Disclaimer: I own nothing. It all belongs to J.K. Rowling, Gaston Leroux, and Andrew Lloyd Webber.
A/N: I just wanted to say thank you to those who deem it necessary to read this fic. I thank you all.
Chapter Eleven: Don Juan Triumphant...
The night of the play came all too soon for Minerva and Albus. With everything that was going on, the day sort of snuck up on them all. Minerva and Albus had no time to talk on the day Don Juan Triumphant was to premiere. All of Hogwarts was in pandemonium. The students had already left for their Christmas holidays, though the few who had nowhere to go were sent off to bed, as it would be running past curfew. Besides, Albus didn't want them there in case anything went wrong. He was having enough trouble with Tom as it was. He didn't want to bring the children into it either. Instead, he was pacing in the Great Hall worriedly. It was before the play, but no one was due here for another two hours at least.
"You understand your instructions?" the chief asked.
"Yes sir," the man replied.
"When you hear the whistle, take up your positions. I shall then instruct you to secure the doors. It is essential that all doors are properly secured." The other man nodded, turned on his heel, and left. The chief caught Albus' eye and Albus motioned for him to come to him. He did, and by then Rufus and Cornelius were by his side.
"Are we doing the right thing," Rufus asked, looking at Albus, the chief, and then to Cornelius. "Cornelius?"
"Have you got a better idea?" Cornelius responded.
"Mr. Dumbledore, am I to give the order?" the chief asked. Albus thought a moment, then nodded, glancing at the chief.
"Give the order." The chief blew his whistle and they all watched as the other policemen fanned themselves out around the Great Hall, though most stayed in the shadows to remain discreet. Albus looked to the far left side of the Great Hall and saw one of the especially trained aurors, one who could hit any man withing a fifty yard radius. He called out to him.
"Do you have a clear view from here?" he asked.
"Yes, sir." the auror responded. Albus nodded.
"Remember, when the time comes, shoot. Only if you have to, but shoot. To kill!" The auror frowned, nodded, and regarded Albus for a moment before asking his question. Albus smiled. He was new and it was obvious on the man's face.
"You'll know," he replied. He sighed as he looked back at Cornelius and Rufus.
"Albus, are you confident that this will work? Will Miss McGonagall sing?" asked Rufus.
"Don't worry, Rufus. Cornelius?"
"We're in your hands, Albus." Albus nodded. Just then, the chief came up to talk to them.
"My men are now in position, sir.
"Go ahead then," said Albus. The chief nodded his head before turning and sounded his whistle yet again.
"Are the doors secure?" he shouted. The exits were slammed shut and the policemen all answered one by one. "Secure!" Everything suddenly became quiet as the lights dimmed. Then, very quietly and from nowhere, the voice of the phantom sounded.
"I'm here. The phantom of Hogwarts." Everyone looked around apprehensively. The officers start to run in the direction of the voice. But just when they reached that spot, they heard it coming from somewhere else. "I'm here. The phantom of Hogwarts." Again, they followed the voice. This happened several more times as the voice darted around the room from place to place. Finally, it was heard from the big double doors. In the confusion, the young auror fired a shot. Albus glared at the man. The chief grabbed the young man and hissed at him.
"Idiot! You'll kill someone. He said only when the time comes." By then, Albus had made his way over there.
"I said, only when the time comes."
"But Mr. Dumbledore-," pleaded the young Auror. Just then, Tom's voice filled the room.
"No 'but's'! For once, Professor Dumbledore is right! Seel my fate tonight-I hate to have to cut the fun short, but the joke's wearing thin... Let the audience in... Let my opera begin!" Then, something similar to a lightning bolt flashed in the middle of the Great Hall and the lights grew bright once again. Albus looked around, but he knew the phantom was gone. The forboding feeling he received every time the phantom was near had left him. Was he going to survive tonight? He didn't know. But there was one thing that Albus DID know... One of them was going to suffer, and the other was going to arise as the victor.
Oooooooooooo
The play had been going for some time and now, the final scene was about to be presented. The area where the teachers normally sat was serving as the makeshift stage and it was currently designed with a huge arch. Curtains hung from said arch and behind it lay a bed. A fine table was to the side and set for two. On stage were the extra's, including Jane Umbridge, and Passarino, the servent to Don Juan (which had been given to Severus Snape, who begrudgingly accepted). As Passarino, Severus was directing the staff as they made the room ready for their master. They were all dressed as sixteenth century ruffians who were all proud of their master's mass reputation as a libertine. They all began to sing.
"Here the sire may serve the dam,
Here the master takes his meat.
Here the sacrificial lamb
Utters one despairing bleat!"
