Eleanor Snape- Book 4

The First Round of Auditions

Since there were only four six years in the chorus, Flitwick wanted us to judge auditions. Of course, he had the finale say in everything, but we had a big part in the decision. There were no seventh years in the Chorus, so we were the oldest; the alpha-males.

The first day of auditions was the first day that we were allowed to go to Hogsmead, so we were all reluctant to stay just to listen to people sing instead of hanging out in town. We complained so much that Flitwick promised that we could all go afterwards for some butterbeer.

We all sat around in the chorus room, waiting for the first student to come in. Sarah Beth, Vincent, and Gregory say in front of the room. I was tuck behind the piano with the same song to play over and over again. My face showed that I didn't want to be there, so maybe, if I was lucky, I would scare some kids away. Listening to first years sing was not my idea of a perfect afternoon.

Finally, after about ten minutes of waiting, the door opened and we all sat up, ready to go. A small, dark blonde haired first year came in, nervously clutching a piece of sheet music. 'This is where the torture begins' I thought.

.............................................................................

"What did you guys thinks?" Flitwick asked as we sipped on warm butterbeer in the Three Broomsticks.

"Terrible!" Sarah Beth exclaimed, slamming her mug against the table.

"Agreed." I took a sip.

"Come on. I wasn't that bad." Vincent put an arm around me.

"Yes it was. I think my ears bleed once." Gregory's upper lip was covered with froth from his drink.

"Surely you like someone. Over fifty people tried out. "Flitwick questioned.

"That second year wasn't to bad. The one with the short red hair?" Vincent put in.

"Yeah." Sarah Beth thought for a moment. "What was her name?"

"She was a Ravenclaw." I added

"Oh," Flitwick's face lit up with understanding. "Lillian Anderson?"

"Sounds right." I replied. "And the Slytherin Twins weren't to bad. Hestial. Something Hestial."

"Sylvia and Sophie. They're both very quiet. I'm surprised the auditioned.

"I could barley hear them!" Sarah Beth sneered and cuddled against Goyle. He spoke up.

"I thought they did okay."

"They were extremely nervous. That's why I let them audition together."

"And I could still barley hear them!" Sarah Beth drained the last of her butterbeer.

"I can work that out of them. But they sounded good?"

"Yes." Vincent drank the remains of his glass, also.

"Very well." Flitwick saw that we had offered all the information that we would give and changed the subject. "What's everyone's Christmas plans?"

"I'm staying here!" Sarah Beth replied without hesitation.

"You're not gong to go home to see your Aunt?"

"No!" She exclaimed. Knowing if he pressed he might have a Cumberland Fit on his hands, be turned to us.

"What about you?"

"I'm going to Vince's." I answered.

"So you're going home?"

"Yeah." Vince quietly said.

"And you, Mr. Goyle?"

"I don't know yet." He confessed. "I want to stay here with Sarah Beth, but I need to go home and see Mum and Dad."

"Why doesn't she just go with you?" I questioned.

"Because, I'm not seventeen. I'm not a legal adult. Technically, by law, Auntie is still in charge of me. If I were to go with him, there could be major legal action taken against the school, by none other then my wonderful, giving, caring, understanding Auntie!" Anger and sarcasm flowed from her voice, but then it suddenly went sweet. "So, no. I'm staying here."

"Since the only one that will be here is Sarah Beth, I guess that I will not be holding auditions during Holiday. So you'll be taking a break from Chorus until after we get back from break." Flitwick assured us. I chugged down the rest of my butterbeer and closed my eyes, leaning into Vincent. A break was what I needed. I had some research to do, involving the Restricted Section of the library, and I would need some free time to work my way in.