"Well, are you ready?" Ethan asked, smiling at Ron and Hermione.
"As ready as we'll ever be, I guess," Ron grinned.
"I've finally got all of my stuff, so we can get going now," Hermione smiled.
"Hurry up, all of you!" Mrs. Granger called down the stairs. "We're going to be late!"
"Coming, Mum!" Hermione called up, and then turned to her friends. "Shall we?"
"Let's go!"
It was a short walk to the recreation center, just two blocks away. Hermione bade farewell to her friends and family as they went their separate ways. She took a deep breath as she pulled open the door to the girls' dressing room and made her way to a locker. She pulled a costume out of her bag and changed into it. The dark, clingy under-layer still fit, even after these long years, even if the lilac over-layer hung a bit differently now. She twirled her hair back up into a bun, using an exceptionally large amount of hairspray to hold her unruly mass in place. Then she heard a voice behind her.
"Hermione? Hermione Granger?"
Hermione turned around, bobby pins in her mouth, to see who was calling her name. The pins in her mouth fell out as her mouth fell open. "Evie?"
"It is you! I haven't seen you at all this summer! How long are you here for?" the younger, fair-skinned French girl grinned at Hermione.
"I've been here for a few weeks, Evie! I thought Ethan told you - he always said your schedule was busy, and that you said hello. I'm leaving tomorrow - Ron's here with his dad tonight, and we're taking a portkey out of here at eleven."
Evie groaned. "My brother is completely useless."
"Anyway," Hermione grinned, "what are you doing backstage? Are you finally going to enter?"
Evie grinned and blushed slightly. "I'm singing a capella for a dancing team."
"Way to go, Evie!" Hermione grinned. "Wait… why are you blushing? What, are the Johnson brothers the dancers?" Evie's blush deepened. Hermione blinked. "They are? How'd that happen?"
Evie blushed. "I started going out with them at the beginning of the summer - casually, you know - and they suggested that we do this."
"Wow," Hermione grinned, "so that dream you told me you had years ago finally came true?"
"Yes!" Evie squealed.
"Oh!" Hermione exclaimed, glancing at the clock, "We've got to finish getting ready. The show starts in five minutes!"
The backstage area was completely chaotic. The dancers and accompaniments were running hither and thither, getting last-minute preparations done, dealing with emergencies, and greeting people they hadn't seen in a while.
"We're on in one minute!" the director called into the room. "Green! Harris and Harris! Jackson! Hamilton! Dubois! Get ready and get out here!"
"That's me!" Evie exclaimed. "Wish me luck!"
"Break a leg, Evie Owlie," Hermione said, hugging her, using the nickname Evie'd had when she was little.
"Thanks, Helen," Evie giggled, hugging her back and dashing off. "You, too!"
All the girls backstage looked at the monitor on the ceiling and watched the first dance - Valarie Green did a solo to "The Waltz of the Flowers." She did relatively well, ending it spectacularly with a sextuple-pirouette to her left splits. The director called out, "Bishop! Line up!"
Next, siblings Emma, Joseph, and Olivia Harris did a Hansel and Gretel dance, Olivia playing the witch with stunning accuracy. Another couple of girls were called out by the director, who was slightly stressed. She called Hermione to her and they figured out a scheduling problem; this caused Hermione to miss a few dances. She did her warm-ups and was called out. She stood in the wings and spotted Ethan across the way. They locked eyes and Hermione nodded.
A few dances later, Natalie Burns was onstage, doing a lyrical fire dance to a rock song. Hermione locked eyes with Ethan again and nodded again, affirming what was about to happen. Soon, Natalie's song hit its last few notes and she lay down on the stage floor, her fire having crumbled to ash. The audience clapped; the stage went dark; Natalie left the stage; and Hermione and Ethan took their places.
In the audience, Mr. and Mrs. Granger were sitting on either side of Mr. Weasley. When the music started, Mr. Granger leaned towards his wife and whispered, "Isn't this the one they were practicing at the beginning of the summer?"
"You're right," she whispered back, "I wonder why they switched it."
"They've begun dancing," Mr. Weasley whispered; the three turned their attention to the stage.
