Disclaimer: See prior chapters.

Title: Musical Maladies

Chapter 7: Dancing Through Life

Summary: Hogwarts is thrown into chaos as students and professors alike are cursed to sing and reenact the lives of those who lived before them.

Again, Sorryfor making you wait so long! I wrote this in two days so if something doesn't flow, let me know.

The next day the cursed students met with Professor Snape one on one to determine thier mental and emotional state. His desk was piled high with files and haphazardly stacked books. While everyone was hesitant to speak with him in general this was worse than usual. Everyone was quick to assure Snape they were fine… if only to leave sooner.

Pansy used this time to fill in her mentor.

"Something's going on. Something big."

Snape lifted an eyebrow.

Pansy pursed her lips and leaned forward. "It goes beyond all this singing nonsense. I feel like I've been lied to my whole life. This is serious."

"What is it?" Snape said, while concern for his student, his Slytherin, built up.

"House elves can talk." Pansy placed her fist to her mouth.

"What."

Pansy mistook his statement as a question. She removed her hand long enough to speak before putting it on her mouth again after each phrase, eyes wide. "They can speak. Sentences. Sing even. And Professor-they have babies under the floorboards!"

Snape leaned back in his chair and sneered. "I refuse to comment on your more Gryffindor sentiments but am I to assume that a house elf has been affected?"

Pansy rolled her eyes. "Yes. Granger and Draco's disgraced house elf- Moopy or something, sang."

Snape waited for a second or two before prompting her. "About…?"

"Something bad happening in oz that they needed to tell the Wizard about." Pansy said, leaning forward. "But then Granger got really weird and distant and well… ok so only slightly worse than normal. But it still gave me the creeps."

"The house elf or Granger?" Snape jeered.

"The house elf, of course." Pansy sniffed and turned to the side. "And Granger."

Snape nodded to himself and sighed. "There are many things outside of your comfort zone. It would do you well to seek them out while under a curse that you can conveniently blame."

"What are you suggesting?" Pansy asked. "Join Granger's spewing campaign? Unlikely."

"Simply learn from this experience. That's all I can ask." Snape looked at the time and scowled. "I have papers to grade. Time for you to do whatever it is a Head Girl does besides complain."

"I do a lot more than complain." Pansy said gathering her stuff. "Being a Head Girl requires responsibility and determination and cool headedness."

"So I see." Snape said. Someone knocked on the door. He waved Pansy to stay. "Insufferable mis… Come in!"

Sure enough the bane of Snape's existence popped his head into the office. "Is now a good time?" Potter asked.

"No." Snape glared. "What do you want?"

"Umm…." Potter looked at Pansy as though expecting her to leave.

In response, Pansy settled back down in her seat. Snape breathed deeply before saying, "Whatever you have to say can be said with the head girl here. Just come in."

Potter looked behind him and, with a small shrug, walked into the office with Granger and Weasley behind him. Snape growled, "Did you bring all of Gryffindor with you?"

Potter looked pointedly at Granger who cleared her throat. "We think Slytherin's library is in the Chamber of Secrets."

Pansy turned round in her chair eyes wide. "Slytherin's what is in the chamber of where now?"

"It's none of your concern," Snape drawled. "Its time you go."

Pansy looked back at her head of house. He stared straight ahead at the trio. She would have expected this from Professor McGonagall but never her head of house. Doubt and anger swirling in her stomach as Pansy licked her lips and said softly, "According to Head Position decree, head boys and girls are allowed to oversee meetings between students and faculty should they suspect dire circumstances. I am invoking my right. Someone tell me what is going on."

An awkward silence filled the office. Looking around the room Pansy saw the Weasel smirking and Granger frowning at her. Potter was looking ahead at her head of house who had yet to say anything. Pansy turned her gaze to the floor and stood.

Pansy made it to the door before her head of house stopped her. "Miss Parkinson-"

"Good day professor."

Making her way out of the office, Pansy wondered how long her head of house had shared his opinion with the other professors. Her position was a sham and above all things she was a Slytherin who could not be trusted.

