Title: For Play

Author: Anisky

Disclaimer: You recognize it? I don't own it.

Summary:  A common interest brings Cho and Ginny together into a great friendship.... But that's all they are, right? Just keep telling yourself that, Harry.

Archiving: Just ask! HoneyB87@aol.com (Anisky)

“Alright, girls,” Dumbledore sat down behind his desk and gestured for Ginny and Cho to take a seat. “What did you want to see me about?”

”Well,” started Cho, “I was wondering if we could put on a school play this year. Ginny and I would organize it and all.”

”Well first off, of course you can. I’d advise asking a teacher to supervise, and we’d have to approve your choice of plays, of course.”

”The Scarlet Pimpernel,” Ginny’s quiet voice informed him. “It’s a Muggle play.”

”Ah, yes, indeed. I know the one you mean.” Dumbledore’s eyes twinkled.

”You DO?” Ginny’s eyes got wide in surprise.

”Good choice, I should add,” he nodded. “Do you know wher to obtain a script?”

”We’re still working on that,” Cho informed him.

”I’m sure I could find one for you,” Dumbledore’s eyes twinkled again.

”Really?” asked Ginny. A rare wide smile graced her face. “Oh, thank you!!”

”Yes—two more things,” Cho put in at this point. “Could you announce auditions, and are there any good rooms to perform in?” Cho ticked off her two questions on her fingers, looking as academic, studious, and completely serious as the Ravenclaw she was. Of course, once she’d asked her two questions, her pointer and middle finger were up and facing Dumbledore. Cho’s eyes got wide as she realized, and she quickly put her fingers down, blushing.

Dumbledore acted as if she’d done nothing. “I will announce them tomorrow at dinner,” said Dumbledore, “Is that enough time to prepare?” He stood up, and hurriedly so did Ginny and a still-embarrassed Cho.

”Yes, yes I think so,” said Cho. “But—“

”As for a stage, I think I know a good place… but we’ll have to search. Come on, then!”


****


”Alright, everyone,” Professor McGonagall clapped her hands to get everyone’s attention. “Please, if you are here for the audition, please come up here and fill out this form.”

”Come on, Ginny,” Cho was pleading. “If we’re organizing it, one of us should audition. Ginny, you’re GOOD. Very good. The teachers will be fair about your part. Please?”

”Cho, I”d feel too silly and embarrassed.” Ginny sighed. “Just… no.”

”Please?” Cho persisted. She took Ginny’s hand. “For me?”

”That’s not fair!” Ginny exclaimed with a smile. “How could I refuse that?”

”Exactly!” Cho grinned. “So you will? Perfect!” She grabbed an application and handed it to Ginny.

”Why can’t YOU do this again?” wondered Ginny aloud… rather pointedly.

”Because I’m directing the play,” Cho informed her primly.

”And why can’t I do that?” Ginny pouted.

”The play was my idea. Sorry, hun. Finders keepers!” With that, Cho gave Ginny a cheeky smile and pranced off to explain to Lavender and Parvati how to fill out the application.


****




At Breakfast a few days later, Dumbledore stood up at the staff table. “All of you who have parts in the play will be getting your notices. I’d like all of you to meet in the same room as auditions were in today at 5 o’clock. That is all.” He sat back down. A few moments later the owls came swooping down, and sure enough, an envelope labeled “Miss Ginny Weasley” was dropped into said girl’s lap.

”Well??” Cho tried to look over Ginny’s shoulder when she got the owl. “Did you get a part? Silly question, of course you did. Which one? Come on, open it!”

Ginny looked up at Cho. “You’re the director, don’t you already know?”

Cho looked pouty. “The teachers wouldn’t tell me, either. Don’t know why, but that’s the way it is. So? You’re killing me here Gin! Who are you?”

”Cho, doesn’t being in Ravenclaw often mean, oh, I don’t know, sitting at the Ravenclaw table?” Ginny grinned at Cho, winking to take any sting out of what she said. “Shoo.” Turning away so Cho couldn’t see it, Ginny opened the letter. Her face fell.

”What??” Cho was indignant. “They didn’t give you a part? You were amazing! I swear, it was—“

Ginny was grinning now. “Cho!” She showed her friend the letter with a grin.