Jane then came front and center. Even if Minerva had to be the center of attention, she was going to do all she could to upstage that little twat, as she called her. Everyone sang the same thing she did, only slightly quieter so that she could be heard above them.
"Poor young maiden! For the thrill
On your tongue of stolen sweets
You will have to pay the bill-
Tangled in the winding sheets!
Serve the meal and serve the maid!
Serve the master so that, when
Tables, plans and maids are laid,
Don Juan triumphs once again!"
As soon as those words were sung, Joshua Miller emerged from behind the arc, dressed as Don Juan. Poppy, dressed as a gypsy dancer, pirouettes rather seductively for him. He throws a purse of gold at her, which she catches and leaves. 'Don Juan' then sauntered up to Passarino.
"Passarino, faithful friend
Once again recite the plan!" he sang. Severus replied.
"Your young guest believes I'm you-
I, the master, you, the man."
Don Juan sang back to Passarino.
"When you met you wor my cloak,
With my scarf you hid your face.
She believes she dines with me,
In her master's borrowed place!
Furtively, we'll scoff and quaff,
Stealing what, in truth, is mine.
When it's late and modesty,
Starts to mellow, with the wine-"
It was Passarino's turn to sing. It was clear Severus did not want to be there at that moment.
"You come home! I use your voice-
Slam the door like crack of doom!"
"I shall say: "come-hide with me!
Where, oh, where? Of course-my room!"
"Poor thing hasn't got a chance!"
"Here's my hat, my cloak and sword.
Conquest is assured.
If I do not forget myself and laugh!"
It was at that point that Don Juan put on Passarino's cloak and goes into the curtained alcove where teh bed awaited. Joshua sat back and awaited for when he was to come out again. But just as he looked up, he gasped. The magical lasso Tom used was hanging above him and before he could utter a sound, Joshua felt himself lift into the air.
But no one saw any of this, for he was still behind the curtain. Besides, everyone's focus was now upon Minerva, who had entered, looking enchanting as Aminta, the leading lady. Anyone looking at her would just see a beautiful woman. But Albus could see she was scared out of her wit, and for good reason. This was it. He held his breath.
"No thoughts within her head but thoughts of joy!
No dreams within her heart but dreams of love!"
Everyone was immediately enthralled. Who knew she had such a wonderful voice? She most certainly was a veela.. And for good reason. Even Severus stopped in his brooding to listen to her. He only just remembered to say his next line.
"Master?" It was then that The phantom's voice could be heard from behind the curtain, only it was different somehow.
"Passarino-go away!
For the trap is set and waits for its prey..." Severus left the stage just as Minerva reached her destination in the middle of the stage. She took off her cloak and sat down, looking about her. There is no one. She started to eat an apple. The phantom, disguised as Don Juan pretending to be Passarino, emerged from behind the curtains. He now wore Passarino's robe, the cowl of which now hid his face. His first words startle her.
"You have come here
In pursuit of your deepest urge
In sursuit of that wish,
Which till now has been silent,
Silent..."
Minerva couldn't believe her ears. Was that really Tom behind that mask? She was sure of it. What was she to do? He kept singing.
"I have brought you,
That our passions may fuse and merge-
In your mind you've already
Succumbed to me,
Dropped all defences,
Completely succumbed to me-
Now you are here with me:
no second thoughts,
Your decided... decided."
It was then that Tom began to move towards Minerva in the most graceful, catlike manner. Minerva was caught in the fiery look he gave her. Albus watched the whole scene, wondering when Joshua had suddenly become much more graceful than before? Wait, was that even Joshua up there on stage? He couldn't tell anymore.
"Past the point of no return-
No backward glances:
The games we've played till now are at an end...
Past all thought of 'if' or 'when'-
No use resisting:
Abandon thought,
And let the dream descend..."
Backstage, Madam Pomfrey was watching carefully, and really tense. That was Tom and she knew it. Her heart was beating within her ears. Everywhere, there were people from Azkaban, ready to drag him off when the time came for it. The only question was: Would they be able to capture him when the time DID come?
"What raging fire shall flood the soul?
What rich desire unlocks its door?
What sweet seduction lies before us?"
Minerva blushed. Why were Tom's words affecting her so? When had he become so seductive? She didn't know.
"Past the point of no return,
The final threshold-
What warm, unspoken secrets
Shall we learn?
Beyond the point of no return?"
Minerva took a deep breath. Now, she was to do her part, but she wasn't sure if she could. She felt as though her words would come out shaky. But she had to. She had to, not only for herself, but for all concerned. She cleared her throat and looked away, stepping each step as she had learned them. She looked out into the audience and found her strength when she met Albus' gaze.
