Fan Fiction ❯ The flame-haired angel ❯ how prepare three numbers in ten days or less ( Chapter 6 )

The flame-haired angel

Chapter 6: How prepare three numbers in ten days or less

The students got out the greenhouse and went toward the Great Hall talking about Professor Psyllium's lesson: while going up the stairs, a girl stumbled making fall her books. Massaging her painful ankle, the girl stooped to pick her things up while her friends helped her.

" Look what we have here, "said a hateful voice," Moaning Myrtle!"

" Poor girl, she stumbled. "

" Only a Mudblood, and Squib to boot, would forget that the second-last step of this staircase should be avoided."

" I have seen Mudbloods and Squibs worse than her remember it: you should go more often to the oculist, Moaning Myrtle, but perhaps you'll become blind before Christmas!"

" Olivia, please! Stop it or the Mudblood will cry!"

The five first years Slytherin burst in a roaring laughter and one of them mimicked the Hufflepuff. Cindy and Shirley handed the parchments and the Potion's book to Myrtle, whom, tightening her lips in a superhuman effort, she whispered a "Thank you" and a " lets go". Olivia was the only to notice this motion and she said it to her friends: when the other girls stopped laugh, the three Hufflepuff were about thirty footsteps ahead.

" Hey!" exclaim a broomstick looking girl reaching them," do you leave in this way?"

And she pulled her the hair. Myrtle winced, but she tightened more her lips and chased the tears inside: she didn't have any intention to satisfy them! The others four girls reached them, staying at a safe distance.

" Ew, 'milla! You have just touched a Mudblood!"

Ludmilla let the hold and held her own hand as far as possible.

" How disgusting! Girls, I go back in the dormitory: I wish to disinfest myself before lunch."

" Will you ever stop to torment Myrtle?!" Shirley exclaim aggressive," And the she could be a Pureblood just like us!"

" If that's true, I do nothing but share her real parents' choice," replied the girl who seemed the group's leader," I am more than sure that they didn't want a Squib as daughter, and that's why they got rid of her!"

" You are right Teresa: after all Mudbloods and Squibs are at the same level! They are worthy not even to wash a house elf's tablecloths!"

" I think that even those Muggles that has adopted her now regret to have take home such an element. I could put my hand on the fire: if they don't send her again her in the place where they have found her, it's only for pity. "

And they laughed again. Myrtle felt the anger boiling inside: she could bear that they insult her, but they couldn't insult the only people that had accepted her for what she was and that really cared for her. With Tom of course.

" From how you're talking, you seem jealous: jealous that Tom treats me with consideration while he hardly knows your name."

The four girls froze and watched with surprise their victim. Touché. Myrtle took a deep breath and exchanged their glance: even if her eyes were glossy, they revealed an ardor and a hidden anger.

" How you dare look at us in this way! Who you do think you are?!"

Teresa pushed her with strength and Myrtle fell; while Cindy went looking for a teacher or a prefect, Olivia grabbed Shirley by her wrists.

" Hey, you won't ruin our fun! " she grinned wicked," Tea! You too have touched her: now you'll wash yourself for at least twenty times!"

The Slytherin looked disgusted the Hufflepuff and then smiled wicked.

" So.. Since I must wash myself any way, I could get my hands dirty. Couldn't I, Myrtle?"

She said pulling her the hair and beating her against the wall; her friends laughed and encouraged her, yet without join her. A small group of first and second year collected around them, too frightened to interfere: but when Teresa threw her wand out to hex Myrtle, anybody shouted "Expelliamus!"

Cindy raced toward the Great Hall: at that time she was sure to find an authority there. Few after she glimpsed three fifth or sixth coming from the staff room. She called them and they went toward her: too late the Hufflepuff recognized a Slytherin prefect among them <Trying doesn't harm, Cindy. > she thought while she tried to take back breath and explain the situation to the older students.

" anf anf.... Lenticels... anf anf... nearby the staircases... Myrtle. "

The Slytherin prefect grabbed her by her wrist and brought her with him while the other two tried to catch up them. When they came on the place of the crime, they saw that two older students had broken off the fight: Myrtle cried between the arms of a girl, while an other scolded harshly Teresa and her friends.

