"For hundreds of years, Hogwarts has been upholding the same Christmas traditions over and over again." Recited Professor Longbottom. "And, for Merlin's sake, the council thought there should be a little change every now and again."'
"Great, just what we need." Groaned Albus Potter.
"So, this Christmas, we decided to hold a new Hogwarts tradition; we shall be performing a Winter Play."
Prof. Longbottom smiled with his mouth dramatically forming a big 'O', expecting the clump of fourth years to cheer and applaud his jolly announcement. To his dismay, however, none reacted as he expected.
"Oh, come now, children! Isn't this a most fantastic thing to happen to Hogwarts?" the Professor waved his arms around like a giant gorilla. "Think of all the costumes and moving lines of your favorite stories! You can become a pirate, an evil sorcerer or the hero wizard, Harry Potter. I know I would've been completely ecstatic at the thought that Hogwarts would be having a play during my day."
"What a complete fag!" Scorpius Malfoy hissed nonchalantly. "This is unbearable."
"Professor," shot Rose Weasley. "Might I ask the purpose of this new tradition? Because frankly, I do not seem to find any."
"It is to promote inter-house camaraderie, just so you know, Ms. Weasley." Replied the beaming professor.
"Right," scoffed Albus. "It's because Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff are such best friends, are they not?"
"No, it's mainly because of the unceasing rivalry between Slytherin and Gryffindor, Mr. Potter." Replied the professor, clearly unaware of Albus' intended sarcasm.
Rose smirked to herself. Professor Longbottom is well-loved by his students but he can be quite naïve at times.
"I don't really see how running around in leotards or silk tutus can promote inter-house camaraderie, Professor." Sighed Rose mockingly. "Honestly, we could be doing more important stuff like having hissy fits during a hot quidditch match between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw."
"Well aren't we ever the quidditch queen." Said Scorpius.
"Well, I think that this presentation is a perfectly appealing activity as long as we don't run around wearing tutus and leotards." Cried Amy Finnigan.
"Thank you, Amy!" boomed the stout professor. "That's just the right kind of attitude we should all take at new traditions. I'm expecting full support from all the fourth years, is that clear? Because your batch will take the roles for this year's play while the higher year levels will organize the technicalities."
"Groan." Scorpius called out dully.
"Sure."
"Yeah, right."
"I wonder if they'll make it into a musicale."
"Hey, Rosie!"
"James, will you please stop calling me that?"
"Why?"
"Because it degrades her 'macho' reputation." Sniggered Albus.
"Exactly." Snapped Rose. "It's bad enough to be named after a flower, sheesh!"
"Whatever," James rolled his eyes. "Well, since the sixth years are in charge of choosing the script for the play and I happened to be elected as the President of the committee, I decided I want to do Aunt Luna's play."
"What!?" Rose and Albus both exclaimed.
"Isn't that a psycho-forbidden-love story between a muggle-born and a pureblood?" sputtered Albus.
"Yeah, it's got a lot of gore and action too!"
"That is the most horrible play I have ever laid eyes on! How dare you even propose that, James?" Rose cried out.
"What do you mean propose? It's already been approved!" James grinned like a fox. "I thought that you would enjoy something that you already knew by heart!"
Albus and Rose looked at each other with wan faces. Never had they ever hated James more than this very day.
The following day, a colored poster appeared in every common room:
Hogwarts' Winter Play
Is proud to present
Ms. Luna Lovegood's
Where Fireflies are laid to Rest
Auditions for the following roles will be held during Fridays and Saturdays at the Great Hall:
Main Characters:
Marcus
Madeleine
Winston
Cravinston
Reminders: Only Fourth year students are eligible to audition. For more information, please look for the President of the Production Committee, James Potter.
Every student in the common room was crowding in front of the flashy poster save for two fourth years who looked like they were having the time of their lives not looking at the bold poster.
"So, how's the team, this season?" asked Albus.
"They're doing pretty well," replied Rose with a glint in her eye. "I think they're going to shape up just in time for the game against Hufflepuff next Saturday."
"James working you guys off too hard?"
"Nah, he's just having fun with it. I don't think he's ever going to take it seriously. But, Al, when are you going to go back to the team? We need you to bash Slytherin real good, you know."
"I'm not really up for the bashing that much yet," sighed Albus while grabbing a chocolate frog from his pocket. "I think I'll focus on my studies first, my Potions marks aren't looking as great as I hoped them to be."
