Swept From the Past

Chapter 10: The spectacle

The following day, when Harry, Ron, and Hermione entered their Defence Against the Dark Arts class with the other sixth years students, Professor Burns was seated at her place. She looked perfectly well, as if nothing had happened the day before. The three Gryffindors had been worried about her, particularly when they had seen she wasn't in the Great Hall for breakfast.

After a few minutes, Snape entered the class too. Harry saw that the Potions master cast Professor Burns a quick glance, an expression of relief painted on his face. It disappeared as quickly as it had come, and turned into an impassive expression.

"Today, class," said Professor Burns, "we will study..."

Seamus raised his hand. The Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, Master Finnigan?" she asked.

"Professor Burns..." Seamus replied. He looked awkward, but he continued speaking. "We all wonder... yesterday... how did you manage to... to do what you did in the Great Hall?"

Everyone stared at her. Harry wondered if she would respond.

"Hmmm," she replied. "Do you mean with the Howler?"

She lazily rested her head on her right hand.

"Er... yes," Seamus responded.

"Well..." she said.

She raised her head and nonchalantly extended her hand, the palm up.

"Accio Book!" she uttered feebly.

Seamus' book rose up in the air and flew to her.

"A few wizards don't need a wand to practise magic," she commented. "A little burning spell... and no Howler anymore!"

Harry thought of what Hermione had said. Burns' explanations were clear and quite simple, but there were a few things missing. As Harry had expected, Hermione raised her hand.

"Miss Granger?" asked Professor Burns.

"It's reputedly impossible to get rid of a Howler," said the girl. "They are supposed to either deliver the message or explode. How did you manage to do it without a spell?"

Professor Burns laughed. "'Reputedly impossible,' 'supposed to...' Don't trust public opinion, Miss Granger! God, in the Muggle World, Magic is reputedly impossible! And you know it exists, since you are a sorceress!"

Hermione smirked. Harry thought she would appreciate Professor Burns before long.

"Real magic doesn't come from audible spells," the teacher continued. "It comes from inside. It's something which is beyond your understanding! Every Wizard can feel it. But so few of us try to understand it. For example, when someone sacrifices his life for another person, it can create a very powerful magical protection. However, no spell is uttered. It's very old magic. And it's more powerful than anything you can imagine."

Harry thought of his mother immediately. That was true. She hadn't had the time to utter a spell. Voldemort had killed her. Then, the magic related to her sacrifice had defeated the Dark Lord, when he had attacked her son. The killing curse hadn't worked and had rebounded against him. And yet, it was supposed to be the most powerful spell to use against someone.

Hermione raised her hand again.

"Yes?" Burns asked.

"What about Disapparating within Hogwarts?" the girl demanded.

"Oh, that little trick?" Burns responded, detached. "It's nothing. Just a funny little spell. Guaranteed to get a surprised reaction!" she laughed. "Ok, today, we will study..."

Professor Burns continued speaking. Harry stared at Hermione. She looked unconvinced. He, himself, didn't believe Professor Burns. She had dismissed the Disapparating thing too quickly.

***

In the evening, there was a feast at The Wizard Plaza in the centre of London. The large room was decorated richly with red curtains and golden tapestries. The lights were dimmed. The sounds of people's conversations mixed together into a deafening rumble, which filled the hall. Wizards, all of them Death Eaters, gathered around round tables to watch the spectacle. Waiters came back and forth to bring cocktails to the rich customers. The feast was grandiose.

Lucius Malfoy and Severus Snape sat at one of the front tables near the stage.

"Where's Narcissa, Lucius?" asked Severus. It was strange. Narcissa always went to society gatherings.

"Oh, she's ill," replied Lucius. He spoke softly. "In fact, she has been brought to St. Mungo's. She was in France last week. The Dark Lord had given her a mission to accomplish. She had had problems with some kind of rebel group, who attacked her when she... stole something."

"A rebel group?" asked the Potions master.

He raised an eyebrow. Was Lucius talking about the Order of the Phoenix? Dumbledore hadn't mentioned anything about such an attack.

