Author's note: That old Black magic is about an actress. She is offered the part of Narcissa Malfoy and as a result she gets caught in a magical world. That is hard enough as it is even without suddenly being married and having a son.
~Prelude~
In a small room above The Leaky Cauldron the scents of jasmine and muffin filled an old man's nose. He was too tense to enjoy his tea though. He had set something in motion and it just had to work. Resting his trembling hands on his knees he waited.
~1 The contract~
The hotel's Art Deco foyer was elegant and most people enjoying lunch or tea fitted in. The man sitting opposite me made an exception. He was... eccentric. Wearing a Hawaii shirt under his suit he could be an IT millionaire. He in fact was a company lawyer.
I had expected the head of WB's legal department to be dressed in a dark costume. I had expected him to quickly come to the point: signing the contract that would bind me to play Narcissa Malfoy in "The Half Blood Prince" for which WB would pay me handsomely.
The lawyer was very enthusiastic about the big screen. He talked about acting, actors, and what he called ordinary people as well as some films I'd played in.
´That scene with what's her name and your character, and she screams and acts like... uh...´
´A shrew?´
He burst out in laughter. ´A shrew indeed,´ he repeated after drying his eyes.
I poured him tea. The man started to annoy me but I knew how to hide my feelings.
´A film is so special. It must be fascinating to be part of it,´ the lawyer remarked.
´It is indeed. And I am honoured to be offered this part. I do wonder though why there were no auditions at all...´
´The picture!´ he replied, ´I saw the picture, showed it and you were in.´
´Were you involved in the casting process?´
´I know the boss,´ he answered, ´and he knows I love films, so he asked me to look around.´
He hastily attacked his sandwich and I had no choice but to pick up my cutlery.
OoOoO
It wasn't until after lunch that the lawyer – with a flourish – produced a leather folder from his pink shopping bag.
´I have never seen a man in your position with anything but a brief-case,´ I smiled.
´Would that be more appropriate?´ he asked.
From a pocket of his coat he got a note-book and he asked me if he could borrow a pen. I gave him one and instructed him to hold the upper part and then turn the bottom part to use it.
´Wonderful,´ he whispered when he had written down 'brief-case'.
I gave him a sweet smile. It had occurred to me that someone might be playing me a trick. A hidden camera trick. If so, my smile would make people feel for me.
´So I shouldn't use a shopping bag. How does a brief-case look like?´
I gestured towards some chalk-lined gentlemen at a nearby table. Their decent brief-cases were placed under their chairs.
´They are all black. I will buy a pink one.´
´I doubt they are sold in that colour.´
While the lawyer mused that pink suit-cases would brighten the world I told myself that if I was in a candid camera program and the whole "we'd like to offer you a part" was a joke, I would make sure to inform WB. The letter in which the offer was made had WB's logo on it and I couldn't imagine Warner to be amused by that.
´I could buy a black brief-case and hang an animal on it like that one.´
He gestured toward the small back bag of a girl who was having tea with her grandmother.
´I doubt the Pink Panther will feel at home on a brief-case,´ I replied.
He was about to note that down when he again became aware of the leather folder. Placing his note-book in his pocket, he sighed deeply.
´May I request your signature?´
His hands were shaking when he turned the folder around and opened it. He handed me my pen.
I never sign a contract without reading it.
´The shooting starts on the day the contract is signed? That is highly unusual. As is until the project is completed, the contracting party should be present on the set.´
The odd conditions gave me something to act on. I put down my pen.
´I can't possibly make it to the set today.´
The lawyer remained silent. A man appeared next to me. According to his name tag he was the general manager of the hotel. I expected him to say something like: "Could you look at that plant please? Do you see the flower on it? There's a camera in there!" after which everyone would start laughing.
´Is there anything I can get you ma'am, sir?´
´Some more tea perhaps?´ the lawyer said while looking at me.
´That would be lovely,´ I said. After the manager had left us I asked: ´And why should I stay on the set all the time? Or does it mean that I should be available in case my scene needs a re-take during the cutting process?´
´Indeed!´ the lawyer said reassuringly. ´And should you not be able to arrange being on the set today, please do not worry about that. You have my word on it.´
So it wasn't a joke. Good. My nephew Davy would be disappointed if I wouldn't play in a Potter film even though he'd exclaimed that my character was not important at all. I signed the contract. The lawyer, looking grave and for the first time acting his profession, solemnly placed his signature next to mine. It seemed hard for him to separate himself from my pen and I asked him to keep it. It was an ordinary pen given to me by my brother, who'd gotten a dozen from a business associate. The lawyer couldn't have been more pleased had I given him a Waterman. It made me feel a little uncomfortable.
He walked to the counter to pay the bill and then wished me luck. After courteously kissing my hand he left, the leather folder imprisoned between his arm and his upper body.
OoOoO
A waiter brought me a pot of tea. My thoughts turned to the film, my anxiousness about whether or not the whole contract thing was a joke forgotten. I looked forward to see Alan again. And being able to watch Maggie Smith at work was a bonus.
I'd have a nice week for shooting my one scene wouldn't take much longer.
The sound of breaking glass made me aware of my surroundings.
Everyone who'd been there a few minutes ago, had left and new guests occupied the tables. It was almost half past four: I had to leave.
The lawyer had left his shopping bag and I took it with me. The film company would surely be able to deliver it to him.
OoOoO
The old man in The Leaky Cauldron looked up when he heard someone climb the stairs. He swallowed hard and transformed from a fragile looking senior citizen into a charismatic leader.
A broadly smiling man opened the door.
´All went well?´
´Yes sir.´
The old man reached out his hand and was handed a leather folder.
´The contract has not been changed?´ he wanted to know looking over the top of his glasses.
The younger man shook his head: ´It hasn't Professor. It is exactly according to the formula.´
The old man inhaled audibly.
´And so it has started. May Merlin be with us.´