Cheer for me!

"Cheer for me!"

Chapter two-The Assembly.

I swallowed. Harry's expression was a mix between shock and amusement. The girls exchanged looks as we anticipated Harry's response to six girls dressed in cheerleading uniforms. One of which Harry knew would never join something like cheerleading...namely, me.

"Um...er..." said Harry, looking from me, to Ginny, to Emily and to the rest of the girls, who were all trying to keep a straight face.

"So, you've found our practice place," said Mary grinning.

"Yes it appears I did. I was looking for Hermione when I heard voices in this empty classroom," said Harry slowly.

"Why were you walking around?" Emily asked teasingly.

Harry shrugged and grinned.

"You know I think I was looking for a potty,"

Emily and Gillian giggled.

"Listen, can I borrow Hermione for a moment?" asked Harry.

"Sure," Ginny said brightly.

Harry grabbed my wrist gently and pulled me out of the classroom.

"You joined! Wow!" said Harry surprised.

I folded my arms over my chest.

"You aren't going to give me a hard time, are you? Cause if you are, you can bite me," I said, narrowing my eyes.

Harry held up his hands in a defensive position.

"Hey! I'm on your side! I think it's great! I'm totally supportive! I just think it's nice. Okay? It's just that you don't normally do stuff like this. What changed your mind?" asked Harry.

I sighed.

"I guess I was tired of everyone thinking that I'm not a 'girl' and that all I love to do is read, when that isn't entirely true. By joining Ginny's squad, I can prove it,"

Harry regarded me for a moment; his emerald green eyes were locked on mine.

"Hermione...I've never known you to be this adamant about proving yourself. I know you better than that. You never cared what people thought. Why start now?"

I sighed again and hugged myself.

"I just don't know. I guess....well..." I started to say but my voice trailed off.

The truth was I was hoping that by joining the cheerleading squad Harry would notice me and start thinking about me hopefully differently and not just as a best friend.

I knew that was a long shot, but I was hoping.

Harry leaned close as if he was hoping to hear my answer clearer.

"I was hoping you'd notice," I said, quietly.

Harry was silent for a moment before he replied.

"Hermione...joining a cheerleading squad wouldn't make me notice you more," said Harry.

My heart sank.

I'm basically just wasting my time then.

He broke out into a huge grin.

"I have already noticed you. It didn't take a cheerleading squad to do it, although," he said looking me up and down. "I have to admit, it certainly helped."

I felt myself blushing.

"Listen, don't tell Ron okay," I said.

Harry grinned coyly.

"He's going to find out either way. You're supposed to be performing in front of the school, am I right?"

I sighed.

"Yeah. I just feel bad about jump starting him though. It'll be a shock,"

Harry's emerald green eyes twinkled.

"A little healthy surprise never hurt anyone,"

I grinned.

Harry glanced over my shoulder.

"You'd best go back. I think they need you,"

"Okay. See you later," I said grinning as Harry began walking back toward the Gryffindor tower.

Then I remembered something.

"I hope you remember to go to the bathroom! Wetting yourself is not good!" I called after him.

I heard him snort with laughter as he disappeared around the corner.

I turned around on my heels and happily entered the classroom again.

The moves Lisa came up with for Whenever, Wherever was terrific. We shook our shoulders and side stepped, then slowly turned in a circle, moving our hips as we turned with our arms raised above our heads. Then, we sidestepped again and clapped.

"Alright. Now, for the actual cheering," Lisa said, rubbing her hands together. "That little number will be at the end of the routine. Mary, Ginny and Laura get on your hands and knees side by side so that Ginny is in the middle. Emily and I will get onto your backs. Stay absolutely still."

Lisa and Emily climbed into Mary, Ginny and Laura's backs, also on their hands and knees.

"Now, Hermione, you get on top and stand, one foot on my back the other on Emily's," said Lisa.

I obediently climbed up onto Emily and Lisa's back and stood on them. I raised my arms above my head.

"Nice touch, 'Mione. This is a pyramid," Lisa said. "Hermione, get down."

I carefully climbed down. Then, Emily and Lisa climbed down and last Mary, Ginny and Laura stood up.

We excitedly began talking at once.

"That was great!" Mary gushed.

"Really terrific!" Emily cried.

"Where'd you get that idea?" Gillian asked totally enthusiastic.

"I watched muggle cheerleading," Lisa said, grinning. "Now, I have an idea for a much harder routine."

"Tell us!" Gillian cried, her eyes bright.

