A/N: Sorry about the short chapter guys. That one was slightly harder to write. It didn't have a lot going on. However this chapter, now this chapter is the event that, I know I have been waiting for. It's the only part of this whole book that I have planned at all. This book is being written the way the rest of mine are….completely totally on the fly. But when I got the idea, I knew they would be performing Phantom of the Opera. And now that time has come. Am I the only one thinking, dear god, this fanfic is at 30 chapters and possibly not half way done? I have no clue. But I'm glad you guys are here reading. We've almost reached 200 reviews…I'm super stoked! Thank you guys. Also with nanowrimo around the corner, despite last year's utter failure, I will try to update as much as possible and will write every single day I can. Anyway, here it is, the first day of the 7th year of Hermione's school year.

Chapter 30

September 1st had rolled around quickly for Hermione. She had been busy with non-stop rehearsals and getting ready for a very different school year. On top of that, she had hit a rough patch of morning sickness that had been bad enough Madame Pomfrey had to care for a little case of dehydration, after which, Severus demanded Hermione either quit the musical, or take the anti nausea potion. She of course opted for the nasty potion. He still asked she take things slowly, but she of course made the point that she always does her best in everything she has a passion for, and the one thing that held passion for her outside of school work, was the musical.

Now she stood behind stage, wearing a number more revealing that anything she was used to. The scar on her arm was loud and proud, no matter how much muggle concealing and concealing charms she used, it showed through. Severus said it was something Bellatrix has charmed; making sure her victims could never hide the permanent memory of their very "special" time together. Fortunately from a distance, it wouldn't be very noticeable. She was also happy to be only 2 months pregnant, because she did not want to be showing while exposing this much skin. She was already feeling a little bloated, but fortunately she had always been a bit of a healthy girl, so she had a fairly nice, skinny body. Although lately she had been feeling less like it, vomiting tended to do that to a girl.

Hannah ran up to her taking her hands, flushed with excitement, "Aren't you just so nervous? How are you not throwing up?"

Hermione chuckled, one reason she was happy to have that potion, despite the nerves and morning sickness, she couldn't throw up right now, "I guess it's a perk of being married to the death-eater potions master. He insists that I take the anti nausea potion since that whole minor dehydration scare."

"Hermione, I would not call passing out on top of the bridge, falling over the railing and almost hitting the ground if about 50 people hadn't reacted in time, a MINOR dehydration spell."

"Well it only seems bad-"

"No, don't even continue that sentence. It was bad, and you let it get that bad."

"Girls," McGonagall cut in, looking frantic, "Have you seen our Phantom? No one has seen him and its 10 minutes to show time."

"Sorry, Professor, I only just found, Mione. Just got out of the dressing room."

"Sorry, I really haven't moved from this spot, my legs feel like they've been hit by the Jelly Leg Jinx."

"If we don't find him…You can't perform Phantom of the Opera without a phantom. And there is no understudy. What was I thinking?"

The professor ran off searching frantically.

"No. Just no. This is not happening. I practically had to beg Severus not to cancel this."

And then it hit her. Their phantom was Muggleborn, like herself. He had probably been taken from the train.

"Hannah, I'll be back. I promise. Just make sure that she does not stop the show."

Hermione took off, finding the strength to move quickly. She ran all the way to the headmaster's office, the Gargoyles opening immediately upon her arrival.

"What is it, Hermione."

"You forgot to tell me something again. So you owe me."

"And what, pray tell, did I forget to tell you this time?"

"You knew our phantom was taken. You knew he wouldn't be here."

Severus sighed, finally actually looking up from his paper work that he was working on before the musical and the opening ceremonies, "And what do you think I owe you for this."

"You know very well we can't perform a play called Phantom of the Opera, without our phantom."

"So I suppose it's canceled," Severus said, with a noticeable hint of relief.

"Oh no. You are not doing this to me, to us. We have worked way too hard to have it canceled before. So get your pretentious stuck up ass to make up and stand in. You owe me big time."

"Hermione, I may not have intentionally stopped this musical, but what makes you think I could stand in even if I wanted to?"

"Because, I saw you. I saw you at almost all our rehearsals since we moved into the castle. And I saw you saying each and every line, even before he did."

"And what makes you think I can sing?"

"It doesn't matter at this point. We're running out of time, and I need this. Please don't take this away from me."

Severus looked at her, and he felt guilty. He did know exactly what was going to happen. But she had been working so hard, and she had come back to their quarters every night completely exhausted but with a genuine smile. Wordlessly, he stood up and took her hand, almost losing his balance when she lit up with excitement and rook off running.

"Professor McGonagall! We have a phantom."

In her panic, Minerva didn't care who it was, grabbed Severus and pushed him to the costume and make up crew.

"PLACES EVERYONE!"

