Hermione awoke the next day with the "RENT bible" opened across her chest. Gingerly she lifted up and glanced at the page she had stopped at last night before crashing into a deep zombie-like sleep. It showed a picture a Latina with brown curly hair in a loose knitted sweater holding a candle and a man with bleached blond hair holding a light match. Both were smiling at each other. "Got a light?" Hermione asked herself before closing the book. "Light My Candle" Was one of Hermione's favorites scenes in the entire play it had humor and a romantic quality to it. Pushing her comforter away from her she rose from her bed and glanced at her schedule.
"So today I have Potions this morning." She spoke miserably, "Then after that I have practice?" She whined. Due to the fact that it would be impossible to run back to the common room to change Hermione put her hair into a long french braid that went all the way down her back. She then put on a pair of black leggings and a pair of red cotton shorts over them. She rolled the waist band once revealing the tag. Moving on Hermione grabbed a sports bra, a tank top, and a shirt that the neck had been cut off so it hung loosely on her shoulders. Then grabbing her books and the "RENT-Box" She pulled on her robes and ran out of the common room.
MOOOOOOO......
Hermione, Ron, and Harry all made there way to the dungeon for potions class. Hermione was a little on the hungry side due to the fact that during breakfast the cast list had been released and people were coming up to her to congratulate her all morning.
Ron opened the door and as he did the right sleeve of his robe fell away revealing a bare arm. It was obvious that he too was not wearing the school uniform beneath his robes. Hermione smiled at him but the happiness didn't last long. Due to the presence of Professor Severus Snape.
"Well, well, well , Mr. Weasley, Ms. Granger not to busy signing autographs to come to class?" He sneered. The three sat down while Hermione angrily looked at the table. To her having the part of Mimi had nothing to do with fame as much as it did a passion for the show and it's message. Of course Malfoy took this as an opportunity to comment as well. "So it seems that Potter won't be the only famous person here at Hogwarts... Too bad the play is going to flop" He whispered to the trio. Hermione's face turned a nasty shade of red.
Professor. Snape started speaking again, "At least the stars of such an immoral production should get some glory..." Snape never got to finish his sentence.
"The play is not immoral" Hermione called to him. Snape just glared at her and she glared back at him. Turning she motioned to Lexi, Neville, Jake and Dean who were all in this class. To make her point she got up on the table to every one's surprise and started what seemed to be a chant.
"La vie boheme, la vie boheme, la vie boheme"
The rest of the group of cast members followed suit and the voices rose in a harmony that Becca had insisted they learned. She jumped over to Neville table and had him stand up next to her before sitting down, after all it was his song. Neville smiled.
"To days of inspiration
playing hooky,
Making something outta nothin'
The need to express to communicate
To going against the grain,going insane
going mad!"
"Stop!" Snape called but Neville and the chanting cast members continued.
"To loving tension
No pension
To starving for attention
hating convention
hating pretension
Not to mention of course
Hating dear old mom and
Dad!
To riding your bike midday past the three piece suits!
To fruits!
To no absolutes!"
Neville and all the cast members stopped suddenly, Snape had cast a silencing spell on all of them. Angrily they all sat down, Snape lifted the spell. "50 points from Gryffindor, and Ravenclaw" He spoke looking directly at the grinning Jake who had leaned back in his chair then raised his hand in a mock salute.
As they left class they all made there way to rehearsals, "You know I can't believe we didn't get a detention from him." Lexi laughed at Jake. "What can I say I'm charming like that!" Jake responded innocently the whole group laughed. "Lexi, Jake, guys wait!" A voice called. They all stopped and turned to see Luna running towards them. Luna caught up with them pretty quickly. "So on our way to our first 'Real' rehearsal.." She commented breathlessly.
"Yeah!" Hermione spoke in a very happy tone she quickly made her way to the door that opened to the rehearsal space. A few other cast members were already gathered around on the floor. Ginny was glancing at her script and Dean was eying a pile of scrap metal in the corner. Hermione came up and sat herself beside Ginny while Harry and Ron just leaned against the wall.
"Hey Guys!" Becca called as she entered the room. Today she was wearing a tee-shirt and a pair of worn and comfortable looking jeans. Murmurs of greetings echoed in the space. "Well no one sounds very excited, such a shame. Cause today I thought we would do what I like to call Chemistry!" She announced cheerfully. All the cast members looked at her with confusion even Hermione.
