Hogwarts' First Musical
Rating: PG
Genre: Romance/Comedy
Pairing: R/Hr, perhaps more later
Disclaimer: All characters and setting belong to J.K. Rowling. We receive no profit from this. Only the OC (Professor Letalis) belongs to us. Moulin Rouge doesn't belong to us either.
A/N: Well, our A/N from the last chapter got deleted because we didn't know you weren't allowed to have separate chapters for an A/N. Oh well! If you didn't read it, it basically said sorry for such a long delay on Chapter 4. To make up for it, Chapter 5 came out in less than a week! Plus, it's a much better chapter than the last one, in our oh so humble opinions.
Also, IMPORTANT: If you haven't seen Moulin Rouge, and don't want it ruined, watch the movie! There's nothing in this chapter that would spoil it, but there might be in the next ones. So, now enjoy this chapter!
Ron looked around in confusion. He was sitting at a small table, surrounded by people he recognized as his friends and schoolmates. Yet they all wore ridiculous suits and had the most eager expressions in their over bright eyes. Expectancy laced the air like one of Fred and George's new concoctions.
"Er, yes?" Ron asked hesitantly.
A very short blond man that looked suspiciously like Colin Creevey leaned over and stuttered excitedly, "Well, g-go on! S-satine's waiting!" With that, the entire group of strangely familiar men pushed him into the throng of activity he had failed to notice earlier. And for once in his life, Ron really did wonder if Hermione was right. Maybe he was oblivious.
How he could have missed the flying of brightly colored skirts, the leer of brightly colored faces, the drunken howl of hundreds of voices, and the general roar of music, Ron could not fathom.
Women whirled innocent young men in circles, glitter marking their spiraling path. Older men less inclined to dancing and more to other intimate activities waited hungrily on the sidelines. Ron looked longingly at the table he had left moments ago. He could almost taste the quiet, even a bit of the first alcoholic beverage he could have experienced. If whoever this woman was hadn't been…
And that's where Ron's train of thought screeched to a halt. His breath was silent in his chest. A breath-taking woman in a skimpy silver outfit pouted viciously at him, dark brown eyes beckoning him. Ron stumbled and fell into her arms, being pulled into a tango.
"I c-can't dance," he muttered.
"Oh, but I think you can," murmured the woman, who propelled them across the floor with such determination; Ron wondered where they were going.
I'll go anywhere with her. Ron stole another looked at the expanse of pale skin and brown curls. Suddenly everything felt so real and familiar he could almost put at a name on it. Right as his tongue was forming the right words, Ron jolted out of the sparkling atmosphere and right into the reality of red and gold and Harry shaking him awake.
"Ron, you bloody git, we're going to be late for DADA! C'mon, it's a first day for Mordred's sake! Letalis will murder you if you're not there. You are the star of the play, you know," yelped Harry.
"Yeah, yeah, give me a bleedin' second, will you?"
In a remarkably small amount of time, Ron was presentable (or at least awake and moving sluggishly) enough to leave the Gryffindor common room. They entered into the classroom, without breath or any supplies just as the final grain of sand fell in the hourglass.
"Good morning, gentlemen. Please take a seat." Letalis looked impeccable as usual. The green robes she wore were elegant and casual in the same heartbeat. All the girls were a little bit envious. Just a little.
Hermione Granger was disgusted, however. How boys could be tardy and disgraceful in appearance was beyond her.
Ron plopped beside her and whispered, "You bring me any breakfast, 'Mione?"
Sighing she slipped crescents into Ron and Harry's anxious hands. "Thanks" they murmured between stealthy bites.
"I recommend all of you get a good amount of sleep and food during the course of this play. The schedule will be rigorous."
She stared at the two boys blankly until they flushed in embarrassment.
"Moving on. Today we will discussing a different kind of magic. This goes beyond the wand. Beyond any sort of medium, in fact. Does anyone know what I'm talking about?"
Hermione's hand shot up faster than a Quidditch player takes to the sky, but a different voice answered first.
"You're talking about wandless magic, of course," drawled Malfoy, "It's when a Wizard finds the power inside him or herself and learns to harness it." He smirked, pleased with the shocked reaction of the class.
"Very good, Mr. Malfoy. 5 points to Slytherin."
Now everyone gasped in surprise. Only Professor Snape doled out any reasonable amount of points (and usually not even reasonable) to the Slytherins. Exactly whose side was she on, anyway?
"Now, we will not be practicing much wandless magic here. It is wild and unpredictable. Do not toy with it because although you might understand its basics, its true mechanics are much more complex and hidden. Only very powerful Wizards can truly master the delicate of art of raw magic."
