Cardcaptor Pandora
Episode XVII
The Magic of Music

The Time Card set everything back to the way it was the first evening of New Year's Eve, so when Dumbledore finished his speech and everyone shouted Happy New Year! and Pandora put her eggnog to her lips, it was too late before she remembered what last became of drinking eggnog at a New Year's party. So by the time Lauren trusted Pandora's judgement enough to let her stray from the Gryffindor girls' dormitory, Pandora was quite ready to kill a certain someone, and she had her colorguard flag from Smelting's to help her out.

Oh, Pandora, good morni- Draco began when he saw her, but stopped abruptly at the sight of the flag. He knew the hard way from summers at home when she still went to Smelting's what tortures she could do with that thing, and that was without trying. Um... yes... well... I'm glad to see that you're better and all, but I've got to run!

Draco Malfoy, you stop right there and face the consequences like a man or I'll shove this up your ass so far that you'll have to go to the Hospital Wing to get it removed and maybe they'll find your head while they're at it!

Either way, he knew the future held much pain for him, and he figured he had a bit more of a chance if he ran, so he took that option and shot off. They were close to the dungeons, and Snape was always down there regardless of whether or not school was in session. If he found Snape, he could probably get him to side with him, and maybe even get a few points docked from Gryffindor House for chasing Slytherins around with flagpoles and threatening to shove them up their asses. Somewhere along the way they passed McGonagall, but he knew better than to try to get help from her, because she'd probably dock both houses points and probably make up some pathetic excuse to dock more from Slytherins because Gryffindors are sick and twisted that way. ((Yeah, Draco, whatever. You just keep telling yourself that.))

There it was, the door to the Potions room in sight, and there was a dim light coming from under the crack which meant Snape had to be in there. Almost safe from certain death by sister....

The door swung open just as he reached out for the handle and he ran smack into Professor Snape. Oh, Professor, I'm sorry! I was just in such a hurry to get away from my crazy sister... She's trying to kill me!

Ah, good morning, Mr. Malfoy! Isn't it lovely, really? he said, the biggest grin on his face that could ever be imagined. It was even enough to make Pandora forget momentarily how much she wanted to beat her brother. Since you two wonderful students are here, would you mind helping me move some boxes into the Choir Room?

Choir Room?! the twins said in unison.

Yes! Choir Room! Isn't it wonderful, I'm starting a choir! And I know that you two are going to be anxious to join! he said with a wink, then turned back around into the Potions room humming.

Alright, now what did you put into Professor Snape's drink, hmm, Draco Malfoy? Pandora grumbled as they followed him.

I didn't do anything! Not this time!

A likely story...

Inside there were boxes full of sheet music of all genres. Pandora still couldn't believe that this was just something that Snape had been wanting to do with such a passion that it would make him so happy all of a sudden. Something had to be up, whether it involved Draco's scheming or not.

The Choir Room was in another part of the dungeon where no classes were held, but in a place like Hogwarts, there were bound to be a lot of unused rooms. It seemed to be a large room which reminded Pandora of a conference room, except it was all made of dark stone. Don't worry, Snape said, I'm going to put carpet in her and things on the wall to help make the sound better for us. You are planning on joining, aren't you? Both of the twins started immediately with excuses, but Snape continued saying, Oh yes, I neglected to mention that singing in the choir automatically give you ten extra credit points on any Potions assignment.

I'm in.
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Snape's Choir immediately became a new topic which buzzed all throughout the school. Naturally everyone was in it because everyone had miserable Potions grades (except for a select few like Hermione Granger, but Ron says the reason she didn't join was because she can't sing a note, but of course she won't admit it). There were two rehearsals a week. Starting at seven on Tuesday evenings the 1st through 3rd years would rehearse for 45 minutes and then would be joined by the 4th through 7th years for 15 minutes, and then would leave the older students to rehearse their harder music alone until 9:15 or so. Then on Thursday evenings, all of the boys met at seven and all of the girls met at eight.

At the first rehearsal everyone was still too stunned about what was happening to their Potions Master to know what to think. They were voiced and put into sections at that rehearsal with the help of Professor Everest, who was going to be the piano accompanist. In the younger choir, Holly was a soprano and Lauren was an alto--sort of. To be honest she could hardly carry a tune, but Snape needed more altos and so Lauren became one. Of course Lauren was not happy at all about being stuck in the same choir with Holly and no one else. In the older choir, Persephone naturally became an alto with her low, silky voice. Sydney was a soprano, and had a very nice voice. She sat next to Pandora... Pandora was also a soprano because her voice was high-pitched, but unfortunately when she was singing she had quite a difficult time finding the pitch. The worst part was that she thought she was on pitch, so she sang louder. Rehearsals could be quite a nightmare.

