The Moonlight Noon Chateau
By Hippy Gypsy
Disclaimer: Sammy:[looks around for Hippy who isn't present, grins] I here by proclaim everything to be my property! Ya hear that Rowling? Hogwarts is mine! [Hippy Gypsy walks in and spots Sammy laughing like a maniac, taps him on the shoulder] Sammy: AHHHHHHHHH! [Sammy passes out]*
*Do I really need to write the disclaimer again? I'll save you the trouble and skip it this time, but "The Show Must Go On" belongs to Moulin Rogue. Happy reading!! J
Chapter 13: Fallen Angels, Broken HeartsWhen Carlotta made it back to her room, she slammed the door behind her and slumped to the ground. Tears began to pour from her eyes like rivers. A week ago, her worst fear had been being up in front of an audience, trying to sing. But now, her new fear was coming true. She was going to lose Severus.
Voldemort had told her to stay away from him, but how could she? She loved him dearly, and he in return her. But Carlotta knew he wouldn't hesitate to do something horrible to both of them if they broke the rules. God how she loved the man! She began to feel her heart break. "Oh no…" she sobbed and moaned. "Severus…Severus…"
A knock on the door disturbed her. "Go away!" she moaned.
But a commanding voice said, "It's Antonio, Carlotta. Open up this instant." She stood up and wiped her tears, but when she opened the door, Antonio took complete notice of her red eyes. "This is bad Carlotta," he said shutting the door behind him. "We have to get Snape away from the Moonlight Noon. If You-Know-Who finds him here-"
"What will he do?" Carlotta interrupted. Antonio went silent and just looked at her, but she snapped. "Dammit Safrin! What will he do?!"
Antonio took a deep breath and swallowed. "He's going to kill him, Carlotta," he whispered with a shrug. "He'll die."
She nodded in response and tears flowed from her eyes again. Antonio bowed his head and began wringing his hands.
"Shit!" he cursed. "Why's he here? What the hell does the dark lord want from us anyways?"
"I know," she whispered. Antonio stared at her. "He wants me to join up with the Death Eaters."
"Wh-What? Why?"
Carlotta wiped her tears and breathed, "Because my parents were members. That's why he followed me here, but I don't want to be one! I…I…oh lord, I didn't mean to involve you and the Chateau, Antonio…I didn't mean for this to happen."
When she began to sob again, Antonio wrapped his arms around her. "It's all right Carlotta," he told her gently. "I don't blame you. Not in the least…but we have to get Severus away."
"There's no help for it," Carlotta said. "He loves me too much. He won't listen if I sent him away. The only way to be rid of him was if I was dead (but that won't fool Monsieur Elddir) or if I told him I didn't love him any more, and-"
She stopped. A disturbing look of comprehension suddenly spread across Antonio's face. Carlotta knew exactly what he was thinking. "Oh no Antonio-"
"Yes. That's it!"
"Antonio! Please don't make me!"
"You must!" Antonio said gripping her shoulders. "Send him away Carlotta! Tell him you don't love him and Voldemort's given you everything!"
Tears streamed down her face, and Antonio eased up. "Break his heart to save his life," he whispered.
"He won't listen to me though," she replied. "He won't believe me."
"You're a great actress Carlotta! You can make any man believe anything you say!"
Carlotta took a deep breath and wiped her eyes. "And what of it? If I actually get rid of Severus, what will happen after Spectacular! Spectacular! with the dark lord?"
"We'll cross that bridge when we get there."
Carlotta sat on her bed and pondered for a long moment. "Fine…fine. Let Severus know I will see him tonight. I'll do it then."
"Then I'll let the rest of the Noon know." He looked at her for a moment, then left her.
For a long moment, Carlotta sat at her vanity and examined herself in the mirror. She looked different. She had changed. Severus had turned her into something more. Something beautiful, on the inside and out. She liked seeing herself in this kind of beauty…but it was about to change again. She began to whisper and sing to herself.
"Today's the day…when dreaming…ends…"
Before speaking to his staff about Spectacular! Spectacular!, Antonio met with Dumbledore and his whole crew. He told them nothing of his or Carlotta's meeting with Voldemort, only that it wasn't safe for any of them to stay in the Moonlight Noon Chateau anymore. He told them to move back to the inn where they were originally staying and to keep watch from a distance. Antonio would send news as everything developed. With that, Dumbledore, Minerva, Severus, Trelawney, and Hagrid left, Severus quite reluctantly.
Unlike the Hogwarts group, none of the Moonlight Noon gang was patient enough to hold their questions. As soon as Antonio had complete silence, he told them all about the sudden performance of Spectacular! Spectacular! and the dark lord's sudden obsession with Carlotta. Oliver, Sammy, and Evan all went blood red in the face, and it took the girls' every effort to keep them from running off to tryout the unforgivable curses on Voldemort and the Death Eaters.
Antonio, however, told them to keep their mouths shut, for fear of word getting out and getting killed by Voldemort, or getting fired right off by Antonio himself. With that, everyone went to work.
Antonio stayed hidden behind the grand curtain for a few moments and he deeply pondered what was happening to him and everyone he loved and held dear.
AntonioAnother hero
Another mindless crime
Behind the curtain
And the pantomime
He turned and stared at the back of the curtain with wonder, as if he was seeing it for the first time.
AntonioOn and on
Does anybody know
What we are living for?
He was quite sure he was alone backstage, but on the other side Tiffany, Little Rock, and Devine heard him, and began to chant along.
Antonio, Tiffany, Little Rock, and DevineWhatever happened
We leave it all to chance
Another heartache
Another failed romance
On and on
Does anybody know
What we are living for?