"It's usually Purebloods," remarked Malfoy in an offhandedly-condescending way.
"As a matter of fact, this is proven to be untrue. Purebloods are very strong indeed, but their magic is specific to intricate spells and potions. Halfbloods have the advantage of Muggle and Wizard magic."
"Muggle Magic?" asked Neville in shock.
"Yes, quite so, Mr. Longbottom. Although some would say it does not exist, I have come into contact with it multiple times. Going past the common Muggles' very unique adaptations to life without magic, Muggles have been found to have a deep channeling for magic. Usually it is buried so far into their psyche, they cannot fully comprehend it.
"Psychics or Pagans are good examples. Psychics are usually mystic old women who tell fortunes from smoke and tea leaves." She smiled slightly as those who had Trelawney snickered. "But some are truly in touch with the future. Or with objects so they move."
"Telekineticy!" exclaimed Hermione.
"Exactly. These phenomenon are considered mutations. In fact, they are simply a glitch in the genetic make-up of Muggles, causing them to be far ahead of their time, like most geniuses.
"Pagans, on the other hand, are most commonly late blooming Witches and Wizards. Or Muggles that are aware of our race. Either way, they are secretive and strong in their own way. So Muggle Magic is quite real, just not as developed as one might believe."
"Well, I believe it's time for a class change. Move along then. We'll begin on the study of wandless magic tomorrow." She rose gracefully and disappeared through the wall.
"Um, she didn't just walk through stone, did she?" Seamus asked nervously.
"Actually, she did, Seamus. Elves have the unique ability to Apparate in what is called a shimmer. A shimmer gives a ghost like quality to where their body formerly was and creates the illusion of walking through things."
Harry stared in utter amazement. "Hermione, you're an Einstein."
"A who?" asked Seamus in confusion.
"In Wizard lingo, a Merlin."
Seamus laughed. "Well we all bloody knew that."
Hermione blushed and Ron couldn't remember why he recognized the duck of her head and the color of cheeks so acutely. But he did.
…
Lunch had finally arrived, and none too quickly for Ron and Harry. They both sat down, staring lovingly at the mountains of food.
"I do like spotted dick." Ron sighed in content.
"Oh, look!" Harry mouthed through a cheek full of potatoes "It's Lupin! I got to say hi." Harry jumped up and stumbled over, gravy in the curve of his smile.
"Hey, Hermione," Ron spoke quietly in her ear, "You think Harry's happy?"
Hermione knitted her eyebrows in confusion, "Why, yes, Ron, I do-"
Ron shook his head violently, "No,
no. I mean, is he really okay? He doesn't seem to be worrying about Voldemort
so much now, with the play and all."
Hermione's shock put her
several levels above speaking.
"And now Lupin's back. I'm glad and all, but I'm worried it could mean Voldemort's up to something, yeah? Lupin looks kind of sick and wan. He always does, but he seems to be really straining. You think it could be trouble for Harry?"
Ron's worried look touched Hermione so deeply she wanted to weep. He wasn't oblivious. It was all in act to get Harry to open up to Ron in the only way Ron knew how.
"I think he's okay, Ron. Dumbledore's learned that keeping secrets from Harry for too long isn't the best idea. I still remember fifth year." Hermione rubbed her temples in consternation. "I think we'll find out what's going on soon enough. Let's just let Harry enjoy Lupin's company for now. Without questions. He's so happy to see him."
"Yeah, so am I. I always wonder if I'll ever see any of the Order again, you know? You never know what nasty business they get themselves involved in…"
"You're right, Ron. That's why I'm so glad the Professor is here. Letalis seems to be happy too."
"What are you on about, Hermione?"
Okay, maybe Ron really was a numbskull.
"Never mind," she muttered, "Let's go say hello to Lupin. No bothering him, all right? Even if we did need to know questions now, I'd feel so guilty. He looks exhausted."
"War will do that to you," Ron said softly.
They both went up to join Harry and Lupin. They just heard Harry's abrupt, delighted laugh and Lupin's tired face managed a smile.
"It's good to have you back, Professor," Hermione said with a grin.
"Jolly good, in fact," was Ron's addition.
"I'm glad to be back. I've missed you three. Not been in too much mischief, I hope." His tone was serious but his eyes danced.
"So, how'd you land the wonderful position of technical producer?" Hermione wondered aloud.
Lupin laughed. "Dumbledore said an old friend needed some assistance so off I went. I wanted to check in on everyone, so it was as good an excuse as any."
"Old friend?" inquired Ron with an arched eyebrow.
"Ron," Hermione growled in an undertone.
