CHAPTER 33: FIRE AT WILL

Analese spent the next week with her right arm in a sling. She had gotten an earful of scolding from Madame Pomfrey for using it and not coming to the Hospital Wing as soon as the Bludger hit.

Finally able to move both arms freely, the red-haired sister was ecstatic. After returning the sling to Pomfrey, she ran out to the grounds at top speed. The house elves, in celebration of Analese's recovered state, had made her a rather large Chocolate Satin pie just for her.

Despite the freezing cold snow that was falling steadily, Analese did a lap of continuous cartwheels around the Black Lake with the excess amounts of energy the personal dessert had created.

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A week later, the fateful Friday had come and the Battle would occur after dinner that evening. The whole school had been awaiting the Battle and over the past couple weeks, had been taking up instruments just so they could participate and possibly meet the now legendary Muses. Some of the teachers had even lightened the homework load to accommodate the new musicians' practice schedules.

Analese and Ella had been excused from classes, by Dumbledore, to help with the set up of the Great Hall for the show.

Through dinner, many students chatted nervously, while others (mostly the beginning performers) just sat picking at the food on their plate. When dinner had finally ended, the students suddenly became quite animated and loud.

Just as the tables were cleared of the golden place settings and remaining food, the candle light in the Hall was put out with a mysterious wind. The Great Hall was lost to the pitch black darkness. Even the enchanted ceiling was dark. As part of the decoration set up, the enchanted night sky, surprisingly clear for a mid-winter evening, had been cloaked with a clever charm, provided care of Flitwick. So during the performances, it would be hidden from view.

When the darkness had taken affect, the Hall had fallen completely silent. Then, out of no where, there was a loud thud from the stage (which had replaced the staff table). As another thud hit the hollow wooden platform, a sound like a gunshot rang out from the doors leading to the Entrance Hall. The shot sent red sparks up the center of the house tables towards the stage. The entirety of the school was thoroughly confused by the continuing spectacle.

"Albus! I had no idea the Muses had meant 'Battle' in the literal sense!" McGonagall was heard whispering before a third thud echoed out from the vicinity of the stage.

It was followed by a swift dragging sound. Although not completely understanding it, the students found the invisible charade rather entertaining.

As a second 'spark-shot' was fired, one could tell the set off point had been halfway up the aisle. Once hitting the target, a purple glow took over the stage. The Muggle-raised students recognized the effects as those similar to that of a black light.

A slumped figure dressed in green camouflage lifted its head slowly, revealing a white mask glowing blue in the light, before it had collapsed to the floor with a loud, almost deathly thud. A split second later, another camouflaged figure appeared standing above the still lump on the floor. The black light faded and a deep red aura overtook the platform.

In a conjoined hush, the audience watched with eager anticipation from the edges of their seats. They found the whole thing quite enjoyable, despite first thoughts of confusion.

The shadowed figure clad in blue fell to its knees in a single, quick motion. The kneeling, red-tinted silhouette looked to the empty ceiling, raising its arms as if in offering.

From directly above the stage, what could only be described as a bolt of blood-colored lightning struck the kneeling figure in the chest. The second figure paused for a moment as the echoing thunder seemed to have made time stand still.

Once the castle fell back into swallowing silence, the blue clad figure slumped over its seemingly lifeless companion. For an entire minute that seemed to last hours, all of Hogwarts was immobile. Then, the lights faded away and the darkness returned. The audience sat frozen in their anxiousness of what had just happened before their eyes.

Out of no where, a sonic explosion of amplified, electric-like melodies shook the massive room. The black light effects returned and the two camouflage clad figures were identified as the Muses.

For a while, the brunette, who had been the one in blue, played a skilled solo. After a little while, she gave a smug look to her counterpart in green. The blonde smirked mischievously and countered the challenge with her own difficult set of riffs and chords. Just like her companion before her, she tossed a prompting nod to the other musician. The Muses each played alternate short strums, circling one another.

It was an amazing sight to see, the Muses battling it out, challenging each other, each time raising the bar with the switch. Just as the brunette began another solo, the blonde jumped in and the two masked musicians played in harmonized unison, facing each other.

When a final, more powerful chord was struck, both Muses flew back behind the black velvet curtains, earning a collective gasp from the audience.

Oliver jumped from his seat in worry. Before anyone could guess that he knew the Muses identities, Dumbledore stood from his own seat and applauded loudly for the spectacular opener, soon joined by the rest of the school. Oliver indulged in the cheers, but still wore a wary expression for the two girls' safety.