Sorry it took so long to get the next chapter out but my computer crashed and then I had to have surgery. I don't know if people even really like this story either but here's a chapter for you anyway.


The sun had just risen above the clouds and as the rays of light snuck into the ballet dormitories at the opera house, Neville's eyes opened.

Quickly he sat up in his bed and swung his legs over the side of it. He looked around to make sure everyone was still asleep before creeping silently out of the room.

Years of experience made it so that he hardly made even the slightest creak as he made his way down to the Chapel. Once he reached it he threw away all efforts to be silent and raced down the steps into the main room.

There he kneeled before all of the candles and reached out to take a match by one of the candles. He lit the match on an already lit candle and used it to light two others by two small black and white photos in frames hanging beneath them. These pictures bore the images of Neville's parents, Frank and Alice Longbottom.

Bowing his head Neville clasped his hands together in prayer and began to sing hymns.

Suddenly when he was halfway through the third hymn the beautiful sound of a violin reached his ears. A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth but he did not stop singing. His voice seemed to become even stronger and beautiful with the entrance of the violin and as the instrument began to play louder the volume of his voice increased as well until he was singing in perfect pitch with the violin. The result was a sound so beautiful that it would make one weep to hear it.

This music all came to a screeching halt, however, with the cry of someone's voice.

"Neville!"

Neville gave a frightened jump at the sound of his name and whipped his head around to see his best friend Ginny Weasley standing there.

"There you are!" She said. "I've been looking all over for you!"

"Why?" Neville asked. "Did I miss something?" Ginny gave him an exasperated look and slapped her hand to her forehead.

"Of course you're missing something, Neville!" She said. "We're starting to rehearse!"

Neville's eyes widened at this and he shot up instantly. "I had no idea!" He said. "I completely lost track of time!"

"You always lose track of time," Ginny said. "Really, Neville, I don't know what you'd do without me. Now come on. If we're late again McGonagall will be furious!"

Neville needed no further prompting and raced back up the stairs with Ginny to the backstage where the rest of the ballerinas were already warming up. They quickly joined the group, taking the same positions as everyone else. McGonagall gave them a disapproving glance but said nothing to them, much to the relief of the two teens.

"You two were nearly late again," quipped a voice from behind them. Neville turned around to find the dark brown eyes of McGonagall's daughter, Hermione, staring disapprovingly at them.

"But we weren't this time," Neville said, but he knew it was no use. Hermione was sure to lecture them regardless.

"Yes but only by mere seconds," Hermione said. "You should really start being more punctual."

"Let it rest, Hermione," Ginny groaned. "We already know this lecture by heart. You don't need to tell it to us again."

"Well I wouldn't have to tell you it so often if it wasn't for your inability to arrive on time," Hermione said. "Why are you always late anyway?"

"It's because of me," Neville admitted. "I always go down to the Chapel before everyone wakes up and somehow I always forget what time it is."

Hermione opened her mouth to reply, but was interrupted by a horrible squawking that made them all wince.

The source of the wretched sound came from onstage where the pug-faced leading soprano, Pansy Parkinson, was practicing her singing for the act they would be rehearsing that day.

"Why does Fudge insist on keeping Parkinson as our leading soprano?" Ginny asked.

"You know why," Hermione said. "No one else can replace her."

"But there has to be somebody out there who can sing better then her," Ginny said. "I mean a dying cat would sound better for Lord's sake!"

"Sh!" Hermione said. "She'll hear you!"

Ginny's mouth snapped shut at this. Pansy was an incredibly touchy Prima Donna and the slightest thing could set her off.

All of a sudden Pansy's song abruptly ended and so did the music as the soprano screeched, "You are interrupting me!"

Everyone peered onstage to see the manager of the opera house Cornelius Fudge standing there with two handsome young men.

"I am deeply sorry," Fudge said bowing his head to her. "I just thought that this would be the ideal moment to make an important announcement."

Pansy's beady black eyes now eyed him with keen interest. "What announcement?" She asked.

"Well, I know that there have been rumors that I am planning on retiring," Fudge said.

"All of them started by Pansy," Ginny whispered making Hermione hush her quickly.

"I can now tell you that these are all true," Fudge said making Pansy beam triumphantly, "and introduce you to your new mangers, Monsieur Sirius Black and Monsieur Remus Lupin."

Everyone applauded as Black and Lupin took of their hats and bowed slightly, turning every one of the ballet girls into a twittering mess.

"Oh, they're so handsome!"

"They must be rich too!"

Hermione scoffed at the girls, rolling her eyes. "Honestly," She said. "There's more to a man then fine looks and money."

"I don't care," Ginny said. "Anyone's better then old Fudge!"

Pansy cleared her throat loudly and batted her eyes, signaling Fudge to introduce her.

"May I introduce, gentlemen, Pansy Parkinson," Fudge said. "Our leading soprano for five seasons now."