Pansy found Draco in the Great Hall. The hall was mostly clear though a handful of people were still eating.

"Where have you been?" he asked as she haphazardly filled her plate. "What's wrong?"

"It would be so easy, Draco." She said stabbing some potatoes. "To hate all of them and be done with it."

"Pansy-" Draco sighed. "Mug-"

"You too." Pansy said disgusted. She cut through her chicken violently. "What's it matter if you can't catch a break?"

"I didn't mean…"

"I know exactly what you were going to say Draco." She speared a piece of chicken. "Is it so hard to believe that I have a problem with people other than muggleborns or whatever the hell I'm supposed to call them."

Draco put his hand on hers. "I'm sorry. Tell me what happened."

"The Gryffindorks think Slytherin's library is in the Chamber of Secrets and went to Snape about it." Pansy said using her other hand to drink some pumpkin juice. "That's all."

Draco froze. "Willingly? Why him?"

"Cursed if I know. Rather I don't." Pansy said quietly. "Snape asked me to leave and then refused to say anything after I invoked my rights as Head Girl."

"No." Draco said. "Please tell me he had more sense than that."

"The trio waltzed right in during my meeting and he let them. He said anything they had to say could be said with the head girl there and then took it away two seconds later."

"You know he has to be kicking himself right now." Draco said. "He was probably trying to protect you in his own way."

"Really?" Pansy said sarcastically. "Or is it because Father's meeting the rat this weekend or because of my green tie? It certainly wasn't because I'm Head Girl."

"You don't mean that." Draco said.

Pansy turned and looked him right in the eyes. "If it was anyone else they would have been called out of class to hear what was going on."

"I'm sorry." Draco shook his head. They both knew she meant Granger. "The trouble with schools is they always try to teach the wrong lessons."

Draco frowned and pointed a finger at her. "Believe me, I've been kicked out of enough of them to know."

"They want you to become less callow, less shallow," Draco sang. If for nothing else what his person had to sing made sense. He shrugged his shoulders, "But I say: why invite stress in? Stop studying strife and learn to live the unexamined life."

By this point those around him had noticed his singing and the hall quickly quieted down. After watching all the memories yesterday Draco decided that if they had to sing they might as well have some fun with it.

"Dancing through life, skimming the surface, gliding where turf is smooth," He winked at Pansy. "Life's more painless, for the brainless. Why think too hard, when it's so soothing?"

Pansy laughed slightly as Draco processed what he sang. It looks like his person was an airhead too. Draco couldn't stop singing but was glad that this might take her mind off of what happened. "Dancing through life. No need to tough it, when you can slough it off as I do.

That's true," Draco chimed in before singing again. "Nothing matters, but knowing nothing matters. Its just life so keep dancing through."

Deciding that if this song was going to be about dancing, Draco performed a spell that his mother had made to create music with whatever you were singing. He stood and offered Pansy his hand.

"Dancing through life, swaying and sweeping, and always keeping cool. Common Pansy. Dance w-" Draco, while interrupted by his own singing, dragged her up and bowed. "Life is fraught-less, when you're thoughtless. Those who don't try, never look foolish."

"Dancing through life, mindless and careless." And they were off. Someone, he expected Dumbledore, charmed the tables and benches to rise, taking the students up with them. "Make sure you're where less trouble is rife."

"Woes are fleeting, blows are glancing when you're dancing through life." Thinking he was done singing, he stopped their dance even though the music kept going. He opened his mouth to comment on the absurdity of the situation and instead said, "So - what's the most swankified place in town?"

Pansy laughed and then rolled her eyes when she said, "That would be the Ozdust Ballroom."

"Sounds perfect." Draco shook his head trying not to laugh at her tone. "Let's go down to the Ozdust Ballroom."

We'll meet there later tonight." Draco raised his eyebrows suggestively and laughed when she hit his shoulder. "We can dance till it's light, find the prettiest girl, give 'er a whirl.

