Ron stumbled through, his face beaming and his walk more of a strut.

Ron slid down into a chair next to Harry, running a hand through his orange hair and trying to act suave. It was several minutes before he began speaking.

"Har, you know what mate? I landed the role of Boq."

Harry narrowly avoided falling into the common room fire, catching himself just in time and sitting up straight.

"Are you kidding me Ron?"

Ron shook his head, still trying to look cool and suave. Harry barely restrained an eye roll. Shows how much talent this school has.

"Nope. And guess what? Hermione got Nessarose, so we get to be together."

If he wasn't so shocked he probably would have collapsed in laughter.

"Hermione Granger, our Hermione, got Nessa?"

Ron gave Harry an incredulous look.

"Why do you sound so surprised? Hermione's an amazing singer."

Harry kicked his feet over the side of the chair. That Cheshire cat grin was back on his face, hiding his horror.

Ron, unnerved by the grin, looked away, but brushed it aside as Hermione rushed into the room, clearly excited.

"Oh Ronald! I cannot believe we got Boq and Nessa! It will be so amazing, I mean, just think of it! I must get in character, and read everything I know about disabilities. This will be such a great academic opportunity!" She kissed Ron swiftly on his lips before running up the steps to the girl's dormitories.

Harry did fall off his chair laughing as he watched Ron try and chase Hermione up the girl dormitory stairs, only to get half way up and have them collapse under him.

He slowly got up to stand over Ron.

"You forget that guys can't get up into the girls dormitory? Remember we found that out a long time ago, Ronald."

Ron glared up at Harry from his spot on his floor.

"Shut it, only Hermione can call me that."

A slight, but sudden popping noise made Harry turn to the bulletin board. A new piece of parchment had appeared, no doubt the cast list.

Pushing his way through the crowd that had gathered with in the short walk across the common room, he scanned the sheet, trying to evaluate what kind of horrors Dumbledore had unleashed.

Boq – Ron Weasley Stupid choice.

Nessarose – Hermione Granger Even worse.

Glinda – Pansy Parkinson Got the self-centered part right, but they missed the gorgeous qualification.

Wizard – Ernie Macmillan Mr. Pompous himself? I suppose he's alright. But not good.

Fiyero – Draco Malfoy What the hell? He's a complete charlatan!

Elphaba – Ginevra Weasley Okayyyyy…never heard her before. Neutral.

Dr. Dillamond – Zacharias Smith Too skeptical and realistic. He'd probably make Dillamond actually believe in all that not-talking nonsense…if they're keeping it in...

Madame Morrible – Cho Chang No comment.

Frex – Blaise Zabini Alright, I suppose.

Melena – Tracey Davis Alright. Could've cast her better.

The list continued on with all the smaller roles, but Harry had read enough. He had to find Madeleine. She was perhaps the only one who could see that it was going to be a nightmare to watch this. To listen to it. Ugh.

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Hello all. If the spacing is wacky in any of these chapters, please try to ignore it, because it's my Microsoft Word acting up. It won't let me space it the way I want to. Sorry for any issues.

Please, make my day and review.

Love,

Avalon