Chapter three
Practice
After dinner that night Hermione went up to her room to retrieve her copy of the script and also Ron's who was the laziest Gryffindor of the Year hands down. She then made her way down to Professor Flitwick's office where she found a note on the door directing her to the Teachers Lounge. When she got there the rest of the cast was lined up at the piano with the exception of Snape. Each were being handed a sheet of music to Masquerade. Hermione went and stood next to Ginny.
"Ah Miss Granger, I would like you to stand next to Professor Snape. Thank you," the little Flitwick squeaked as he handed her a rose with a black ribbon tied about it. "I see you have Mr. Weasley's script."
Hermione nodded and handed it to Ron. She then made her way to where Snape stood.
"First I would like us to perform the Little Lotte scene. Ron Hermione please, if you will." Hermione and Ron both stepped over into an area which was set aside for any performing.
Hermione sat down and Ron Stood where a red line was in the shape of a door. Professor Flitwick said begin and Ron stepped over the line.
"Little Lotte let her mind wander," Ron said as he stopped into the area that had been set as Christine's room. "Little Lotte thought 'Am I fonder of dolls or of goblins or shoes?' "
Hermione smiled as she turned on her stool and said, "Raul."
" 'Or of riddles or frocks?' "
"Those picnics in the attic."
" 'Or of Chocolates?' "
"Father playing the violin."
Ron moved closer and knelt beside Hermione looking up at her.
"As we read to each other dark stories of the north."
"No. What I love best Lotte said. Is when I am asleep in my bed,"
Hermione took a quick breath for the next few lines she would have to sing.
"And the Angel of Music sings songs in my head."
They both sang together now,
"The Angel of Music sings songs in my head."
They hugged as directed. Then Ron said as Raul,
"You sang like and angel tonight."
"Father said: 'When I'm in heaven, child, I will send the Angel of Music to you.' Well, Father is dead, Raul. And I have been visited by the Angel of Music."
"Oh… no doubt of it. And now we go to supper,"
Ron said as he rose from his spot on the floor where he had been kneeling.
"No, Raul. The Angel of Music is very strict."
"Well, then I shan't keep you up late."
"Raul, no."
"You must change. I'll order my carriage two minutes, Little Lotte."
"No, Raul. Wait!"
Ron walked over the red line again and the scene was done.
Hermione stayed seated and Ron went back to the spot next to her.
"Very good, you two. Very good indeed. No doubt you have practiced. The only thing I can say right now is Ron you need to speaking more on the side of Hermione so that we can hear you better." Professor Flitwick thumbed through his copy of the scrip and found another scene to do. "Now, Professor Snape, please come here. You and miss Granger will be performing a scene that is almost entirely singing. Please turn to page twenty of your script to I Remember and Stranger Than You Dreamt It."
Hermione stood this time and walked over to a bed that now lay in the middle of the floor which she laid down in. Snape moved the stool Hermione had been on and sat down.
"Go ahead you two."
Hermione sat up and looked around. She began to slowly walk towards Snape as she sang, "I remember there was mist ...
swirling mist upon a vast, glassy lake ...
"There were candles all around,
and on the lake there was a boat,
and in the boat there was a man ..."
She now was right next to Snape who was shorter then her for he was sitting on the stool.
"Who was that shape in the shadows?
Whose is the face in the mask?"
Hermione put her hands on his face where the mask would be and in one motion removed her hands.
Snape's own hand flew up to the area and with the other softly shoved Hermione to the floor not wanting to hurt her at all. He then sang in what seemed like a rage of fury.
"Damn you!
You little prying
Pandora!
You little demon - is this what you wanted to see?
Curse you!
You little lying Delilah!
You little viper - now you cannot ever be free!"
He began to slow down now not seeming as angry.
"Damn you ...
Curse you ...
"Stranger than you dreamt it -
can you even dare to look or bear to
think of me:
this loathsome gargoyle, who
burns in bell, but secretly yearns for heaven,
secretly ...
secretly ...
"But, Christine ...
"Fear can
Turn to love - you'll learn to see,
to find the man behind the monster: this ..."
Now he had made his way back around the stage area and sat beside Hermione on the floor who looked at him with eyes full of pity.
"repulsive carcass, who seems a beast, but secretly dreams of beauty,
secretly ...
secretly ...
"Oh, Christine ..."
After a moment of silence between to two Hermione made a motion of returning the mask which Snape took and placed back upon his face. Getting up he said, "Come we must return… those two fools who run my theatre will be missing you."
"Scene and end of practice. Brilliant both of you marvelous. Great stage presence and oh now wonder I have you two for the parts. Wonderful, Severus, I just want you to be a bit more furious with Miss Granger. And Miss Granger, try to cry if possible. You are supposed to be extremely upset. Thank you everyone, practice is tomorrow again after dinner. Good evening," Professor Flitwick squeaked as people began to leave.