Authors note: well I think I'm getting to the last couple chapter of this story….wow a story that I might actually finish. I know it's short, but I'm not one of the people that can drag a story out for 80 + chapter, just ain't goanna happen.. If people want I might do a sequel… how I have no clue. But please enjoy.. I think there will be only one or two more chapters after this one.

Disclaimer: go to the first chapter is you want one

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Chapter 4: The Phantom of Hogwarts

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It was finally the eve of the play, and not a single person could be found not talking about it.

Dinner that night had been a silent affair, since Ron was at the stage, going through some final rehearsals, and Hermione was not on speaking terms with him.

Ever since he had gone up on stage, everyone had been bombarding him with questions, mainly on why he didn't try out and where he learned so much about the phantom. He had refused to answer any of them, and had basically told Hermione to go screw her self.

Harry had a black eye for two weeks after that.

" Harry? Are you going to watch the performance tonight?"

Sighing Harry turned to Neville.

" I really don't have a choice in the matter do I."

That was true, for everyone was going to attend the performance tonight, so that left the castle unoccupied, and no student was aloud to remain in the castle if no teachers were present. He wouldn't have minded it if Flitch was staying, but no, the idiot was going as well.

" You should go to support your friend." Hermione spat from down the table.

" Oh! So are you speaking to me again."

Hermione 'humped' and returned to her chat with Lavender.

' women are bloody pains in the asses.'

The sharp ring of metal hitting glass caught everyone's attention. The hall fell silent and all eyes turned to Professor McGonagall.

" If you are all finished with your dinner, we shall proceed out to the performance."

As one the student body and made their way from the great hall and out into the front lawns

A theater had been erect out side by the Quidditch field, only once in his life had Harry ever seen this many witches and wizards waiting out side, not only was it all of Hogwarts student body, but it seemed like all of London.

He hoped that no one here had seen the actual play.

Pushing his way through the crowed, Harry managed to make his way into the theater.

In all opinion, it was ugly! The theater was supposed to be a replica of the Paris Opera House. but nothing was the same.

The front entrance hall and grand staircase were a white marble with dark walnut accents. The statues were a brilliant gold. Only these statues were not of half naked women holding candelabras. But fully dressed witches holding up wands that were magically illuminated.

Where the angles should have been above the main floor door, were house elves with wings on their backs.

Harry turned away discussed, this was a disgrace.

" It was the ministry who erected this monstrosity."

Harry turned to his potions professor, Snape was looking around, disgust clearly written on his face.

" trust them to ruin a beautiful piece of architecture in order to promote themselves."

Harry silently nodded, Snape swept up the main staircase his black robes billowing out behind him. Silently Harry fallowed his path.

Harry took his seats among the shadows of Box 5. this seat was to remain empty for the play to give more of the affect, even though they would have a box five on stage. He chose this spot so that if he were to leave, he would not draw attention to himself.

" I see we had the same idea."

" it would seem so Professor."

Snape took a seat next to Harry, he was a master of shadows and blended perfectly in with them. Over the summer Harry had as well become a master of the shadows.

Risking a glance, he leaned out of the shadows to get a closer glimpse of the stage. The stage setting looked fairly close to what the actual play sets looked like. He could see the lapsing curtains, tattered and worn from years of misuse.

What was the chandelier, was hidden underneath a gray blanket with the words chandelier stamped across the top. And auctioneer podium stood in the center of the stage.

The lights flickered and dimmed, announcing the beginning of the play.

With the house lights no longer on, both Harry and Snape inched forward, thought still keeping to the shadows.

Several people walked out onto the stage, one being rolled out in a wheel chair. That was Ron and he could tell from here that he was nervous

" Do you really think Weasley will be up to this?"

Harry shook his head.

" Don't think so, but we will see."

Snape made a impatient sound in the back of his throat. Never once had Harry ever imagined having a civilized conversation with Snape

The sound of a grovel hitting wood brought his attention back to the stage.

Lot 665, ladies and gentleman: a papier –
Mache musical box, in the shape of a barrel
Organ, attached the figure of a monkey in
Wizarding robes, playing the cymbals. This item
Discovered in the vaults of the theater, still in
Working order.

Porter held up the music box

Showing here

Porter set the music box in motion, the soft tune of masquerade playing out and was soon over take by the auctioneers voice

May I start at twenty francs? Fifteen, then?

Fifteen I am bid

Raoul raised his had

Fifteen francs thank you sir

An elderly Madam Giry raised her hand

Twenty francs, madam

The bidding continued on till

Sold, for thirty francs to the Vicomte de
Chagny. Thank you sir

Porter walked across the stage and gently placed it into the elderly Raoul's hands. Raoul turned it over in his hands seeming to study it

A collector's
Piece indeed…

Every detail
Exactly as she said….

She often
spoke of you, my friend…

your velvet lining
and your figurine of lead….

Will you still play, when
All the rest of us are dead….?

Ron wasn't doing half bad, the shaking in his voice could easily be taken by the untrained ear for that of an old mans shaking voice, an no the shaking of a nervous 16 year old boy.

Lot 666, then: a chandelier in pieces. Some of
You may recall the strange affair of the
Phantom of Hogwarts: a mystery never fully
Explained. We are told, ladies and gentleman,
That this is the very chandelier which figures
In the famous disaster. Our workshops have
Restored it and fitted up parts of it with the spells
For the new lighting charms, so that we may get a
Hint of what it may look like when re-
Assembles. Perhaps we may frighten way the
Ghost of so many years ago with a little
Illumination, gentlemen?