"Alright. Now, it's the same as a pyramid like with three girls on the bottom and the two on top of them lay on their backs and extend one leg up forming a point. The one girl remaining does two back handsprings and does a split in front of them. I know this doesn't sound hard, but believe me. I saw a few girls misjudge the number of handsprings and cause the entire pyramid to fall and that resulted in some pretty bad injuries. Hermione I was thinking...you're really the heaviest. Would you like to do the handsprings?" Lisa asked, turning her eyes onto mine.

I frowned.

"I'm not that heavy,"

Lisa grinned.

"No! I didn't mean it like that! It's just that someone has to do the handsprings. You seem to be more agile and yet lighter,"

I grinned too.

"Sure,"

Lisa nodded.

"Great. Now, you're going to have to judge the number of times fairly well."

I nodded.

"I have a question," Mary said, raising an eyebrow.

"Go ahead,"

"If this is Ginny's squad, how come she's not coming up with all of this?"

Ginny blushed.

"I asked Lisa to do the routines. I wouldn't know what to do. She's got all the good ideas,"

"Oh. That's okay," Mary said, looking relieved. "For a moment I thought she was power hungry."

"Me? Power hungry? The only thing I'm aiming for is Harry. He's a hottie!" Lisa grinned.

"Harry's mine. Keep your paws off of him," I said, teasingly.

"Meeeeooww!" Gillian laughed imitating a cat. "Cat fight! Kitty kitty!"

We all burst out laughing.

"Christmas came early! Who wants Harry with a big bow on him? He'll be sitting under my Christmas tree that's for sure!" Emily gushed.

We all laughed again.

"Depends on where the bow is," I said, with a straight face.

They all stopped laughing for a moment. Then they looked at one another before they exploded into laughter again.

"Whoo! Who wants to decorate?" Gillian called waving her hand energetically.

"GARLAND!" Lisa cried.

"Better yet...Christmas balls!" I said.

Well, I thought Madam Pomfrey was going to have to be called. We all dropped to the floor laughing hysterically. Emily was wiping her eyes; Gillian was leaning on the wall trying to keep herself from falling over as she laughed. The rest of them were rolling on the floor.

We managed to head back to Gryffindor tower, still giggling uncontrollably. The giggles echoing down the corridor. We entered the common room, where we found Harry several of the boys reading. Seeing Harry only made us worse.

Harry was just shaking his head as he kept his eyes on the book.

We finally managed to calm down enough to engage in normal conversation.

"Where's Ron?" I asked, clearing my throat.

"Bed. Poor dolt is tired. Stayed up late last night. Dunno why," said Harry sighing.

"Studying perhaps?" Mary suggested.

Harry snorted.

"That'll be the day. I think he wasn't feeling well,"

"Ah...too much treacle huh?" Gillian said, nodding wisely.

"Probably. I swear Ron's a garbage disposal sometimes. I honestly don't know where he puts it,"

Emily grinned.

"And he doesn't even gain a pound,"

"It's a bloody miracle and mystery," said Harry.

Gillian smiled.

"Listen. I'm downright pooped. I'm going to bed,"

"You're always pooped," Emily said, turning to Gillian.

"Don't make her reply," Laura said, sighing as they all headed toward the girl's dorm room and Gillian was mocking Laura as they went. Harry was shaking his head and laughing as they went.

"They love to joke around don't they?" Harry asked me, turning his eyes onto me as he put the book down.

"Yeah, but they're a good bunch. They're really nice and sweet," I said, softly as I sat down beside Harry.

"Yeah. They seem like it," Harry said softly.

"How are you?" I asked, looking at him.

A soft fire had been crackling and a soft orange glow reflected off his glasses and face.

"Good. You?" he asked.

"Good," I said.

We nodded.

"Ron wasn't feeling well?" I asked.

Harry shook his head.

"No. I think he had a fever before. He had gone to Madam Pomfrey's about ten minutes after you had left for practice. When he came back into the common room, he went right to bed,"

"Hmm. Keep an eye on him alright?" I said standing up. "I'm gonna go to bed also. It's late. Practice usually ends about nine thirty or so."

Harry nodded.

I walked past him and felt his eyes on me the entire time when I walked past him. I felt the color rushing to my cheeks as I entered the girls' dorm.

The following week was time to show Hogwarts our routine. We waited outside the Great Hall excitedly talking amongst ourselves. Professor Dumbledore was going to sort of introduce us. His voice echoed through the Great Hall. We immediately fell silent and listened intently.