Pansy smiled at Black and Lupin and moved forward, hand outstretched. Black gave it a rather disapproving look, but Lupin took it politely and gave it a soft kiss. "I have heard of your angel-like voice," He said. "I cannot wait to hear it in person." Pansy giggled behind her free hand at this.

"Thank you, sir," She said. "It will be my pleasure."

The sound of another throat clearing made Lupin release Pansy's hand, however, and turn to Peter Pettigrew, the leading tenor. Pansy scowled at him, annoyed that he had moved the attention away from her.

"And this is our leading tenor," Fudge said. "Peter Pettigrew." Pettigrew smiled and shook hands with the mangers.

"Oh, and of course our ballet instructor, Madame McGonagall," Fudge said. McGonagall stepped out from backstage. She was a rather severe-looking woman with graying hair pulled back in a tight bun and cold gray eyes. She did not hold out her hand for Black and Lupin to kiss, but instead keeping it glued to the walking stick she always carried. Instead, she merely inclined her head to them making Black and Lupin look at her nervously.

"Ah, well I think now is an excellent time to introduce our new patron!" Black said. "Count Potter!"

Neville was the only one that didn't clap when a young man came walking out across the stage to join Black and Lupin.

"Its Harry," He gasped.

"You know him?" Ginny asked amazed. Neville could only nod as he surveyed the boy in front of him.

Yes it had to be Harry. His jet black hair stuck up in all of the same places and his emerald green eyes were just as shocking.

"How do you know a Count, Neville?" Hermione asked. She was as amazed as Ginny was.

"I knew him before he was a Count," Neville said. "When we were children we were the best of friends. We were actually kind of…childhood sweethearts." He blushed faintly at this but Ginny only grinned at him.

"I hope he remembers you!" She gushed. "He's so handsome after all! Oh, Neville, you're so lucky!"

Neville nodded and turned back to the stage where Pansy was gushing over Harry. He laughed slightly at the awkward look on Harry's face. He had never handled these kind of situations well.

"It's very nice to meet all of you," Harry said, "but I feel that I should take my leave. I am interrupting your rehearsal after all."

"Oh, why don't you stay and watch?" Pansy asked.

"Believe me madam I would love to," Harry smiled, "but I would much rather watch the finished work tonight." Then with a tip of his head he was gone.

As soon as he was gone the music started up again and McGonagall moved Black and Lupin aside so that the dancers could step out onto the stage.

Over the years he had spent at the opera house Neville was proud to say that he had become an excellent dancer. Black seemed to only have eyes for the female dancers however commenting on each of them until he reached Hermione.

"And who is that bewitching young woman?" He asked McGonagall.

"That would be my daughter," McGonagall replied in a deadly tone. Black was silent from then on as his partner chuckled to himself.

After the dancing ended Neville noticed Hermione looking worriedly at Pansy and he knew why. The soprano looked like she was about to erupt into one of infamous tantrums and sure enough after a few moments she did.

Marching up to Black and Lupin she glared at them before jabbing them both in the stomachs. "All you want is the dancing!" She said.

"No, we—" Lupin said but Pansy was not hearing a word of what he was saying.

"Well if that is all you want then I am leaving!" She said. "Enjoy your precious dancers!" She then turned on her heel and began to march offstage.

"How do we get her to stop?" Black asked Fudge.

"Grovel," Fudge told him.

Taking his advice Black and Lupin rushed after Pansy calling her ridiculously flattering names.

"Beautiful siren!" Black called.

"Goddess of song!" Lupin cried.

Pansy stopped at the sound of these titles and whirled around. "You are merely trying to flatter me!" She said.

"No, no," Lupin said. "We mean what we say madam! We would do anything to hear your angelic voice!"

"Anything?" Pansy asked.

"Yes, anything," Black said. "Actually I was hoping you would sing for us Elisa's aria from Act Three. That way I could hear your wonderful voice in all of its glory."

"How can I perform that aria without the costume?" Pansy demanded glaring at her dressmaker.

"I think you look absolutely stunning as it is," Lupin said. "Could you please forgive your dressmaker now in order to indulge us in a private rendition of the aria?"

Pansy paused as if to dwell over the idea and then broke out into a beaming smile. "If my mangers wish it," She said.

"Oh, yes of course we do," Black said hurriedly.

Pansy nodded and turned to the orchestra pit. "Maestro Dumbledore?" She asked.

"If my diva commands," The old man sighed irately.

"Yes, I do!" Pansy snapped marching to the front of the stage. Everyone quickly moved away from her to the backstage knowing that Pansy hated to have anyone around her when she sang solos.

As she began to sing Neville did his best not to cringe. If it wasn't for the fact that Carlotta was the only person able to sing the part of leading soprano then he was sure she would have been replaced by now.

Trying to find something else to concentrate on instead of Pansy's singing he brought his attention upward to see the scaffolding shaking slightly. No one was there however which confused him.

Suddenly a loud crash filled the air making his head snap back down to see what had happened. He gasped at the sight before him.

