"Cheer for me!"

Chapter ten-The Competition

We practiced every day. We totally got the routine down to a T so that we could do the routine in our sleep.

When the day came, we were so nervous. We were sitting at the Gryffindor table in our uniforms. I used some of Mally's Sleek EZ Hair Gel to straighten my hair. The ends were still slightly curly. I had pinned my hair up into a ponytail. Our uniforms were crisp and I saw Amanda nervously running her hand over her skirt. Gillian was also nervously checking her hair, which looked gorgeous all curly. Ron was goggling at her. Several of the boys from Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff were also ogling her and the rest of the squad. Lisa, Laura and Mary were enjoying it. Harry gave me an encouraging hug.

"Don't worry. I know you'll win this thing!" he whispered.

"Thanks. I hope so," I murmured.

The other squads arrived shortly before breakfast. Ron was moaning that he was hungry and when was the food coming. The Youth squad was wearing black and white uniforms. They looked totally nervous and scared. The Intermediate winners were wearing blue and white. Professor Dumbledore stood up.

"Ah welcome!" he said. "Please take a seat wherever you'd like."

The youth squad headed over toward our table while the Intermediate squad went over to the Ravenclaw table. The Gryffindors welcomed the young members eagerly.

"Hi! What school are you from?" asked Dean.

"Lamex Magic School," one of the girls replied.

"That's a good school," Dean said, kindly.

"Thanks. We're still going to kick your butt!" said the girl grinning.

The Gryffindors laughed, as well as the kids.

"The judges will arrive around nine o'clock. Then, the competition will start tomorrow around the same time. Let the feast begin!" said Professor Dumbledore.

The food appeared on our plates. We began hungrily eating.

We wore our uniforms because we wanted to look good for the guests and we had no idea they were coming dressed in their uniforms also. I hoped they brought a change of clothing, as I didn't see overnight bags with the students.

Just then, Professor Dumbledore stood up again.

"I know you are all wondering why they don't have overnight bags with them,"

Creepy. I thought.

"Their bags will arrive tonight around eight o'clock," said Professor Dumbledore.

"Ok. That was just creepy," Gillian said, leaning forward. "I was just wondering when their stuff was going to arrive. What about you guys?"

"Yeup. Dumbledore just creeped me out totally. But he probably was already figuring that most of the students were curious as well," Laura said.

"Yeah. That's it," I said.

After breakfast, we went to our classes. Harry, Ron, Gillian and I walked to Charms. I accidentally bumped into the Intermediate squad's captain.

"Oh. I am so sorry," I apologized.

"You'd better be," the girl snapped.

I stood, stunned.

"Get out of my way, Mudblood,"

At that, Harry and Ron stopped in their tracks and narrowed their eyes.

"What did you call her?" asked Harry, his voice rising and filling with anger.

"I called her a 'Mudblood'. Her little mutt squad will not win this competition. We've won it for 4 years straight," the girl said, coldly.

Gillian narrowed her eyes.

"Well, you're about to lose a year," said Gillian angrily.

The girl turned her eyes onto Gillian.

"I don't think so, bitch,"

Ron pulled out his wand and aimed it at the girl. By now, all of the students had stopped walking and were watching intently. Some were huddled, whispering to each other.

"Don't. Ever. Call. My. Girlfriend. That. Name. Again!" Ron growled.

The girl repeated it. She obviously hated Muggleborns. Maybe where she came from it was a way of life or something. She was taught to hate them. But here, calling someone a name like that will get you cursed…or widely hated.

Ron stepped closer to the girl.

So did Harry.

"I'm warning you. You're asking for it," Ron threatened, his eyes narrowed into slits.

The girl just scoffed and rolled her eyes. Then, she pushed Gillian out of the way, and continued to walk down the hallway. She stumbled into Emily. Luckily, Emily caught her.

Ron aimed the wand at the back of the girl and muttered, "Furnunculus!"

A green jet of light streamed from the end of Ron's wand and hit the girl right in the middle of her back. The girl was thrown forward onto her stomach. Green boils began erupting on her back.

Ron lowered his wand, looking triumph. Her fellow members helped her to her feet.

"You all suck!" the girl screamed angrily as tears streamed down her cheeks. "Where is your hospital wing?"

"This way," came an awfully familiar voice.

We turned. It was Draco Malfoy.

He smiled smugly at us before he led the girl and her squad to the hospital wing.

"Well, they're certainly made for each other," Emily muttered. "I bet they'll have lots to talk about."

"Yeah. Who hates Mudbloods more," Lisa murmured darkly.

