Late Spring, 1996

[DHBirr]

Hazard wrote:

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I'm pretty sure 1996 is too soon for the song too. The musical itself wasn't produced until 2003.

That's easily answered by the theory that she overheard Doug playing it from his helmet, and, as Cobalt Greywalker suggested, thinks if he can do it, she can.  (A lyric from Anastasia comes to mind:  "If I can learn to do it, 
You can learn to do it. 
Pull yourself together, 
And you'll pull through it! 
Tell yourself it's easy, 
And it's true: 
You can learn to do it too!")

I'm embarrassed, by the way:  my sister is a big fan of Wicked, has the sheet music, and has played for me (and sung along to) "What is This Feeling" at least ... but I didn't recognize Hermione was reciting from "Defying Gravity."  It certainly supports the "new flight spell" notion.  

Also, though I didn't think of it before, just because no safety measures are mentioned at this point doesn't mean Ron, Harry, Ginny, and/or others aren't hovering around on broomsticks ready to catch her if it doesn't work.  It still strikes me as a bit out of character.
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Big Brother is watching you.  And damn, you are so bloody BORING.