Believe
Toni sighed as he waited in an alcove outside the Great Hall. He has spent the night exploring his apartment, and had to admit it was nice. It was located beside the kitchens and included his practice room, a bathroom, a small library, living room and a bedroom. He spent an hour playing his violin, then thirty minutes on his Cello before he showered and got ready for bed. He had lain awake staring at the ceiling for awhile, thinking of his friends back home, and how much he missed them. He knew this year's play would be Oscar Wilde's 'An Ideal Husband' and was slightly glad he would miss out on that one. He had nothing against Wilde, but he preferred performing plays with more action, and more variety of characters.
Now he was standing hiding outside the Great Hall, trying to figure out what to do for breakfast when a voice broke his musings.
"Umm. . . Harry?"
Toni turned and sent a glare at the girl who addressed him by his former name. She was the same height as he, had bushy brown hair and large front teeth. She wore Gryffindor robes, and the Head Girl badge. She seemed confident when he turned around and continued speaking.
"My name is Hermione Granger, and I would like to welcome you to Hogwarts. I would also like to invite you to sit with me at the Gryffindor table. I know you have no friends as of yet and thought it would be kind to introduce you to the right sort of people here at Hogwarts."
Toni raised a single eyebrow at her. Was she serious? She had basically insulted him, saying he could not judge people's character by himself and treated him like an incompetent child. She sounded arrogant and bossy and he instantly disliked her. Before he could respond another voice spoke up.
"Really, Granger, the 'right sort'? If you mean those disgusting lions you live with, then I question your judgement. If anything Antonio Cortalioni would prefer to be with people he can hold an intelligent conversation with." Draco Malfoy drawled.
Toni was glad that someone remembered his true name, but was still upset it was Malfoy. Once again before he could speak and third person spoke.
"Mione! What is taking so long? I am starving." Toni looked up to see a tall redhead, covered in freckles standing behind Granger.
"Ron, just wait! I'm talking to Harry!" Granger screeched at the redhead.
"Ah, Weasel, how lovely of you to join us. I was just saying to the Mudblood that Cortalioni would prefer to sit at Slytherin today, since he has been introduced to Blaise before. And we all know that familiarity in a new place should be encouraged." Toni didn't know what was the deal between these three, but decided to just watch the scene unfold.
"Shut up before I make you, Ferret!" The Weasel character threatened Malfoy. Malfoy for his part ignored the red faced male and returned his focus to Toni.
"Well, Cortalioni, what do you say to sitting with the snakes for breakfast?" Toni opened his mouth, but was interrupted again before he could speak.
"I was just about to ask Harry to sit with us. I heard that he was really good at magic performance and wanted to ask if he could tutor me in the art." Granger spoke up.
Toni snapped his attention to Granger at her request. The school should only know that he played music, since he carried his violin last night. Narrowing his eyes, Toni instantly knew that this girl was working for Dumbledore. Only Malfoy and Blaise knew that he performed and he highly doubted they would tell the Gryffindors that fact.
"I would be happy to teach you about theatre, Granger." Toni saw the suspicion on Malfoy's face, before he continued. He would send guards to investigate Granger and the redhead later, "There's an empty room three doors down, in that corridor, " Toni pointed to his left " that we could meet in at say… seven tonight?" he enquired.
Toni saw the slight look of triumph she sent Malfoy's way before she responded.
"Oh Harry, Ron and I can't wait! We shall see you at seven, but now… about sitting with us for breakfast? "Toni was really getting annoyed with being interrupted all the time when Malfoy spoke up.
"Yes, Cortalioni, I am also fascinated with your performing abilities. I hope you don't mind if Blaise and I join your little class tonight?" Malfoy drawled.
"Not at all, but as for my seating arrangements, seeing as breakfast is nearly over, I think I will grab some toast and head to potions." Toni quickly made an exit and stepped in the hall. He had got his schedule last night so he didn't have to worry about his Head of House handing it to him. He stopped at the Hufflepuff table and grabbed some fruit and toast, before turning around and leaving for class.