"Mr. Weasley. Please come here," Professor McGonagall's voice called from the classroom. She gestured for him to enter the classroom.

"Drat. I thought it was clear," Ron moaned as he entered.

We heard her yelling at him clearly.

We shook our heads and continued to Charms.

Professor Flitwick taught us the Trenel Charm, which wizards and witches use in an absolute emergency and if they didn't have an invisibility cloak handy. The Trenel Charm was supposed to make the witch or wizard invisible for a few minutes by putting a shield up around them. It was quite difficult, but most of the students managed to master it by the end of class.

We began heading to the empty classroom to start practicing for tomorrow.

We finished the routine early and decided to go up to the common room to relax.

The other squad's luggage's arrived that night. The judges were supposed to arrive tomorrow.

"Wow. I can't believe that girl!" Lisa said, shocked.

"I know! What was her problem?" Laura asked, astonished.

"I don't know. She certainly had Malfoy's personality," I muttered.

"Imagine if that was his sister?" Gillian said, laughing. "He'd probably taken a bath with her when they were younger!"

A chorus of "Eww's" went around the room, followed by gagging sounds.

"The worst part of it is, if she ever had mistaken his soap bar for the actual thing…" Gillian said.

Snorts of laughter went around.

"It's even smaller than a loofa!" Gillian said. "He probably uses that loofa for other 'activities',"

Now groans and laughter went around.

"I think I'm going to be sick!" Emily laughed.

"Actually, I think even a microscope couldn't help him," Gillian mused.

More giggles went around.

"You like traumatizing others visually, don't you?" Mary laughed.

Gillian shrugged one shoulder.

"Eh. It sure beats being too serious. I like making people laugh,"

"I know. You're hilarious," said Harry, grinning.

Gillian smiled.

Harry and Gillian had restored their friendship. It was no longer awkward.

"Yeah. You take a completely gross situation, and make it worse," I said, laughing.

Gillian laughed too.

"Thanks…I think,"

There was silence before Gillian voiced another question.

"Do you think he sleeps in girls' nightgowns?"

The next morning, precisely at nine, we all went down to the Quidditch pitch. It was set up exactly like it had the time we had the Cheer Off with Slytherin. The judges were set up at the edge of the field, behind a rectangular table with a white cloth covering it. On the front of the cloth, which hung down, read MAGICAL CHEERLEADING JUDGES in red glittering letters, which was in script, and a picture of a wand and a musical note was on it. The note was at the tip of the wand and little stars spiraled out from under the note.

We were all dressed in our uniforms. I had pulled my hair up into a ponytail and fastened it with a white rubber band. We were all nervous. The Youth division was going first.

They did a really cute routine to the song "Can't Fight the Moonlight" by LeeAnn Rimes.

The rest of Hogwarts were sitting around the pitch, in bleachers. They weren't raised. They were ground level.

Then, the Intermediate division went. They got the crowd pumping and cheering. They gave us a smug and evil glare as they passed us. We were waiting behind the Gryffindor section.

"Now, the Gryffindor Spirits will perform Britney Spears' My only Wish this year. Singing the lyrics, will be Gillian Moss," called Professor Dumbledore.

Gillian was voted back as the singer, although they still liked me to sing occasionally too.

We got into formation. Then, the music began.

During the routine, strange things started to happen. Gillian forgot two lines, Lisa's cartwheel was off to the side instead of being straight, My handsprings were sloppy and the rest of the squad wasn't doing to well. This was extremely odd, since we practiced day in and day out to get this routine down to a T. In the middle of a dance move, I just happened to glance toward the Slytherin side, which was across from us. The Intermediate squad were watching us intently, and the captain had her wand out and was saying something. A chant.

I knew it. They cheat at these competitions! They put a spell over the squad who goes after them to make them look like complete fools!

HARRY.

I nudged Ron.

"What's going on? They know that routine like the back of their hands!" I whispered.

"I dunno! Something's not right! Could they be nervous?" Ron suggested.

I shook my head, totally confused.

"I don't know either. They performed in the Regionals. So, I could understand them being nervous now. This is the actual competition," I whispered.

My eyes landed on Hermione. She looked real good in a cheerleading uniform. I noticed her looking toward the Slytherin section across from us. I followed her gaze. The Intermediate squad were watching them intently. The captain had her wand out and was mouthing words. Immediately, I knew what was going on.

"Ron! The Intermediate division is cheating!" I whispered urgently.

"WHAT? Bloody hell!" Ron cried.