Teresa puffed glancing at the sixth year girl with defiance.

" I? Apologize with a Mudblood? Not even dead!"

" Listen hon," she answered cracking creepily her knuckles," it isn't my habit hit kids, but today I'm of a particularly bad mood, thus apologize or I transfigure you in a punch bag and I use you for my trainings."

" Hey, what does be happening here?!" Tom exclaim approaching his House mate," Miss Lenticels, do I hope that do you have a justification more than valid!"

" Mr. Riddle!" Teresa whispered hide a sneer since she was sure that Tom would have taken his defenses," this first girl has taken off me the wand with the force and she then has threatened me!"

" And which is your version of the facts, Miss... " Tom paled seeing the girl's face," We-We-Weasley? Is... Is tha-that true?"

" That's how you manage your bunch of snakes, Riddle?! However when Audrey and I have come, we have caught this viper abusing that poor girl, and when she was about to curse her, I have taken her wand; then I've told her that if she didn't apologize I would have used as a punch bag. "

" You're... you're not serious, are you?"

He stammered swallowing and wiping his forehead. She grabbed his tie and brought his face close hers.

" Do I look like joking?" he shook his head," Since you-re thinking like me like me, tell to your girlfriend to apologize or I'll do as promise."

" Would you le-let me? You're strangling me.... "

" Pfh! You don't know how I wish to do so...."

Hissed Vy tightening even more his tie's knot; Tom took on a cyanotic complexion, threw a glance to Teresa and coughed:

" I advise you to *cough* do how she tells: as you can *cough cough* see, Miss Weasley is a woman of word * cough*." Teresa tsked and turned her head, " Miss *cough cough cough* Lenticels, apologized or I'll *cough* take points from ours *cough cough* House, and I'll let *cough* everybody *cough* knows who's *cough* the fault has been if *cough cough cough cough* we won't win the cup *cough* this year!"

Teresa frowned biting her lower lip: she said nothing for long, long minutes and finally grumbled his apologies. Vy let the hold on the prefect' tie, took a notebook from her bag and slapped it in Tom's stomach.

" Here's the song's score and word, learn them within tomorrow." Tom opened the mouth," No, I don't accept excuses! I don't give a damn if you have other things to do: unluckily I has been forced to accept this dare, but above all to owe it do with you!"

Told this, Vy turned on he heels and left and only then Tom throws a sigh of relief. Teresa grumbled something about his weakness for a Gryffindor; and he answered taking thirty points, he then addressed to Myrtle:

" Mimì, are you well... AAARGH!!!! Nortmann, takes off your hands from Mimì!" he shouted pulling the girl and embraces her protectively," I won't allow you to corrupt her as you have done with McGonagall: my Mimì must stay innocent, caste, pure and untouched till the day she'll meet a boy will meet that /I/ will repute worthy of her!"

" Ehy, I was only trying to comfort her, I have done nothing! And then I don't do such games in hallway, with a minor... "

" Also McGonagall is a minor. Listen Mimì, is this a dispassionate advice: stay as far as possible from this individual, ok?" Myrtle nodded," Are you hurt? You want to go from Madam Pomfrey? It will be better if you rest for a couple of: I'll warn the teachers and lend you my first year's notes so you won't fall behind."

Myrtle sniffed, wiped her eyes and smiled weakly, and they together went toward the hospital wing. Adrienne reached them and went with them.

" You know, in these last two days Vy has a very bad humor: she would kill anybody if she get the opportunity. "

" Really? I hadn't noticed it.... " Tom bubbled ironic massaging the throat," Nortmann, I don't feel like arguing about your friend's homicidal tendencies, besides Mimì... "

" You can tell me, Riddle: does something have happened Saturday?" the girl said malicious; Tom blush furiously and shook the head," C'mon, Tommy! A boy and a girl.... half drunk.... in a hallway.... alone.... in the dark.... something /must/ happen. I promise you that I won't tell it."

" Tell what? Look, nothing has happened!"

" So why you-re blushing? Have you.... kissed her?" Tom squeezed his nose to stop the blood," it's useless deny: from how you're reacting, it looks as if I'm right... no, even, it looks as if it hasn't been only a lil' kiss! Then, have you gone all the way or have stopped to. "

" Nortmann, stop to say nonsense! Your imagination is too fervent for my tastes. And now let us go: Mimì needs to see Madam Pomfrey as soon as possible!"

