Chapter Ten
On With The Show
Ginny did not leave Hermione's side once she left the Hospital Wing. This simple action alone almost forced Hermione into eating regular meals.
By Friday morning before breakfast no less she had handed in her assignments to Severus and was refitted into her costumes for the first dress rehearsal. The rehearsal took place on the Quidditch Pitch on a stage that had been constructed for the show. The teams' changing rooms were changed into dressing rooms and everything looked absolutely perfect.
Hermione walked into her dressing room for the first time that Friday. She was the only one that had not gotten the chance to decorate hers so naturally she walked in with a box filled with memorabilia. She had expected whitewashed walls and a big mirror in front of a normal teacher's chair. So when she walked into a pink and gold room with flowers every where and a pink cushioned chair she nearly dropped her box. Instead she walked over to a white sofa where she put the box down and then she went to inspect everything. Her costumes where already in her room in order of wearing. She looked at her dress for the first major song of hers "Think of Me". The dress was a silverish white with crystal like sequences sewn into it in patterns of roses and stars. Her next dress was the one for "Angel of Music" reprise and "Phantom of the Opera" it was a white night gown with a corseted bodice and long flowing skirt. A white robe with gold embroidery hung next to it. With every outfit she looked more and more amazed at the precise design that had to have been used to make the dress or costume.
On the mirror of her dressing room hung pictures of the way she needed her hair and makeup for each scene. She noticed that some of the outfits she would need to either apprate or change in one of the extra dressing rooms backstage.
With a mere fifteen minutes until show time Hermione got into her slave girl outfit for Hannibal and did her hair and make up as well. On her stomach she magically placed a dried hennah tattoo of a stars and a moon around her navel like all the other slave girls would need to do. She looked through the dressing room and noticed a letter from someone in the corner of her mirror that she had not seen before.
Slowly, Hermione walked over to her mirror where she took the letter. It was in an elegant script that curved across the page as if it were written by an angel.
My Dearest Hermione,
I know that it is bad luck in theatre to wish someone luck, so break a leg.
I want you to know that when you sign I can hardly think of my own lines and lyrics, for it is as if you take me into heaven just by the sound of your voice.
I love you and would never dream of hurting you ever.
Love always and forever,
Severus
Hermione held the note to herself and concentrated on her love. She wanted him to know that she would always love him no matter what. Being so lost in her love she did not realize that it was time to go on. Ginny went and knocked on the door to Hermione's room, which brought Hermione out of her trance.
"Hermione, its time to go backstage the play is starting. Um, do you need help with those costumes?"
"Yes, I do thanks." Hermione handed Ginny her Think of Me costume and her Phantom of the Opera costume. She took her make up and hair supplies.
They arrived at the stage just as the curtain opened for Ginny's first scene the Auction.
Slughorn stood on top of a box with a podium in front of him.
"Sold. Your number sir? Thank you.
Lot 663 then, ladies and gentlemen:
A poster for this house's production of 'Hannibal' by Chalumeau.
Showing here.
Do I have ten francs?
Five then, Five I am bid.
Six, seven.
Against you, sir, seven. Eight.?
Eight once. Selling twice.
Sold, to Monsieur Lefevre. Thank you very much."
Blaise walked up to the podium and took the poster from Slughorn while hading him the "eight francs."
"Lot 678: a wooden pistol and three human skulls, from the production of 'Robert le Diable' by Meyerbeer.
Ten francs for this.
Ten, thank you. Ten still.
Fifteen, thank you. Fifteen I am bid.
Going at fifteen.
Your number sir?
Lot 476:ladies and gentlemen:
A papier-mâché musical box
In the shape of a barrel organ.
Attached, the figure of a monkey
In Persian robes, playing the cymbals.
This item, discovered in the vaults of the theatre,
Still in working order, ladies and gentlemen.
Showing here.
May I commence at fifteen francs?
Fifteen thank you.
Yes, twenty from you, sir, thank you very much.
Madame Giry, twenty-five, thank you, Madame
Twenty-five I am bid.
Do I hear thirty?
Thirty. And thirty-five?
Selling at thirty francs, then.
Thirty once, thirty twice.
Sold, for thirty francs to the Vicomte de Chagny.
Thank you sir."
In the background a recording of Ron's voice played,
"A collector's piece indeed...
every detail exactly as she said...
Will you still play, when all the rest of us are dead..."
Slughorn spoke again over the music in the background,
"Lot 666 then: a chandelier in pieces.
Some of you may recall the strange affair
of the Phantom of the Opera: a mystery never fully explained.
We are told, ladies and gentlemen, that this is the
very chandelier which figures in the famous disaster.
Our workshops have repaired it and wired
parts of it for the new electric light
Perhaps we can frighten away the ghost of so many years ago
with a little illumination, gentlemen."
Three seventh years and Hagrid got up from their seats behind Slughorn and Began to pull a rope that then lifted a beautiful chandelier that lit up as it rose and changed the scenery from a dusty old opera house to a beautiful new one with gold embellishment and many people in costumes for Hannibal.