Fancy That
Severus gets an earworm.
Masquerade! Paper faces on parade...Hide your face, so the world will never find you…
The words thrummed in my head as I marked yet another abysmal potions essay. Why we didn't teach children the basics of writing as part of the Hogwarts curriculum was beyond me.
Why those damned song lyrics kept fluttering around in my mind was also beyond me. I'd seen Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical when it had first come out, of course - my love of Muggle musicals was yet another secret of mine. At least it was a pleasant one.
Lily had enjoyed musicals, too. She would have loved Phantom of the Opera.
I studiously ignored the obvious parallels in the plotline and my own love life. I may not have had a hideous countenance physically, but I was tolerated at best and loathed at worst.
I'd come to terms with it sometime back, at one of those interminable staff meetings where Albus twinkled benevolently down at us all. The patronizing bastard. But I'll give him this: he knew how to use the strengths of his pawns. And I was so damned good at deception. Especially now, after so much practice.
My arm began to burn in that familiar, insidious way. Speak of the devil. Duty called.
Masquerade! Seething shadows, breathing lies...Masquerade! You can fool any friend who ever knew you!
I shook my head, trying to dislodge the melody of it. Persistent little tune. I'd have to occlude like hell so His Murderousness didn't overhear. I suspected he'd be less than tolerant of Muggle musical lyrics.
Well, unless he harbored a Muggle musical secret of his own. You never knew with him.
Images of Voldemort bursting into Muggle song in front of his minions flooded my thoughts for a surreal moment. I choked out a small laugh before I caught hold of myself.
Occluding like hell - yes, that was a very good plan.