Silly Incantations

By Barbi Bee

Chapter 7

Veld: thanks again for reviewing.

Just a few days after the students left post owls started bringing in requests for tickets. The letters also asked about the availability of accomadation (not having read the letter home properly) and most surprising of all, offers of help with things like wardrobe, make-up, dressing and set design. It was surprising because as many offers came from pure-blood families as from muggles.

Thre were so many requests for tickets that Albus was forced to extend the play's run to three performances instead of the one envisioned. After much forethought it was decided that the first performance would be for the

wizarding community, the second for muggles and the third for combined groups. This way the excentricities of each group could be catered for without hopefully offending anyone, and little things such as differences in clothing, speech etc. would hopefully not cause dissention within the ranks.

With everything having been decided, Severus took time out to send a letter to Alan enclosing two tickets to the third performance. He also sent an invitation for Alan and Rima to use his guest room should they wish to stay a few days. About to seal the missive he suddenly realised he'd forgoten something important and added a short note.

ps. When Professor Atkinson asked how we meet, I told him it was through Hermione and Rima. Hope this is OK with you as I'd rather Russell Gryffin stayed hidden in the attic. SS.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Things changed when the children arrived back from their break. First, Professor Atkinson moved into castle guest quaters instead of flooing in twice a week. Second, rehearsals were now three nights a week plus Sunday and third, about twenty members of student's families came to stay and help as backstage crew.

Rehearsals for the lead members of the cast became more intense as the Opening Night loomed ever closer. Tempers flared and nerves became frayed as lines and stage directions were forgotten. Demand for Dreamless Sleep potions increased as the actors started having nightmares about all the things that could and possibly would go wrong.

Backstage things were a little better with Lavender Brown and Narcissa Malfoy in charge of Costumes, the Patil twins in charge of Hair and Make-up, Neville Longbottom in charge of Props, Lucius Malfoy and Robert Granger as Leading Stage Hands and the Weasley twins in charge of Special Effects. Neville even went so far as to forget his fear of the greasy git potions master enough to demand his very best cauldron off him for the three witches to use on stage.

Draco realising that his parents were very much in favour if the play managed to get off his high horse and put his heart and soul into rehearsals, totally unaware (as was everybody else) of the fact that the Baron would be possessing him for the performances. He even began to realise the joy and excitement that could be had from being on stage and performing before a live audience - even if it was just the first and second years during final rehearsals.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alan replied to Severus' letter with thanks for the tickets and the offer of accomodation which he and Rima would take advantage of, thank you very much. He also said that he was fine with the story Severus had told Rowan and would go along with it if the subject ever came up. The letter finished by asking that regards be passed on to Hermione and that they would be seeing them soon.

Time passed quickly and all to soon May arrived and with it Opening Night. A night sure to be filled with joys and sorrows, tears and laughter, reunions between old friends And enemies but most of all the emotion that comes from seeing a live performance on stage.