Beware The Billowy Cape of Doom

BEWARE THE BILLY CAPE OF DOOM- Chapter 5-
The Phantom of the Opera

As Kiki was comforting Krystall in the library, Remus was being chided in the Gryffindor Common Room.
“Poor Krys! Just what have you and Snape done to her Lupin?,” asked Lily.
“What makes you ask?”
“Both she and I are friends with you both and yet somehow you and Severus have managed to addle her brain and limit her performance on the pitch. Did you see how sorrowful she looked after the match? I get the idea that she has feelings for you both and doesn’t know what to do next,” answered Lily, glad to vent some of her own building worries over her Ravenclaw friend.
Just then the portal to the Common Room opened to allow Professor McGonagall into the room. In one of her hands was a single piece of parchment.
“Attention ladies and gentlemen,” the Gryffindor Head of House started.
“Huhmm, gentlemen! Yeah right!,” huffed Lily quietly. McGonagall continued.
“This piece of parchment holds on it the full listings of the final cast of the up and coming musical. I will place it on the board and will leave you to look at it in your own time.” And with that she turned and walked out of the Common Room to allow chaos to descend onto the notice board.
Lily and her group of Gryffindor girls were the first to the board and all to soon shrieks were heard in the now quiet room.
“I knew it! I knew she would get that role!,” squealed Lily. Sirius strolled over to the board to look of his-self.
“Hey, Remus! You’ve got the part of the handsome and dashing Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny!,” he shouted across to his friend, adding a graceful bow in his direction.
Remus squirmed in his chair. James joined his pal at the board and barked out a laugh.
“Oh Sirius, we my friend have been given the roles of the debonair paragons that are the theatre owners, Firmin and Andre! Oh no, Peter has a role too! It’s ok though, it’s only the part of Reyer, the Conductor Peter,” James consoled his friend, who just grinned.
“Erm, Lily? You know how you like to sing?,” asked James, hoping she wouldn’t rage at him again.
“Yes James?,” she replied curtly. Sirius was sniggering behind his friend’s back, as James replied,
“Oh just that you’ve been given the role of the Prima Donna, Carlotta!”
Lily, rather than rant and rage at the Marauders take the mikey out of her, laughed and started to jump happily around the room.
“Haha! The joke is on all of you. I wanted this part because Carlotta’s character is just so ridiculous and would be so much fun to play!” Majority of the room laughed along with Lily, leaving the two Marauders who had attempted to annoy her feeling very dejected.
Meanwhile, in the Slytherin Common Room, Professor Slughorn had also posted the list on the notice board, with much flourish, that no one really wanted to look at the thing! Finally, it was Regulus who looked at the list, only to laugh out loud, doubling over with much mirth.
“What’s wrong with you Black?,” asked MacNair, a very sinister looking 6th year, who had an unhealthy obsession with very sharp objects and the more macabre of the Dark Arts.
“Oh, just that our own Dark Prince, Snape has been given the role of the mysterious Phantom! I thought nobody from this house even auditioned for the stupid thing! Oh wait, there’s more! You have a role too MacNair! Hahaha, you’re the role of the Signor Piangi. Hey, this means you’ll have to fatten up for the role!!,” Regulus continued as he ducked to avoid a book thrown his way by MacNair.
“Hey Crabbe, you have a role too. Aww, you get the role of Bucket. Don’t you get killed?,” continued Regulus, jeering at his elders, silently still laughing in his mind.
Snape stayed sat where he was, head buried once more in another large volumed book, knowing that the majority of the house would now be talking about his role in the play.
‘Huh, why did I agree to take the role? Just what was Krys thinking when she asked me? Did someone Confuddle her mind, to get her to come to me and ask? Argh!!! Medusa’s snakes have been working their poisonous way through her brain.
Oh. My. God! How much time have I wasted thinking about Krys? Have my feelings for her escalated or were they always this way?,’ Severus thought as the Common Room slowly emptied, leaving him to his thoughts.
‘Nar, I’ve only just met her! How can this be??,’ he mused after he had finally made his way to the 6th year shared dorm. The rest of the occupants were fast asleep, so only Severus was left lying wide awake, flat on his back, wondering how things had changed when he gave up trying to sleep, so made his way back down to the now very empty Common Room.
The fire was still roaring away and the comfiest chairs by it were free. Severus picked up his forgotten homework and was soon applying his brain to it, in an attempt to push everything that had happened so far to the back of his mind. The complexity of his Defence Against Dark Arts essay was just what he needed. Eventually, the quill that was in his hand fell to the floor as his head lolled to one side, his books slipping from his lap to the floor. Severus wasn’t the only one having a sleepless night. After spending the majority of Sunday in the library, Kiki had managed to bully Krystall to go back to the Common Room. She insisted even more when they had been kicked out of the library by Madam Pince, so they had to go back to the Common Room as they had no where else to go. Luckily for Krystall, the Common Room was nearly empty. Only those who knew her well enough- like the Quidditch team- were left to congratulate her. Krystall just smiled weakly at the praise she was receiving and asked to be left alone. She surrounded herself with books and essays as the Common Room emptied completely and Krystall was too falling asleep over her work.
