Chapter Six: Music for the soul
All was well in the world as everyone joined for the meal.
Sitting at lunch, the twins learned some valuable information.
It had started at the beginning, when some Hufflepuffs had entered the great hall, sing the school song.
The twins had been intrigued by the music, and had listened closely while Millicent arrived and declared that 'the school choir members were too perky.'
Shane and Rhoswen looked at her in astonishment.
"There's a school choir?!" they asked, dumbfounded.
Millicent shrugged half-heartedly.
"Yeah, well, they don't serve much purpose. All they ever do is annoy the heck out of Professor Cricket."
The twin girls looked curiously at the sixth year before them.
"How so?"
Millicent laughed. "Because the music room is right next to her classroom."
The girls looked at each other. Millicent shrugged and went to the table. The twins followed.
It was as they were sitting down, that they noticed the younger version of their father, sitting at the end of the table, nearest the exit and thoroughly engrossed in a book, which was leaning open on his goblet.
"Sheesh, pa was such a book worm," commented Shane. Rhoswen nodded her agreement.
They were about to start eating, when they noticed James Potter, Sirius Black, and Peter Pettigrew, out of the corner of their eyes. The 3 boys were meeting up with Remus Lupin, and they were discussing something animatedly. They hurriedly took their seats.
The twins looked at each other suspiciously, trying to figure out what it meant.
"They've probably done something to our text books, or something," said Rhoswen.
"I'm not so sure. There's nothing above us, and I don't think they'd meddle with text books... they're not that cruel. We'll probably find out after lunch."
And so, they began filling their plates. As they began eating, they noticed an odd taste in their food, and looked more closely. Green Dye.
They spit out their food, and quickly warned the people down the table to check their food. Nothing was amiss down the table, but for the platters in front of them. They immediately bewitched an empty plate to become a mirror, and wiped the green dye off their teeth. There was nothing that could be done about their tongue, but they had caught hold of the incident just in time for the green dye on their teeth to come off.
Sighing, they took food from tables down the way, and ate in silence.
After lunch, the girls went to their next classes- Transfiguration, and Arithmancy. Luckily, Transfiguration was the only thing with the Slytherins, and the marauders had acted like angels.
After classes, they went to go see their father who was just leaving his new Defense Against the Dark Arts room.
"Pa!" they greeted him, and he jumped back startled.
"What is the meaning of this?" he snapped, regaining his composure.
"Pa! They have a music room!" declared Rhoswen excitedly.
Severus sighed.
"Yes, I am well aware of that. The room is located next to my old Potions classroom. It was closed off awhile after I graduated."
The girls grinned. "Pa, may we go to the room? To practice?"
Severus sighed. "After Supper, you may. Until then, I suggest you finish your homework. We may be here for awhile, until we can figure out a way home."
The girls nodded, a little brought down by the reminder that they might never go home.
"Thank you, father."
And so it was that they returned to the Slytherin dormitories, and finished their homework, to the astonishment of their peers.
"How did you finish so quickly?" had asked Tinson Morth, a fellow seventh year, who was still struggling with the second part of his own homework.
"When you have a father like ours, you get taught everything young. We learned this stuff 2 years ago," had declared Shane, as though it was no big deal.
They aided a few of their peers with some pointers, and then headed down to Supper.
Supper passed without problems, and the girls enjoyed the delicious hot un- dyed food.
As soon as supper ended, however, the girls nearly ran to the music classroom, careful to keep their voices down in case they should encounter Professor Cricket.
Shane and Rhoswen snuck into the music room, careful of their every move. Even though they had permission to be there, they were still cautious. They didn't want anyone hearing or seeing them. Inside was a large black grand piano.
Shane sat herself upon the bench, stretching her fingers as she went, and began playing. Her fingers flew across the keys, waiting for her sister to decide on a song for them to sing.
"Well we can sing Mirror, Mirror by M2M, or My Immortal by evanescence. There are endless possibilities," mentioned Rhoswen as she sat on one of the desks.
"Well let's sing My Immortal first. Then M2M."
Shane started to play the soft notes.
Rhoswen's soft melodic voice rang out, filling the room with a beautiful sound.
I'm so tired of being here suppressed by all of my childish fears and if you have to leave...
James, Remus, Sirius and Peter snuck around under the invisibility cloak. They were approaching the Slytherin common room when they heard the most beautiful sound. They stopped, and in silent agreement, followed the mesmeric sound.
As they approached a door they heard the sounds of a piano along with two voices singing in harmony. I wish that you would just leave because your presence still lingers here and it won't leave me alone...
James opened the door slowly and nearly fell as his knees buckled. Inside was Shane, playing the piano and singing along with her sister.
These wounds won't seem to heal this pain is just too real there's just too much that time cannot erase when you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears when you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears and I've held your hand through all of these years but you still have all of me...