Antonio suddenly stepped through the stage and he was engulfed in limelight. Everyone of the Moonlight Noon watched as their mentor made his commands heard.
AntonioThe show must go on!
The show must go on!
Oliver, Sammy, and Evan brought up all their strength and their anger.
Antonio, Oliver, Sammy, Evan, Tiffany, Little Rock, and DevineOutside the dawn is breaking
On the stage
That holds our final destiny!
The show must go on!
The show must go on!
Antonio took a deep breath and turned knowingly to his crew. They all stared at him, their commander, looking for their next order.
Meanwhile, back in her room, Carlotta changed into her most sophisticated robes. Somehow, one of Diva's finest top hats found its way into her wardrobe. She placed it on her head and pulled its black lace over her tear stained eyes.
CarlottaInside my heart is breaking
My makeup maybe flaking
But my smile still stays on
She walked out of her room.
Downstairs, everything was developing nicely for Spectacular! Spectacular! All of them chanted as they worked.
ChorusThe show must go on!
The show must go on!
As the grand curtain closed, Carlotta stepped out into a bright spotlight and made her voice heard.
CarlottaI'll top the bill
I'll earn the kill
I have to find the will to carry
Carlotta and AntonioOn with the
On with the
On with the show!
"On with the show!" Antonio proclaimed to the entire Chateau. Carlotta stepped from the stage and headed to the main door. But as she past Antonio, she didn't even glance at him. He did, however, see her tears sliding gently down her face. As she made it to the door, Antonio called after her again, "On with the show!"
ChorusThe show must go on!
Severus turned quite suddenly when his door opened. He drew his wand and was relieved to see it was Carlotta instead of a Death Eater. But her face had a peculiar look to it behind its curtain of black lace. He raised an eyebrow gently and asked, "What's wrong?"
Carlotta gave him a soft smile and said, "I'm leaving."
Severus shook his head to clear it. "What?" he asked partially confused.
"I've spoken to the dark lord, Severus," she said, not breaking character at all. She was even smiling. "He's offered me everything. All that I've ever dreamed of…I'm leaving…I'm sorry." She turned to go, but Severus grabbed her by the arm and spun her back around.
He had gone completely white in a few short moments. She had never seen him look so mad. "That's not true," he whispered in disbelief. "What's the truth Carlotta?"
Carlotta's heart began to break, but she kept her face straight and looked into his eyes. "Here's the truth Severus," she told him. "The truth is that Voldemort was right all along. There is no good and evil…there is only power."
Carlotta turned to leave again, but as soon as she made it out into the hall of the hotel, Severus spun her back again, even harder than before. "That's not the truth!" he yelled. "Tell me!"
She began to fear for his sanity. "Severus!"
"Tell me the truth Carlotta! I want the truth!" he yelled. He shook her.
"Severus let me go! You're hurting me!"
"Hey! What the hell's going on out here?" suddenly came Trelawney's voice.
"THE TRUTH!!" Snape shrieked.
Suddenly, fearing for her life, Carlotta punched him right in the jaw with all her might. Severus fell back unconscious against the wall; the blow had been so great. Sybill ran to his side and bent down. She shook him trying to revive him.
"Severus? Severus? Are you all right?"
Looking in shock at what she had done, Carlotta turned silently and ran down the stairs just as Minerva and Hagrid came out of Albus' room. "Holy Christ! What happened?!" Minerva exclaimed.
"Carlotta knocked him out!" Sybill said in confusion.
"What?!" Minerva and Hagrid said at the same time.
"I know! I don't get it either!"
"What's all the hub bub?" Dumbledore said sticking his head out the door.
"Carlotta hit Snape pretty bad," Minerva said looking up. "He's out cold."
Albus had both eyebrows raised as he saw Snape. He was slumped against the wall, with his head sagging against his chest and a small river of blood leaking from his upper lip. His eyes were shut tight and he wasn't moving. "Get him into his room," Dumbledore said quietly. Everyone promptly picked him up and laid him on his bed. Sybill took his pulse just to make sure he was still alive. Minerva conjured up a wet rag and began dabbing Snape's forehead with it.
For nearly a half hour he did nothing, but then he began to toss and turn. His hand finally came up and grabbed his sore head. He opened his eyes carefully focused on everyone around him. Albus still had his bushy white eyebrows raised.
"Wh-what happened?" he whispered weakly. He carefully sat up holding the wet rag in place.
Sybill looked at Snape and gently shook her head. "I saw you and Carlotta arguing and then she smacked you and you went down hard. What was all that about Severus?"
"Carlotta?" Severus repeated quietly. He suddenly remembered what had happened and what his love had told him. Her…the dark lord…he wouldn't have it. He shook his head trying to get his marbles back and walked towards the door of his room.
"Severus? Where are you going?" Dumbledore asked.
He turned at the door and scowled. "To get back something I've lost." He slammed the door behind him.
Minerva suddenly turned to the rest of them. "What are the chances he's about to walk into a death trap at the Moonlight Noon?"
Albus nodded and looked to Hagrid and Trelawney. "Rubeus, Sybill, I need you to follow him and make sure he doesn't get himself killed. Minerva and I are too well known there. Watch yourselves."
Hagrid and Sybill nodded strongly and ran off to catch up with Severus.
Note from the Author: Wow! I'm working pretty quick for the amount of work I've had lately. There's only one problem…THE ONLY ONE REVIEWING IT IS DUMBOLDDORK!!! Come on peoples! I'd appreciate a review, even if the only thing you say is, "This is good" or "Great job." I would like a little criticism. [receives hug from Sammy]
