Harry Potter and The Ten Sickle Hooker

Five, six, seven, eight!"

There is an explosion of cabaret music and the lights go up. A dark shadowy figure is rising from a hole in the stage. There are some twenty dancers filling the stage, jumping and dancing. The figure stands in the middle of the stage and gyrates his hips. He becomes visible and turns around. He points at you, smiling. The dancers freeze and the music drops to a low hum. He sings. When he sings, you feel like it is only to you. You're enthralled. The music kicks up again. He springs to life and dances across the stage with a beautiful but awkward girl. You know that girl. Wait a minute...

"Hermione!"

Harry awoke with a start. Gasping he looked over at his best friend, Ron Weasley, who was still fast asleep. Harry coughed and picked up a glass of water. Sighing he laid back down in his bed and pulled the covers up. It had been weeks since Malfoy's cabaret show, Ten Sickle Hooker. Harry had actually been getting on with his life. He, Ron, and Hermione had found themselves back into their normal habits of school, Quidditch, and bothering Snape. Malfoy hadn't shown any homosexual interest, either. Harry was sure that Malfoy and Snape hadn't spoken on a personal level since the show's closing night. So why was he having these dreams?

*

Hours later, Harry and Ron woke up simultaneously and got dressed.

"No school today Harry. What are you planning on doing?" Ron asked while he and Harry walked down the steps into the Gryffindor common room.

Harry yawned. "I don't know. Hermione's been getting on my case lately about that Potions essay." Harry sat down in a chair at one of the tables.

"Yeah same here, but you can't honestly say that that's what you're going to do on your free day. No school... and no Snape!" Ron smiled, put his hands behind his head, and leaned back in the chair opposite Harry.

"I wouldn't be so sure, if I were you two." Hermione's voice came from a voice by the fireplace, and she spun around to face them with a smirk.

Ron jumped a little, composed himself, and huffed. "What are you getting at?"

"I found this," She held out a flyer. "In the Hufflepuff common room after breakfast. Breakfast, which you two missed. Again."

Harry took the flyer from her and laid it on the table in front of Ron and himself.

Ten Sickle Hooker Is Back!

Cast Members Needed!

Malfoya The Tree Wants You To Sign Up!

You May Be Exactly What We Need To Keep This Hit Going Strong!

If You Have Any Musical Talent or Think You Do, See Professor Snape Today!

Deadline: December 4

Tryouts: December 12

"Hermione what exactly were you doing in the Hufflepuff common room?" Ron looked over at Hermione, eyebrows raised.

Hermione reddened in the face, but composed herself and bossily said, "For your information, Ronald Weasley, I was promoting S.P.E.W. to Ernie Macmillan and Justih-Fletchley, and they asked me to come with them to their common room. It was strictly business,"

Ron snorted. "Yeah. Strictly business. Even I'm not gonna fall for that one. Nobody buys that spew crap," Ron chuckled.

"Anyways..." Hermione, ignoring Ron, snatched the paper back from Harry. "I just thought you two might be interested. Because I've decided to talk to Snape about it." Ron was convulsing with laughter now. Harry smiled.

"Hermione. No offense but... I mean... do you even sing?" Harry asked still smiling.

"Not that you would care, obviously, but yes. I do," Hermione stuffed the paper in her robes and crossed her arms. Ron was still laughing uncontrollably.

"But... Her... Herm... you... and me... hahahaha... HARRY! IN A MUSICAL!" Ron was stuttering and laughing. Hermione turned red and Harry laughed loudly along with Ron.

"No! No Hermione! It sounds like fun! I promise. You have fun!" Harry patted Hermione's arm affectionately and tried to keep a straight face. Ron looked like he was going to piss himself. Hermione rolled her eyes and walked up to her room.

"Oh... Harry. That was the funniest thing I've ever heard. Hermione in a musical. Singing and dancing. WITH... WITH MALFOYA!" Ron smiled and stood up.

Harry shook his head smiling. He had a weird feeling about all of this. It was a little ironic that he had just had a dream about Hermione in Ten Sickle Hooker and now she was trying out. He also had a feeling that even if he didn't try out, he was going to end up being a part of this anyway.

"Oy! Harry! You comin'?" Ron was standing by the portrait exit.

"Yeah, right," Harry said, standing up. Starving, they both went down to get some left over breakfast.