"Sure, knock yourself out." Laughed out Rose. "Soon you'll find yourself all soft and ivory-skinned like that Malfoy boy. Man, isn't he quite the feminine chap! I bet he manicures his cuticles every week!"
"Now don't you be going mean to neat chaps like him." Chuckled Albus. "Scorp's a decent kid once you get to know him. He just doesn't go work out that much because of his indolence."
"Yeah, that's why he's a wimp. I sure bet that if he joins the Slytherin team, the wind will knock him off his broom in two seconds flat!"
The cousins guffawed like hyenas because of Scorpius' apparent 'wimpiness' until Amy Finnigan approached them with an arched eyebrow.
"So, who are you going to audition for?" asked Amy.
"Frankly, Amy, I don't want to take part in this pathetic excuse for a play." Replied Rose.
"That's just too bad. Isn't Luna Lovegood a family friend of yours?" Amy simpered. "I think she wouldn't be too happy seeing her godchildren treating her lovely masterpiece like this."
"Don't look at me," reasoned Albus. "I'll be happy to play a villager or a dog or something."
"Well, when are you auditioning?"
"I don't know, Amy."
"You should audition with me next Saturday, guys!" exclaimed Amy excitedly.
"You know what?" Albus smiled sheepishly. "We would love to audition with you next Saturday but, as you know, there's a quidditch match that day and Rose would just hate to miss it."'
"Of course, the oaf wouldn't last a week without quidditch." Amy smirked with the insult. "But the auditions will be held in the afternoon, there's no way that it'll coincide with your beloved quidditch game."
The prissy blonde walked away triumphantly. She would be auditioning with Albus Potter, what fun!
"Fantastic, Al! Just capital! You just had to say the we would love to audition!"
"I didn't want to be rude to her."
"She's an insufferable cow! That's what she is! How dare she call me an oaf?" Rose punched her fist into her palm.
"I guess we just have to audition for something, since we are required to join the play."
"Don't give up so easily, Potter! You know as much as I do that that play is a cursed one."
"Still, I wouldn't want to go home this Christmas and tell Aunt Luna that I didn't even at least try to audition for Cravinston or something. She always loved picturing me as Cravinston."
"Suit yourself." Rose stretched out on the sofa. "But there is no way in hell you can make me budge off my JetBlast after next Saturday's match."
It was a crisp Saturday morning. The crowd on the high stands was cheering animatedly as red and yellow banners wallpapered the sky.
"Beautiful morning, ladies and gentlemen!" boomed the voice of the commentator, Barney McLaggen. "Perfect weather for opening match this season; Gryffindor versus Hufflepuff!"'
The crowd went wild at the mention of their team names and even more wild when McLaggen started to introduce the players.
"Flying right up the goal posts is Gryffindor's keeper, Torrie Thomas!" McLaggen waited for the wild screaming. "Next is the Gryffindor team's very own captain, Chaser, James Potter!"
James flew around the stands and blew kisses to his admirers. He sure was the popular one. After the other chasers were announced and the crowd was well warmed up, McLaggen announced Rose.
"Next up ladies and gentlemen is the love of my life," the crowd cheered insanely. "The quidditch queen herself, super-human beater, Rose Weasley!"
Rose rolled her eyes at McLaggen's side comment. "Love of his life, my foot!"
When the captains shook their hands, all fourteen players flew up into the air and started the much-awaited match.
A hot bludger was shot from a Hufflepuff beater right at James abdomen. James spat out blood.
"That was uncalled for Roscher!" Rose screamed out at the dirty player. She aimed her next shot at the boy and hit the bludger with her super-human strength. The player's nose bled like a faucet.
"Rose!" James called out. "No more bludgeoning! They might get penalty shots!"
The crowd was too pre-occupied with Torrie's excellent block to see the dirty playing between the beaters.
"Then stop getting hit too, James!"
During the next 15 minutes, James managed to score them 70 points while Hufflepuff was trailing with 30 points.
"Oscar!" James shouted over the noise to the seeker. "Hurry up and get that snitch boy! I need to be at the winter play auditions by 3 pm!"
"Heard you loud and clear, chief!" replied Oscar Creevey.
"Damn!" hissed Rose. She just spotted the snitch beside the Hufflepuff keeper. "Why can't Al replace this loser?!"