The background had fallen and landed on top of Pansy pinning her legs to the ground.

She began to hammer her fists on the ground screaming to be helped up. Black and Lupin rushed to do so and with the help of some stagehands they were able to get the background of her and help her to her feet.

"Finnegan!" Fudge called up to the young man standing on the scaffolding. "What happened?"

"I don't know, sir!" Seamus said as he pulled the background back up. "I wasn't at my post!"

"It must have been the Phantom!" Ginny gasped.

"Phantom?" Black snorted. "There's no such thing!"

Lupin meanwhile was rushing over to comfort Pansy again. "My lady," He said, "these accidents do happen."

His words only proved to anger Pansy even further. "Accidents?" She shouted. "For the past three years these 'accidents' do happen!" "And did you do anything about them?" She asked Fudge who had gone pale. "No!" "And you two!" She snapped at Black and Lupin. "You are as bad as him!" "Until you stop these things from happening, this thing does not happen!" She said angrily pointing at herself. "Goodbye!" She said. She then stormed off the stage for good.

"This is horrible!" Lupin said. "How can we have opening night tonight without our star?"

"Doesn't she have an understudy?" Black asked.

"An understudy for Pansy?" Dumbledore said. "She'd never allow it!"

Black turned to Lupin his face full of panic. "We'll have to refund a full house, Remus!" He said. "A full house!"

"If you need me, I shall be in Australia," Fudge said, patting Black and Lupin on the back before leaving.

As Black threw up his hands in desperation McGonagall approached Lupin and him with something in her hand. "I have a letter from the Opera Ghost," She said holding it out to them.

"There are no such things as ghosts," Black said. Madame McGonagall ignored him and opened the envelope to pull out the letter inside.

"He welcomes you to his opera house…" She read.

"His opera house?" Black asked in an annoyed tone but Madame McGonagall ignored him and read on.

"And reminds you to leave Box 5 empty for his use," She said pointing to the box with her cane. "Oh and his salary is due."

"His salary?" Lupin said his voice starting to sound as irate as Black's.

"Well Monsieur Fudge paid him twenty thousand francs a month," Madame McGonagall said calmly slipping the letter back into its envelope.

"Twenty thousand francs?" Black cried in outrage. "That's insane!" He seized the letter from Madame McGonagall and tore it in two throwing the pieces on the ground. "What would an opera ghost even want with such a salary?" He demanded. "And why should we allow him usage of one of the best boxes? Has anyone ever even seen him use it?" He seemed to become even more enraged when no one answered him.

"Well there's no point in having rehearsals now," He said, "unless we can find someone to sing Pansy's part."

As if they were moving on their own accord Neville's feet moved forward and much to his shock he found himself saying, "I can sing it."

"Who said that?" Lupin asked turning with Black.

Neville wanted nothing more then to shrink back into the shadows but his body seemed to have another plan in mind as his arm raised itself up into the air. "I did, sir," He said still with no idea what he was doing. "I can sing her parts. I know them all by heart."

Black gave him a stern look. "This is no time for jokes boy," He said.

"But I'm not joking!" Neville said.

Black rolled his eyes and began to turn away. In desperation Neville tried to think of a way to make him stop and only one idea came to him.

He opened his mouth and to his and everyone else's surprise a beautiful voice could be heard pouring past those lips.

"Think of me, think of me fondly when we've said goodbye.

Remember me every so often, promise me you'll try."

He continued to sing the aria becoming so lost in the song that he hardly noticed everyone's shocked faces.

Once Neville had finished Lupin rushed up to him. "How are you able to sing like that?" He asked.

"I don't know," Neville said. "I've always sung like that."

"Shocking!" Black said walking over to join Lupin. "Such a beautiful voice should only belong to a girl." "Actually come to think of it," He said looking Neville up and down, "you do look an awful lot like one."

Neville blushed instantly. "I do not!" He said.

"No, no that's a good thing!" Black said.

"It is?" Lupin asked giving Black a confused look.

"Yes it is!" Black said grinning madly. "Just think of it Lupin with his feminine features it will take hardly any work at all to make him look like a woman and then we'll have our leading soprano!"

Realization dawned on Lupin's face and he began to grin as well. "Your right!" He said. "It's perfect!"

"Wait a second!" Neville said. "I never agreed to this!"

"But you have to agree!" Lupin said. "You're the only one who can save this opera house from disaster."

Looking at the mangers pleading faces Neville found his resolve breaking away and he sighed.

"Fine," He said, "I'll do it."

Black took his hand and shook it so hard that it ached when he released it. "Thank you so much!" He said. "What's your name?"

"Neville Longbottom," Neville said.

"Hm…that won't do," Black said, "we'll have to call you Naomi Longs when you're onstage. Now we'll need to get you ready. Somebody get a wig! And fit him for all of the costumes!"

Before Neville knew what was happening he was surrounded by Pansy's seamstresses who dragged him offstage well babbling quickly how best to do his transformation into a woman.