With a wave of Porters wand, the draping over the chandelier was taken off fallowed closely by an explosion of light.

In that brief instant Hermione looked up to box five, where earlier she had seen to figures sitting, was now just an empty box.

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Never in all his time of attending the theater had Harry ever walked out on a performance of the Phantom of the Opera, no matter how terrible the troop was butchering it.

' there is always a first time for everything'

the blaring music of the prologue could be heard behind him as he made his way down the marble stair case.

" I see I'm not the only one to walk out in the first to minutes."

Harry was surprised to see Snape leaning causally against one of the statues at the bottom of the staircase. When he had left he had not even noticed Snape's absence.

" when did you leave?"

Snape visibly flinched why Pansy hit her first note.

" right after the auctioneer started speaking, I'm surprised you lasted until the chandelier."

Harry proceeded on through the front door, noticing Snape by his side.

" I wanted to see how badly the butchered it."

" all you had to know was the Dumbledore was changing it so the purebloods would understand it. That would tell you how badly butchered it was going to be."

Harry sighed, yeah he was right.

" I'm surprised you even went, Professor. You don't seem like the sappy romance type guy."

Snape sighed, placing his hands behind his head.

" generally not, but I remember my mother reading me the phantom of the opera when I was little, and I fell in love with it, you could say I could relate to Eric in a lot of ways.

" when I heard they had a musical out for it, I went, and fell in love with the play. Michael Crawford was the Phantom at the time, along with Sera Brighttmen as Christine.

Best troop I have seen yet, haven't missed one either. Except this year. I can't believe I missed the British troop performing at the Paris opera house."

Snape sighed again and looked extremely pissed off at himself.

" Christmas eve."

Snape dropped his hands.

" what?"

Harry smiled up at him.

" that troop will be performing on last show at the Paris opera house on Christmas eve."

Snape's obsidian eyes grew large, but then his face fell.

" That show has probly been sold out since last month."

" yep."

Snape sighed again, as the two climbed the stairs into the entrance hall. Harry grinned his now trade mark chasseur cat grin, quickly he dug a piece or paper form his pocket, and held it up in front of Snape's face

" What is this Potter." Snape said grabbing the paper.

" read it out loud."

Snape glared at Harry, but readjusted the paper so to better read it

" The Fallowing Boxes have been reserved for those students and teachers who participated in the Hogwarts presentation of the Phantom of the Opera, on the 25 of December, 1996. The British troops Christmas presentation of The Phantom of the Opera at the Paris Opera House."

Snape stared dumbfounded at the paper in front of his eyes. His eyes then rapidly scanned down the list of names of those who were attending. His eyes widening further as the landed on his own name.

" how in the world did you get…."

Harry smirked as he watched the invisible gears in Snape's head turn on overdrive, as he put two and two together like only Snape could.

" you're.."

" Could you give that to Dumbledore for me, I'm heading off to bed. Night Professor."

Harry quickly made his exit, though before he turned the corner he turned back to his professor.

" oh professor."

Snape looked up at show he was listening

Down once more
To the dungeon
Of my black despair!
Down we plunge
To the prison
Of my mind!
Down that path
Into darkness
Deep as hell!

" I'll see you at he performance professor."

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It was nearly two hours later that the portrait hole opened emitting the crowed of Gryffindor students, all talking excitedly about the play.

A loud 'CREAK' cause everyone to fall silent. All attention turned to the couch by the common room fire place.

A very angry Hermione and Ron stood over Harry, who head was currently turned to the side, a very angry red hand print was quickly appearing there.

" HOW DARE YOU WALK OUT ON YOU FRIENDS PLAY!"

Harry slowly turned so that he was facing Hermione again. his glasses lay somewhere on the floor as they had been knocked off when Hermione had hit him.

" You wouldn't understand."

His voice was cold, colder then anyone had ever heard him talk before.

" Try me." She hissed

Harry stood, walking right past her and Ron and out towards the portrait hole.

" The only thing you understand is how to fuck you play toy there."

Ron let off a rage filled cry and took off out the portrait hole after Harry, Hermione hot on his heals.

Only when they stepped out, did they notice the hall was empty. Even at a dead sprint Harry couldn't have gotten to the staircase that fast.

" where the hell did that bastard go."

Both Ron and Hermione stood in the hall looking around them.

" What is this, two Gryffindor prefects out in the halls after hours."

Both froze as Snape stepped out of the shadows.

" Professor, we're looking for Harry, he ran out here only a couple minutes ago."

Snape grinned evilly.

" And what ever for would you be chasing after Potter for."

" He said some terrible, hurtful words professor." Hermione said, putting on the fake water works.

" So Potter has finally told you off. Good for him, now both you back into your common room, and fifty points each for being out after curfew."

Silently Ron and Hermione walked back into the common room. Ron turned back for a second.

" he's probly hiding in the shadows by the stairs."

The portrait of the fat lady swung closed.

" I would expect nothing less, from the Phantom."

He grinned at the two emerald eyes staring back at him.

"come, you may sleep in my quarters tonight, since you will probly get another black eye if you return to your common room."

Snape turned and started walking down the stairs, he didn't need to turn to know that Potter was fallowing him.

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whew I'm tired, it's almost 11 pm and I still have to go to work tomorrow, well I hope you all enjoyed this chapter of the music of the night. I know Snape seemed OOC but hey I like doing that.. so please be nice and review.