Potions was a fairly interesting class, though Snape seemed to criticize him more than others but, since he had no house, he couldn't lose any points. After that, he had a free period in which he chose to retire to him rooms and then lunch. Toni decided the kitchens were a safer choice than braving that Great Hall, and found out from a House Elf that tickling the pear would grant him entrance.
He spent an enjoyable lunch period talking with the House Elves and learning about secret passageways before he gathered his things and went to charms. Toni found that he enjoyed the little charms professors, and looked forward to his classes.
Toni retired to his rooms again after class. He didn't have to worry about Transfiguration or Defence Against the Dark Arts until later, so he settled down to finish his homework and play a song or two on his violin. When he finished playing, he looked at the time, and decided to eat in the kitchens again. After the meal, he went to his room and summoned two guards. He told them about the situation and his plan, before sending them to secure the room, and research Granger and Weasel. Toni doubted that was his real name, but he had yet to learn it.
At six thirty, Toni finally dived into his old scripts to find a passage to use tonight, and prepare for his mini theatre class. He doubted any of them would really appreciate the class, but chose to teach as if he were in front of a class at Lombardi. He left his rooms ten to seven and entered the classroom, to find Malfoy and Blaise already waiting for him.
"Well, you two are early." He spoke.
"It's Draco's way of showing Granger and Weasley that he's better than them." Blaise answered.
"Weasley? So that's his name. I've been referring to him as Weasel in my head all day." Toni said. He heard a snort from Malfoy but chose to ignore it. He moved all the desks except four to the side of the room and cast a quick cleaning charm. "Take a seat while we wait for the other two."
Toni watched as the two boys sat down, and he placed a quill and piece of parchment on each desk.
"What the hell is the parchment for? I thought we were learning theatre not writing class." Blaise spoke.
"You will see soon." Toni said as the door opened and admitted Granger and Weasley. Granger seemed upset that the Slytherins beat them to the room, and Weasley just glared at Malfoy. "Take a seat and we will begin. A quick rule in my class is that there will be no fighting. That includes with each other or me and my opinions and assignments." Toni took a moment to look at each of their faces before continuing.
"Now you each have parchment and a quill in front of you. The first task is to write out a definition. I want each of you to write down your definition of Theatre. Go." Toni commanded. He watched as they all picked up the self inking quills and thought before writing. His first ever theatre class, his professor had made him do this very exercise, and he remembered clearly what thoughts passed through his mind. Seeing that they all put down their quills he summoned the parchment to him, and began reading the aloud.
"'Theatre is pussies and chits prancing around on stage, and repeating some dead guys writing.' Well, Weasley it seems you are thrilled to be here." Toni looked up to see the satisfied smirk on the redheads face. "But if you ever try to be so disrespectful to theatre again in my presence I will personally hex your balls off and shove them down your throat, and let the pussies and chits have free reign on tearing your body apart and calling it art" Toni saw the fear pass over the redheads face before he continued.
"'Theatre is the dramatic performance branch of art.' Granger, I am so glad you can memorize textbooks and allow them to do all your thinking." Toni didn't bother looking at her when she made an indignant huff. He only laughed quietly at the next parchment. "Theatre is when Toni looks fucking hot on a stage, and the audience wants to jump and ravage his body." Toni looked at a grinning Blaise before. "Thank you Blaise, I'm sure that was a compliment."
