The Moonlight Noon Chateau

The Moonlight Noon Chateau

By Hippy Gypsy

Disclaimer: Yes! JK Rowling owns Harry Potter. I own the Moonlight Noon Chateau. And Moulin Rouge owns "El Tango de Roxanne" and "Lady Marmalade". I'm staying short and sweet this time, aren't I Sammy? [Sammy nods] Hehehe…good!

Chapter 8: Goofing Off!

Meanwhile, back downstairs in the main room of the Moonlight Noon, Antonio came strolling out of his office in the back of the club. In one hand he carried a camera, and in the other a large portfolio. Devine looked up. "What's that Antonio?"

Antonio put down the portfolio. "My personal history of the Moonlight Noon Chateau from the day I opened it," he announced proudly. He flipped the booklet open. It was an old photo album. Everyone gathered around.

Minerva gasped at the first picture she saw. "Good lord! That's me!" And there she was, at sixteen years old, and that same old smile on her face. "Is this opening night Antonio?"

Antonio nodded and turned the page. "I have quite a few of you Minerva. Ha! I remember this all too well!" The picture was of her and Antonio dancing in the middle of the floor.

Minerva sighed. "Papa took that picture then, didn't he?"

"I suspect so."

Trelawney smiled. "You were so pretty Min."

Sammy leaned back in his chair. He had had a bit too much wine where his mouth was concerned. "Pretty nothing. She was a babe! And she had nice legs. Still does actually, far as I can tell!"

Minerva blushed deep red, Rachel slapped her hand over Sammy's mouth, and the rest of the group burst into laughter. Minerva ignored this remark and continued to flip through the book. She suddenly gasped. "Oh my god!" She pulled the book forward.

"What is it Minerva?" said Hagrid looking over her shoulder.

"It's Robert," she whispered smiling. "This has to be the night we first met. Yes it is! There's Oliver at his side." She pointed to the picture of herself and two younger men, who were all waving from the picture. Oliver's smile easily identified him, and the other man had to be Robert, Minerva's late husband. She turned to the next page, but she just glanced at it, and suddenly snapped the book shut. "Oh no…"

Antonio burst into laughter.

"What is it?"

"Nothing," Minerva replied going scarlet in the face once more.

"Nothing my rear," said Oliver. He suddenly pulled the book away from her and opened it up to the page where she left off. He gasped and laughed. "Holy cow! The Marmalade!"

Everyone looked over Minerva's shoulder. She truly looked like a different person in the picture. Her deep raven hair hung down her back in curls. She wore a beautiful black dress that was backless, and diamonds around her neck. A black top hat sat on top of her head and a layer of black lace fell gently over the side. She was gorgeous and wild!

"Wooo…Min," said Trelawney in awe.

"I know, I know," Minerva replied. "But it was the Marmalade, and it's the way the song goes… He met Marmalade down at ol' Moonlight Noon, strutting her stuff on the street… It's just the way the song is."

"So what's the chance of seeing you in costume like that again?" said Antonio with a chuckle.

"Slim to nil," she replied quickly.

"Actually," said Evan's voice from the piano. Everyone turned to him. "It takes five women to perform the Marmalade, and we're two short." Minerva didn't like where this was going. "And it's happening in a couple of weeks…you'll be here still then, won't you Min?"

"No way Evan," she said instantly and flatly.

"C'mon Minerva, we need your help."

She sighed. She thought for a long moment then looked back at him with a smile. "I can't. I have no costume!"

Oliver laughed out loud. "Min, you lie! We saved that dress, remember?"

She suddenly looked up at him and dragged her index finger across her throat. This only made him laugh more.

"Please Min?" said Evan. "Don't make me beg."

"Diva shall rise again Minerva and you know it!" said Sammy.

Minerva had an inward battle for a moment or two, and quite suddenly, in a rare moment, her wild side won. "Alright. Fine. I'll do it. I'm going to regret it later, but I'll do it!"

The Moonlight Noon people cheered as Evan added Minerva's name to the performance list. She decided to ignore this and continue to page through the pages of the album. "I can't believe it! Oliver! It's your performance!"

Oliver looked at the book. "Well, I'll be…Roxanne. Who knew?"

"Who's Roxanne?" asked Hagrid.

"No, no," said Oliver with a smile. "It's not who. It's what. When I took my test, the piece I created was called 'El Tango de Roxanne'. I'll explain. Here. Look at the picture."

Minerva was again in this picture. She stood down in front of the runway in black robes and her face all distraught. Oliver was in the background with a faint spotlight on himself. He looked as though someone had died. And at stage right was a woman with a look of terror on her face.

"Roxanne is that woman in the back," Oliver said. "The story goes that a wealthy man fell in love with her, but she was from the street. So he obviously mistook her for…uh…a strumpet per say. Well, Roxanne's mother, played by Minerva, was very distressed by this news, because years ago, that is how she acquired Roxanne…by a stranger. Now her lover, played by myself, is drunk with rage, for he fears that Roxanne no longer loves him. But in reality, Roxanne plans to teach the man a lesson on life. And with in that act, he loses it. Roxanne murders him in the end." He smiled.

