Title:
The Point Of All Emotions
Author:
ThePhantomsRedRose
Disclaimer:
I do not own Harry Potter or the Phantom of the Opera.
Summary:
AU, 7thYear. The war looms in everyone's thoughts. To take their
mind away they begin work on a Musical. Strong partnerships are
established, but are they strong enough to win the war?
Authors
Note: look up aethonon in Fantastic Beasts.
Singing is in bold! Yes as you may have noticed the dance will take
two parts
The past two weeks went by in a blur for Hermione. She had play rehearsals, which were going by fairly smoothly. She had been overseeing the new battle strategy, which mostly included working with Hagrid to obtain the animals. In addition, she had been helping Ginny obtain her animagus form. Ginny was able to get her form on the second day, turning into a great Aethonon Horse, but now all Hermione had to focus on was the ball.
"Severus Snape I need my dress!" she hollered back to the bathroom of Severus's chambers where she heard a shower running.
"Okay, just take it!" His muffled voice said from the shower.
She grabbed the dress and headed back to her dressing room where Ginny was waiting for her. Once inside Ginny attacked her with a big hug. "Oh my god, Hermione it's gorgeous!" Ginny said while examining the fabric.
"It is rather fabulous isn't it!" Hermione said holding the dress up to her.
"Speech! Speech!" Ginny cried, beginning to laugh out loud.
" I feel pretty! Oh so pretty! I feel pretty, and witty, and gay! And I pity any girl who doesn't feel this way!" She sung as the girls began to dance. When Hermione was done, Ginny clapped, causing Hermione to take a big bow.
"WHAT'S ALL THAT RACKET IN THERE!" Snape called through the wall.
"SORRY! WE'LL BE QUIETER!" She yelled before beginning to laugh again.
Ginny's dress was different shades of green, no doubt to match Harry's eyes. It was low cut in the front and laced up the back. "Wow Ginny, going all out for this dance aren't you?" Hermione teased. The girls quickly put on their dresses and then pulled up chairs to the vanity. Hermione's Hair was pulled half up half down with ringlets framing her face in the front, perfect spiral curls cascading down her back. Ginny's Hair was charmed to be longer, coming down perfectly straight to her waist a green comb holding one side of her hair back away from her face.
The makeup brushes began to march out onto the counter, each one standing at attention to the big blush brush. A sound of "Charge!" was heard as the makeup brushes began to attack their faces. Hermione had on a nice bronzer covering her face while the brushes worked tirelessly on Ginny's freckles. Soon a very vibrant golden eye shadow was added to Hermione's eyelids. A lighter green found Ginny's eyes. Lipstick and liner attacked Hermione's lips in the exact shade of red-burgundy of her dress. A gloss was applied over it for shine. Ginny's Lipstick shade was a nice skin toned pink so that the red would not come off her hair too strongly. At this point it was seven-thirty, the dance started at eight o'clock. Hermione heard a knock, from the wall, a voice soon followed.
"Are you almost ready yet! I have gifts you know!" Severus yelled.
"Oh Severus, you didn't have to get me anything! I don't have anything for you!" She yelled back. "Yes we're ready, you can come in!" Hermione yelled, bracing herself for reactions.
"Wow, You look amazing Severus! Hermione said giving him a hug. Examining his hair pulled back into a perfect ponytail tied with a gold ribbon.
"And you are breathtakingly beautiful," he said leaning down for a kiss.
"Awww, You two are so beautiful," Ginny teased.
"Miss Weasly, you're here?" Severus remarked. "If word of this gets out to anyone I'll," Hermione cut him off
"Ginny will not say anything Severus, She already knows," Hermione said. "Now where are these gifts!" Hermione teased.
First, he handed her a bouquet of red and white roses. Hermione conjured a vase to put them in and set them on the vanity. A pair of scissors walked out of the drawer went over to the roses and cut a rather large red one from its stem. "Hey!" Hermione said shooing the scissors that were now accompanied by clips that began attacking her hair. After a long struggle, the rose was pinned on the side of her head.
Next came a matching corsage with red and white roses and baby's-breath. Which he tied on her wrist. Then he withdrew a box from a pocket in his red tailcoat that was black velvet. He opened the box and there was a beautiful gold chain that was about a half an inch thick. Severus withdrew the chain and placed it around her neck. He pulled out a smaller box from the opposite pocket that had diamond earrings in it. She put them on thanking Severus over and over again.
