The point of no return

A/N: Dedication: Mz Hellfire- Mmmmm, I should have put more description. Thanks for reviewing anyway hope you like this chapter.

Luke: Freak it's your fault you don't know what a corset is. :p

Caz: Evil flying Mexican fish Rule!

We join the opera toward the end of Elissa's great aria. She is alone.

Pansy at the end of her cade sings, " This trophy from our saviours, from the enslaving force of Rome."

The girl's chorus sings, "With feasting and dancing and song, tonight in celebration we greet the victorious throng returned to bring salvation!"

The men's chorus sings, "The trumpets of Carthage resound! Hear, Romans, now and tremble! Hark to our step on the ground!"

Everyone starts to sing, "Hear the drums- Hannibal comes!"

Ron as Piangi starts to sing, "Sad to return to find the land we love threatened once more by Roma's far- reaching grasp."

M. Reyer who is played by Neville interrupts him. "Signor…..if you please: "Rome." We say "Rome" not "Roma"."

Ron turns away embarrassed, replies in a mumble, "Si si Rome not Roma. Is very hard for me."

He turns away and starts to practice, "Rome….Rome."

Leferve the retiring manager walks in with M. Firmin and M. Andre.

Neville carries on, "Once again, then, if you please Signor: "Sad to return…."."

Dean who is playing Leferve, turns to Blaise and Draco and says, "This way gentlemen, this way. As you can see rehearsals are underway for the new production of Chalumeau's "Hannibal"." Seeing the pause in rehearsal, Leferve tries to get the casts attention.

"Ladies and gentlemen, some of you may already perhaps, have met, M. Firmin and M. Andre…."

Blaise and Draco bow politely, when Neville interrupts.

"I'm sorry M. Leferve , we are rehearsing. If you wouldn't mind waiting a moment?"

"My apologies M. Reyer. Proceed, proceed."

"Thank you monsieur." Turning to Ron." " Sad to return " Signor."

Dean says to both Slytherin boys, "M. Reyer, our chief repititeur. Rather a tyrant, I'm afraid."

The rehearsal continues.

Ron sang again, " Sad to return to the land we love threatened once more by Rome's far-reaching grasp. Tomorrow we shall break the chains of Rome. Tonight, rejoice- your army has come home."

The ballet girls begin to dance. Leferve , Andre and Firmin stand centre stage while watching the ballet. They are in the way. The ballet continues under the following dialogue.

Dean indicates Piangi. "Signor Piangi,our principal tenor. He does play so opposite La Carlotta."

Ginny as Madame Giry who is exasperated by their presence, bangs her cane angrily on the stage, "Gentlemen, please! If you would kindly move to one side?" she hissed.

"My apologies Mme. Giry." Dean said bowing his head. "Mme. Giry our ballet mistress. I do not mind confessing M. Firmin, I shan't be sorry to rid the whole business."

Blaise asked in a persistent manner. "I keep asking you Monsieur, why exactly are you retiring?"

Dean, ignoring this, call attention to the continuing ballet. "We take particular pride here in the excellence of our ballet."

Hermione who is playing Meg becomes prominent among the dancers.

Draco, as he see Hermione asks. "Who is that girl Leferve?"

"Her? Meg Giry, Madame Giry's daughter. Promising dancer, M. Andre, most promising."

Zara who is playing Christine now becomes prominent. She has absent-mindedly fallen out of step.

Ginny, spotted her, bangs her cane again, "You! Christine Daae! Concentrate girl!"

Hermione says quietly to Zara "Christine… what's the matter?"

Blaise confused says to Leferve, "Daae? Curious name."

Dean replies, " Swedish."

Draco asks, "Any relation to the violinist?"

Dean getting bored of the subject says, "His daughter, I believe. Always has her head in the clouds I'm afraid."

The ballet continues to it's climax and ends. The chorus continues.

"Bid welcome to Hannibal's guests- the elephants of Carthage! As guides on our conquering quests, Dido sends Hannibal's friends!"

An elephant, a life size replica enters. Ron is lifted in triumph onto it's back.

Pansy sings, "Once more to my welcoming arms

My love returns in splendour!"

Ron answer, "Once more to those welcoming arms

My heart and soul surrender!"

The chorus, "The trumpeting elephants sound! Hear, Romans, now and tremble! Hark to their step on the ground! Hear the drums Hannibal comes!"

At the end Dean claps his hands for silence.

Dean spoke in his most professional manner, "Ladies and gentlemen-Madame Giry, thank you-may I have your attention please? As you know, for some weeks now there have been rumours of my imminent retirement. I can tell you now that these were all true and its my pleasure to introduce to you the two gentlemen who now own the Opera Populaire, M. Richard Firmin and M. Gilles Andre."

There was a polite applause. Carlotta makes her presence known.

"Gentlemen, Signora Carlotta Guidicelli, our leading soprano for five seasons now." Dean introduced.

"And Signor Ubaldo Piangi."