" Ok, ok, don't so touchy!" Adrienne stopped, then shouted," But you could admit that you like Vy and that think about her while playing solitaire!"

And Myrtle had invested by a gush of Tom's blood.

* * *

" ... Then, we have decided that for Something Stupid, Riddle and Vy will do a FredAsteire&GingerRoger style number; for our song, instead, we'll do a normal concert. Now about Lady Marmelade: do you have some suggestion?"

Xavier asked reading his notes. Evan leant forward and looked his friends.

" Being the choreographies manager, I have thought that for the strophes, everyone could do a different dance; for the chorus, instead, the same for everybody inspired to the clip."

" For me it's ok." Adrienne whispered after have thought a little bit," What do you think bro?"

" Also for me it's ok, sis. Ah, for my strophe I want to do the pole dance!"

" Since I'm not a good dancer," added Attilius," I have thought that I could show on the stand stretched on a litter carried by four handsome boys: sort of Cleopatra and her slaves!"

" Att, not to ruin your mood," intervened doubtful Evan," but where we find them four boys disposed to carry yours.... er... sweet weight?"

" What? You mean that I'm fat?!"

" Transfigures some house elves," suggested Vy from a corner while she trained," don't forget that now McGonagall is Evan and Audrey's girlfriend: if we asks her, I think that she will help us."

" Excellent idea!" Xavier exclaimed taking notes," So.... pole dance for me, litter for Att... "

" Ehy, I haven't finished with my idea!" Attilius exclaimed," I want to go down and flirt with a teacher! You know, I have always thought that Flitwick's bald pate is very... arousing!"

The others held back the vomit for miracle. After a brief discussion, was settled the division of the strophes and everyone's kind of dance; then Attilius, with the help of his friends, sketched their clothes. And the first day ended in this way.

The second day, Vy and Tom started to rehearse their song, and more than once the poor prefect had been hit because he had took a false note: Evan tried to defend his friend, but the redhead's mood worsened before their very eye. Meanwhile also the others rehearsed their song, in a room locked by one of Vy's privacy spells: they had decided that, to exploit the best the few time to their disposition, they must rehearse the three numbers together and an hour and half per day each: in this way they could rehearse Something Stupid and Lady Marmelade at the same time. The fifth day, the redhead and the prefect had learned the song well and assembled the choreography.

" It'll be easy," said Evan while they had sat at a round table," it starts with you two sitting on a table, it'll seem a romantic dinner in an expensive restaurant: for 2/3 of the song you'll sit lovey-dovey-ing; then, when the instrumental part will begin, you take her hand, go forward and dances. At the end you'll stay embraced -embrace her from behind- and will look a point on your right with a dreamy glance. Everything clear?"

" Must I quite dance with this guy?" Vy complained," isn't it already a great deal that I sing with him?"

" Yes, Vy. And no, I don't want to hear complaints! I am the only one to have the right to complain: you're making me work like a mule, all the five of you, and I don't dare to think about the bad impression I'll do for Lady Marmelade! Now I show you your steps: try to learn them as soon as possible, we don't have time to waste."

The time passed in a hurry for the students that were been enrolled at the contest: among the twenty groups that there had been much attrition and many accusations of plagiarism. The only sure to not be copied, were the three numbers revolving around the five... er... guests: they were too secretive to reveal to anyone what they had in store; Minnie McGonagall, whom had helped them with mysterious transfigurations, was too loyal toward Zabini and Ms. Nortmann; Riddle instead... well, every time that anybody asked him something, he became red like a lobster, his nose bleed and he had an idiot stare.

" I couldn't believe that tomorrow everything will be over!" Tom exclaimed while he went at the rehearsals," I couldn't believe that I have been able to learn everything in less than ten days!"

" It's because that girl is scaring. " said thoughtful Myrtle," Tom, isn't it that she.... does she have hit you in these days? I mean: it's obvious that she hates you, nevertheless you... "

" I what, Mimì?"

" Well, Miss Nortmann is saying that you are in love with that girl... if it's true, I don't understand you: if she could she would kill you without think twice. And you have done nothing to her!"