"Think of me, think of me fondly when we've said good bye. Remember me, once in a while; please promise me you'll try."

Severus listened, as Hermione sang. Her voice rang out loud and clear, soft and sweet. He could feel the passion she felt for this part.

"We never said, our love was evergreen, or as unchanging as the sea. But if you can still remember, stop and think of me."

It was Severus' moment. He certainly felt like the phantom, mesmerized by Hermione's voice. And Neville was actually a fairly good actor. But Severus was determined to make people root for the phantom.

"Insolent boy, this slave of fashion, basking in your glory. Ignorant fool, this brave young suitor, sharing in MY triumph."

And when she responded, Severus felt the connection their characters shared, "Angel I hear you, speak, I listen, stay by my side, guide me. Angel, my soul was weak, forgive me. Enter at last master."

This was it. The final act. Her favorite song in the whole musical. Severus had made an excellent phantom. And she'd be lying if she didn't admit to feeling a certain level of attraction to him. She sat in spot, picking the charmed growing flowers, wearing little more than the outfit she opened with. She waited. This was probably the most seductive, sexual, and intimate song. Not only in lyrics, but in the movements. The music cued, and her heart stopped.

"You have come here, in pursuit of your deepest urge. In pursuit of that which till now has been silent. Silent."

Hermione looked over her shoulder, seeing his black hair sleeked back, eyes behind a mask, completely clad in black. She stood up, grabbing her arm and taking a few steps away.

"I have brought you that our passions may fuse and merge. In your mind you've already succumbed to me, dropped all defenses, completely succumbed to me. Now you are here with me, no seconds thoughts, you've decided. Decided."

He walked closer, crossing the stage in his graceful strides. And they made eye contact.

"Past the point of no return, no backwards glances. Our games of make believe are at an end. Past all thought of 'if' or 'when'. No use resisting, abandon thought and let the dream descend." As he walked towards her, with her mouth gaping just slightly. He had proven his ability to sing quite well, and at this point, she couldn't fathom how Christine would have chosen Raoul, as He wrapped his arms around her, a hand gently at her throat "What RAGING fire shall flood the soul? What rich desire unlocks it's door? What sweet seduction lies, before us?" With only her hand, he led her across the stage, "Past the Point of no return. The final threshold, what warm unspoken secrets will we learn, beyond the point of no return?"

Hermione had taken her hand back and stepped a few feet away. It didn't feel like choreography, it felt natural. She was filled with so many different thoughts and feelings right now.

"You have brought me, to that moment when words run dry. To that moment when speech disappears into silence. Silence." She looked out in to the audience, making sure she could make sure that her sleeves would fall at just the right moment, "I have come here, hardly knowing the reason why. In my mind I've already imagined our bodies entwining, defenseless and silent. Now I am here with you, no second thoughts, I've decided. Decided." They both started walking towards the stairs of the bridge. Hermione could help but feel a little flustered, but she felt empowered, "Past the point of no return, no going back now, our passion play has now at last begun. Past all thought of right or wrong, one final question; how long should we two wait before we're one?" Hermione found it incredibly easy to keep eye contact with Severus. His stare was intense, and she wondered how this might be affecting. "When will the blood begin to race? The sleeping bud burst into bloom? When will the flames at last, consume us?"

Now they stood, face to face at the top of the bridge. Hermione's heart was racing a thousand miles a second. In this moment, she felt attracted to him. Be it as an actress to her co-actor, wife to husband, or character to character, there was an undeniable passion. She felt shocked to hear his voice along side hers as he dropped his robe and they began walking towards each other, "Past the point of no return, the final threshold. The bridge is crossed so stand and watch it burn. We've passed the point of no return." Hermione's body reacted to his arms around her, as his hands held hers, and moved them across her bodice and over her breasts to her neck. It was almost impossible to keep her breath from catching.

"Say you'll share with me, one love, one lifetime. Lead me, save me, from my solitude. Say you want me, with you here, beside you. Anywhere you go, let me go too. Christine, that's all I ask of-"And she removed the mask. Thankful to be able to stop him. It almost seemed like a real plea, a real confession. And she wasn't sure she could take that.

Hermione stood between Neville and Severus as they did curtain call, curtseying to the audience. She still felt flushed from the performance. And felt a little confused about her feelings towards Severus. She wondered if he had developed feelings for her, or if he was just as in his role as she was. Either way, she didn't feel much like eating and retreated to their quarters the second she was off stage.

A/N 2: Well? Was it everything you hoped? I did take my choreography from the movie, as it's what plays in my mind every time I hear this song. It's actually like my favorite song from the musical, right up there with….alright, all of them I suppose. But anyway. I hope you enjoy. This was such an easy chapter to write :D I'm thinking next chapter might have their reactions to each others' performances.