The boys walked into the room and slowly sat down, careful not to disturb, all while watching the girls sing. They were memorized by the music and the feeling behind the words.
You used to captivate me by your resonating light but now I'm bound by the life you left behind your face it haunts my once pleasant dreams your voice it chased away all the sanity in me...
Rhoswen's face broke into a passionate expression, as her soprano voice mixed with her sister's second soprano.
These wounds won't seem to heal this pain is just too real there's just too much that time cannot erase when you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears when you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears and I've held your hand through all of these years but you still have all of me...
The two girls let go of their restraint on their voices, and clamored together, while the boys sat, transfixed with such rapt attention, that they were straining for the next words.
I've tried so hard to tell myself that you're gone and though you're still with me I've been alone all along When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears when you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears and I've held your hand through all of these years but you still have all of me...
As they finished, the girls laughed, and high-fived each other.
"Ha-ha! That was great!" laughed an excited Rhoswen.
Nodding, Shane laughed as well. "Yeah, not bad. We still have it. Even in the past."
"Let's sing Mirror, Mirror next. That's my fave."
Shane nodded and began playing.
Why don't I like the girl I see The one who's standing right in front of me Why don't I think before I speak I should have listened to that voice inside me I must be stupid, must be crazy, must be out of my mind To say the kind of things I said last night...
And so, the girl's continued, singing to the boys, without a single clue that they were serenading them. They boys sat there, and listened, but not really comprehending the discussion between songs, or the understanding from where the songs came from, but not really caring, all the same. All the attention was focused on the amazing voices.
When the girls finally decided to take a break, they took sips of water from the goblet that they'd conjured up and silently sat, resting their minds.
The boys shifted, un-hypnotized by the silence, and moved to get up, but the invisibility slipped off of Sirius' leg.
Shane caught the movement to cover it up with her eye, and called "Rhoswen! We've got company!"
Rhoswen looked and saw as a leg disappeared. She jumped up and ran to the door, barring it.
"Show yourself!"
Nothing happened. The classroom was empty, and then, suddenly, it was not.
Remus, James, Sirius, and Peter were suddenly present.
"What the hell are you guys doing here?" demanded Shane, standing.
The boys looked at each other, each clearly thinking up an excuse to say to the two girls who had so movingly captured their attention.
James went first.
"Would you believe we were looking for a musical instrument for our band- to borrow, until we bring it back- tomorrow?"
Shane's eyes darkened.
"Right. That's why there's only a piano in here?"
Sirius smacked James on the back of the head.
"So... why are you really here?" demanded Rhoswen from the door.
The boys said nothing.
"We could always get Pa to get us some Veritaserum," said Shane coyly, looking at Rhoswen.
Peter couldn't seem to take his friend's silence.
"We were on our way to spy on Slytherins when we heard you singing!" he blurted.
Shane smiled a mischievous smile. She looked almost dangerous that way.
"Well, you hear that, sister? They came to spy on us. What kept you from the Slytherin dormitory?"
Sirius decided to try flattery.
"You see, we WERE on our way, when we heard beautiful voices cross our path. They were like a siren's call, and led us here, and we were afraid to disturb such a stunning piece of music."
Rhoswen smiled and blushed. Shane, on the other hand, was not so easily taken.
"We'll see what our father says when he finds out what you've done. Now, I'm not sure how you've done it, but I'm sure he'll find it most interesting how you've been keeping yourself invisible. And we both know you're behind the green dye incident, too. Gentlemen, let's go."
She took out her wand and threateningly pointed it at them.
"My dear, we are sorry to have disturbed your music, but we meant no harm," began hurriedly explaining Remus. "We were simply concerned. You see, seldom do we meet pranksters who match our wit, and we were afraid of what to expect next, so we decided that we needed to know what you were up to. Can you understand that?"
Shane grinned.
"So, how did you manage to go about being invisible?"
Remus pushed James forward, who was clutching something with a death grip.
"It's James's invisibility cloak."
James looked petrified.
"Please don't let them take it away- it was my grandfather's!"
The twins laughed.
"Why would we let them do that when we can use it to our advantage?" asked Shane.
The males looked confused.
"You see, we'll call on you guys if we need something- as long as we call a truce?"
The young men nodded, seeing it as the only option other than getting in trouble.
"Good, now, since that's done, we need to continue practice," said Rhoswen, walking from the door. Looking at her sister, they both nodded, thinking the same thing.
"Unless of course, you'd rather stay and sing with us?"
The guys looked at each other for no longer than a quarter of a second, and nearly fell over each other to get to a seat.
The twins laughed and shook their heads, Shane once again taking a seat behind the black piano.
A couple of hours later, 6 teenagers emerged from the room, all talking as though they'd known each other for all their lives.