"Theatre is the use of space to perform. Theatre is people or a single person taking an empty space and using it to entertain an audience of one or many." Toni was slightly surprised at the in depth answer from Malfoy. He looked up to see a bored expression on the blonde's face. "Malfoy seems to be the closest to the truth. My definition of theatre is simple. Theatre is creation. Just like Music or visual art, they are all about creation. "
Toni began walking around the room as he spoke. "In music you use an instrument, to create a composition. He hear the notes in your head and form them to create that symphony, In visual art you use clay, paint, crayons, markers, charcoal, pencils, almost anything to create a piece that relates your message, or emotion, or even to convey your soul on canvas. In theatre you can take a prewritten script, or write your own, and use those words on the page or in your head to create the blocking, delivery, set, and even music. You can speak with words, or your body. One sentence can be used to build a forest scene with wood nymphs and fairies. That sentence can create an entire history and future of a character. You, the performer, the director, the producer, the set builder, are taking a few simple words and creating a world. That is theatre to me. That is art. Art is creation, and before we continue with these lessons, I want you all too fully understand that. Any Questions so far?" Toni asked as he returned to sit on top of a table.
"How was that close to the ferrets definition?" Weasley sneered at him. Toni thought Granger would ask that question, but it really didn't matter who asked.
"Malfoy was the closest because he said that you take a space and use it. That is part of creation. Theatre does not have to be performed on a stage. It can be performed on the street, in an alley, in the back of a warehouse. Theatre only needs room to perform, and imagination, and an audience. Even if the audience is the other performers, or yourself, it is still theatre." Toni couldn't continue because Granger spoke up.
"That is a lovely explanation and all, but I read that you use your magic to create illusions. Why do you need a set builder if you use magic for everything? Is it really performing when you rely on magic to do everything?" She asked in her bossy know-it-all tone.
Toni looked at the girl before coming up with a plan. He asked her to stand up and then waved his wand a few and muttered some spells under his breath.
"Okay Granger, I made your desk into an illusion of a rock cliff. I want you to stand on you chair and jump on the rock cliff, while yelling 'Knowledge is Power!'" Toni watch amused as the girl gave him a superior look, and climbed on her chair. She took a deep breath before screaming 'Knowledge is Power' and jumping, only to fall flat on her arse.
"See I moved the desk to the side and just put an illusion there. Illusions are great but you can't stand on them. You use a set builder to build that part of the set, plus its takes a lot of magic to keep illusions in place and to blend with the other magic being cast by other performers." Toni explained.
"Why can't you just conjure a platform and illusion it. It's not like you actually have to have someone build anything." Weasley piped in, obviously trying to save Grangers argument. Toni conjured a floating platform in front of Weasley's desk and told him to jump on it. Weasley did as told and when he hit the wood, it broke and he also landed on his arse.
"Magic is wonderful, but conjured or transfigured wood is either weak, or doesn't stay transfigured for long. When building a house in the wizarding world, all builders use purchased wood. They build the muggle way, with the aid of magic, but they don't depend on it. Strengthening spells wear off, and it takes a lot of time to renew them." Toni watched as Malfoy raised his hand and nodded towards him.
"So, you're saying that in magic theatre, it's a combination of both muggle and magical means to create the set, because as powerful as the performer or illusion is, that doesn't make the set. They will do a simple thing like build a rock cliff, and add some stones, while you will do the harder part of creating the illusion of a sunset with magic." Toni raised an impressed eyebrow at Malfoy before nodding his head again. Knowing he should continue you the lesson he went to the second part of his assignment.
"I made you define theatre, now I want you to show me. I have a page of dialogue and with a partner, you will to perform that piece. I would like to say you can use illusions, but I know none of you are trained in magic theatre, so just read the dialogue and give a basic performance."
"Pfft, it can't be that hard if you can do it, I bet I can create the perfect illusion." Granger said, while grabbing the script from Toni's hand. Toni ignored her comment and gave a script to Malfoy and Blaise. He sat back and watched the pairs read through the script, and talk about possible ideas. Toni noticed that Blaise and Malfoy actually seemed to be concentrating, while Granger was bossing Weasley around and lecturing about who knows what.