Pansy could not control her shriek as he did just that. He kept singing. "Right on down to the Ozdust Ballroom, come on - follow me. You'll be happy to be there."

Looking around they saw all those affected with the curse and some seemed to have gathered in the great hall. Those that had been sitting were up above on the stood looking down at them. They all sang, "Dancing through life, down at the Ozdust."

"If only because dust is what we come to!" Draco sang. "Well that's kind of morbid."

"Nothing matters, but knowing nothing matters." The group sang again. "It's just life."

"So keep dancing through." Draco completed. He grimaced. "Wow. That sucked."

"It gets worse and easier each time." Pansy said. "Are we done? What is this spell?"

"Music's still playing so I doubt it." Draco answered. "It's a spell mother used to use. I sent her an owl about what's happening and tweaked the spell she sent me. It's working great so far."

Someone tapped Pansy on the shoulder. Turning around Pansy saw the weasel, face bright red from holding his breath about to turn blue. Pansy stepped back into Draco and said, "Just let it out Weasley. It'll come out no matter how much you hold it in."

Letting out all his air and sucking in gulps Weasley said, "Miss Galinda - I hope - you'll save - at least one - dance for me. - I'll be right there. - Waiting. - All night."

Pansy was so shocked that Galinda's part took over. "Oh - that's so kind. But you know what would be even kinder?"

It seemed as though the less they fought it the harder the grip of the curse became. Pansy pointed up to the Gryffindor table. "See that tragically beautiful girl, the one in the chair? It seems so unfair-we should go on a spree and not she… "

"Gee… I know someone would be my hero…" Ron looked wide-eyed between Pansy and the girl up on the bench. Pansy sang, "If that someone were… to go invite her."

The bench slowly moved down to the ground. Lavender Brown squeaked as it hit the floor.

Ron pointed at Lavender and himself. "Well, maybe - I could invite her!"

"Oh, Bick, really?" Pansy batted her eyelashes. This was simply Slytherin. Maybe Glinda wasn't all that bad… or good… after all. "You would do that for me?"

Ron took a step back from the Slytherin frowning. "I would do anything for you, Miss Galinda."

Ron stumbled when he hit the bench and sat down bumping into Lavender. Instead of bracing herself, she fell off the bench.

Ron reached out and caught her and managed to get her back on the bench with some difficulty.

"I can't feel my legs." She said looking down at them. "They wont- my legs!"

Hermione made her way to the bench and performed a diagnostic spell. "Its okay Lavender, hold on a second."

Pansy turned to face Draco, the music still playing. "So...ab-"

"So I'll be picking you up around eight?" Draco interrupted.

"After all-" Pansy said. Seemingly unaffected by everything she sang, "Now that we've met one another."

Draco joined her. "It's clear we deserve each other!"

They laughed. Pansy wiped something from her eye and said, "You're perfect."

Draco nodded at her. "You're perfect."

"So we're perfect together. Born to be forever." This was no longer funny for either of them. Pansy and Draco stopped smiling and looked at each other. "Dancing through life."

Meanwhile Hermione completed the test and said, "Its only the spell. You should be fine after it wears off."

"Only the spell?" Freaking out slightly, Lavender said, "Oh, Elphaba - isn't it wonderful?"

Patting her back reassuringly, Hermione nodded and said. "It's ok. You're going to be fine."

Lavender shook her head and pointed at her legs. "Finally, for this one night, I'm about to have a fun night with this Munchkin boy Galinda found for me and I only wish there were something I could do for her to repay her Elphaba, see?"

We deserve each other and Galinda helped it come true. We deserve each other, me and Boq." Lavender sang eyes wide. It was pretty well known in the gossip world that Hermione and Ron liked each other. Legs or no legs, she felt terrible- "Please, Elphaba try to understand."

"I do." Hermione said, not particularly clear on what she understood.

Looking ahead, Hermione spoke to Pansy. "Listen, Glinda - Nessa and I were talking about you just now."

