Beware The Billowy Cape of Doom

BEWARE THE BILLOWY CAPE OF DOOM- Chapter 12- Point of No Return.
After weeks of rehearsals and the safe return of Remus the final day of reckoning was just around the corner. The exams were now out of the way and Rita Skeeter was telling all in sundry how well she thought she had done, particularly in Transfiguration and Charms.
“All that girl will amount to is being a toad of gossip,” Krystall and Kiki overhead McGonagall say to Flitwick as they passed them in the corridor. The girls agreed as everyone knew how much of a gossip and rumour monger Skeeter really was. But for once she was taking something seriously- her role as Madam Giry. She was the only year 7 with a major role, but then again she was the only one to audition for it. Rehearsals were held at every opportunity to iron out any kinks and bumps but there was none. The only chink in Flitwick’s organization was the ‘Down Once More’ scene. Severus and Krystall had kept giggling when it came to the point where they had to kiss. In the end, they had resorted to a mere hug and that would have to do, as the show was the following night.
The next day was filled with many people arriving at the castle in readiness for the show that night. Krystall was glad to find that her Aunt and Uncle had managed to make the journey. She greeted them with open arms, happy to see them again. The players spent most of the day with their families before leaving them to get ready for the performance. Behind scenes, all was quiet as many people’s nerves were now on knife edges and were just concentrating on the words and movements they had to perform perfectly to pull this musical off as a success.
“OK my dears, now is the time all of our hard work comes to fruition and to an end. Break a leg!,” Flitwick squeaked, dressed as his ‘Mini Piangi’. Questions of the ‘Break a leg’ spread through the cast and Krystall had to calm them all down by saying it was a term used in theatre for good luck, as saying good luck was actually bad luck. Soon after whispers of ‘Break a leg’ were passed between friends and others as the first act began. Flickwick had out done his-self with the Aging Charm on both Remus and Kiki for the opening scene. It was lifted as soon as they had stepped off the stage and into the wings to change for the next scene, Krystall’s first. She had seen the fact that the remaining space in the Great Hall was now filled with bodies so before she set foot on the stage, she took a deep breath and followed the dancers. The transformation of Christine from dancer to singer flowed perfectly in time with Krystall’s first solo, ‘Think of Me’. Krystall’s heart fluttered slightly as she heard the tenor voice of Remus fill the room, in harmony with her own. She hardly had a moment to breathe behind scenes as she had a lot of quick changes to do before being back on the stage. Her heart only fluttered once more and faster, when she heard the softer tenor of Severus. His voice had improved so much from the first rehearsal and it was her favourite one to listen to. Her heart somersaulted as their voices mixed and blended perfectly in unison during ‘The Phantom of the Opera’. Krystal soon found, like her character she too was becoming infatuated with the mysterious character of the Phantom, the one Severus was playing. Everyone’s favourite part of the musical was where the Phantom raged at Christine for being a ‘prying little Pandora’. Severus relished this part as he could vent some anger and still make the part worthy. The interval came after the ‘Masquerade’ scene, a cliff-hanger for the audience to come back to. Krystall was glad of this break as she had been in the majority of the scenes gone but knew she had many more to come. This included her second solo, which was her favourite. It was so moving and dramatic, it was bound to cause a few tears. But she knew that it wouldn’t be the only song to draw tears in the second act, which was what the cast were now preparing for. Her performance of ‘Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again’ was a rousing success and she was glad as it signalled that it was all nearly over. The next big song was the one everyone in the cast had been waiting for. The moment when they would all see just what the Phantom looked like and knowing Flitwick it would be fantastic. It was! Severus’ normally smooth face had been replaced by a grotesque, mis-formed one which was revealed when Christine, well Krystall, tore away the mask hiding the scars. It had even given Krystall a fright. Once they had disappeared from the gantry and to behind scenes, many people were congratulating the tiny Professor on a wonderfully performed charm.
“Nice one Sir,” Krystall whispered as Severus and herself passed her Head of House.
“Hey Snape, your face looks ten times better with that charm. We best ask Flitwick not to remove it later,” called Sirius before the pair went back out onto the stage. Severus just shrugged the remark off. Now was the time for the finale and both Severus and Krystall were ready for it.