This dance was to an upbeat song. Hermione started center stage, and began moving on the first beat. She did a few quick turns and slid into her right splits; Ethan came out from stage right and pulled her to her feet. They were doing various forms of the tango, foxtrot, and other such dances, mixed with jazz and lyrical movements. The dance gave the thought of starlight and dreams, rivers and waterfalls, and reaching for the highest rung of the ladder. It ended with a synchronized leap sequence, ending with them back-to-back, chins up, one arm in fifth low, and one arm in fifth high. They were greeted with applause; as soon as the stage was dark, Hermione grinned at Ethan and bolted offstage.
Three dances later, the director came onstage and smiled at the audience. "Thank you for being here tonight," she said into her microphone. "As you all know, we hold this competition every year. However, as you also know, it's not so much a competition as an opportunity to share your talents and hard work. Everyone, as you know, goes home with a placing of some sort - whether it be best in show, most imaginative, or most outrageous."
In the audience, Mr. Weasley smiled, knowing that every participant most likely felt it much more of a competition than the director was making it out to be.
"As you also know, there are no set rules for this competition - meaning, as it was pointed out to me by one participant, a person could even enter more than once, with a different partner each time. After a short talk, we agreed that this could be, if the participant would only accept one of the ribbons - and that the ribbon received would be for the dance the participant showed more enthusiasm for. This seems fair to me, for what joy does a participant need except for that of dancing?" She smiled out at the audience. "And so, I present to you the last dance of the night." She walked offstage and the curtain lifted from behind her.
Behind the curtains, a voice said, imperceptible over the music, "Five, six, seven, eight."
Hermione, wearing a sparkling, shimmering layer over her usual black leotard and tights, made eye contact with her partner as she walked out to meet him.
Ron, wearing his white undershirt and a borrowed pair of black dance shorts, met Hermione's eyes as he walked toward her, wondering slightly at his own actions. He bowed to her as she curtsied to him, and he slipped into the dance soul. All he heard was music; all he saw were the stars and Hermione.
Hermione took Ron's hand after he bowed; they began doing slow movements, for this part of the song mix was a very slow start. They released each other's hands and did mirror movements, with graceful, fluid arms, until the first music change.
The music's pace picked up very slightly, and so did theirs; Hermione took Ron's outstretched hand and they spun around each other once, then broke apart; Ron fell slightly back and danced less exuberantly, drawing attention to Hermione as did several fouette turns in a row; she fell back, and Ron came forward, doing a series of leaps as Hermione drew attention to him.
They then came together and Hermione did an illusion, Ron catching her hips the way she'd taught him as she plie'd and they went into the arabesque turn; He put her down and did an axel leap while she landed in her splits, hands in the air.
The music became faster-paced while Ron was still in the air; he landed next to Hermione, pulled her to her feet, and they began doing another turning sequence; Ron spun Hermione in and out once along his arm, then she spun in and leaned back against his arm, her front leg coming up to six o'clock position. She came up, spun out, in around, and under his arm again. Then Ron did a backbend over her arm and she pulled him up, both of their smiles turning cheeky for a fraction of a moment.
The music changed to a different song - sadder and angrier. In the wings, Ethan blinked. What's going on? That's not the next song - it wasn't in the mix at all. This was the one we were going to use, but cut because we couldn't get it right! Did they change it last-minute? But there wasn't enough time… they'd have to be improvising it right now! His jaw dropped as he saw them doing exactly that. They'd moved to opposite sides of the stage, then turned and started dancing again.
Their movements were sharp and fast; the distance between them clearly indicated that this part of the song was an argument between their dance characters. They moved closer and closer with each count; the music sped up, as did their movements. They did high kicks and sharp turns, strong arm movements and high jumps as the music got faster and faster. It hit the final note as they wound up in contact with each other, and then the music smoothly slid into the final part as Ron dipped Hermione backwards.
And if I could tell you/all that I want to/I'd live until the end of time/for I'd be in heaven/hearing the angels sing/and I'd have you by my side/
Ron pulled Hermione up from the dip, kissing her cheek as he did so.