"And I was just talking about you!" Pansy quipped back. Sometimes this lovely goodie two shoes act was too much. Her hands found her wizarding hat in her robe and brought it out. "I thought you might want to wear this hat to the party tonight!"

It's really, uh, sharp, don't you think?" Pansy was indignant. She had the best wizarding hat money could buy. "You know black is this year's pink. You deserve each other- this hat and you. You're both so smart. You deserve each other so here, out of the goodness of my heart."

Pansy couldn't help but feel as though she was trying to pull a fast one on the Gryffindor. She went to put the hat away and the music started to skip. Pansy threw the hat at the girl and the music began again.

Sitting on the other side of Lavender, Ron said, "Listen, Nessa."

"Yes?" Lavender surprised herself by responding.

"Uh – Nessa. I've got something to confess, a reason why, well - why I asked you here tonight." Ron sang. He shook his head. This was ridiculous. "Now I know it isn't fair."

"You think?" Lavender pointed to her legs. At a loss for words the curse took over. "Oh, Boq, I know why."

"You do?"

"It's because I'm in this chair and you felt sorry for me. I feel sorry for me." Lavender said indignantly. "Well - isn't that right?"

"No! No! It's because, because," Ron sputtered. He sang, "Because you are so beautiful!"

Lavender giggled as Ron's voice echoed the hall. "Oh, Boq, I think you're wonderful!"

And we deserve each other, don't you see, this is our chance? We deserve each other don't we, Boq?" Lavender said, eyes wide. "This girl is crazy!"

"Probably. You know what?" Ron said. He sang again, catching himself off guard. "Let's dance."

"What?" Lavender exclaimed.

Ron twiddled his thumbs, not doing anything to support what he was singing. "Let's dance!"

"Dancing through life down at the Ozdust if only because dust is what we come to!" Around the hall everyone sang. "And the strange thing your life could end up changing while you're dancing through!"

The students quickly cleared to their common room to receive medical attention. Draco, Weasel and Brown moved into the tower and settled in quickly. As Hermione predicted Lavender's legs worked after the curse wore off. Other than that her legs were perfectly fine.

Like the night before, two girls got ready and went to bed without a sound.

Just as Pansy was drifting off, Granger said, "We're going to the Chamber of Secrets on Friday."

"Granger!" Pansy sat up quickly and turned on her light. "You can't keep doing this. You wait until I'm two seconds from falling asleep and you come out with some crazy revelation. If you have something to say just say it."

"Snape was wrong today." Hermione said looking up at the ceiling. "You should have stayed for the meeting."

Pansy huffed and fell back onto her bed. "There wouldn't have been a meeting if I stayed."

There was silence for a minute or two and Pansy sat up to turn out the light. Hermione looked over at her. "We need Snape to clear the Chamber of the basilisk toxins before we find the library."

"Are half your schemes apt to inflict harm or all of them?" Pansy asked sharply. "Why can't you leave anything to the fully trained witches and wizards?"

"We do what we have to do." Hermione said lying back down. "Harry needs to speak parseltongue to open the chamber and hopefully the library and Ron will be on guard in case something happens. They wouldn't know what to look for if it was right in front of them so I'm going as lookout."

"That's insane." Pansy said. She turned off the light and fell back onto her bed. "I'm going."

Hermione turned on her light. "For what?"

"It is Slytherin's chamber and library after all." Pansy said. "Besides Draco and I have experience with old magic thanks to our family."

"Malfoy too?" Hermione groaned and turned off her light.

"If I'm going he'll want to go." Pansy said, turning away from the girl and patting her pillow down. "He can help with the basilisk if nothing else."

"I'll talk to Harry and Ron then." Hermione said. "The sooner we get this over with the better."

Pansy sighed. "Are you done talking or is this going to turn into a sleep over where we talk about the various ways you three are going to get us killed?"

Hermione did not rise to the bait and drifted off. Pansy followed soon after, noting that the knot in her stomach was not as tight as before.