All was well in the world as everyone joined for the meal.
Sitting at lunch, the twins learned some valuable information.
It had started at the beginning, when some Hufflepuffs had entered the great hall, sing the school song.
The twins had been intrigued by the music, and had listened closely while Millicent arrived and declared that 'the school choir members were too perky.'
Shane and Rhoswen looked at her in astonishment.
"There's a school choir?!" they asked, dumbfounded.
Millicent shrugged half-heartedly.
"Yeah, well, they don't serve much purpose. All they ever do is annoy the heck out of Professor Cricket."
The twin girls looked curiously at the sixth year before them.
"How so?"
Millicent laughed. "Because the music room is right next to her classroom."
The girls looked at each other. Millicent shrugged and went to the table. The twins followed.
It was as they were sitting down, that they noticed the younger version of their father, sitting at the end of the table, nearest the exit and thoroughly engrossed in a book, which was leaning open on his goblet.
"Sheesh, pa was such a book worm," commented Shane. Rhoswen nodded her agreement.
They were about to start eating, when they noticed James Potter, Sirius Black, and Peter Pettigrew, out of the corner of their eyes. The 3 boys were meeting up with Remus Lupin, and they were discussing something animatedly. They hurriedly took their seats.
The twins looked at each other suspiciously, trying to figure out what it meant.
"They've probably done something to our text books, or something," said Rhoswen.
"I'm not so sure. There's nothing above us, and I don't think they'd meddle with text books... they're not that cruel. We'll probably find out after lunch."
And so, they began filling their plates. As they began eating, they noticed an odd taste in their food, and looked more closely. Green Dye.
They spit out their food, and quickly warned the people down the table to check their food. Nothing was amiss down the table, but for the platters in front of them. They immediately bewitched an empty plate to become a mirror, and wiped the green dye off their teeth. There was nothing that could be done about their tongue, but they had caught hold of the incident just in time for the green dye on their teeth to come off.
Sighing, they took food from tables down the way, and ate in silence.
After lunch, the girls went to their next classes- Transfiguration, and Arithmancy. Luckily, Transfiguration was the only thing with the Slytherins, and the marauders had acted like angels.
After classes, they went to go see their father who was just leaving his new Defense Against the Dark Arts room.
"Pa!" they greeted him, and he jumped back startled.
"What is the meaning of this?" he snapped, regaining his composure.
"Pa! They have a music room!" declared Rhoswen excitedly.
Severus sighed.
"Yes, I am well aware of that. The room is located next to my old Potions classroom. It was closed off awhile after I graduated."
The girls grinned. "Pa, may we go to the room? To practice?"
Severus sighed. "After Supper, you may. Until then, I suggest you finish your homework. We may be here for awhile, until we can figure out a way home."
The girls nodded, a little brought down by the reminder that they might never go home.
"Thank you, father."
And so it was that they returned to the Slytherin dormitories, and finished their homework, to the astonishment of their peers.
"How did you finish so quickly?" had asked Tinson Morth, a fellow seventh year, who was still struggling with the second part of his own homework.
"When you have a father like ours, you get taught everything young. We learned this stuff 2 years ago," had declared Shane, as though it was no big deal.
They aided a few of their peers with some pointers, and then headed down to Supper.
Supper passed without problems, and the girls enjoyed the delicious hot un- dyed food.
As soon as supper ended, however, the girls nearly ran to the music classroom, careful to keep their voices down in case they should encounter Professor Cricket.
Shane and Rhoswen snuck into the music room, careful of their every move. Even though they had permission to be there, they were still cautious. They didn't want anyone hearing or seeing them. Inside was a large black grand piano.
Shane sat herself upon the bench, stretching her fingers as she went, and began playing. Her fingers flew across the keys, waiting for her sister to decide on a song for them to sing.
"Well we can sing Mirror, Mirror by M2M, or My Immortal by evanescence. There are endless possibilities," mentioned Rhoswen as she sat on one of the desks.
"Well let's sing My Immortal first. Then M2M."
Shane started to play the soft notes.
Rhoswen's soft melodic voice rang out, filling the room with a beautiful sound.
I'm so tired of being here suppressed by all of my childish fears and if you have to leave...
James, Remus, Sirius and Peter snuck around under the invisibility cloak. They were approaching the Slytherin common room when they heard the most beautiful sound. They stopped, and in silent agreement, followed the mesmeric sound.
As they approached a door they heard the sounds of a piano along with two voices singing in harmony. I wish that you would just leave because your presence still lingers here and it won't leave me alone...
James opened the door slowly and nearly fell as his knees buckled. Inside was Shane, playing the piano and singing along with her sister.
These wounds won't seem to heal this pain is just too real there's just too much that time cannot erase when you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears when you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears and I've held your hand through all of these years but you still have all of me...