I'll love you 'til the end of time/until the end of time
Ron released her and she curtsied to him; he bowed to her and kissed her hand as the curtain fell.
They hurried off the stage together, to wait with everyone else in the grand dressing room, where everyone was waiting for the prize announcements and finale. Evie and Ethan waved them over, indicating the two empty seats they'd saved for them. When Ron and Hermione reached them, Ethan said, eyebrows raised, "Was that last bit completely improvised?"
"Well," Hermione grinned, "sort of."
"If you ask me," Evie piped up, "it sounded like all those rows you described to me, Hermione."
Ron shrugged. "It seemed to fit the music that Hermione had. She found the other version of the music after we were having problems with the version you guys did, she pulled out that one and we got it down pretty quickly."
Evie giggled, fanning herself, "It was so fiery that I could feel the heat!"
Hermione blushed and switched the topic to what had been going on during the past year.
Meanwhile, Ethan leaned over to Ron. "I see you went for her cheek again," he smiled. "Still pretty bold for something that's getting recorded."
Ron's eyes grew wide. "What?"
Ethan raised his eyebrows. "Didn't you know this was getting recorded? It's permanently recorded, now."
Ron's jaw dropped.
"What's the matter? Are you afraid your siblings will get ahold of a copy?" Ethan snickered. "Because if you are, it's too late. I arranged to have it sent in a way they could view it. They'll have it by seven tomorrow morning, if not tonight."
"I'm so dead," Ron groaned, dropping his head into his hands.
"Ethan, you're evil," Hermione stated, having heard this last part of the exchange. "Why on earth would you send a copy to his siblings?"
"Oh, not all of his siblings," Ethan grinned, "just Ginny."
Evie chimed in, "You really are evil. You know how much damage we little sister can cause."
Ethan laughed.
The monitor on the ceiling crackled to life. "And now," the director announced, "for the awards!"
A silence swept over the backstage area.
"The awards will be read in order of performance," the director explained, "with the best of show being awarded last - along with another title, this year."
A series of murmurs broke out among the participants. What would the other title be?
The director began reading off a long list of dances and their awards. The dance Evie sang for won for most artistic, seeing as it combined two forms of the arts.
"In 'Twiflit Tangles,'" the director announced; Ethan sat up straighter - this was the duet he and Hermione had done, "Ethan Dubois is awarded most energetic for his part of the duet." The entire dressing room broke out into whispers.
Ron's mind was whirring as the whispering stopped and the director continued. The director said that everyone gets a prize, he thought, and that anyone who participated in more than one entry would be awarded the prize for the one in which they showed the most enthusiasm. Hermione's first dance was with Ethan - she didn't get the prize from that one, so she must've showed more enthusiasm in her other dance - the one with me!
The director's voice interrupted Ron's thoughts. "And for our best in show and most realistic, we have - 'Life and Love' performed by Hermione Granger and Ronald Weasley!" Ron's mouth fell open. What?
Hermione's eyes grew wide as Evie shrieked, "You did it!"
Ethan slapped Ron on the back. "Congratulations, Ron," he smiled, "you guys achieved what Hermione never could with me. Enthusiasm counts the most here - and you guys were the most enthusiastic dancers I've ever seen." He kept smiling, his eyes sad; he'd always wanted to win best of show. But, he realized, sadness fleeing his eyes, there's always next year - there's no age limit on this. I've got the rest of my life to win best of show - no matter who my dance partner is. "Take good care of her, Ron," he whispered somewhat gruffly.
Ron nodded. "I will."
Evie was waving her hand in front of Hermione's face. "Hermione? Are you okay? Are you in shock?"
Hermione blinked, then shrieked, finally letting out her excitement. Fortunately for her, the noise in the room was already so loud that no one except her three friends noticed. She then started talking so quickly in such a high pitch that only Evie could understand her. Ethan snickered.
Ron watched with great amusement. He'd never seen Hermione get so excited - not even when they got their first homework assignment back. Merlin, she's gorgeous when she's excited, he thought.
"You're drooling," Ethan whispered.