Hermione heard a noise from back in her suite. She heard a voice say, "Where are they?" She opened the portrait and saw Harry Potter standing there in his black tux with green accents, and a very out of place Ronald Weasley wearing a gray tux with yellow accents.
"You two look very…spiffy!" Hermione commented. "Come on in, we want to make our entrance to the ball from the auditorium," Hermione explained. "I hope that's not a problem for Luna," She said looking at Ron.
"We were going to meet in the Great Hall anyway…" He trailed off with a dropped jaw at the site in front of him. He saw his sister wearing a low cut dress. "I'll get to that later," He said pointing to her.
"What are you doing here!" He said while marching up to Snape.
"I am Hermione's date," Severus sneered at Ron.
"You will not touch Hermione," Ron said in a low whisper.
"Ronald, get over it!" Hermione yelled.
"I will not get over it! This Man is twice your age and he is a greasy git!" Ron yelled now needing Harry's restraints to keep him from attacking.
"His hair is not greasy, He looks spectacular tonight!" Hermione defended him.
"He probably purposely brewed that potion so he could be with you!" Ronald said, becoming so angry he caused the vase Hermione had conjured earlier to explode.
"GET OUT RONALD! NOW!" She screamed. Ron whipped around and went back through the suite in a state of Rage. "Now if you have to say anything about this Harry you can take the same route to, if not than I am sorry that bafoon has ruined your initial reaction to Ginny,"
"Just a bit. Ginny you look stunning!" Harry said hugging her.
"You look good to!" Ginny said.
"Okay, enough!" Severus teased.
"Oh come on, I had to put up with your sentimental crap earlier," Ginny teased back.
"Now there's a sight I'd like to see," Harry laughed.
"You just may," Severus said while kissing Hermione again.
"AHHHH! Never mind, I lied," Harry said covering his eyes
"Lets get going already!" Hermione said rolling her eyes. With that Hermione left with the people she loved most, ready to go spend a good night dancing until they dropped.
They opened the auditorium door to find an elaborately decorated Great Hall. They were on top of one of the staircase sets. There was a wrap around balcony with tables and chairs and then on the other end of the Great hall was another set of Stairs, Extending from the balcony. The dance floor was all hardwood with a chandelier glistening from the ceiling, which no longer had a bewitchment on it. There were grand arcs and beams in the ceiling with gargoyles to match the style. On each staircase railing, was an animal. The one they were walking down was the Gryffindor/ Slytherin staircase, which had a lion on the right and a serpent on the left. On the other side of the room was the Hufflepuff/ Ravenclaw Staircase.
Snape took Hermione's hand and Harry took Ginny's as they entered the dance floor. The hall went silent. Everyone was shocked at their Professor holding hands with a Gryffindor student. Even more shocking was the fact that he was wearing colors, Gryffindor colors. A quick waltz began to play; Hermione recognized the tune as the waltz from Die Fledermaus. Snape bowed asking for a dance. Hermione curtsied and nodded. Snape put one hand on her waist and took one of her hands and they began the waltz, alone on the dance floor. The couple swirled around the dance floor when the song ended the crowds silence was broken by cheers and applause.
The next song that played was Hedwig's Theme. At this, Harry and Ginny joined them on the dance floor. From the center of the balcony, on the far end of the hall, two pairs of eyes bored into the couples. These pairs of eyes belonged to Maureen Hunter and Draco Malfoy.
"Come on," Maureen said. "We can't let them steal all the glory!" She said dragging Draco on to the dance floor.
"But I don't want to dance, It will make me look like an idiot!" Draco protested.
"Not if you're with me you won't," She said pulling his hand to her waist.
"Hey Potter, Can't date Weasley so you choose his little sister instead!" Malfoy teased icily.
"Leave him alone Malfoy!" Hermione said as they waltzed closer.
"Oh and you Mudblood scum, what makes you think you can dance with the head of Slytherin house and live to see the end of it," Draco sneered.
"Mr. Malfoy! Fifty points from Slytherin for foul use of language and improper conduct around a teacher," Snape said.
"I am not sure that I am the one that should be charged with improper conduct with a teacher," Malfoy said raising an eyebrow at Hermione. "Just wait until my father hears about this!" Malfoy said as He and Maureen danced to the other side of the ballroom. Other couples had joined at this point.