"Yes," replied Lucius. "It's not the first time we have had problems with them. Several times in the past, they discouraged the Giants and the Goblins to follow the Dark Lord. They are called 'The Lost... something'," Lucius Malfoy said disdainfully. "I don't remember the exact term. They are rather strange. But I must admit they are good fighters. If we had such wizards on our side, things would be easier."

"How is Narcissa?" Severus demanded.

"Well, she's still weak," responded Lucius. "but I think she will recover soon. Fortunately, the Dark Lord had ordered Bellatrix to go with her; and Bella inflicted numerous casualties on our enemies. With her new powers, she's really efficient!" he laughed.

"I guess that the Dark Lord was rather pleased with her?" asked Severus. "When did she come back?"

"Oh, Bellatrix is still in France," replied Lucius. "She has always wanted to visit the French Ministry," he added with a snigger. "Narcissa came back a few days ago, and I kept the object for her, just in case. I'll give it to the Dark Lord after the spectacle..." He had a drink of whisky. "Excellent!" he commented.

The music started. Half-naked male and female dancers pranced across the stage. They executed difficult movements and jumps to impress the audience. Everyone clapped. A few of them performed juggling acts. A tall, black man threw sharp knives on a living target. Really impressive!

"Mina Operagalta comes this evening," Lucius said.

"The singer?" asked Severus. He was not very familiar with society events or show-business stars.

"She's not only a singer, Severus..." Lucius replied with a smile. "She's a great celebrity ... And she's one of us!" he added.

Of course, he meant she was a Death Eater too.

"I didn't know that..." Severus responded. "But if she's one of us, I'll enjoy the spectacle better," he continued, but he didn't mean a word of it.

"Ladies and gentleman, wizards and sorceresses," the voice of the announcer boomed, "the Wizard Plaza has the great privilege and honour to welcome the famous, gorgeous and fantastic Mina Operagalta. Make her an ovation worthy of a Queen and... maybe you'll see her!!!"

The whole room clapped and called for her for several minutes. The stage was plunged into darkness. A circle of light appeared suddenly at the centre of the scene. It lit a feminine silhouette, sitting sidelong on a chair.

She wore black stiletto heels, dark stockings, a short, flared skirt, and a tight-fitting blouse with a plunging neckline. She had long, black leather gloves. A silver mask hid the superior part of her face, except her eyes. She had beautiful, ruby lips and nice, white teeth. She wore a black top-hat on her head. Her dark hair was raised in a high bun and many curled locks framed her face.

She slowly sang:

"The French... are glad to die for love"

Suddenly, the music started. The woman moved. She raised her head. She swung her legs in a high arc, turning her body on the chair to face the audience, then stood up. Many female dancers came onto the scene and started to move madly. Mina Operagalta sang and danced at the same time.

"A kiss on the hand may be quite continental

But diamonds are a girl's best friend

A kiss may be grand but it won't pay the rental on your humble flat

Or help you feed your pussy cat"

"Impressive!" Lucius exclaimed after a few verses.

He applauded the gorgeous creature. Severus himself was captivated by this mysterious Mina Operagalta. She didn't only dance with grace, she really had a seductive power in all her gestures.

Mina Operagalta strolled to the edge of the stage progressively. She descended the stairs, which led to the audience. When she did so, she kept staring at Lucius Malfoy with a voluptuous smile, as if she sung just for him. He was under her spell.

"Cause we are living in a material world and I am a material girl"

She threw a kiss in Lucius' direction. She held her hand as if she wanted to catch him, making all sorts of sexual cries, mixed squeals, and moans. She shut her eyes, breathed quicker, held her head as if she couldn't control herself, and bit her lips as if she had an orgasm.

"Come and get me boys! Ow!

Black star, Ross Cole, talk to me Lucius Malfoy, tell me all about it!"

Then she moved straight to Malfoy slowly. Her graceful gestures reminded Severus of a feline. Mina Operagalta sat on Lucius' knees.

The Potions master was a little shocked by her lack of decency. After all, she probably knew Lucius was married. However, it didn't seem to bother her... nor him. Narcissa in St. Mungo's had become a simple memory, since Mina Operagalta had entered the room.