Harry looked confused but Lupin only quirked his lips. "Yes. Professor Letalis and I got quite some time back. We've been out of touch for years, but it happens to friends. It will be nice seeing her again."
Just then, Lupin's neck twisted in a painful position, his eyes staring fixatedly at the door.
"Remus, what's-" Harry began earnestly till he saw who Lupin was watching.
Letalis moved liked green liquid across the Hall. She kept her eyes steadily in front of her till she stopped suddenly and turned her dark eyes to watch Lupin quietly.
Lupin gaped and winced in pain, his hands going to his forehead. He whimpered inaudibly, but Harry felt the sound in his hand on Lupin's shoulder. He drew back a little.
"Professor, are you all right?" asked Hermione, her voice similar to Mrs. Weasley.
"I'm fine. Just a little spell there." He clamped his mouth shut, as if he had given away private information. Something strange was afoot.
Letalis slowly turned from them and continued to her customary seat beside Professor Sprout. Her serene face spasmed in a moment of pain as Tonks flounced into the chair next to her, chattering jovially. Letalis forced a smile and seemed to exchange pleasantries.
Lupin watched the two of them for a second, emotions flashing quickly in his eyes. "Well, you'd better go finish your meals before they get cold." With a parting smile, he limped from the table and out the door.
"Well, that was certainly odd," remarked Hermione.
"Huh. No questions still, Hermione?" Ron quipped.
"Not yet, Ron. Not yet," was her distracted reply.
"What on earth are you two talking about?" said Harry irritably.
None of them noticed that many of the professors watched Lupin's trudging progress from the Hall in a sad silence.
…
Ron sat in Potions staring blankly into his cauldron, not comprehending either the ingredients or the reason he was here in a class no longer mandatory. He also wondered why Snape had even allowed him back into the class. He had failed the O.W.L. for Potions spectacularly, so it was very strange that Snape accepted him again. Perhaps Snape was a masochist and enjoyed causing himself pain.
"Staring at the cauldron won't make the Enemigus Deflectus potion, Ron," Harry said, startling him out of his daze.
"Yes, I'm working on it!" Ron replied indignantly.
Nobody spoke about the potion they were making because normal teenage wizards shouldn't even know that it existed. However, times were different during war. Hogwarts students had to know how to make a powerful radar potion and how to use it any time they went left school. Another security measure that the students despised but calmly accepted as the reality of Voldemort and his gathering forces became bolder. Lupin's abrupt entrance into the dungeon interrupted Ron's depressed train of thought, and he curiously looked up to see the two men whispering. Ron caught Seamus Finnigan's eye and grabbed the Extendable Ear he hid subtly under the desk. He listened intently as Harry and Hermione pretended to focus solely on cutting dittany roots.
"Severus, I need you to brew more potion. You understand what's going on at this time," Lupin said in a quiet, tired voice. Harry and Ron knew immediately that he meant wolfsbane potion. Only Hermione looked perplexed by Lupin's request.
"It won't be effective, even if it was mixed already. You need to talk to Letalis." How exactly did Snape sneer and whisper simultaneously?
"Right. Of course. Sorry for barraging in on your class," Lupin murmured as he walked out quickly. Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked at each other in confusion when Snape suddenly announced that class was dismissed. Everyone else looked at him in shock. Snape never dismissed class early, especially when no one had finished their assignment.
"Professor, I haven't quite had time to finish this potion," Draco stated before he was cut short.
"Yes, Mr. Malfoy, I am well aware. Must I dismiss you a second time?" Snape said archly. Yet as he sat down, the students couldn't help but notice his pained expression. Draco examined Snape but packed his things and left. The trio hurried out, eager to discuss the mysterious events that had just happened.
"What was that all about?" Ron wondered aloud.
"The full moon isn't for another two weeks," Hermione said quietly. "I don't understand why he would come to Snape for wolfsbane potion right now. It just doesn't make sense!"
"Something's wrong with Lupin," Harry said. "Remember what happened at lunch? I need to talk to him. He's hiding something."
"Right now is probably not the best time to bother him with questions, Harry," Hermione said gently. "I don't think he's up to answering."
"Yeah, Harry, he's seemed pretty put-out. Besides, it's probably none of our business anyway," Ron remarked.
"None of our business? Well, maybe it isn't any of your business, but whatever's wrong with Lupin can probably be linked back to Voldemort and me. He killed my parents, my godfather, and I'll be damned if he kills one of my friends too." Harry growled, storming off. Ron and Hermione watched in mute sadness until they began walking again.