"Yesterday's reading was okay but there was no feeling so today we are going to act out those songs and dances the way you want!" This earned her a few claps. She then launched into an explanation, "There is a reason for my insanity too, you see RENT is about being authentic and having the characters not the director tell the story so show me what you got!" She clapped her hands together. But, the room was silent and still.
"Okay then…" She said nervously she looked back and forth across the cast and a smile grew on her face. "Let's start with Roger and Mimi in Light My Candle"
Ron looked confused and Hermione looked pale. Yesterday's read through was just that a read through they didn't hardly even get past One Song Glory! She hoped Ron knew what he was doing. She lifted herself off the ground and went to the back wall while Ron sat on a table that was sitting in the middle of the room. With a flick of her wand the music started and Ron nervously started the words he had learned yesterday.
Ron
What you forget?
Hermione
Got a light
She tried to be as seductive as possible but she was so nervous. To make matters worse she noticed Harry had his camera out again she was going to kill him!
Ron
I know you you're shivering
Hermione
It's nothing they turned off my heat
And I'm just a little weak on my feet
Would you light my candle?
What are you staring at?
Ron
Nothing your hair in the moonlight
You look familiar…
Can you make it.
Ron had just barely caught her as Hermione pretended to fall. She smiled at him and pushed his hand away as she steadied herself.
Hermione
Just haven't eaten much today
At least the room stopped spinning anyway…
What?
Ron
Nothing your smile reminded me of
Hermione
I always remind people of who is she
Ron
She died her name was April.
Hermione pretended to blow out a candle and made a quick pivot that had her facing Ron her face looked sincere.
Hermione
It's out again…
Sorry 'bout your friend
Would you light my candle?
Ron
Well?
Hermione
Yeah? Ow!
Hermione gave him a sad look followed by a pout and noticed Ron in return was giving her a look of annoyance.
Ron
Oh the wax
Hermione
It's dripping
She took his hand that he had grabbed and placed it on her chest right below her neck his eyes widened in shock.
Hermione
I like in between my…
Ron
Fingers I figured oh well goodnight.
Hermione looked toward her "Audience" Then back to Ron. She shrugged and made her way back to her starting point all while pretending to look for something. She glances left and right nervously walks to the wall and knocks twice before turning around.
Ron
It blew out again?
Hermione
No. I think that I dropped my stash
Ron
I know I've seen you out and about
When I used to go out
Your candle's out.
Hermione
Ugh… I'm illin' I had it when I walked in the door
It was pure!
Is it on the floor?
As she said the word floor she got down on her hands and knees and she could feel Ron staring at her.
Ron
The floor?
Hermione
They say I have the best ass
Below 14th street is it true?
Ron
What?
Hermione
Your starin' again
Ron
Oh no I mean you do… Have a nice
I mean! You look familiar
Ron looked like a nervous wreck and for good reason Hermione never flirted not with him or anyone else this was new.
Hermione
Like your dead girlfriend?
Ron
Only when you smile but I'm sure I've seen you somewhere else
Hermione
Do you go to the Catscratch Club?
That's where a work I dance. Help me look!
Ron seemed to lighten up a bit and started going with the song.
Ron
Yes! They used to tie you up!
Hermione
It's a living
Ron
I didn't recognize you without the handcuffs!
Hermione
We could light the candle…
Oh won't you light the candle?
Ron
Why don't you forget that stuff
You look like your sixteen.
Hermione
I'm nineteen! But, I'm old for my age
I'm just born to be bad!
Ron
I once was born to be bad
I used to shiver like that
Hermione
I have no heat I told you
Ron
I used to sweat
Hermione
I gotta cold
Ron
Uh huh… I used to be a junkie
Hermione
And now and then I like too
Ron
Uh huh…
Hermione
Feel good.
We could light the candle
Oh what did you do with my candle?
Ron
That was my last match
Hermione
Our eye will adjust thank god for the moon
Ron
Maybe it's not the moon at all
I hear Spike Lee shootin' down the street
Hermione
Bah Humbug
Bah Humbug
Ron
Cold hands…
Hermione
Yours too… Big, like my father's
You wanna dance?
Ron
With you?
Hermione
No, with my father
Ron
I'm Roger
Hermione
They call me, they call me Mimi
She held an empty hand out in front of him her middle finger pinched to her thumb like she was holding it. She waved her hand turned and walked away, the cast started cheering happily they did fairly good for the first time around.
A/N: Sorry for the wait please forgive me and no flames!