Albus, Trelawney, and Hagrid all listened with rapt attention, but Sybill was only able to answer with one word: "Cool!"

Minerva looked to Antonio. "Do we still have the music to that?"

"Are you kidding?" he replied with a chuckle. "People still request that one to this day."

She jumped up. "Let's perform it! Right here and now!"

"Yes!" Oliver agreed. He waved his wand in the air and two black cloaks appeared. He threw one on and handed the other to Minerva.

"Hey!" said Devine. "I want to play too!" Her, Sammy, and Little Rock ran up on stage.

Evan flicked his wand and suddenly the air was filled with music. The whole group of them began to dance in a slow gothic tango.

Minerva

Roxanne!

You don't have to put on that red light

Walk the streets for money

You don't care if it's wrong or if it's right

Roxanne!

You don't have to wear that dress tonight

Roxanne!

You don't have to sell your body to the night!

And Oliver began to sing in low despair.

Oliver

His eyes upon your face

His hand upon your hand

His lips caress your skin

It's more than I can stand!

Where does my heart lie? (Minerva and chorus: Roxanne!)

Feelings I can't fight? (Minerva and chorus: Roxanne!)

Minerva and Oliver

You're afraid to leave me

But just don't deceive me

And please believe me when I say

I love you…

It was at that point that Sammy and Prima Donna assumed the roles of Roxanne and the Rich Man. It started as a small tango, but ultimately ended when she pulled out a fake gun and shot him in the heart. Fake blood ran from Sammy's chest as he fell to the floor.

Minerva

Roxanne! You don't have to put on that red light (Oliver and chorus: Where does my heart lie?)

You don't have to wear that dress tonight (Oliver and chorus: Feelings I can't fight?)

Roxanne! You don't have to put on that red light (Oliver and chorus: Where does my heart lie?)

Roxanne! You don't have to wear that dress tonight (Oliver and chorus: Feelings I can't fight?)

Minerva

Roxanne!

Oliver and chorus

O o o o o o o o!

Minerva

Roxanne!

Oliver and chorus

O o o o o o o o!

Minerva

Why?

Oliver and chorus

O o o o o o o o!

Minerva

Roxanne!

Oliver and chorus

O o o o o o o o!

All

O!

Everyone burst into applause on stage. Minerva began to laugh. "Oh my god! I haven't sung that song in years!"

"Brava!" shouted Dumbledore. Hagrid and Sybill cheered with delight.

Little Rock hopped off the stage. "Hey! Tiffany! Where's Carlotta? She's usually the one who plays Roxanne."

Tiffany searched around for a moment. "Quite honestly, I don't know."

"Hey! Snape's gone missin' too," said Hagrid suddenly.

"Went to the roof, both of them," said Sammy as he came off stage. "Snape saw her leave so he followed her."

Dumbledore looked at Sammy as the boy took another sip of wine. "Severus is with Carlotta? When?"

Sammy checked his pocket watch. "A while now. I'd figure they'd be back by now."

"Oh dear…"

Antonio looked up. "You're not worried are you Dumbledore? I mean, Snape's a good man, isn't he?"

"Yes he is. He's loyal, intelligent…"

"And his heart?"

Dumbledore sighed. "I'm his heart may have taken a severe beating once. But Carlotta…"

Oliver looked up back from his place behind the bar. "Don't worry. Carlotta's a good girl." He smiled.

"Of course I am," came Carlotta's voice. "Who said I wasn't?" Her and Severus came from behind the stage curtain, hand and hand. But she let go and walked towards the bar area.

"No body, sweet pea," Oliver replied.

"And where have you two been?" Minerva asked with an eyebrow raised and a smirk on her lips.

Severus gave her one of his looks that plainly said none of your business.

Carlotta crossed her arms. "We were talking on the roof. No harm in that."

Sammy smirked and choked back laughter into his wine glass. "No…none at all."

Carlotta glared at him and jabbed him hard in the stomach. Sammy gasped as the win was knocked out of him. "What was that Slick?" Carlotta asked threateningly.

Sammy slowly rose from his seat. "I think I'll go to bed…" With that he left.

Carlotta yawned. "I'm going up too. I didn't sleep well last night. Sweet dreams everyone." She followed Sammy's direction, but as she passed Severus, he stopped her, took her hand and kissed it. She smiled and walked up the steps to her room.

As Severus turned around, he found everyone looking at him and smirking. "WHAT?!"

Note from the Hippy Gypsy: I really hate this chapter, but anyways, it's here. The action's gonna pick up next chapter as we meet the Diamond Dogs!…wait! I mean the Death Eaters…well in here, they're both. But yeah…[reads page over] I really hate this chapter…