Tom blushed furiously and smiled sadly at his sister-friend; he ran a hand among the hair and said painfully:

" As you have said, she hates me. I try to suppress these feelings that Weasley makes me feel, but it is as if I am entangled in a snare: more I try to free me, more I trap me. If only I could know why she hates me so much..."

Myrtle squeezed his hand and smiled encouraging: for once, their roles were inverted.

" Mom Phebe has told me that we can't suppress our feelings; instead, we must express them freely: don't lose heart Tom, tell her how you feel toward her! At the beginning it'll be hard, but at the end she'll understand that you are an extraordinary boy!"

" Who are you? What do you have done to my Mimì?" he replied playfully ruffling her hair," You know, I envy you: you have been so lucky to have parents like the Pondles; when they'll know about it at orphanage, the others will eat their hands for the envy! But I think that not being hit in the last four days is a result. Oh, we are arrived: I am sorry, I would wish you to assist, but you don't can." Myrtle puffed disappointed," But tomorrow would come behind the scenes to wish me good luck!"

Tom ended winking. Myrtle smiled; embraced her brother-friend; told him an " I love you" and she kissed him on the cheek; Tom exchanged the gesture and let the girl leave; he then opened the door: McGonagall was already there and The Phalangers were rehearsing their song. Minnie noticed him and waved a hand while with the other wiped her eyes; the others continued to play. Tom was struck by Vy's voice: it was different from when she sang their song; the softness with which she pronounced notes and words and the feelings expressed by her voice were like piano strings entwined around his heart and that made it bleed. The expression of her face was so entranced by the music and the text and drops of perspiration shone on her skin, to Tom she looked like an angel and he desired her to have that expression for him only. When the song ended, ended that illusion too: when Vy saw him, she didn't have a reassuring look.

" Today we will do the dress rehearsal. " Vy said wiping her forehead with a napkin," Att, are the clothes ready?" Att nodded and accio-ed a bag from a corner of the room," Minnie, do you have had tomorrow evening's program?"

" Professor Etul should bring it within moments."

" But.... vampires don't go out in the daytime!" Evan exclaimed," by the way! Dear Minnie, we would need you for Lady Marmelade: want to be our Missy Elliot?"

" Eh? B-but Zabini! I don't know how to sing neither dance! I'll ruin your show!"

" It's a very easy thing what you should do," added Adrienne," they are only few words and you do not dance: you could learn in one day!"

" No, I can't: I would be horrible and Syb will be able to tell that one of her previsions has come true."

" C'mon Minnie, you are the only person that could do it!" the prefect shook her head; Adrienne and Evan exchanged a glance of understanding," Guys, you could leave us alone for.... five minutes?"

Tom watched them with a confused expression, while the others exchanged a knowing glance and got out. After a quarter of hour, the four friends were still waiting out: to while away the time, Attilius was showing the sceneries' sketches. They were speaking about the upcoming rehearsals in the Great Hall when Professor Etul came: he was wrapped in a black cloak and wore very dark sunglasses; around him the presence of a powerful spell could be tasted. The teacher asked about McGonagall; they answered that she was inside, but before they could stop him, the vampire had opened wide the door: McGonagall was sitting on the desk, giving her back to the door; Evan sat close her and whispered in her ear, one his hand around her shoulders and the other on her front; Adrienne was nowhere in sight, but they heard her voice came from the desk.

" Then, Minnie... will you do it?"

The girl shook the head. Evan stooped more toward her and whispered with husky voice:

" Look, we could go forward in this way for hours until you won't surrender... "

The teacher arched an eyebrow and cleared his throat; the three teenagers, at that sound, jumped three feet in the air and looked at the intruder: McGonagall was as red as a tomato; Adrienne got up wiping her lips and tilting her head; Evan looked at the teacher with curiosity letting his own right hand inside the Gryffindor's shirt.

" Professor Etul, I didn't think that you are a voyeur!"

The vampire ground his teeth, showing his sharp and menacing canine tooth.

" What were you doing, Mr. Zabini?"

" Professor professor... " He replied shaking the head," if I tell you I'll violate our House unwritten code! It would be like invite a Gryffindor at a Friday night orgy!"

