For the Climate Control Challenge on the Ministry of Magic Discord.
Lyrics from "A Crowd of Thousands" from Anastasia the Musical.
"It was hot
Not a cloud in the sky
Then a boy
Caught my eye…"
"Anastasia's in love," Maria coos, dancing around Anastasia and prodding her teasingly in the side. "Did you see the way she looked at that boy?"
"Boy?" Olga repeats, frowning. "What boy?"
"There's no boy!"
"Lies," Maria sing-songs, spurred on by both Tatiana's giggles and Anastasia's protests. "Little Anastasia saw a boy in the crowd today, and now she's in love."
"I am not!"
"At the parade?" Olga sounds aghast. "A common boy? That's hardly appropriate."
And when Maria goes to tease their younger sister further, Olga raises her hand to silence her. She then moves to stand behind Anastasia, placing two protective hands on the young girl's shaking shoulders.
"If you saw her blush, it must have been because of the heat," Olga says firmly. "It was so hot that I'm sure even your cheeks flushed red, Maria."
At this, Maria rolls her eyes. "Perhaps. Though I'm not sure the heat could have prompted such a wide smile or the sparkle in her eyes."
Tatiana cackles, but quickly quiets under Olga's glare.
"Anastasia, it was the heat, wasn't it?" Olga's grip her shoulders tighten. "Tell your sisters so that they can lay the matter to rest."
"It was the heat," Anastasia repeats, her voice wavering as her lower lip begins to quiver. "There was no boy. I am not in love."
But if anything, Anastasia's refrain does nothing but make Maria's grin grow. But under Olga's watchful eye, Maria doesn't push the issue further. Instead, she grabs Tatiana's hand and marches defiantly out the room, head held high and hair tossed over her shoulder.
Olga folds herself into the couch and coaxes Anastasia, now blinking in a desperate attempt to fight off the tears, to come sit next to her. The dam bursts, and the young girl crawls into her older sister's lap.
"Oh dear." Olga's arms wrap around her. "It's not appropriate to like the look of a boy, Anastasia. But it's not a crime. However it is always best if these things go unnoticed. You understand what I mean, don't you?"
Anastasia blinks. Then she says quietly, "I only smiled. That's all it was."
"I know," Olga replies. She continues with an edge of urgency, saying, "Anastasia, tell me you understand. It's very important."
"I understand."
But even as she nods, Anastasia isn't entirely sure if she does understand. All she'd done was smile. What could possibly come of that?
