It was the opening night of Don Juan Triumphant and Neville did his best to not let his fear show in his appearance as he watched the performance from the wings. The outfit that he had been forced to wear for the night was highly revealing and he didn't feel comfortable in it at all.
The audience seemed slightly unnerved as they watched the opera unfold and Neville couldn't really blame them for this was nothing like anything the Opera Populaire had ever put on before. And the fact that there were police positioned everywhere probably didn't help matters.
Neville glanced up at Box Five where Harry was sitting despite his desperate pleas that he sit with the mangers instead. Harry was determined to confront Severus if he tried to sit in his usual seat and it was just such a confrontation that Neville feared.
Neville turned his attention back to the stage when he heard Pettigrew utter his last line before disappearing behind the black curtains behind him. He took a deep breath to calm himself and made his way out onto the stage.
"No thoughts within her head
But thoughts of joy
No dreams within her heart
But dreams of love."
Because he was facing the audience, Neville didn't see the person who emerged from the black curtain, but the voice that came next told him everything that he needed to know.
"Go away, for the trap is set
And waits for its prey."
Forcing himself to keep his face blank, Neville glanced over his shoulder.
Sure enough, it was Severus standing there in Don Juan's costume and as soon as Neville locked eyes with him, he found it impossible to look away.
Severus's eyes narrowed and a sneer curled on to his lips that sent shivers down Neville's spin as the man made his way his way towards him.
"You have come here
In pursuit of that wish
Which till now
Has been silent
Silent."
Neville did his best to fight against it, but Severus's voice was intoxicating and he was losing himself in it.
"I have brought you
That your passions may fuse and merge
In your mind
You've already succumbed to me
Dropped all defenses
Completely succumbed to me
Now you are here with me
No second thoughts
You've decided
Decided."
Severus slowly began to circle Neville, his voice taking on a more deeper and seductive tone.
"Past the point of no return
No backward glances
Our games of make-believe
Are at an end
Past all thought of 'if' or 'when'
No use resisting
Abandon thought
And let the dream descend."
Suddenly Severus's arm snapped around Neville's waist and pulled the boy back against his chest. Neville could feel the man's warm breath on his neck and his legs grew weak.
"What raging fire shall flood the soul?
What rich desire unlocks its door?
What sweet seduction lies before us?"
Just as quickly as Severus had grabbed Neville, he released him, leaving the boy to stagger away from him as he tried desperately to bring his thoughts back to normal.
"Past the point of no return
What warm, unspoken secrets
Will we learn?
Beyond the point of no
Return."
Neville shook his head, trying to clear his mind of that overpowering voice. His eyes moved up to Harry in his box and he slowly felt himself calming.
"You have brought me
To that moment when words run dry
To that moment when speech disappears
Into silence
Silence
I have come here
Hardly knowing the reason why
In my mind I've already imagined
Our bodies entwining
Defenseless and silent."
He turned to Severus now who was watching him through narrowed eyes. His glance at Harry must have made him suspicious and Neville made his voice soft and convincing to relax him.
"Now I am here with you
No second thoughts
I've decided
Decided."
It had its desired effect and Severus's eyes flashed with an almost disbelieving hope that made Neville feel horrible for he knew that he would be crushing that feeling very soon. Pushing his feelings aside, he launched into song again and moved towards Severus.
"Past the point of no return
No going back now
Our passion play
Has now at last begun
Past all thought of right or wrong
One final question
How long should we two wait
Before we're one?"
Neville placed his hands on Severus's chest where he could feel the man's heart thumping wildly against his palms, and leaned I close to him as he sang the next lines.
"When will the blood begin to race?
The sleeping bud burst into bloom?
When will the flames at last
Consume at us?"
Severus's voice rose to join with Neville's now and the audience members watched on in amazement as the most beautiful and alluring sound reached their ears.
"Past the point of no return
The final threshold
The bridge is crossed
So stand and watch it burn
We've passed the point of no
Return."
As the song ended Neville let his hands slip away from Severus's chest, but he didn't pull away from his face. He simply stood there staring up into those dark eyes as if hypnotized until he heard a soft voice.
"Say you'll share with me
One love
One lifetime
Lead me, save me
From my solitude
Say you want me with you
Here beside you."
Neville's eyes widened as Severus grabbed his hand and clutched it tightly, eyes full of a desperate pleading that broke his heart.
He was so focused on the man before him, however, that he failed to realize that someone that disappeared from their seat.
"Anywhere you go
Let me go too
Neville
That's all I ask of—"
But he was cut short as a hand suddenly shot out from behind him and wrenched the mask from his face.
An almighty mass of screams broke loose from the audience as everyone stared in horror at Severus's horrible deformity.
Severus spun around to find Harry there, holding the mask with a triumphant look on his face. With a furious roar, he knocked Harry to the ground and grabbed Neville before the boy could run. Then with one hard kick, the floor beneath him gave way and Neville and him disappeared from sight.
Harry rushed over to where the two had been, but the hole that they had disappeared through had returned to its original stage floor.
He threw his fist up in the air only to have it be caught in someone's hand. He turned to find himself face to face with Madame McGonagall. Hermione and Ginny were besides her, trying frantically to console one another.
"Where did he take him?" Harry demanded.
McGonagall released his hand, her face solemn as she tried to decide what to do. Finally she let out a sigh. "I swore not to betray his trust," She murmured, "but he has gone too far." She fixed Harry in her firm gaze. "Come with me, Monsieur," She said. "I will take you to him. But remember, keep your hand at the level of your eyes!"
"Let us come with you!" Hermione said, grabbing onto her mother's arm. Ginny nodded curtly at her side, eyes determined.
McGonagall pulled herself away from Hermione's hold and shook her head. "No!" She said sharply. "It is not safe for you two! You must stay here!"
And before Hermione or Ginny could retaliate, she grabbed Harry's hand and hurried him away.
Neville had never seen Severus in a rage such as this and he cowered away from him in the gondola as he rowed him into his lair, his voice angry and broken as it bounced off the cavern's walls.
"Down once more to the dudgeons
Of my black despair
Down we plunge to the prison
Of my mind
Down that path into darkness
Deep as hell!"
They hit the edge of the cavern with a hard thud and Severus jumped out into his lair, dragging Neville along with him.
"Why you ask, was I bound and chained
In this cold unfeeling place?
Not for any mortal sin
But the wickedness of my abhorrent face!"
Neville tried desperately to pull his wrist free form Severus's grasp, but the grip tightened painfully as Severus pulled Neville to him.
"Hounded out by everyone
Met with hatred everywhere
No kind words from anyone
No compassion anywhere
Neville…"
His face broke down into misery now and he began to tremble in front of Neville. "Why?" He demanded, shaking Neville roughly by the shoulders. "Why did you do this to me?"
Neville's lips began to quiver and he shook his head. "I'm sorry," He whispered. "I didn't mean for things to turn out this way. I never meant to hurt you. Not like this…"
Severus turned from him, his head hanging low, and released Neville from his hold.
Neville sunk to the ground and curled up into a ball, sobbing into his knees. He remained that way until something brushed softly against his face. He looked up to see Severus there, holding a beautiful white garment in his arms. As Severus unfolded it he realized with horror that it was a wedding dress.
"Put this on," Severus said quietly.
"What?" Neville gasped.
"I told you what would happen if you betrayed me," Severus said evenly. "You will never be allowed to leave me again. Now put the dress on. We are going to be married."