Blaise being as polite as possible says, "An honour Signor."

Draco, being sweet and charming says, "If I remember rightly, Elissa has a rather fine aria in Act Three of "Hannibal". I wonder Signora, if, as a personal favour, would you oblige us to a private rendition? Unless of course M. Reyer objects…." he finished

Pansy says with a thick Italian accent, "My managers command…M. Reyer."

Neville replies, "My diva commands. Will two bars be a sufficient introduction?"

Blaise says "Two bars will be a sufficient introduction."

Neville says," Signora?"

Pansy retorts "Maestro."

The intro is played on the piano.

"Think of me, think of me fondly, when we've said goodbye. Remember me once in a while- please promise me you'll try. When you find that once again you long….."

As Pansy sing the backdrop fall to the floor cutting her off from half the cast.

Hermione and the ballet girls sing tauntingly, "He's here: The Phantom of the opera. He is with us, it's the ghost…."

Ron looked up furiously and spat, "You idiots." as he rushes over to Pansy. "Cara, Cara! Are you hurt."

Dean acting concerned says, "Signora! Are you alright? Buquet! Where is Buquet!"

Ron still furious still spraying spit everywhere says, "Is no one concerned about our Prima Donna."

"Get that man down here," said Dean "Chief of flies. He's responsible for this."

The drop raise to reveal Joseph Buquet holding a length of rope almost like a noose.

Dean shouted, "Buquet! For God's sake what's going on up there man!"

Seamus as Buquet replies, "Please monsieur don't look at me. As God as my witness I wasn't at my post. Please monsieur there's no one there, and if there is, well then, it must be a ghost."

Hermione said looking up, "He's there: the phantom of the Opera."

Draco slightly unnerved said, " Good heavens! Will you show a little courtesy?"

Blaise frustrated spat at Meg, "Mademoiselle please!"

Draco says sweetly to Pansy, "These thing do happen."

Pansy furiously hisses" Si! These things do happen! Well, until you stop these thing from happening this thing does not happen! Ubaldo! Andiamo!"

Ron dutifully fetches her furs from the wings.

"Amateurs." Ron spat as he left.

"I don't think there's much more to assist you, gentlemen. Gook luck. I shall be in Frankfurt if you need me." Dean replied curtly.

He leaves. The company looks anxiously at the new managers.

Draco says " La Carlotta will be back."

Ginny turned around and asked him "You think so messieurs? I have a message, sir, from the Opera Ghost."

The girls twitter and twirl in fear.

Blaise said, "God in heaven your all obsessed!"

Ginny reading the note answered not paying attention, "He merely welcomes you to his opera house and commands you to continue to leave Box Five empty for his use and reminds you that his salary is due."

Blaise bewildered hissed, "His salary?"

Ginny replied calmly, "Monsieur Leferve paid him twenty thousand francs a month. Perhaps you can afford more with Vicomte de Changy as your patron."

Some sort of reaction from the ballet girls. Zara takes hold of Hermione's hands nervously.

Draco says," Madame I hoped to make that announcement myself."

Ginny said continuing, "Will the Vicomte be at the performance tonight?"

Blaise replied," In our box."

Draco, changing the subject to the present problem asked, "Madame who is the understudy for this role?"

"There is no understudy," Neville spat. "The production is new."

Hermione shyly said, "Christine Daae can sig it sir."

Blaise asked "A chorus girl?"

Hermione said to Blaise, "She has been taking lessons from a great teacher."

Draco curious asked, "From whom?"

Zara answered uneasily, "I don't know monsieur…."

Blaise said exasperated, "Not you as well. A full house and we'll have to cancel."

Ginny said back, "Let her sing for you monsieur. She has been well taught."

Neville said after a pause, "From the beginning of the aria then mam'selle."

Zara nodded, and came in where she needed to. "Think of me, think of me fondly, when we've said goodbye. Remember me once in a while, promise me you'll try."

Blaise said under his breath, "This isn't doing anything for my nerves."

Draco replied "Don't fret."

Zara continued, "When you find that, once again, you long to take you heart back and be free- If you ever find a moment, spare a thought for me."

There was a transformation into the gala. Christine is revealed in full costume.

Zara sang on, "We never said our love was evergreen or as unchanging as the sea- But if you can still remember stop and think of me. Think of all the things we've shared and seen- Don't think about the way thing might have been. Think of me, think of me waking silent and resigned. Imagine me, trying too hard to out you from my mind. Recall those days: look back on all those times, think of the things we'll never do- There will never be when I don't think of you."

There was applause and bravos. Prominent among the bravos are those of the young Raoul in the manager's box….

Joey as Raoul sang, " Can it be? Can it be Christine?" He raised his Opera glasses. "What a change! You're really not a bit the gawkish girl that you once were." He lowered the glasses. "She may not remember me but I remember her."

Zara finished her aria, "We never said our love was evergreen or as unchanging as the sea- But if you can still remember stop and think

o-o-o-o-o-…of me!"