"As you all know, a cheerleading group was started by Ginny Weasley. This group is made up of talented young ladies. This is their first exhibition, so please show them kindness. Here they are!"

The Great Hall erupted into clapping and cheers. We happily and energetically jogged into the Great Hall and stood in a line in front of the head table. Our backs were to the rest of the students. The music began. We began starting the routine. We faced the students. I spied Ron sitting with Harry. He had a shocked expression on his face as he watched us do the music routine, then, once that was over, we did the pyramid. Harry was grinning at the expression on Ron's face. Then Harry caught my eye as I climbed up onto the backs of Emily and Lisa. I raised my arms above my head and grinned. The music began fading. Then, the Great Hall burst into cheers and catcalls.

I saw Malfoy and the Slytherin table not looking too happy and Pansy Parkinson was whispering to a bunch of Slytherin girls next to her. No doubt wondering if their house shouldn't come up with a cheerleading squad. Not caring, I kept grinning and my eyes on the rest of the hall.

Once the cheering subsided, I carefully climbed down off of Emily and Lisa's backs. Then Emily and Lisa got down. Mary, Laura and Ginny stood up. We joined Gryffindor table and began eating breakfast. The little exhibition had been before breakfast and we were all hungry.

I was sitting in between Harry and Gillian. Mary, Ginny, Lisa and Emily were sitting across from us. We dug into the sausages, eggs, bacon and pancakes.

"So. What did you think?" Ginny asked happily to her brother.

Ron was still goggling at me.

"I can't believe you joined," he said in awe.

"I'm a girl you know," I said good-naturedly.

"I hadn't noticed," Ron grinned.

"Whatcha think?" Gillian asked eagerly.

"It's bloody brilliant," Ron said.

I grinned.

"Thanks. If we get good, we can go to the International Magical Cheerleading Competition," I said, eagerly.

"Wow. Isn't there like Preliminaries or something?" asked Harry, taking a bite of sausage.

I frowned.

"I think so. I'm going to have to do some research, but I'm pretty sure there's the Preliminaries, then the Finals, and then the competition,"

"But I thought it was only the Preliminaries, and then the competition," said Ron tilting his head.

I shook my head.

"No. Whoever wins the Preliminaries has to go to the finals. When the squad wins the Finals, then they go to the competition. Kinda like the best of the best,"

Ron and Harry nodded.

"Cool. I'm with you one hundred percent," said Harry winking.

"Thanks,"

"Me too," said Ron.

I grinned.

Just then, Gillian came over to me looking upset. She sat down in between Harry and I.

"Gillian? What's wrong?" I asked, worried.

She was biting her bottom lip; her green eyes swelled with tears. Her reddish blond hair was curly with gentle waves and spirals as it hung over her robed shoulders.

"We've got a problem," she whispered.

"What sort of problem?" Harry asked, leaning toward her.

"A Slytherin problem. Pansy Parkinson started a cheerleading squad," Gillian said, quietly.

"That's a problem? You guys are way better than the Slytherins!" Ron cried.

Gillian turned her eyes onto him.

"It is. Because they're also going to the competition and they've got twelve members. We've only got six. In order to do a halfway decent routine that is sure to kick butt, we need more than six members. Lisa knows another knockout routine, but it involves twelve girls," said Gillian quietly.

"So we need six more?" I said.

Gillian nodded miserably.

"Stay here. I'll be right back," I said, as I stood up and scanned the table till I found them.

I began walking toward them.

"Luna...Parvati, Lavender...I have a favor to ask," I said, leaning down.

"Sure. What is it Hermione?" Luna asked.

"Would you three like to join the squad?" I asked.

Luna broke out into a grin.

"I would,"

Parvati and Lavender looked at each other before they nodded and grinned.

"Great. We need three more. See if you can get them," I said.

They nodded. I thanked them and headed back to Harry, Gillian and Ron.

"We've got three more. Luna, Parvati and Lavender are going to try and help,"

Gillian calmed down once she heard that. Sure enough, Luna, Parvati and Lavender recruited three more. Padma Patil, Susan Bones and Eileen O'Malley.

That evening after practice, we were heading back to Gryffindor tower when the Slytherin squad was coming toward us at the same time. The Slytherins uniforms were green and silver, a little similar to ours except the silver S on the front, as well as a snake, which wound around it. Pansy was probably the captain. We stopped walking and faced each other. Ginny folded her arms over her chest and glared at Pansy, as if challenging her.

We all just glared at each other with pure loathing in everyone's eyes.