She continued singing.

"There may come a time when a lass needs a blond boy"

The other dancers sung back.

"But diamonds are a girl's best friend"

She caressed Lucius' left cheek with the tip of her fingers and continued singing. Then she changed her position, turned herself on Lucius' knees, and put her left arm around his neck.

Severus was ill at ease. He found the woman too lewd. While the other dancers sang the refrain, she stroked Malfoy's lips, always with the tip of her fingers. She stared at Lucius hungrily, devouring him with her green eyes. Wonderful green eyes... the same eyes as... but, wait a minute! Snape frowned and felt infuriated.

Mina Operagalta sang again, and continued her lustful cries.

"Let's make love

Yes! Yes! Yes! Tiger!"

She held Lucius' head with her right hand, gripped his body with the other hand, and kissed him savagely. Then she pushed Malfoy violently back in a sadistic way. She stood up and walked backwards, still looking directly at him, a smile of complete satisfaction on her lips. She sang.

"Cause that's when those louses go back to their spouses

Diamonds are a girl's best...friend..."

The music became very loud. The drums unleashed themselves. At the last sound of percussion, Mina Operagalta raised her arms. A light suddenly flashed around her, then a soft smoke. When the audience looked back, she had disappeared.

"Brilliant!" said Lucius Malfoy, who clapped energetically.

"Yes," replied Severus, as politely as he could. He tried to hide it, but he hadn't been pleased by that show. Not at all. His jaws clenched.

Lucius kept clapping for an encore, when he was disturbed by a tall man with a large moustache and an alarmed look.

"Why are you bothering me now, Holm?" Malfoy nearly shouted.

"It's Mina Operagalta, Lucius!" the man exclaimed. "We've just found her knocked out in her wardrobe!"

"What?" Lucius Malfoy exclaimed... "but she was there a few sec--"

He quickly put his hand in his pockets.

"THE BITCH!!!" he yelled. "SHE STOLE THE TALISMAN!!!"

***

When Malfoy discovered he had been tricked, the spectacle was cancelled. Severus was furious. He returned to Hogwarts and used Floo Powder to enter Professor Burns' chambers. Of course, she wasn't there. For one hour, Severus waited for her in the darkness. Then she entered. She was dressed like she used to be, with her green cloak and her gloves. But Severus knew. And he wouldn't let her sleep without first giving an explanation.

"Do you like entering a woman's chambers at night, Professor Snape?" Burns asked without turning back.

How did she know he was here? Of course, she surely knew he would come. No need to comment on his presence.

"So, did you have fun this evening?" Severus asked sharply.

"Yes," she replied coolly. "I had a very good evening, Professor Snape. I killed many vampires and one of them looked just like you. It was fun to cut off his head and see him disappear in a pile of dust. And how was your evening, Professor?" she asked ironically.

"Not very good..." he hissed. "I'd been invited to The Wizard Plaza to see a spectacle. There was a very seductive singer in it, who lured every men and even kissed Lucius Malfoy!"

Severus grimaced. The memory of the singer's attitude towards Malfoy made him sick.

"Oh!" Burns replied with a disgusted expression on her face. "This person obviously kisses anyone! So... did you get a kiss, too?"

Severus avoided answering. God! She really knew how to irritate him.

"We discovered after the spectacle that this singer was, in fact, an impostor," the Potions master whispered under his breath. "She was a thief, who took something from Lucius Malfoy."

"I guess that thing wasn't his wife..." Burns laughed.

"No, it was something more important than Narcissa!" Severus retorted furiously. "Something very dangerous to steal in a room full of Death Eaters!!!" he continued. He lost his temper.

"So what?" Burns replied with a slight smile. "I guess the person had her reasons to do it..."

"There were risks!!!" exclaimed Severus. "The person could have been killed...! YOU COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED!!!" he yelled.

"Me?" Burns replied innocently. "Do you think I'm interested in a spectacle in an expensive wizard hotel? Professor Snape, I think you've remained too long above your nasty potions. The fumes must have disturbed your brains!" She laughed again.