Ignoring the consequences, I reached into my robe's pocket and pulled out my wand. I aimed it directly at the other squad and hissed "Stupefy!"

A thin jet of red light shot out from the tip and hit the captain right in the chest. She fell over stunned.

The Gryffindor squad had luckily finished their routine. They looked crushed, confused and angry. The judges held up their marks. They used their routine and wrote a number in the air, which soon turned to a glittering green number. 4. 4. 4 and 5. The highest marks given was 8's. Hermione yanked the squad to the side and I saw her hurriedly explaining what she saw.

"Who just used a Stunning charm?" one of the judges asked, standing up.

It was a young wizard, probably in his early 30's with short, dark blond hair and blue eyes and he was dressed in aquamarine robes. He reminded me so much of Gilderoy Lockhart.

The crowd quieted down.

I cleared my throat.

"I did!" I shouted.

All heads turned toward me now. Including the Gryffindor squad.

"Why young man?" the wizard asked.

"The Intermediate squad was cheating! They were using the Imperius curse on Gryffindor!" I called.

Murmurs went around.

"How do you know this?" the next judge asked, a witch dressed in deep red robes as she too stood up.

"I saw the captain holding her wand and mouthing the words!"

"Come down here, young man," said the witch.

I carefully made my way toward the judges table, passed the Gryffindor squad, who were watching my every move. Including Hermione.

I stood in front of the table.

"What is your name?" asked the wizard.

"Harry Potter, sir," I replied.

The judges began talking quietly amongst themselves for a moment.

"Are you absolutely sure you saw her mouthing the curse?" asked the witch.

I nodded.

"I did too, ma'am," Hermione's voice said from my left side.

I looked over. She was standing there, looking determined. The rest of the squad nodded vigorously.

"Go and fetch the captain," said the witch.

The remaining two judges hurried over to the Slytherin side and picked up the captain. They brought her back over to the table and said "Enervate!" The girl came around.

"Did you just use the Imperius curse on this squad?" demanded the witch angrily.

The girl's eyes widened, then she hung her head.

"Yes,"

"You do know that using one of the Unforgivable Curses on a fellow witch or wizard results in imprisonment?" asked the wizard.

The girl didn't reply.

"As you are too young to be sent to Azkaban, you are hereby going to be brought before the Ministry of Magic. They'll know what to do. As for the competition, Gryffindor wins," said the wizard. "You are eliminated from this competition."

Gryffindor cheered. I turned to Hermione. She was grinning as she threw her arms around me and hugged me. I hugged her back.

"Thanks," she whispered in my ear.

"You're welcomed," I said, hugging her tightly.

The squad came over and hugged me as well.

As a result of me using the Stunning Spell, Gryffindor lost 5 points, but in all honesty, it was worth it. The girl was banned from cheerleading competitions for life. She could no longer compete. Gillian had a great idea to pull a prank on Malfoy. She told us to meet her outside the Gryffindor common room. We did. When we arrived, she was holding makeup, curlers, and worse…a woman's bra.

"What are you up to?" Hermione asked, cautiously.

"Nothing. Just a little "Thank you" for Malfoy," she grinned coyly and gestured for us to follow her.

Shaking our heads, and wondering what kind of silly prank she was going to pull, we followed her. We had no idea how she got the Slytherin password, or found out how to get into the common room, but we did. Malfoy was dozing on one of the chairs. She handed Hermione and Emily the bra and told them to carefully put it on him. Smothering snorts of laughter, we watched intently as Hermione and Emily carefully put it on. Malfoy was still sleeping. He didn't even stir. Then, Gillian put makeup on him, complete with blush and lipstick. Then, the curlers went into his hair. In fear of bursting into hysterical laughter, we quickly left the common room and hurried down to the Great Hall for dinner. We all sat down at the table and exploded into laughter there.

"Oh my God! That was brilliant!" Emily roared, laughing so hard she was almost crying.

"Yeah. Just wait," Gillian grinned.

Malfoy entered the Great Hall shortly. He looked half-asleep. The Hall quieted down when they saw him, then exploded into laughter.

"Lookit! Malfina is awake!" cried Gillian.

The Hall roared with laughter again.

"Hey, Chicka! Sit on my lap!" cried a boy from Ravenclaw.

"Whoo!" Hermione called.

By now, we were all laughing so hard we were crying.

Emily let out a snort as she was laughing and that set us off even more.

There were catcalls. Malfoy finally realized what happened. He ran from the Hall, muttering curses.

Hermione caught my eye and I winked at her. She grinned. It was totally worth seeing Malfoy in a bra and curlers.

THE END