Toni really didn't want to be here, but he needed the Gryffindors occupied while his guards searched their rooms, and kept an eye on Dumbledore. He would have hated every moment of it, except that Malfoy seemed to be truly interested, and it was nice to be able to pass his art on. Plus it wouldn't hurt if he went home with the experience of teaching theatre to the academic students of Hogwarts. Looking around he sensed that they were ready to perform.
"Ok, Malfoy and Blaise, you're up first!" He moved aside as the pair walked forward. They had a scene from Peter Pan, where Peter was having a sparring match with Captain Hook. Blaise was Hook, and he was hunched forward, with one eye closed and his left hand closed with his index finger acting as a hook. Toni had to laugh at the scene since; Blaise was going for an overly exaggerated old man, and Malfoy was acting like a spritely five year old child jumping around and babbling in a baby voice. Toni was glad that they didn't try to re-enact the scene from two years ago, and enjoyed the fight scene, where Blaise tried to swipe at a jumping Malfoy. The fight ended with Malfoy pretending to trip and landing on Blaise who had stabbed himself with his own hook and rolling over into the mouth on the crocodile.
Toni took a few minutes to finish laughing at their scene and gave them extra points for characterization and their creative ending. He figured maybe it wouldn't be so bad to teach to these two. He turned his focus to the other two and motioned them forward for their scene.
Granger was acting as Peter and seemed to have erased majority of Hook's lines and replaced them with mini rants and nonsense. She also tried making an illusion of a ship with her wand but failed and only managed to get brown ribbons to surround them. When it came to the physical fight she dropped her wand and the illusion broke and she stumbled forward and hit the wall. Weasley, for his part had been pretending to be a super lazy Hook, merely looked at her, and rolled his eyes before he dramatically fell over and died.
"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?" Toni was pissed. They scrapped the original script, made a mockery of it, and then insulted Toni by trying to make an illusion and half-assed the entire thing. "I told you to read and perform the scene, not change the entire thing, and give the world's shittiest performance. That was a disgrace. You can't make an illusion yet because you have not been trained. You can't just read about it and assume you can do it. Granger I know you like to think yourself the smartest person in this school, but you are actually the dumbest and most self-centred idiotic moron I have ever met. Reading isn't everything and studying won't make you a good performer. Stop trying to pretend you're better than me and actually listen. I don't have to waste my time here trying to teach you this if you are going to try and show me up every class. Listen or get the FUCK OUT! This is my art, and if you insist on keeping up this attitude about it then I suggest you leave my sight and never approach me again. Weasley, same for you!"
Toni knew he was probably over-reacting but bloody hell, he loved theatre and these two were being such douche-bags about it. Why couldn't they understand that this wasn't like charms where they wave a wand and say a few words and poof results. This was time and dedication and practice.
"Fine, if you think you are so great, why don't you show us the scene with all your superior theatre knowledge, Potter!" Granger sneered at him.
"Fine! Blaise, play Hook the same way, and I'll do the rest." Toni quickly summoned a few desks and put them together before creating the illusion of a ship. Next, he motioned for Blaise to climb a broad before he handed his wand off to Malfoy and stood in front of the Italian. He whispered a few instructions to the other boy before waving his hand and making waves crash at the side of the ship and cloudy sky. He used his magic to float up and held onto a beam. Once he was in place and ready he started the scene.
Blaise played his part wonderfully and Toni half way through flew down and landed, they partook in a fight and as their fight grew the waves shook the boat more. Finally a crocodile shot up and Toni pushed Blaise into the mouth and the scene ended. Looking back he saw the shocked faces of Granger and Weasley and the impressed look on Malfoy's face.
"That is magical theatre, not that farce you tried. Maybe now you will listen to me." Toni turned and carefully lowered Blaise to the ground. He had been caught by a net charm Toni cast before hand, and the illusions disappeared. He stepped down and went to his bag. He pulled out four one act plays and handed them out.
