January

The new term began. The talk of the school was the play contest. Posters announcing the contest were attached to near every wall and door of the castle.

Hogwarts Theater Night
May 15

Parents and the public will be invited
to view a play written and presented
by the students of Hogwarts.

Students are invited to write a
script and submit it for consideration
to the Theater and Art Department.

Rules:
1. Submit your script by February 21.
2. Do not include your name on the script.
3. Do not indicate the House you belong to.
4. Turn your script in by dropping it in the designated box.

Motto
Art unites.

Identification divides.

Submitted scripts will be judge fairly
due to the absence of identifying factors.

"Isn't this wonderful!" Hermione gushed, "This is the kind of contest the school has needed. None of that silly House bragging like with Quidditch."

"Hermione! There's nothing wrong with Quidditch!" the two boys exclaimed simultaneously.

"Besides," added Harry, "Gryffindor is better at Quidditch than the other houses."

Hermione huffed. "Well I'm submitting a script and you should too. How often do we have an opportunity like this? To write a play that is actually going to be performed for all of Hogwarts and their families."

"Not my family," mumbled Harry. His friends' moods dampened slightly. "Don't we have enough to be getting on with? The teachers seem to be making up for our two weeks of freedom. I already have two essays, 3 chapters to read and a project to work on. Speaking of which, do you know anyone else born in July?"

"I was born in July." Harry turned to Neville who had been lounging in a nearby sette.

"Really? Would you mind if I interviewed you for my arithmancy project? I'm supposed to find someone who has a number in common with me and then find out what other numbers and events we have in common."

"Sure Harry. When did you want to work on it?"

"Now if you have time. But let's find someplace quiet."

The two boys left the common room and found an empty classroom. They spent the next two hours talking and comparing. Neither revealed all their secrets, but neither were all secrets kept. Some information learned was included in the project, while other facts were tucked away for a more vital use than a good grade.

The staff were also gossiping about the contest.

"Why wasn't this brought up at the last staff meeting?" inquired McGonagall.

"I didn't know of it my dear."

"You mean this isn't sanctioned?" spluttered the old Scot.

Dumbledore shrugged, "Not as of yet, but I see no reason not to let it occur. It solves a problem actually. Those that contributed to the rejuvenation of the Art Department wish to see the product of their generosity. What better way than an evening of theater?"

"But what of classes Dumbledore?" asked Flitwick, "This will distract the students from their studies."

"Studies are not the end all be all of life at Hogwarts. Hogwarts is home to everyone inside her, and what is a home without entertainment?"

Snape chimmed in, "I have no doubt the scripts will be entertaining. The spelling utilized by the dolts is atrocious. One of them actually had the audacity to write, 'Lizard's spleen, witch should always be sliced never diced,' spelling which W-I-T-C-H. She is a witch for Merlin's sake and she doesn't even know how to spell what she is! Whoever is required to judge these works of art will have quite an amusing afternoon."

"Well, since you think it will be an enjoyable task, why not volunteer your services Severus?" probed Dumbledore.

Snape raised a brow, "You think I would make a good impartial judge? That I would not snake out who wrote each script?"

A few of the other staff tittered and Albus flushed. "Perhaps not. But you are always complaining that your House is treated unfairly. Surely you will encourage your students to participate."

"Only if the rules perfect spelling, grammar and punctuation are added to the regulations. If only one script is going to be utilized there must at least be some educational value to the rest of them."

Dumbledore raised his head in agreement, "I will see to it those stipulations are added. Please see your charges are encouraged to participate."

Snape groaned.

Alone in his quarters, Snape toasted himself on his ability to manipulate the conversation with Dumbledore in such a way that he was required to encourage the participation of The Snakes. The play would be a distraction to the little dunderheads, but having his children for lack of a better word, finally get a fair chance to be judged on their merits, not their tie color, he'd sell all the basilisk skin he was now owner of. Correction. He'd sell half. Or perhaps none. No use letting others get a head start on brewing with it until he'd had a chance himself. All he'd had time to do the previous summer was to harvest and store the various parts. Then the school year had started and free time dissappeared. Well, regardless, this was a valuable opportunity and he'd see to it that at least a few members of the snake din submitted a script.

After Snape made his evening rounds, breaking up snogging pairs, eviscerating those with messy rooms and shooing drowsy teens into bed Snape posted a sign on the Slytherin common room notice board.

Slytherin House

A competition is afoot.
It is time to prove your cunning.
Write a script that will teach
the other houses the value
of creative brains.

Your Head of House,
S. Snape

P.S. So help me if you choose to participate in this
distraction and your grades drop so much as one
letter in any course you won't see the outside of a
study cubicle on weekends until the end of term.

Harry sat alone on his bed with the curtains closed. He was grateful for the letters he and Snape continued to trade. Early on in the year Snape had included two spells in one of his letters. One spell was used to disguise a piece of writing as another. The other revealed the hidden text. This became their method of trading letters, Harry would write a letter to Snape, use the disguising spell, then write his potions essay. Snape would write his response letter, then use a simple duplicating spell to transfer Harry's essay to be the cover to hide his own letter. Harry now used those spells to hide his play script. Or scripts, as it were. The true final act couldn't be known until the time was right.