Defying Gravity

Based on Defying Gravity, written by Stephen Schwartz. From the musical Wicked.

"Hermione, are you sure you want to do this?" Ginny asked her.

"I'm positive," she replied.

"This means you can't continue S.P.E.W."

Hermione sighed, not sure what to say.

"I know. But this is a new goal," Hermione replied, thinking about the audition ahead.

I hope you're happy

I hope you're happy now

I hope you're happy how you

Hurt your cause forever

I hope you think you're clever!

"You really want to do this? You'll have to practice all the time, and performances are almost every night," Ginny warned.

"I know that, Ginny. I just really want to do something special, something that means I'll stop being 'library girl' and start being... me." Hermione stared out of the window of the Hogwarts Express, watching the scenery go by.

"I think Cho Chang is planning on auditioning, too," Ginny replied.

"Good for her, she'd make a great Galinda." Hermione's remark confused Ginny, but she continued to try to change Hermione's mind.

"You'll have to paint yourself green!"

"It's a simple spell. You really should audition, too. You'd be good at theatre," Hermione suggested, but Ginny shook her head.

"There you go again, trying to dictate everyone's lives. Why don't you just let people do what they want to?"

I hope you're happy

I hope you're happy, too -

I hope you're proud how you would

Grovel in submission

To feed your own ambition!

The Hogwarts Express slowed to a stop, and students began to climb off, rady for vacation to begin.

"Well, have a great summer," Ginny sighed.

"You too," Hermione replied, as her feet touched the platform.

So though I can't imagine how,

I hope you're happy

Right now!

As soon as Hermione got home, she rushed to the family computer. Because her parents were Muggles, they were able to have a computer with access to the Internet. She went onto a search engine and quickly typed, "Wicked audition information," pressed "Search," and clicked on one of the first sites that popped up. She figured she should be doing her homework, but this was, for the first time, more important than her grades.

Something has changed within me

Something is not the same -

I'm through with playing by the rules

Of someone else's game.

She read the information, and printed out the audition song. She began to hum it, looking at the words as the melody rushed through her heart. She decided that she definitely wanted to audition. This was one of the best pieces of music she'd ever seen, and to be able to sing it in front of others would be wonderful. She picked up the phone, dialed the number, and set up an audition.

Too late for second-guessing

Too late to go back to sleep

It's time to trust my instincts

Close my eyes -

And leap...

Hermione rushed into the theatre. "I set up an audition for this time," she stated, out of breath, to someone who she was pretty sure was the director.

"Are you prepared?" he asked, looking at his clipboard. She nodded.

"Go ahead."

"My name is Hermione Granger, and I am auditioning for the part of Elphaba." She paused, looking at the pianist, who opened the music up and was prepared to play. The introduction echoed through the empty theatre, and Hermione summoned all of her strength. She began to sing, knowing she probably wouldn't even get called back.

It's time to try

Defying gravity

I think I'll try

Defying gravity

And you can't pull me down!

"Great job, Hermione! I hope to see you again," the director said with a smile. Hermione hoped that she had at least hit all the notes right. She gathered her things, and walked out of the theatre. In the empty hallway, a familiar face was looking at her in the hallway.

"I heard you sing, Hermione, and you were pretty good," Cho Chang smiled.

"Thanks," Hermione replied.

"I just don't think you'll make the cut," Cho whispered, and walked into the theatre.

Hermione saw Cho walk up to the director. She decided to leave. She couldn't take the pain of seeing Cho get a call-back.

I'm through accepting limits,

Cause someone says they're so -

Some things I cannot change

But 'till I try, I'll never know

Too long I've been afraid of

Losing love

I guess I've lost -

Well, if that's love, it comes at

Much too high a cost...

A week later, the telephone rang. Hermione's mom picked it up.

"Hermione! It's for you!" Heart pounding, she raced to the phone.

"Hello, Hermione?" It was the director. "We, myself and our producer, would like it if you would come and sing for us. Think of it as a call-back."

"Of course I would." She smiled. She'd done it!

"Can we see you today?"

"Sure," she gasped.

"Thank you, Hermione," the director said, and then hung up. Hermione hung up as well.

"I did it, Mom. I got the call-back." She embraced her stunned parents, and ran to the theatre.

I'd sooner buy

Defying gravity

Kiss me goodbye

I'm defying gravity

And you can't pull me down...

Hermione entered the theatre, and sat down next to the other Elphaba hopefuls. She looked down the row, and saw Cho Chang putting on lip-gloss. She watched the other girls do their acting and singing call-backs.

When Cho was called to the stage, her acting was flawless, and she hit every single note. Hermione looked at Cho's performance, and tried to calm the voices in her head that screamed, "Where's Elphaba? All I can see is Cho pretending to be Elphaba!"

Then it was her turn.

"Hermione Granger."

She walked onstage, and began to read from her script...

So if you care to find me,

Look to the western sky

As someone told me lately,

Everyone deserves the chance to fly!

And if I'm flying solo

At least I'm flying free

To those who'd ground me

Take a message back from me!

"Thank you. We'll post the cast list tomorrow," the director said, since she was the last person to go. She left the theatre, apprehensive, but positive. She saw Cho standing outside, and headed the other way, avoiding confrontation.

The next day, Hermione rushed to the theatre. She got there just as the list was being posted.

"Congratulations, Hermione," the director said as he moved so Hermione could read the list.

Posted right at the top of the list, she saw the name "Elphaba." As she looked across the page, heart pounding, she saw the name of the lucky actress who would portray Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, and couldn't believe her eyes. In her disbelief, she didn't notice that Cho was standing there, too, in even greater disbelief.

Tell them how I

Am defying gravity

I'm flying high

Defying gravity

And soon I'll match them in renown

And nobody, in all of Oz,

No Wizard that there is or was,

Is ever gonna bring me

Down!

Next to the name "Elphaba" was not Cho's name. The name posted was Hermione Granger.

"Why not me?" Cho asked, almost in tears.

"Cho, you were just too... fake." The director turned to Hermione. "Here's your script," he said, handing it to her.

"See you at practice!" Hermione shouted as she ran out of the theatre.

"Wait until Ginny hears about this..."