"This is the play called Fat Pig by Neil Labute. I want you and your partner to pick two scenes and rehearse them this week. Next week at this the same, time we will meet here and perform them. If you don't think you can handle this simple assignment" Toni looked at Granger "then don't bother coming next week. No magic, but I want you to think about characterization and the themes. Consider costumes and props and if you have any questions you can ask me throughout the week. Questions?"
"What are props?" Blaise asked.
"They are items used in a performance, For example, a prop for Peter Pan, would be swords or a clock that Peter carries." Toni explained. He watched as Granger raised her hand and nodded towards her.
"Why are we doing this the muggle way? We want to learn magical theatre, so why aren't you teaching us that?" Toni was really starting to hate her voice.
"Is a child given a broom and quaffle and told to play in a professional game? No one can be given a script and instantly be able to perform magical theatre. You need to grasp the basics of acting first before we move on." Before she could respond one of his guards opened the door.
"Master Cortalioni. It is ten and your father is waiting for you in your apartment." The guard announced.
"Thank you, Rico. Well looks like class is over, Remember- two scenes, rehearse, and ask me for help if you need it." Toni stood and gathered his materials, before exiting the room.
When he arrived in his apartment he found his father sipping a glass of cognac by the fire. "Hello Papa."
"Ah Toni! I heard you are teaching a theatre class?"
"Well I wouldn't say teaching per say." Toni sat down in one of the armchairs and dropped his bag. "Dumbledore is trying to have two students spy on me and they asked for the class. Blaise and his friend Malfoy are also attending, and seem to have some potential, but the other two just irk me. The female, Granger, actually tried to show me up while performing. I admit I lost my temper at her, but what's done is done." He sighed.
"Yes one of the guards mentioned that you were close to murdering someone. I actually came to talk to you about Dumbledore. As you know when I took you, I left your bank account alone, so that you could not be traced. Since you have now returned, I to went to Gringotts and found something interesting." Toni raised an eyebrow and waited for his father to continue. "It seems that while you were in the care of the Dursleys" he sneered at their name "Dumbledore was in control of your bank account. When you failed to appear at the age of eleven, the goblins froze the account and Dumbledore was prevented from making withdrawals, like he had been doing the previous ten years. Yesterday when you were reported to be back, the goblins unfroze the account, since you have been proven to be alive, and Dumbledore immediately set up two accounts for a Miss Hermione Granger and Mr Ronald Weasley. He took large sums of money for both. You are of age now, but Dumbledore managed to retain signing authority on your account. I tried to correct that today but it will be awhile to regain all the lost money and to overrule Dumbledore's authority."
Toni merely nodded at all the information he was receiving. "Papa could I order a freeze on the account again, and that way Dumbledore can no longer take money. As the heir, do I not have the right to freeze the account even if Dumbledore is the signing authority?"
"I believe that could work." His father said. Toni looked up to see a proud look on his father's face, and he couldn't help but smile.
"I will visit the bank tomorrow and talk with the goblins." Toni and his Papa talked for a while longer before the Cortalioni Head rose and left his son to rest. Toni quickly prepared for bed and was fast asleep. The illusions he used took a lot of power, and he was drained.
The next morning Toni woke and asked a house elf for breakfast. He ate quickly and prepared for his trip to the bank. He had a free morning and decided to best get the visit over and stop Dumbledore quickly. He dressed in some of his best business robes and left with a small guard.
When he got to the bank, he was escorted to the Head Goblins office, and had a very interesting meeting with the goblin. The Head Goblin, Ragnuknok, heard about the activities regarding his account, he had become furious. Quickly he began filing papers to freeze the account and issue a full investigation while taking Dumbledore off the account. Toni felt that he had a very successful morning and returned to school for afternoon transfiguration.
He was exiting the bank when the street was filled with a series of pops and Toni was surrounded by Death Eaters. He looked around and saw that his guard began to battle the intruders and he drew his wand and started fighting the cloaked assailants.
Thanks to PeruvianDarkness
and many thanks to all my loyal readers and reviewers
You are all truly FANTASTIC
Genießen!