By morning both Krystall and Severus woke with such a start, thinking they had overslept, looked around themselves only to realise where they were and also that the school house elves had been in to tidy. The books and quills that had fallen to the floor were now neatly stacked by the side of each student and the fire had been re- stoked with new logs. Monday brought lots of talk of the first meeting of the principle characters with Professor Flitwick, who was the school’s musical director. Nothing was mentioned until that afternoon’s Charms lesson. The lesson has passed as always quickly, with the complexity of the spells they were being taught steadily getting harder and harder, many of the students were glad to get out of there.
“Now my dears, before you leave,” squeaked the Professor,
“just to let those of you who have roles in the impending musical should meet right here in this classroom in two nights time at 7pm. First rehearsals won’t be for some weeks, so this will be for the costume measurements and to see if everyone is happy with their roles. Well, that’s all. You’re now free to go!”
Krystall groaned audibly at the announcement, which was heard by Severus, who in his head laughed at her unwillingness to now participate in the musical. He soon managed to catch up with his musical opposite and tried his best to ease her worries.
“Krys, you’ve been picked as the main female principal for a reason. It’s because you have the voice and spirit to carry this role. I would have stayed clear of this masquerade if you had never lent me that book. But I’m glad you did, because I have come to see what a good person you are. No wonder you’re always surrounded by friends from all houses! I can honestly say that I’m proud to be one of your friends Krys. Nothing will change my feelings on this.” Throughout the whole of Severus’ speech, Krystall stood with her head hung, unable to look at the person she had literally dragged into the debacle that was the musical. Silence hung between the two of them until Krystall whispered,
“I’m sorry.”
“What for?,” replied Severus, who had only just heard her words.
“I’m sorry for dragging you and everyone else into this thing. I never thought that going to see a musical would descend into this madness!,” Krystall said as she paced up and down in front of Severus. He reached out to stop her from wearing down the carpet and was soon facing her worried lined face. The temptation was too much not to take the opportunity to kiss her, and that’s just what Severus did.
Moving his hands to cradle her face, he leaned in towards her and his own lips meet hers. They were soft and quivering under his. He could taste her lip balm, which was a scrumptious peach flavour, on his lips as he licked them when he pulled back to look at her again.
“Krys....,” he started, but didn’t get to finish as she turned and fled from him.
‘What have I done now?,’ wondered Severus as he slowly made his way to the dungeons for their Potions lessons. Krystall never made it to the lesson and it was commented on by Slughorn.
“Where is the second half of my favourite pairing?”
“I’m not sure Professor,” was all Severus could say. He could feel the eyes of Krystall’s friends that shared the lesson burn into his skin as he tried to concentrate on his work. By the end of the lesson, Severus had a soft flush to his normally pale face. He made sure he was the first out of the classroom and soon found his-self back in the Slytherin Common Room and marched to the dorm room, barking instructions to a group of terrified 3rd years that no one was to disturb him, no matter what the reason was. He wasn’t the only one to be hiding away, brooding over the turn the relationship between then had taken.
“Krys, please come out. Professor Slughorn was worried about you and you’ve not eaten since lunch.”
“Just leave me alone Kiki!,” Krystall shouted from her 4- poster bed in her dorm in the Ravenclaw Tower. Nobody bothered the two friends until the next day. Things were very stranded and complex between them that anyone who tried to talk to them were just ignored. They even avoided each other in class, but were soon forced to talk when it came to the meeting. Krystall and the girls were sat on one side of the class room, whilst the boys sat opposite. Anguished glances made their way between the very silent and withdrawn Krystall and the dark and brooding Snape.
“You OK?,” whispered Lily to her glum Ravenclaw friend.
“Can I trust you with a secret?”
“Oh what?,” asked Lily, eager to learn something new that wasn’t to do with magic.
“Not here. Follow me,” Krystall whispered back. She got off her seat and went into the classroom’s storage cupboard, closely followed by Lily, who looked really worried about the girl that had entered the cupboard before her. Krystall had conjured up tiny light orbs to bring a soft pale glow to the small gloomy room.
“Close the door behind you please Lily,” Krystall whispered again. The effort of even whispering seemed too much for the usually plucky Ravenclaw.
“So, what’s this secret then?”
“Sev kissed me after Charms, after the announcement about this meeting.”
“Ahhh, no wonder the pair of you have been so moody lately. Did either of you say anything after the kiss happened?” Krystall groaned.
“No. I ran away!”
Lily laughed but put out her hand and said,
“Sorry for laughing but you must see the funny side to this Krys? I’ve known Sev for a long time and I know he defiantly has feelings for you, but won’t say anything to you about it. Go speak to him,” she ended simply.
“I wish it was that easy Lily. You’ve noticed how much trouble over choosing between Sev AND Remus! How can I talk to Severus when I’m not even sure of my own feelings for any of them?”