Apparently the Hufflepuff seeker just saw her reaction and spotted the snitch as well.
"Creevey! The bloody snitch is right under your bloody nose!" Rose bellowed at the Third year which got him started.
The Hufflepuff's hand was closing in on the snitch when Rose decided to hit it with a bludger. If the crowd wasn't cheering or jeering in the background, one would've heard the loud cracking noise of Jiro Taylor's wrist.
"Oh! That's one way to do it!" McLaggen echoed in his booming voice.
At the split second where Taylor squealed in pain, Creevey managed to take hold of the golden ball and end the first game of the season.
All the Gryffindors cheered like there was no tomorrow. Rose smiled to herself satisfactorily and hi-fived every player upon touching the ground.
"Nice game, Weasley." Cried the other beater.
"You killed them, Rosie!" Lily Potter joined in enthusiastically.
"Seriously, Rose, since you became beater, there hasn't been a single game against Gryffindor where the players haven't been seriously injured." Al shot at the sweaty girl.
"So, since the match is all done and over with, I'll see you two at the great hall this afternoon, shall I?" interrupted Amy. "Oh, and Weasley, make sure you take a shower first."
"It's too bad I can't fire a bludger right at her stingy little face." Remarked Rose as they watched Amy prance away.
"Okay, so who are you auditioning for?" James inquired at the tough-faced Slytherin girl.
"Uh, obviously there is only one female role for this play." The girl replied.
"Right, right, Madeleine."
A well-decorated stage complete with magical, floating spotlights and self-drawing curtains stood at the farthest side of the Great Hall.
"So, all the fourth years are auditioning, are they?" Lily inquired as they waited outside the Great Hall.
"I guess so; we are required to do so." Rose grumbled with arms crossed.
"Look who's here." They all looked at the direction Al was looking. There stood the pale, blond figure of Scorpius Malfoy.
Amy blushed at the sight of him. Rose sneered at the thought of him in leotards. Al called out at the Slytherin boy.
"Malfoy!"
"Potter." He nodded back.
"Who are you auditioning for?"
"I don't really know, how about you?"
"Cravinston. Easiest role to play." Al replied matter-of-factly.
"Any suggestions for me? My mother keeps sending me owls, pressuring me to land a role in the play. Apparently, she does business with this Lovegood person."
"O, why don't you audition for Marcus," Rose just felt utter pleasure in making Amy uncomfortable. "You would be perfect with Amy here playing Madeleine."
"And I assume you would be auditioning for Winston?" Scorpius interjected.
"Maybe I will, so what?" she shot back.
"Next." Came James' voice from inside the hall.
All four of them followed as the Slytherin girl slid out of the hall.
"So, which one of you wee fourth years will come first?"
"How about we do it in pairs?" suggested Rose with an evil smile. "Amy and Malfoy would love to go first, wouldn't you guys?"
"Rose!" Amy hissed. "Actually James, Rose was just going to audition for Madeleine."
"What?!" Rose cried in disbelief.
"Wicked!" exclaimed James. "This would be great news for the family!"
"Go on, ahead." Al supported. "It's just an audition, it's not like you'll get the part."
"That's a nice way to look at it, Al." Rose replied sardonically.
"Okay, you two," James rubbed his hands together. "Recite Act II, Scene 3 of the play."
Scorpius climbed up the stage with a dull demeanor, followed by Rose who had skepticism in every step. She looked at the evil face of Amy and the mocking expression in Al's face.
"Madeleine," came Scorpius' droning voice. "I would rather have fallen in love with a pack of dancing hippogriffs with rabies than with a witch of your descent."
"You?" said Rose, her eyes darting back and forth from the script she was holding. "You fell in love with me? I never thought that your arrogant self could tolerate my very presence."
"I did not choose to love you."
"Do you really expect me to believe that, Marcus?"
"Truly, I did not. I just found out that all those insults and hatred I harbored for you were rooted from my ever-growing admiration for your beauty and your wit."
"Ever-growing admiration?" Rose started chuckling.
"Get on with it, Rose."
"Okay, okay." Rose continued. "Even if I did have the same feelings for you, Marcus, this is not appropriate. Our families would never allow us."
"Do you?"
"I-I'm not sure. Winston and I are…"
"Winston doesn't love you the way I do, Madeleine. Your relationship is just so conveniently placed that it can't be challenged. But ours, I'm ready to fight for ours, even if you are a mudblood."