Ron jumped and made to wipe his mouth - no drool. He glared at Ethan, who laughed.
The director entered the room at this point and announced, "It's time for finale! Line up in groups of four this year for bows!"
Hermione put herself between Evie and Ron, with Ethan on Evie's other side. "What should we do for our bow?"
"How about this?" Evie asked, grabbing Hermione's hand, swinging both their hands upward, and jumped as their hands passed their legs on the way down, and then straightening up with their hands again upward as she grinned.
"Looks good to me!" Hermione laughed. "Are you guys good with that?"
"Sure," Ethan smiled.
"Looks good to me," Ron grinned, taking Hermione's hand. The others link hands as they made their way out to the hallway.
Bouncy, upbeat music was playing loudly for finale. The four friends were at the very end of the line for bows. They watched as all the other participants went out and took their bows, doing various things. Finally, it was their turn.
The music and the lights were both blaring and shining down on them, sending a fantastic energy through them. They took their sweeping bow and joined the others, all of them dancing to the music like a giant case of nutcases.
When the curtain fell the final time, the applause was thunderous. The participants made their ways offstage and back to their respective small dressing rooms to collect their things from the lockers and change back into street clothes.
As soon as she entered the dressing room, Hermione was swarmed by girls coming to both congratulate her and interrogate her about Ron, though after the initial bout of the former, the latter completely overwhelmed it.
"Where'd you find him, Hermione?"
"How long has he been dancing?"
"Are you two together?"
"Does he go to your boarding school?"
"Were those kisses planned?"
"Do you like him?"
Evie giggled. In an undertone to Hermione, she asked, "Were those kisses part of the choreography, was he improvising, or was he making a move?"
"Well," Hermione grinned, "they definitely were not part of the choreography."
"You never answered our questions," Natalie Burns grinned.
Hermione, deciding to heck with it, replied, "I've known him since I was eleven; we met on the train on the way to my boarding school. He's been dancing less than twenty-four hours; apparently, he's got dancing blood from his mum's side. No, we're not together, and no, those kisses were not planned… but, yes, I do like him. If any of you lot tell anyone, especially him, you will seriously regret it."
"Yes, ma'am," they all giggled.
"Well, until next year, girls," Hermione said as she and Evie made their way out.
"Will we see you around town?"
"No," Hermione grinned, "I'm going to go stay with his family until school starts."
The others were left open-mouthed and giggling.
Hermione and Evie met up with Ron and Ethan in the hallway and then went out into the theater, where they met with Mr. and Mrs. Granger, Mr. and Mrs. Dubois, and Mr. Weasley. They all went out for ice cream and then came home to rest.
When Hermione got back to her room, she found Pigwidgeon twittering around, looking at her picture wall. "Hi, Pig," she greeted him, yawning, "is that from Ginny?"
"Hoo, hoo!" Pigwidgeon hooted happily, allowing her to take the letter from his leg. He then perched on a grumpy Crookshanks's head. Crookshanks gave a long-suffering sigh and half-heartedly attempted to swat him off.
Hermione opened Ginny's letter and proceeded to laugh so severely that Ron knocked on her door to see if she was alright.
"Ginny's gotten her copy already. She's extremely surprised and impressed - and asked the same questions that pretty much every other female I've talked to since the dance. By the way," Hermione added, giggling, "don't worry about the blackmail factor - I've got enough on her for her to keep her trap shut about this. I'm going to remind her of that in my reply."
"You're amazing, Hermione," Ron yawned, running his fingers through his hair.
Hermione laughed, winked at him, and shooed him to the guest room.
The next morning at ten forty-five A.M., Hermione bade farewell to her family and to the Dubois family. She then set off with Mr. Weasley and Ron, the three of them managing her trunk and her extremely grumpy Crookshanks. They took their eleven o'clock portkey to the Burrow.
After Hermione had been thoroughly hugged and welcomed and she'd settled in, Ginny frog-marched her to their room and simply said, "Spill."
Hermione grinned, "Well, it started with the mix-up of the days…"
(But you know that part already, don't you?)
Love? Hate? Think it completely absurd? Review and let me know! :D