"You have brought me
To that moment where words run dry
To that moment where speech
Disappears into silence... silence...
I have come here,
Hardly knowing the reason why
In my mind I've already
Imagined our bodies entwinging
Defenceless and silent
And now I am here with you
No second thoughts
I've decided... Decided..."
She looked over at Tom and began to sing in a much more powerful, but still melodic, voice.
"Past the point of no return-
No going back now:
Our passion play has now, at last, begun...
Past all thought of right or wrong-
One final question:
How long should we two wait before we're one?
When will the blood begin to race?
The sleeping bud burst into bloom?
When will the flames, at last, consume us?"
Poppy was standing near her mother as she watched her best friend act out this scene before them. She was really good.
"Mother, she is fantastic." Rose was somewhat startled out of her reverie and she looked down before looking at her daughter and smiling. She placed her hand on her daughter's shoulder.
"I know, Poppy," she whispered before looking back at Minerva and sighing. "I know." Poppy didn't miss this sudden change in her mother's demeanor. What was going on? She did not know. She looked back at her friend. Then, at Don Juan. Wait a minute. What was different about Professor Miller tonight? Why did he seem so different as he went through the well thought out choreographed steps? His manner and entire demeanor had changed. He seemed more methodical... Cunning... Cat-like and graceful. It was then that they both began to sing at the same time.
"Past the point of no return
The final threshold-
The bridge is crossed
So stand and watch it burn...
We've passed the point of no return..."
By then, the entire audiance, as well as the police, have realized that it was not Joshua Miller on stage but the phantom. Several gasped as a light was cast upon the curtain and they saw Joshua Miller, the potion's master, hanging from the magical lasso. They whispered amongst each other. Oh no, this was not good! It was the phantom behind that mask. Minerva's worst fears were confirmed as Tom sang once again.
"Say you'll share with me
On love, one lifetime...
Lead me, save me from my solitude."
He took a ring from his finger and slowly slipped it onto her finger. She looked down and saw the beautiful blue diamond resting upon her finger before looking back up at him yet again.
"Say you want me with you,
Here beside you...
Anywhere you go, let me go too-
Minerva, that's all I ask of..."
He never reached the end of that sentance. Just as he did so, Minerva calmly took the mask from his face, revealing him to the audiance. As the aurors and other ministry officials close in on him, Tom swept his cloak around her and vanished. Albus, who had been making his way towards her, stopped in his tracks. Poppy pulled the curtain away, revealing Josua's body, which was now propped against the bed, his head gruesomely tilted to one side. She screamed. As soon as everyone realized what had happened, they also screamed as many of them jumped from their seats and ran for the door. As they did so, the new chandelier swayed before finally coming down to fall upon the stage, crashing into several pieces as it did so. Jane came from out from behind the curtain.
"What is it? What has happened?" She saw Joshua, dead upon the bed. "JOSHUA!" She ran to him and cradled his head in her arms. Tears fell from her eyes. Her lover was dead... Killed by Tom.
"Oh my God... My God!" shouted Cornelius.
"We're ruined, Cornelius. RUINED!" Rufus shouted. They fled as well. Rose ran up to Albus.
"Professor Dumbledore, I know where they are," she shouted as she pulled him towards the Double doors.
"Oh my darling, my darling!" wailed Jane. "Who has done this?" Just then, Cornelius rushed up to her in an attempt to convince her to leave. She looked at him accusingly and pointed a long finger at him. "You! Why did you let this happen?" She broke down into sobs as her lover's body was taken away on a stretcher.
"Come, Madam Umbridge," he said. "We must leave now..." That was the last Albus heard as he hurried off with Rose Pomfrey.
"But can I trust you?" he asked as he followed her anyway. She had been rather elusive in the past.
"You must! But remember: keep your hand at the level of your eyes!"
"But why-?"
"Why? The Magical Lasso, Albus. First Filch. Now Piangi." Poppy, who had been following them, held up her hand in demonstration.
"Like this, Professor. I'll come with you," she then said to her mother.
"No, Poppy! You stay here!" Then, to Albus, "Come with me, Professor." She followed as Poppy reluctantly stayed behind. She turned around and felt as though she would cry. All the hurt, pain, and destruction... All of it was caused by him... Tom Marvolo Riddle... The Phantom of Hogwarts...
A/N2: Nearly done... Just two more chapters to go. OH! And an important notice. I know I said I would have Minerva be alive in the end, but... Now I'm rethinking it. PLEASE DO NOT KILL ME IF I CHANGE MY MIND! Remember, I am the author and I am able to change what I want to. Read long and prosper. Always Hopeful