School had started again by the time the second week of rehearsals rolled around, and everyone thought that being back in the classroom would resurface the old Severus Snape they all knew and--ahem--loved. But no, they couldn't be so lucky. Suddenly they were making potions which were stictly for keeping the voice healthy instead of something that if ingested could kill a person instantly. And rehearsals weren't getting any better.

After the women's rehearsal Thursday night, Sydney brought up how curious Snape's sudden interest in music was. I almost miss him, she admitted. I mean, as much as I hate Potions class and as nervous as he always makes me when I'm there, it was still one of those constants that you could depend on. Now... it's a little too strange.

Many of the students seemed to share this view. They wanted the old Snape back, as odd as it may seem.

You don't think that something's up, do you? Is it a Hogwarts Card or something? Lauren said eagerly.

A Hogwarts Card that makes people happy and want to sing? That sounds like a strange one, but I guess it's possible. I'll ask Rangi about it.

Holly said, adjusting her huge glasses on her nose, because if I have to sit through one more Potions lesson with that crazy Snape I won't be able to my homework, it will distress me so...

Just... shut up, Holly, Lauren grumbled.

But I don't want him to stop the choir! Pandora whined. I love to sing! It's something I'm actually good at!

We really need to fix Snape, Sydney said, smiling and laughing just a little nervously. Pandora blinked at her curiously, wondering what she had said that had sparked such a response from Sydney, but decided not to make anything of it.
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Music? Well, there is a card that makes the holder or whoever it decides to possess obsessed with music, but it usually has a darker effect because it is a Slytherin card called the Incantor. Incantations, as you know, are a very strong realm of magic in which are some of the worst curses imaginable. The holder of this card becomes very talented with this sort of magic, which can be good or bad. What I don't understand is that Snape is a rather dark individual, but is being affected in the opposite manner so that he is acting much lighter than usual. I don't know what to make of that, but in any case I don't know what else could have caused this sudden switch. Incantor loves music to say the least.

But how do I get the card out of him, Rangi? Pandora asked.

That... is an interesting question which receives an interesting answer. Incantor herself is a happy spirit though held in darkness, and when she hears music she loves to dance to it. Unfortunately, when she's already inside of a person, that individual has to perform music to release her and allow her to do so. It is when she is dancing that is easiest to capture her. She hardly pays attention to her surroundings as long as the music is playing, it charms her. So I suppose... you're going to have to get Professor Snape to sing something for you.

Oh right, and he won't notice me jumping up in the middle of his aria sealing a dancing crazy woman into a card...

You have other cards, Pandora. You seem to forget that.

She nodded slowly, then sighed. Alright then, I'll go see him tonight after my last class. Thanks, Rangi.

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She knocked on the door to the Potions room and was promptly welcomed. Pandora Malfoy, my star soprano! What might I do for you?

She blushed and took the compliment as any Prima Donna would--which is as any Malfoy would--which is respond with a rather arrogant air--and said, Professor, I of course realize that I am one of your best readers in the choir, but there is still one part of Laudate Pueri that is giving me trouble. Would you mind singing through the song for me?

Of course not! Just follow me to the Choir Room then.

Once there, he sat down at the piano and opened the music score in front of him. Now where was the problem exactly?

Um... I don't recall exactly... Maybe if you just sang through it, I'll tell you to stop when I hear it.

He nodded and began to play the piano and sing. Pandora had never really heard him sing before because he was always directing, but was rather surprised at his voice quality. Perhaps he had missed his calling.

Sure enough, as soon as he had sung the first note, a pale, slender figure glided above him like a ghost then twirled about the room, a very content look on her face. Pandora almost felt guilty for ruining her moment, but had to nevertheless. Freeze Card, freeze Snape! she cried, drawing her staff out and sending the magic straight as Snape before he had a chance to realize what had happened.

The Incantor stopped and looked at her host who had stopped singing, now encased in a block of ice. She glided swiftly to him, but she could not return. She sank down on the floor in front of him and stared through the thick ice sadly, not even caring to look at Pandora as she stepped up behind her and said, Return to the Center, you Master awaits. Hogwarts Card, return!

Pandora picked the green-backed card up and wrote her name on it immediately, then looked at Snape, still frozen. Deciding not to risk it, she hid herself using the Invisibility Card, then unfroze him. He seemed to not really know what he was doing there, which was fortunate for Pandora because she really didn't want to get in trouble or serve a detention.

He had returned to normal by the next Potions class, and even seemed to be making up for lost time. He gave them three essays to write for one homework assignment, and said that homework was no excuse to miss choir rehearsal and that if anyone missed a rehearsal except for being sick, they would not receive their ten points extra credit. So she figured that meant the choir was staying. That was fine with her, she loved to sing after all and was so good at it. But she still didn't understand why Sydney seemed to upset. Honestly, she had a nice voice, just not as perfect as Pandora Malfoy's. ((~_^))