Hogwarts' First Annual School Play

For Hermione, the next day went by all too slow. For Harry and Ron, it went by too fast. It did go by, though, and soon enough, they were on their way to the meeting. Hermione was gibbering non-stop about how she'd like to be Arwen, and how amazing Elrond was. Ron was scowling. Basically, the last thing he wanted was to be in a play. Harry was the only one who seemed indifferent.

The meeting took place in the Great Hall, just as the Dueling Club had in their second year. However, the tables had disappeared, and there were simply rows of chairs. Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat down and were soon joined by Neville, Ginny, and Luna. Luna, instead of having the latest edition of The Quibbler with her, held a copy of The Fellowship of the Ring.

"So, Luna, who do you want to try out for?" Hermione asked.

"Oh, I don't know. Probably a hobbit, though," was the answer.

"Really?" asked Hermione. "You always struck me as more of an elf."

Luna shrugged and opened her book. Soon, she was so immersed that no one could get her attention until Professor Johnson and Professor Snape walked up to the front of the hall.

"Good afternoon, everyone!" Professor Johnson began. "I'm glad you're all interested in this new idea. This meeting will be rather short. Basically, its purpose is to receive an audition script and set up audition times. Oh, and you will need to fill out a short form, which you will get along with the audition script. Any questions?"

Hands shot up into the air. Apparently, the concept of a school play was not one which many students were familiar with and justifiably so.

"Yes, you with the red hair," Professor Johnson said, pointing out Ginny.

"Well, professor, what exactly do we do with the audition scripts?" Ginny asked.

Harry could see Professor Johnson's face become less cheerful. Hermione rolled her eyes. Harry could tell that this meeting would be longer than Professor Johnson had hoped...

*****

When the questions had finally been answered sufficiently, Professor Johnson had the students get into two separate lines: first to third years lined up in front of her, forth to seventh years went to Professor Snape. Harry wasn't happy with the arrangement. It took a while before he, Ron, Hermione, Neville, Ginny, and Luna got to the front of the line. Luna seemed to have gotten through a few chapters in her book. Eventually, though, it was his turn. He took a deep breath and walked up to the table where Snape was sitting.

"Potter. I expect you'll want to audition for the lead role," Snape said, speaking as he usually spoke to Harry, though perhaps a bit more politely, as Professor Johnson was very near.

"Yes, Professor," Harry replied, trying to be polite. It was hard, but if Snape was going to have control over what part Harry got, Harry decided it would be best not to be rude. It was a cold politeness, but it was a start.

"Then here's your form and your audition script. Your audition will be on Thursday at 2:00 PM. You had better be on time," Snape's comments were dismissive. Harry nodded and walked away, waiting for the others just outside the entrance. They soon joined him.

"Is it just me, or was Snape actually being polite?" Ron asked.

"A formal polite, but polite nonetheless," Hermione replied.

"I wonder why..." Ron began.

"Isn't it obvious?" Hermione asked.

"No, it isn't thank you. Would you like to make it clear for a dimwit such as myself?" Ron retorted. Harry tuned out their arguing and listened to Luna and Ginny's conversation. Luna was explaining who Arwen was.

"... she's Elrond's daughter. Elrond is a powerful elf lord. She is the most beautiful elf in the world, or at least at the time of the story, she is. Luthien was prettier, but..."

"Harry?" a voice asked. Harry turned to see Neville. He felt a twinge of guilt. They had forgotten about Neville.

"Yeah?" he replied, trying to sound nonchalant.

"Do you know anything about school plays?" Neville asked.

"Not much more than either Professor Johnson or Hermione have told me. I was in one back in primary school. It was not a fun experience. Mind you, I played a rock, so..." Harry trailed off, remembering the experience.

It hadn't been a technical play, more of a class production. Due to Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia's influence, Dudley had been the star of the play. It was also the reason Harry played the rock. His part was basically to sit there and be kicked by Dudley when he was angry. The teacher had told Dudley time and time again not to actually kick Harry, but Dudley had simply seen it as another reason to pick on Harry. Harry shuddered.

"Are you alright, Harry?" Neville asked.

"Yeah, just... tired," Harry lied. Neville didn't look convinced.

Harry decided to change the subject. He looked at his audition sheet. The name on the top read: "Frodo". Harry wondered who Frodo was. He asked Neville.

Neville only shrugged. "No idea."

"Well, who's your audition for?" Harry asked.

"Some person named Pippin," was the reply. Luna heard this and stopped talking about Arwen to start chattering to no one in particular about Hobbits. Harry tuned her out, and neither he nor Neville spoke again until she had to leave and Ginny started complaining to Neville about Luna.

"Honestly, she knows so much about obscure topics, I wonder why she doesn't like to study normal sorts of things..."

Harry walked faster and was able to leave the group behind in order to get a few moments' peace before reaching the Common Room. As it had been since the previous morning, the topic of conversation there was the play. Harry excused himself from a conversation about Gollum with the Creevey brothers only to be invited into a debate about Tom Bombadil that was going on between Dean and Seamus. Harry tried to read through his audition script a few times before he decided it hopeless without peace and quiet and headed to the library.

*****

Professors Johnson and Snape reviewed the audition schedule in the staff room.

"I'm glad we have until next week for the auditions. I don't know who half these students are," Johnson said, looking over Monday's audition schedule. Snape took it and looked it over quickly.

"Let's see- Granger first thing, then Parkinson, Creevey, Boot, MacMillan, Weasley, Lovegood, and Chang. If it weren't for Granger and Weasley, Monday morning wouldn't be too bad."

"I don't know about Weasley, but I had Granger for Muggle studies in her third year. She's not so bad- a brilliant mind, that one," Johnson commented, relieved that the morning shouldn't be too taxing.

"Let me tell you about Granger and Weasley. Granger is an insufferable know-it-all. Weasley is lazy and hot-headed. Together with Potter, who we don't have until Thursday, thankfully, they make what is known as the 'dream team', any professor's nightmare." Snape hissed.

"Surely they're not that bad!"

"Actually, they are. Be forewarned. Those three aren't as good as they seem."

Professor Johnson sighed. Next week was sure to be long. Between the students and Snape, it was sure to be exhausting.