Lily couldn’t answer because the door was suddenly pulled open by James, who’s mouth dropped when he saw the softly lit scene before him.
“Lily if I had know you were into girls, I would have backed off a long time ago!”
“Sod off Potter. We were just having a girly heart to heart in private,” Lily said, forcing herself to bite her usual spiteful tongue. She had wanted to lash out at James but she knew how much Krystall was hurting. Lily pulled Krystall out of the cramp room and back to the seat they had left earlier.
“You’ll soon make up your mind Krys. Don’t worry too much over it,” Lily whispered, to reassure her down-hearted friend. Professor Flitwick and a witch everyone recognised from Gladrags Wizardwear in Hogsmeade entered the room.
“Everyone, I’m sure majority of you know Madam Chaminade, the renowned seamstress. She, along with her team of workers will create the spectacular costumes our musical requires. Now when I call out you’re name, Madam Chaminade here will take your measurements for your costumes in the room next door. Once you have been seen, you are free to leave.” One by one, names were called until only Krystall and Severus were left alone in the Charms room. They were left till last as they would have the most costume changes out of all the cast.
“Krys.... about the kiss?,” Severus tried to explain, but was stopped by Krystall putting her finger to his lips. They were now sat next to each other.
“Sev, you’re too much of a good friend to lose over something like this.”
“I know. But I can’t hide my changed feelings forever,” Severus added. Krystall had no time to reply as Severus’ name had been called, leaving her alone with her thoughts and what Severus had just said. Soon it was her turn to be measured, so she walked into the room to find some of the desks were covered with sumptuous fabrics that would be made into her costumes eventually. Krystall left the room some time later, feeling much better than she had entered it, and all because she now knew that she was the right choice for the role.
Nothing more was said about the musical and many people were now tired of talking about Krystall’s miraculous ‘audition’ to get the role. This eased the still troubled mind of both Krystall and Severus and also the unnevered Remus too, until the costumes arrived some days later in the castle. This brought about even more worries to the mind of Krystall and a lot more talk about the now impending musical. Remus had seen how upset and even more withdrawn Krystall had become now the costumes were in the castle, so he decided to cheer her up by inviting her on one of his solitary walks the following weekend. Now that she knew his secret, he felt at ease talking to her about it. They had made their way to the Owlery to send an owl to Krystall’s aunt and uncle when the subject was broached.
“When were you bitten?,” asked Krystall, wanting to know more about her strange friend.
“It was when I was a child, and a foolish one at that. I had been wandering in the woods behind my parent’s home at night. I had managed to escape from the house because I wanted to see the stars in the sky. I was bitten by a very bad werewolf.
His name is extremely well known in the Ministry and amongst the darker of wizards.”
“Who?,” Krystall inquired gently.
“You’re best not knowing,” Remus replied. Krystall trusted Remus and visa versa, so no more was said on the matter for the time being.
“What were you and Lily talking about in that cupboard?”
“Have you asked Lily?”
“Yes and she keeps telling me to either mind my own business or ask you. So am asking,” laughed Remus, looking out of one of the small Owlery windows, watching the owls swoop in and out carrying various small birds and rodents as they tea.
“I hope none of them are Wormtail,” Krystall chuckled, also watching the same scene.
“Well, what were you two talking about?,” Remus badgered again, a smile on his face.
“Oh, just girly stuff really,” Krystall muttered.
“Oh come off it Krys, there’s more to it then that, I know it!”
“Hmmm, I think......I’m...... NOT going to tell you!,” laughed Krystall as she ran out of the Owlery, being closely chased by Remus, both laughing hard. They ran all the way to the edge of the lake before Remus finally caught up with Krystall.
Grabbing hold of her, they tumbled to the ground, both very breathless and worn out.
Remus was leaning over Krystall, panting to try and gain his breath back and so was Krystall laying under him. Their eyes locked and a small smile played on Krystall’s mouth.
‘God, she’s got such a pretty little mouth,’ thought Remus as he leant down to kiss the lips that were tormenting him. Krystall held no resistance to this kiss and kissed him back with added pressure. The kiss gained more passion and soon the pair were as much out of breath through kissing as they were when running 10 minutes ago. they lay there cosy in each others arms for a while till Remus sat up and turn to face the girl he just kissed.
“Well...,” he started, smiling broadly.
“Yeah...,” Krystall added, also smiling as much as he was.
“So..., I think we should head back up to the castle, it’s getting cold,” said Remus, getting up and holding out a hand to help Krystall to her feet. Once she was on her feet, Remus pulled her into another kiss, deeper and more passionate than the first.
Hugging each other close, Remus whispered in Krystall’s ear,
“I really like you, Krys.”
Krystall pulled back to look straight into Remus’ eyes.
“I like you too,” she replied with a huge grin on her face.
Together they walked back to the castle, hand in hand, stopping only once outside the main doors for one final kiss before heading to their own house’s Common Rooms.