"Let's go back to the common room until dinner," Ron said softly. Hermione consented with a nod of her head, and they walked back to Gryffindor Tower, comforted by the other's presence.
…
"Bloody war, bloody Voldemort, bloody scar!" Harry muttered nonsensical things as he walked down the corridor before realizing he didn't know where to find Lupin. He recalled Snape's comment about Letalis and marched off towards the DADA room. When he reached the room, he slowed down as he heard voices. He wasn't quite sure why; he just had a feeling that he didn't want to be seen. He looked around the corner cautiously and saw Lupin and Letalis.
"Gilraen, there must be another way," Lupin pleaded, a vague terror and utter exhaustion in his eyes. Letalis made no reply and only looked straight at him, almost through him. Then Lupin's eyes fogged over and haltingly he stepped into the classroom. Harry watched in horror before he bolted for the Gryffindor Tower.
Letalis watched Lupin impassively before following him and closing the door.
…
In the Great Hall that evening, the Gryffindors chowed down, chatting between mouthfuls as usual, save for Harry, Ron, and Hermione. They made casual small talk, carefully avoiding the subject of Harry's outburst earlier that afternoon. Harry was relieved because he had no desire to talk about that or his intrusion on Letalis and Lupin. They finished their meal, and when dinner was over, Hermione broke their silence by announcing practice was starting.
"I don't want to go tonight," Harry mumbled almost inaudibly.
"Harry, you have to go. You have a lead," Hermione replied matter-of-factly, placing her hands on her hips.
"Why don't you want to go, mate?" Ron said in a much more understanding fashion.
"I don't want to talk about it here," Harry replied reluctantly. "I'll go to rehearsal and then we'll talk afterwards." Hermione's heart lightened as she shared a glance with Ron. There was hope for them all together after all.
…
"Good evening everyone. Tonight is line run-throughs. Soon I will be scheduling individual meetings with each of you to discuss your character, but for tonight I want to get a feel for how you interact with each other. So, pull out your scripts and we'll begin." As Letalis finished, Neville's face turned ghostly white.
"Professor? I, ah, it seems that I have misplaced, ah well, forgotten my script tonight," Neville let out the last part very quickly. Letalis smiled.
"Well, I believe if you ask the Casting Parchment very nicely, he might possibly loan you one for the evening." Neville looked quite faint as he slowly turned to face the Casting Parchment, which, if parchments could have facial expressions, was looking at Neville quite menacingly.
"Well, let's have it then! Ask me for a script!" he taunted.
Neville's eyes widened before he cleared his throat and asked, "Mr. Casting Parchment, may I please borrow a script from you tonight?" He winced and quaked with fear. Perhaps Snape had fed the Parchment a strange potion for it seemed the very incarnation of the Potions Master himself.
"Strange how a piece of paper, excuse me, parchment, can have such an effect on someone," Ron whispered to Hermione. She giggled in reply, but stopped when she glanced over at Harry. He was concentrating quite hard on Letalis' face. She wanted to know what was going through his head but stayed silent. As she finished her thoughts, Neville was sitting down, having finally wrestled a script from the Casting Parchment, who was looking quite triumphant at the amount of attention he had received.
"I swear it's Slytherin," said Ron in an undertone.
"Well, I believe we can move on with the rehearsal now. It begins with a song, but we'll be skipping that tonight. Mr. Weasley, you have the first line." Letalis settled into her seat, looking out at the cast and from an audience member's viewpoint.
"The Moulin Rouge . . . a nightclub, the dance hall of the bordello. Ruled over by Harold Zidler. A kingdom of nighttime pleasures. Where the rich and powerful came to play with the young and beautiful creatures of the underworld. And the most beautiful of all these was the woman I loved, Satine…" Ron began his opening speech with a sorrowful tone, and the play progressed from there. Though there had been doubts, Letalis had proven that she knew exactly what she was doing. Everyone was perfect for his or her respective part.
"A love that will live forever. The End." Ron finished as well as he had begun. Many had never seen Moulin Rouge and found themselves wiping at their eyes as the last words echoed off the beams.
Letalis smiled benevolently. "Wonderful. That is all for tonight. I will speak to each of you tomorrow and tell you when we shall meet to discuss your character. We will not have a group rehearsal tomorrow night. Thank you, you may…" Letalis slowed as her eyes darted towards the door. All of the students turned around to see as Remus Lupin opened the door. He smiled wanly and gave a timid wave. "Go," Letalis finished suddenly, and she moved quickly towards Lupin, who had taken a seat in the back of the audience.
Ron, Hermione, and Harry hurried out of the theatre, waiting for a chance to discuss the strange events of the day.