I do not own Phantom of the Opera or Harry Potter. The song in this chapter is from "The Return of the King Special Edition."

Thoughts.

(Translations)

Chapter 3

After four hours of practice, the ballerinas left for dinner. Nicole and Meg lagged behind the others to talk. "So, are you excited about opening night?" Meg asked Nicole.

"I am a little nervous," Nicole replied. "I have never been in the front line before."

"You'll be fine," Meg said. "We still have a day before opening night."

"Meg, opening night is tomorrow."

"I know. That means we have all of the daylight tomorrow before the opera starts."

"That doesn't feel long enough for me."

"Nicole, Mother wouldn't have put you in the front line if she thought you weren't ready."

"I know Meg."

"Then why do you doubt yourself?"

"I don't know."

Nicole and Meg arrived in the dining hall. They got their food and sat down at an empty table. Soon Madame Giry and some of the younger ballerinas sat down with them. A five-year-old ballerina named Clara sat down on the left side of Nicole. Clara looked at Nicole and said, "Will you come tell us a story tonight?"

"Of course. Then I will sleep with all of you tonight. If that is acceptable to you Madame Giry," Nicole replied.

"That is perfectly fine with me, Nicole," Madame Giry said.

All of the younger ballerinas started clapping happily. Madame Giry stared at them and they calmed down. Everyone started to eat her dinner and talk about what was happening in the opera house.

After dinner, Nicole went to her dorm to collect the things she would need for the night and the next morning. She was getting a hairbrush, when she heard a board creek above her. "Must be a mouse or a rat," she thought. She ignored it and put a hairbrush in her satchel.

The Phantom smiled and continued staring at the ballerina below him. He had heard about Nicole's plans for the evening. He was surprised by her willingness to be with the younger ballet rats. Normally ballerinas in the two age groups only mixed when forced to.

Nicole was almost done packing when she heard someone knocking on the door. "Come in," she said. The door opened and Clara stepped into the room. "Salut, Clara. Did you come to get me?" Nicole said. (Hi Clara)

Clara nodded her head. "We're all waiting for you," she said.

"I am almost done. Is everyone ready for my story? Nicole asked.

Again Clara nodded her head. "Can you tell what the story is called?" she asked.

"Clara that will spoil the surprise. You will just have to wait like everyone else."

"D'accord. Are you done yet?" (OK)

Nicole shook her head and put her hairpins in her satchel. Then she looked at Clara and smiled. "Now I am, m'amie," she said. (My friend.)

Nicole picked up her satchel and took Clara's hand. Then they started walking to the dorm for the young ballerinas.

The Phantom silently followed Nicole and Clara. He wanted to see how Nicole and the young ballet rats interacted. He also curious about what kind of stories Nicole told them.

When Nicole and Clara arrived in the dorm, Nicole was bombarded with questions about the story. She chuckled and shook her head. "All of you will hear the story you put your nightgowns on," Nicole said. At first the girls were disappointed, but then they perked up and put on their nightgowns. Nicole put hers on as well.

Once all the girls were ready, they sat around Nicole on the floor. "Tonight I am going to tell you about the frog prince," Nicole said. She smiled at the confused faces the girls gave her. "I thought you wouldn't know it," she said. She smiled once more and started her story. "Once upon a time, there lived a beautiful princess."

Fifteen minutes later, the young ballerinas were gazing intently at Nicole as she finished her story. "And they lived happily ever after," she said. "Can anyone tell me what the meaning of story is?"

"That if you meet a talking frog, you should kiss it because it's a prince under a spell," said a girl with blonde, curly hair.

Nicole chuckled and said, "No, J'alisa. The meaning of the story is that you should always keep your promises. No matter whom you made them to."

"Oh," all the girls said together.

The Phantom frowned in his hiding place. "No one ever kept their promises to me. Especially not Christine," he thought. Then he got up and went to his lair.

"Now, I think it is time for all ballerinas to go to bed," Nicole said. The young ballerinas got off of the floor and went to their beds. Nicole went to each bed and tucked all of the girls in. She was tucking Clara in, when she asked, "Nicole, could you sing us a song?"

"Alright. Let me think," Nicole said.

Nicole stood up and began to sing.

"With a sigh you turn away.

With a deepening heart,

No more words to say.

You will find that the world has changed.

And the trees are now turning from green to gold.

And the sun is now fading.

I wish I could hold you closer."

When she finished, Nicole looked around the room at all the young ballerinas. All of them had fallen asleep during the song. "Goodnight little ones," she said. Then she crawled into the extra bed and fell asleep.

Author's Note

I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter. I know the Phantom isn't in it very much, but he will be in more of the following chapters. Please review and tell me what you think.