Too soon after the holidays had started, they had ended and it was back to lessons for the fivesome. They were walking along when they had hit a big crowd...
"What's going on?" Harry whispered to Raini
"Dunno, one sec, I'll have a look" She whispered back, as she and Natalya managed to get to the front
"A TALENT SHOW?" Natalya squealed with delight, as she earned a few funny looks off the younger years…
They ran back to the others and told them what the sign on the notice board had said
"That sounds pretty cool actually…" Harry said
"Tell me about it! You thinking what I'm thinking Raini!" Natalya grinned
"You tell me, you're the telepathic one!" Raini grinned back as everyone made their way into the Great Hall; Severus was sitting at the staff table, looking thoroughly bored. Natalya flashed him a smile and he soon seemed to cheer up.
"Quiet please students!" Dumbledore's voice boomed. The hall instantly went silent.
"Now, I see the majority of you all have noticed the sign on the school notice board. Yes, we are going to have a Talent Show. If you wish to enter, then this (he pointed to a sort of chest) will be left in here for students to place their names in. You have until Thursday night to submit your name. Now, lets eat!" Dumbledore announced.
"Oh god, I don't think my stomachs been the same since Christmas dinner…" Natalya said as she saw the vast amount of food that appeared in front of her
"I'd say!" Draco laughed as he helped himself to some toast
"Anyways, Raini, you up for it?" Natalya grinned… Harry raised his eyebrows…
"I meant the talent show you dirty git!" Natalya laughed as she rolled her eyes
"Oh my god, Ruichiano! You're actually considering entering for the show?" Pansy Parkinson laughed
"Well, yes I was, do you have a problem with that? Don't say you're entering? I didn't think singing like a strangled cat was what you'd call talent though now, really…" Natalya smirked
"I…" Pansy spluttered
"Oh dear, it seems I've rendered you speechless.. Shame it won't be for when you try and sing. I think everyone could do without that… Then again, I do hope there's a spell to make someone temporarily deaf, cos, if there is, I will most certainly be using it." Natalya smiled sweetly as Pansy, who went bright red and ran out of the Great Hall.
Raini and Faith burst out laughing, along with half of the Gryffindor table
"That was bloody brilliant Natalya!" Ron grinned
"Indeed, it was slightly amusing Miss Ruichiano." Snape said as he stood behind Natalya
"Ahhh, Professor Snape. I do think your sarcasm has rubbed off on me. Shame Parkinson was on the receiving end. No house points taken?" Natalya smirked at Severus, who rolled his eyes and chuckled.
"No, not yet." He answered. Ron looked positively stunned as Severus walked off.
"Did he just laugh!" He asked as he watched Snape walk out.
"I believe so…"
"Ron, Natalya is a miracle worker!" Harry chuckled
"I noticed… That was brilliant, Parkinson speechless, and Snape, overgrown bat of the dungeons actually laughed… absolutely shocking!" Ron muttered
"Yes well, I try my best. And he's actually not so bad when you speak to him. Contrary to popular belief!" Natalya laughed
"Wow… amazing…" Ron whispered, earning a scared look off Hermione, who then rolled her eyes at him.
"Bless him…" she muttered
Later on, in Potions, everyone was still talking animatedly about the forthcoming Talent Show. Severus was getting annoyed as every class of his wouldn't shut up, or sit down for that matter. Natalya noticed this and decided to take matters into her own hands. With a knowing smile at Severus, she bellowed
"EVERYONE SIT DOWN AND SHUT THE GOD DAMN HELL UP!"
The class went dead.
"Thank you Miss Ruichiano. Now listen class, I don't really care whether you want to talk about this bloody Talent Show as it were, quite frankly I'd be surprised if Hogwarts has any talent whatsoever.(at this Natalya and Harry snickered) In other words, you do not mention the subject in this classroom, unless you want points taken, or a detention, am I clear?" Severus said quite loudly
"Yes sir" the class muttered.
"Now, the instructions are on the board, get to work." He announced. Severus then sat down at his desk and sighed.
