Silly Incantations

By Barbi Bee

Chapter 6

A/N The characters are not mine, they are merely borrowed and they will be returned.

To Imhilien and Veld: thanks for your reviews, they're great.

The rehearsals were now in full swing, being held twice a week. Wednesday evenings were reserved for those with speaking roles and Sundays for the whole cast and crew.

Professor Atkinson, as he was now known, flooed to the school on these days and taught the aspiring actors various skills such as voice projection, enhanced facial expressions and exaggerated body movements. Skills he said were necessary in maintaining audience awareness of the subtle nuances of the play.

It was at lunch on a Sunday that Severus remembered Alan's message. "Professor Atkinson?"

"Yes, Severus."

"A friend of mine is a muggle actor, and asked me to give you his regards. His name is Alan Rickman and he mentioned you were doing a film together."

"Did he indeed. Well, that was kind of him. Where did you meet, if you don't mind my asking?"

"Hermione Granger worked for his partner last summer and Alan and I meet when the two women decided to get together at Christmas. We've been friends ever since."

"Ah yes, Minerva mentioned something of your involvement with her favourite pupil. She's your teaching assistant, I believe."

"More of a Lab assistant actually, though she does help with lesson plans and marking for the junior years."

Turning to the Headmaster, Severus then said "Albus, Alan asked if it would be at all possible for him to see the play."

"There shouldn't be any problem there, Severus. We will be inviting the parents of the muggleborn students so your friend should fit right in. Will he be wanting one ticket or two?"

"Two, please."

"Excellent"

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Deep in the depths of the castle in the Slytherin common room yet another fight was brewing between Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson. A fight revolving around the fact that Pansy's sister B.J. had gotten the role of Lady MacBeth, a role that Pansy had wanted for herself.

"How could you Draco? My own sister and a Ravenclaw as well."

"For Merlin's sake Pansy, I didn't do anything. I do wish you'd get that through your thick skull, besides even if I had, it wouldn't be any of your business anyway."

"How can you say that Draco, after all we have been to each...."

"What do you mean we? As far as I'm concerned your just another hanger-on like Crabbe and Goyle." and with those parting words he turned and left, totally ignoring Pansy's pleas for him to stay.

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Out by the lake the 'Hogwarts Highlanders' were practising their drills, swords and daggers, marching, pipes and drums and general fighting skills. Madame Pomphrey was on hand to ensure that any injuries received from the razor sharp weapons were skilfully dealt with as soon as they occurred. Professor MacGonagal as the band's Drum-Major made sure they were not only note perfect but also in step. A specially designed tartan had been commissioned and was now worn by the entire unit instead of the individual plaids they had worn before, a tartan that showed aspects of the entire school, not just small parts of it.

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Easter arrived, and with it the Term break. Students went home with letters concerning the play and telling parents how they might obtain tickets. Some letters mentioned that special arrangements would be made regarding Muggle relatives, others that accomodation would be available either in the castle or in Hogsmead village for those who wished it.

Things were coming together nicely and in only a few short weeks the first Hogwarts' school production would be on stage before a live (and, in some cases, dead) audience.