"Want to go get some dinner? I am sure you have not eaten yet since you were only in my quarters for a minute this afternoon," He asked as he led her to a table, Harry and Ginny following behind. They ate the dinner that was presented to them on crystal platters.
"Well Severus, I must say that you can cook a much better Chicken Alfredo than this," She said as they ate their meal with idle talk.
"You can cook Professor Snape?" Ginny asked curiously.
"Yes, he cooks very good meals, both magical and muggle," Hermione said praising his work.
"Not going to ask why Snape is cooking for you," Harry said turning red.
"Because certain distractions are taking up all the room at the table," Hermione said. "And because Severus is an amazing cook and I enjoy our time together." Harry made a gagging motion and Hermione shooed him away with her hand.
"Would you like to go dance some more?" Severus asked as a tango played over the crowd.
"Sure, But I think we will be the only ones who know how to tango," She said as they approached the dance floor. She was right because there was only one other couple on the dance floor, Dumbledore and McGonagall. The two couples danced. Hermione and Severus trying to avoid eye contact with Mcgonagall, who was staring them down while Dumbledore started to twinkle. The song ended and Dumbledore cast Sonorous,
"Can everybody hear me? Good! I hope you are all enjoying your evening," He paused allowing everybody to clap. "I would like all cast members to please step onto the dance floor and prepare to do the Masquerade dance number now," He said motioning for the members.
"See you soon Hermione," Snape said going to the top of the staircase while Leo gathered Hermione in his arms
"Ready, Professor Flitwick, if you could count off the orchestra," Dumbledore nodded to the conductor.
Professor Flitwick stepped up to his podium and counted, "One, two, three, one, two, three." The orchestra played for fifteen measures while the cast waltzed and then began singing
Masquerade, paper faces on parade. Masquerade; hide your face so the world will never find you. Masquerade, every face a different shade, masquerade, look around there's another mask behind you.
A smaller ensemble began the next part. Flash of mauve, splash of puce, fool and king, ghoul and goose, green and black, queen and priest, trace of rouge, face of beast. The rest of the ensemble joined in, Faces, take your turn, take a ride on the merry-go-round. A soloist chimed in with In an inhuman race. The chorus came back in for eye of gold thigh of blue, true is false; who is who, curl of lip, swirl of gown, ace of hearts, face of clown. Faces, drink it in, drink it up till you've drowned in the light, in the sound. Hermione and Leo sang but who can name the face. The entire ensemble joined in again for Masquerade, grinning yellows, spinning reds. Masquerade, take your fill, let the spectacle astound you. Masquerade, burning glances, turning heads, masquerade, stop and stare at the sea of smiles around you. Masquerade, seething shadows, breathing lies, masquerade, you can fool any friend who ever know you. Masquerade, leering satyrs, peering eyes, masquerade, run and hide, but a face will still pursue you. The Music changed keys as Pansy started to sing What a night! Then Crabbe sang what a crowd! Harry and Ron sang, Makes you glad makes you proud, all the crème de la crème! Pansy joined in watching us watching them. Ginny and McGonagall joined in adding and all our fears are in the past. Harry, Crabbe, Pansy and Ron took turns singing forming the lines Three months of relief, of delight, of Elysian peace. And we can breath at last. No more notes, no more ghost, here's a health, here's a toast to a prosperous year, to a new chandelier and may our splendor never fade. What a change, what a blessed release, and what a masquerade. They all joined in singing the chorus one last time until vivid pipe organ music was heard throughout the ballroom. Severus appeared moving down the stairs one beat at a time.
Why so silent good Monsieur's? Did You think that I had left you for good, have you missed me good Monsieur's? I have written you an opera. Here I bring the finished score! DON JUAN TRIUMPHANT! Fondest greetings to you all, a few instructions just before rehearsals start. He said walking towards Pansy. Carlotta must be taught to act not her normal trick of strutting around the stage. He stepped forward to Crabbe. Our Don Juan must loose some weight, it's not healthy in a man of Piangi's age, He stepped forward to Ron and Harry. Ron began to lunge at him but Harry held him back. And my managers must learn, that their place is in an office, not the arts. As for our star, Miss Christine Daee: No doubt she'll do her best its true her voice is good. She knows though, should she wish to excel, she has much still to learn. If pride will let her return to me, her teacher, her teacher. He walked up to her. Your chains are still mine. You belong to me! Flitwick cut them off there and they took a giant bow to the applause of the audience.