"I think you were more interested in the object Lucius Malfoy kept on him!" the Potions master snapped.

"Professor Snape," replied Burns. "I'm sure that you have some kind of concoction to detect if I drank Polyjuice Potion during these last few hours. Give it to me. It would be a pleasure to drink it!"

Clever girl. Severus thought she would say that. But he had recognised her. When she had been close enough, he had seen her eyes. He had known it was her.

"Professor Burns," Severus retorted, "it would be a pleasure to give you such a Potion to drink. However, I'm sure that you didn't use Polyjuice Potion tonight!"

"So if I didn't use it, that proves it wasn't me!" Burns replied ironically.

"I think that you came to the Wizard Plaza using your real appearance," retorted Severus.

"And how did I manage that?" asked Burns. "If I came under my real appearance, everyone would surely recognise me!"

"You wore a mask!" responded Severus.

"Really?" Burns demanded teasingly. "What kind of mask? Because it's not very easy to sing under a mask!"

"It covered the upper half of your face," replied Severus. He was both nervous and angry. She disturbed him with her replies.

Burns laughed. "So much better! How could I steal something from Malfoy if I couldn't see anything?"

"You know what I mean!" Severus barked. "The mask didn't cover your eyes! Stop getting on my nerves!"

"You are forgetting my lovely scar, Professor Snape," replied Burns ironically. "Not me," she added sharply.

Severus blanched. How could he forget? Bellatrix Lestrange's work. No, he could not think of that day. It was too painful. Severus tried to recover and focus on their argument. Tonight, Katarina could have been killed!

Burns tapped her scar with her finger. "Did the singer have a scar?" She continued. She looked amused. "It's rather visible!"

"Not when you use Magical Make-up on it," Severus retorted with a snort.

"By the way, wasn't the woman a singer?" Burns replied mischievously. "You know I can't sing, Professor Snape!"

"Everyone can sing with an appropriate spell!" Severus snarled. "Do you think I'm that stupid?"

"Actually..." Burns retorted.

"That wasn't a question!" the Potions master interrupted, infuriated. "LISTEN TO ME!!! I KNOW IT WAS YOU!!! DON'T DENY IT!!!"

"Ow... little Sevvie is angry..." she said like a little girl.

"LAST TIME, YOU ALMOST DIED!" he continued. "MADAM POMFREY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!"

"So, she's not very competent..." she added.

"YOU--" Severus yelled.

"I what, Professor Snape?" she interrupted suddenly. "Was I about to die? No, I wasn't," she replied firmly. "Do you think that was the first time my vital energy has gone out of me? So, you'll learn something this evening. No, that wasn't the first time! The first time was a long time ago! And, after all, what if I died? It wouldn't be so terrible! I just would be the fourth of the group to disappear!" she laughed hard, like a devil, as if she was possessed by a strange and diabolic strength.

"What... what have you become...?" he stuttered, feared of her attitude.

"Strong and powerful!" she replied coldly.

"What... What happened to you?" he stuttered again.

"You ask?" she replied with a smirk.

Severus gulped. He knew it was linked to what happened that awful, bloody day, but...

The objects all around started to shake. When Burns took a little bottle out of her cloak and had a drink, it ceased.

"Mind your own business, Snivellus!" she said sharply. "We are not playing in the same playground. Now, get out of here, or I'll be pleased to show you how powerful I am!"

Severus didn't insist and left. He knew she hated him. He knew he had spoiled her life. She wouldn't hesitate to hex him.

***

The following day, a knock on the window woke Harry. That was Hedwig. She brought a letter from Lupin.

"Dear Harry,

I know that you have a few questions about Professor Burns. However, I don't have the right to tell you anything. This is none of your business, and none of mine. If Professor Burns decided to not talk to you about that, I can't do anything against her wishes. Please, Harry, don't try to learn more. You could cause a lot of damage without wanting it. Sirius wouldn't have wanted you to inquire about that.

Take care, Remus Lupin."

Harry frowned. Sirius would have never wanted him to know? Why? Harry decided he would find out, with or without Lupin's help.

***

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