Natalya felt her necklace tingle. She looked up at Severus who had his head in his hands. He then too looked up, and walked into his office.
"What was all that about?" Draco whispered
"I have no idea, I felt my necklace tingle, and looked up to see him with his head in his hands…" Natalya whispered back.
Harry looked up to see Paige coming out of Severus' office, she had ash on her robes.
"Sorry class but Professor Snape has been taken ill at the moment, I will be watching you for the remainder of the class. Miss Ruichiano, Professor Snape wanted to see you about the work you asked him about earlier on?" Paige said very politely
Natalya nodded to Paige and went through to Severus' office.
"Are you ok Severus? I felt my necklace tingle, and then I looked up to see you with your head in your hands… Have you been crying?" Natalya whispered, sounding very concerned as she saw how red Severus' eyes were. He nodded and she gave him a hug.
"What's wrong?" She whispered
He just shook his head as more tears came down his face.
"No, Severus, tell me, is it him? What's gone on?"
"Yeah, it's him. He's constantly telling me to kill you and Harry, etc; I can't lie for much longer Tali. Although I'd never usually admit this, but I'm scared. He killed an old friend of mine the other day to get to me… which was nice of him…" Severus finally explained.
"Oh Severus!" Natalya started crying. She sat on Severus' lap and gave him a big hug.
"It'll all be ok… I promise you that." She whispered as she stroked his hair soothingly.
After what had happened in the previous Potions lesson, Paige had taken to taking half of Severus' lessons to help him recuperate. It helped him a lot and he was soon back to his snarky self in lessons since the Talent Show was getting closer and closer.
"So, what are you planning for the show then? Dare I ask?" Severus asked Harry and Natalya. Natalya just grinned.
"Oh god… I dread to think!" Draco chuckled, and then his eyes went wide as Faith told him the plans. He chuckled.
"Ok… I don't like the idea that he found that amusing Natalya! C'mon, do tell…" Severus chuckled.
"Nope! It's a surprise… and I guarantee Miss Parkinson will certainly be one of the vast majority that will be surprised!" Natalya grinned as Severus just raised his eyebrow. Natalya looked at Raini.
"Ok, she's singing. There. Not telling you what though, although I doubt you would've heard of the band… then again, Draco knew… And Harry's gonna sing!" Raini giggled.
"Potter? You're planning on singing? God this is going to be some show…" Severus laughed sarcastically, earning a raspberry blown at him from Harry and Natalya. He rolled his eyes and laughed.
"It's good to see you laughing again Sev, we were all worried…" Paige smiled
"Thank you… hang on? Everyone?" Severus asked, looking positively shocked.
"Yup! Everyone Sev… in this room anyway." Natalya explained. Severus smiled
"That's quite impressive, I don't think I've ever had so many people worry about me… I'm honoured!" Severus chuckled.
"No problem, you make Tali happy after all…" Harry smiled appreciatively at his Potions Professor.
A day before the Talent Show
"Argh! For god's sake, this ain't working…" Harry shouted as for the fifth time, the piano he was trying to play, went out of tune…
"Let me help." Natalya smiled
"Eh?" Harry looked confused
"No offence Tali, but how exactly?"
"I can play the piano; you play what you play best hunni, your guitar!" She explained to him. Harry's eyes lit up and he practically jumped on Natalya in appreciation.
"Ouch! Ok, ok! I take that as a good thing! Now, you, guitar… Me, piano and Raini drums… all good?" She smiled
"Yep! How you doing your background music anyways?" Harry asked
"Oh, Raini and I have set up a tape thing, it's all good and in working order, run off by both our magic. Raini's gonna be watching it anyway to make sure nothing goes wrong. So… Everything's set! Including what we're wearing?" She grinned. Harry nodded and the two friends started jumping about the room in excitement. Raini came in and rolled her eyes.
"What's wrong? The Talent show is tomorrow! I can't wait!" Natalya giggled as Raini finally joined in with the excitement before settling down for the night. The next day was promising to be a very long day indeed…