Cho took it and, seeing the name, gave a whoop. “Marguerite?! Ginny, you got Marguerite! Hey, everyone!” she jumped onto the Gryffindor table. “Come see the female lead for Hogwarts’s very own school play! Right here!”

Ginny, in the meantime, was trying to slip under the table and hide from everyone looking at her. “Cho!” she hissed. “Stop it!”

Cho looked down at Ginny. “Oops,” she said, hopping down to the floor. “Sorry.” Everyone was still staring, and Ginny was now under the table completely. “Oh, come on Gin. It’s not like they won’t all be staring at you when it’s time for the play.”

”Don’t remind me!” Ginny’s voice, muffled and miffed, came from under the table.

”Ginny, you can come out now,” Ron said impatiently. “It’s becoming difficult not to kick you.”

There was a squeal from under the table. “You did that on purpose!” Ginny fumed as she crawled out and took a seat on the bench again, trying to duck under everyone’s eyes.

Ron just shrugged, but froze when he caught Cho’s glare. “Sorry,” he reluctantly told Ginny.

”You really can’t hide during the play, Ginny,” Cho looked sympathetic.

”I know, I know. Well, look at the time, I’d better get to class,” said Ginny hurriedly, getting up from the table.

”Ginny, we have twenty minutes until the first class,” Harry told her with a puzzled look.

”Yes, well, um, yeah, I’m having trouble in Charms so I need to practice, see you later!” She gathered her stuff and got out of there as quickly as she could.

”Poor Ginny,” Cho shook her head sadly. “She’s really going to have to get over that shyness.”

”Cho,” Harry looked nervous, “I was wondering if we could hang out or something? You and I never see each other anymore… I’d like to do stuff again.”

”Oh Harry, what are you talking about? We’re seeing each other now!! And anyway I’ll be planning costumes for the play and directing it and helping the actors and all. But I’ll make time sometime!” Cho smiled sweetly and planted a kiss on his cheek.


**** One Month Later ****


”It IS your fault, you know.” Cho was sitting on her bed, making notes on the script about stage directions as Weird Sisters tunes came from her magical CD player.

Ginny looked up from her own script, startled. “What?” She asked, voice lowered and her expression one of hurt.

Cho rolled her eyes. “Oh, you know what I mean. You hate people thinking of you as just ‘Ron’s little sister’, it’s what you’re going on about.”

Ginny nodded, looking confused. “Yeah…”

”Well, come on, if anyone brings attention to you, you hide under the table. Hide under the table for crying out loud! You never say anything, and I can’t think of a single person beyond me and maybe Ron who you actually act like yourself around!”

”So?” asked Ginny defensive, dropping her script and crossing her arms angrily.

”SO, you can’t expect people to think of you as Ginny, a person, if you don’t let them SEE Ginny, a person.” Cho sat up and looked over at Ginny. “And Gin, you know I love you, but I’m getting fed up with you complaining about the fact that people treat you like the person you act like around them!”

Ginny looked even more hurt, her forehead creased and her lip trembling. “I’m sorry…”

Cho softened, swinging her legs over the edge of her bed and sitting next to Ginny. “Don’t be sorry. Anyway, people have started to think less of you as Ron’s sister and more of you as Marguerite.”

”Yeah,” Ginny shook her head and stood up, “but that’s no more Ginny than the other version.” She paced, biting her lip and twirling her fire-coloured hair. “I know it’s my fault. I can’t help it, though.”

Cho shrugged and got back onto her bed, looking back at the notes for the script. “If you say so.”

Ginny bit her lip and glanced at Cho. “Don’t be mad at me… please.”

Cho looked up and smiled. “Oh, Ginny, I’m not angry. I just want you to be happier. Come, sit here,” she patted the bed next to her. Ginny reluctantly went over and sat next to her. “Now come on. Let’s run some lines, OK? You are going to be an amazing Marguerite!”

Ginny nodded, feeling better. Unfortunately, she was also all too aware of her leg pressed against Cho’s. She was about to get up and sit somewhere else, but stopped. Cho was her friend. It was OK to like being around her… right? It doesn’t mean anything. Just that she makes me feel comfortable. Yeah. Comfortable.