The boys walked into the room and slowly sat down, careful not to disturb, all while watching the girls sing. They were memorized by the music and the feeling behind the words.
You used to captivate me by your resonating light but now I'm bound by the life you left behind your face it haunts my once pleasant dreams your voice it chased away all the sanity in me...
Rhoswen's face broke into a passionate expression, as her soprano voice mixed with her sister's second soprano.
These wounds won't seem to heal this pain is just too real there's just too much that time cannot erase when you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears when you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears and I've held your hand through all of these years but you still have all of me...
The two girls let go of their restraint on their voices, and clamored together, while the boys sat, transfixed with such rapt attention, that they were straining for the next words.
I've tried so hard to tell myself that you're gone and though you're still with me I've been alone all along When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears when you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears and I've held your hand through all of these years but you still have all of me...
As they finished, the girls laughed, and high-fived each other.
"Ha-ha! That was great!" laughed an excited Rhoswen.
Nodding, Shane laughed as well. "Yeah, not bad. We still have it. Even in the past."
"Let's sing Mirror, Mirror next. That's my fave."
Shane nodded and began playing.
Why don't I like the girl I see The one who's standing right in front of me Why don't I think before I speak I should have listened to that voice inside me I must be stupid, must be crazy, must be out of my mind To say the kind of things I said last night...
And so, the girl's continued, singing to the boys, without a single clue that they were serenading them. They boys sat there, and listened, but not really comprehending the discussion between songs, or the understanding from where the songs came from, but not really caring, all the same. All the attention was focused on the amazing voices.
When the girls finally decided to take a break, they took sips of water from the goblet that they'd conjured up and silently sat, resting their minds.
The boys shifted, un-hypnotized by the silence, and moved to get up, but the invisibility slipped off of Sirius' leg.
Shane caught the movement to cover it up with her eye, and called "Rhoswen! We've got company!"
Rhoswen looked and saw as a leg disappeared. She jumped up and ran to the door, barring it.
"Show yourself!"
Nothing happened. The classroom was empty, and then, suddenly, it was not.
Remus, James, Sirius, and Peter were suddenly present.
"What the hell are you guys doing here?" demanded Shane, standing.
The boys looked at each other, each clearly thinking up an excuse to say to the two girls who had so movingly captured their attention.
James went first.
"Would you believe we were looking for a musical instrument for our band- to borrow, until we bring it back- tomorrow?"
Shane's eyes darkened.
"Right. That's why there's only a piano in here?"
Sirius smacked James on the back of the head.
"So... why are you really here?" demanded Rhoswen from the door.
The boys said nothing.
"We could always get Pa to get us some Veritaserum," said Shane coyly, looking at Rhoswen.
Peter couldn't seem to take his friend's silence.
"We were on our way to spy on Slytherins when we heard you singing!" he blurted.
Shane smiled a mischievous smile. She looked almost dangerous that way.
"Well, you hear that, sister? They came to spy on us. What kept you from the Slytherin dormitory?"
Sirius decided to try flattery.
"You see, we WERE on our way, when we heard beautiful voices cross our path. They were like a siren's call, and led us here, and we were afraid to disturb such a stunning piece of music."
Rhoswen smiled and blushed. Shane, on the other hand, was not so easily taken.
"We'll see what our father says when he finds out what you've done. Now, I'm not sure how you've done it, but I'm sure he'll find it most interesting how you've been keeping yourself invisible. And we both know you're behind the green dye incident, too. Gentlemen, let's go."
She took out her wand and threateningly pointed it at them.
"My dear, we are sorry to have disturbed your music, but we meant no harm," began hurriedly explaining Remus. "We were simply concerned. You see, seldom do we meet pranksters who match our wit, and we were afraid of what to expect next, so we decided that we needed to know what you were up to. Can you understand that?"
Shane grinned.
"So, how did you manage to go about being invisible?"
Remus pushed James forward, who was clutching something with a death grip.
"It's James's invisibility cloak."
James looked petrified.
"Please don't let them take it away- it was my grandfather's!"
The twins laughed.
"Why would we let them do that when we can use it to our advantage?" asked Shane.
The males looked confused.
"You see, we'll call on you guys if we need something- as long as we call a truce?"
The young men nodded, seeing it as the only option other than getting in trouble.
"Good, now, since that's done, we need to continue practice," said Rhoswen, walking from the door. Looking at her sister, they both nodded, thinking the same thing.
"Unless of course, you'd rather stay and sing with us?"
The guys looked at each other for no longer than a quarter of a second, and nearly fell over each other to get to a seat.
The twins laughed and shook their heads, Shane once again taking a seat behind the black piano.
A couple of hours later, 6 teenagers emerged from the room, all talking as though they'd known each other for all their lives.