"Okay, cut!" James interrupted. "That was great, you guys."
"What is up with this Marcus character?" Amy said during lunch two days after the audition. "I mean, he is just downright cruel. Saying he loves Madeleine one moment then rubbing it on her face that she's a muggle-born in the next one."
"This play is a disaster." Rose replied.
"I think it's ever so romantic, but the ending is really tragic, to be sure." Lily said in a daze.
"As much I know you would hate me for saying this, Rose, you make a perfect Madeleine." Al remarked with an amused gaze.
"Shut your face Al, hey, look, it's the mighty pureblood himself." Scorpius strode to the Gryffindor table looking flushed with anger with his usually sleek blond hair askew.
"What is the meaning of this?!" Scorpius bellowed at Al. "Tell your brother that there is no bloody way I am going to do this!"
The four Gryffindors peered at the piece of paper Scorpius slammed at their table:
Hogwarts' Winter play is proud to present
This year's main characters for the play
Where Fireflies are laid to Rest:
Rose Weasley as Marcus
Scorpius Malfoy as Madeleine
Amy Finnigan as Winston
Albus Potter as Cravinston
Rehearsals will be held every Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays for the next two months.
Congratulations!
"This is outrageous, Potter!" Scorpius looked incredibly silly with his cool all gone off.
"I cannot believe James made me play a man!" Amy whined.
"Hey, Malfoy!" McLaggen threw out casually. "I heard you were playing a girl for the winter play. Suits you well!"
"Aaargh!" Scorpius exclaimed. "Your brother is so dead when I see him."
"Ha! How are you going to do that? Throw a hissy fit or something?!" Rose laughed hysterically.
"Sure Weasley, just because your role suits you oh so perfectly, you big oaf!" Scorpius replied angrily
"That isn't a very nice thing to say!" Lily cried out.
"Bring it on, pretty boy! I can take you!" Rose drew her wand from her sleeve. "You can't even play Quidditch, and now you want to mess with me?"
"Settle down, now!" Professor Longbottom suddenly appeared from behind them. They were really making quite a scene.
"Sorry, Professor, but this little tinker bell here is asking for a bludger on the head straight up."
"Ms. Weasley, lower your wand! Same for you, Mr. Malfoy. This will not be tolerated; your parents will be informed of your misbehavior—"
"Expelliarmus!" Malfoy cried out.
"How dare you disarm a girl?"
"That's no girl!"
"Petrificus Totalus!" Rose shot back.
"That is enough!"
"Professor McGonagall." Everybody turned to the ancient headmistress.
"I am appalled at your behavior Ms. Weasley and Mr. Malfoy. This is nothing but inappropriate! You two will spend detention 7 pm this evening, and you each will lose 20 points from your houses."
"This is just great!" exclaimed Scorpius after the headmistress strode away.
"Nice job, tinker bell." Rose elbowed Scorpius in the chest.
Suddenly, as if his timing was nothing but perfect, James Potter entered the Great Hall.
"Tell me more about Cravinston, Al."
"Well, Amy, Cravinston is more like the neutral character of the play. He's too entangled with his own worries to notice the blossoming romance between Madeleine and Marcus. He often looks dazed and can't even tell that the sister of Winston, Antoinette, admires him, like crazy."
"Poor Antoinette." Amy sighed.
"Come to think of it, Antoinette was a little bit of a player. She hung out with a couple of guys just so that Cravinston would take notice of her, which he did."
"These characters are insane."
"Don't tell her if you meet her, but Luna Lovegood is insane."
"So, how's the play doing, James?"
"It's turning out pretty well, I believe, Madame Pam"
"What a twist to make Ms. Weasley play a man and Mr. Malfoy, a woman."
"At first I thought I would make Rose play Madeleine and Scorpius play Marcus, but that way, the secret of the play will be revealed."
"What secret?"
"The truth is, the characters of this play are based on real people, I just owled our Aunt Luna to tell me more about the play and she told me everything about it."
"That's interesting."
"Sure it is. Since before, Aunt Luna has been reading us this story and I never knew it was about these people we actually know. The fact that Rose and Scorpius are playing the characters just makes me feel that this play is going to come to life."
"I'm sure it'll be a success, with you handling it, Mr. Potter."
"Thanks, Madame Pam. Can you put more ice on this bruise, please?"