" I understand. I have brought the program," he said changing the topic cleverly," if you have modifications to do, this is the last opportunity to communicate them. "

" Yes: Minnie will be our guest star for Lady Marmelade." Adrienne cheered," Won't you Minnie?"

Ended the Hufflepuff looking wicked at the Gryffindor prefect. McGonagall sighed in defeat and rolled her eyes: the seven students read the program and complained because Something Stupid was the seventh performance, Lady Marmelade the tenth, while The Phalangers were fifteenth. They made some remonstrations and tried to change their turns, but it was useless. Later there were the dress rehearsals and the seven teenagers were able to stay alone in the Great Hall, sealed by Vy's spells: they rehearsed following the contest's program choosing the lights. When Tom saw Vy with the dress for their song, he felt his heart skip a beat; and when they rehearsed their dance, he thought to be crazy: the dress left her back bare, and he wasn't able to feel the difference between the satin and the girl's skin; besides there was fewer cloth to part them, and for Vy it was easy to know his reactions at her touch -more than once she had thrown him a scolding look. Vy and Tom had never been so close since Evan's party.

But above all, they weren't drunk.

* * *

Myrtle asked to some of her housemates where Tom was, and they showed her a dressing room: the girl knocked and replied McGonagall. The Hufflepuff heard some turmoil in the room; the door opened and she was pulled inside: the Gryffindor prefect, wrapped in a indigo dress with a flowered bodice and peacock's feathers in her hair, rehearsed her part with Zabini, whom wore a robe. Tom greeted her and embraced her: his hair had been combed in a different way and wore a tuxedo with a blue rose in the buttonhole. Xavier Nortmann, wearing a shirt, fishnet stockings slippers, weighed an apple and an orange in his hands; behind of him there were two large melons. Vy, with her rusty blue satin dress that show the tattoos on her back -two cherub wings on the shoulders and a Celtic theme much lower that pointed her bottom, she was sitting while Attilius and Adrienne did her hair and make up. Also their two wore their dresses: the Hufflepuff wore a silk and red lace corset, black culottes, garter belt, stockings and stiletto heeled slippers; the Ravenclaw wore the same kind of clothes but in a sugar paper blue silk and with a shirt under the corset.

" I.. I come to wish you good luck. "

Myrtle whispered noticing disturbed Xavier putting his shirt off, showing green clothes like Attilius's, and inserting two oranges in the shirt as breasts. The Ravenclaw smiled at her slipping the last two blue roses between the redhead's locks and he then took the melons.

" Thank you dear. I would give you a slice of it, but I need them for the show."

" Oh Nimue, Att!" Evan exclaim," did you must choose melons?!"

" Well, considering my build... actually I would have preferred two basketball, but it was impossible find them; besides the melons are more scented and we could eat them. Well Evan, now it's your turn: take off that robe and stretch on the table so I could wax you."

" NOOO!!!!! I don't want to look like a drag queen!!"

" If you don't make it, you'll look even more disgusting with those black hair sprouting everywhere!"

At the end Attilius won, also because the others had helped him; then Adrienne made Evan wear very sexy champagne and golden silk and lace underwear, lent him her silicone fake breasts and put make up on him. When Professor Dumbledore knocked at their door and announced the last five minutes, the seven friends gave themselves the last revisions: Attilius, Xavier and Evan wore their wigs; the three girls powdered one more time while Tom walked back and forth through the room. The tension was palpable and it almost could hear the beat of their hearts; their adrenaline was high and the emotion strong. The four house elves came a minute before the curtains rose and McGonagall told that she would have transfigured them before their turn come -it was a complicated spell, besides it didn't last more than five minutes. Breathing deeply, Vy called everybody around her.

" Here we go: now join our hand and exchange a great shit!"

" What?!" exclaimed Tom and Minnie," Why must we do a thing so repugnant?!"

" You misunderstood!" Xavier snickered," It's a way to wish good luck!"

The two prefects looked doubtful at each other and set their hands upon those of the other teenagers.

" At my three. one two three!"

" Shit! Shit! Shit!"

TBC

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This is mainly a chapter of passage; therefore if it has annoyed you, I apologize with you.

Ah... the emotion of the wing, how I'm missing it... :' )