The Hogwarts Players Present

Act the First, Part 7

Finally...Intermission!

During that huge argument backstage, nobody onstage has changed positions at all, and the music has stopped.

Luna is still sitting on the bench, absorbed in the libretto. Cedric has his hands in his pockets, rocking on the balls of his feet, while Cho has gotten out a compact mirror to check her make-up. The students in the audience are shuffling around, talking loudly, and generally being fidgety, while McGonagall and Snape attempt to shut them up. Only Dumbledore is still watching the action (or lack thereof) onstage interestedly, his fingers steepled under his chin.

In the midst of all this,

Hermione tiptoes along the edge of the stage, then jumps down to the floor as quietly as she can. The audience begins to fall silent as they watch Hermione creep over to the conductor and have a hurried, whispered conversation. The conductor nods, and Hermione quickly retreats backstage.

As soon as she disappears through the side curtains, the music thrusts into "Attack on the Rue Plumet."

Seamus, Crabbe, Goyle and Nott rush on from stage left. Luna doesn't notice, but Cho jumps a foot, startled, before pocketing her mirror. Cedric, finally remembering where he's supposed to be, walks around the archway to stand behind the gate, staring out a bit dumbly. Luna happens to look up and see him standing there, so she gets up and goes over to him, offering the libretto. Cedric sighs with grateful relief, and the two of them walk back over to the bench and sit down, Cedric reading while Luna stares dreamily into space. Cho also takes her place for the next song, crouching next to the archway.

From the audience, we hear:

SNAPE:

Finally.

MCGONAGALL:

(warningly) Professor Snape...

SNAPE:

You cannot deny that the past five minutes have been absolutely painful, Professor McGonagall.

McGonagall doesn't answer. She can't deny it, in all honesty.

SNAPE:

You see? [a pause] And oh look, another scene for Misters Crabbe and Goyle. (sarcastically) This should be enjoyable.

One of the Random Audience members overhears, and is predictably surprised.

RANDOM AUDIENCE MEMBER:

(whispering) Did you hear what he said?!

RANDOM A.M. 2:

I know! He just said something nasty about Slytherins!

RANDOM AUDIENCE MEMBER:

Wow, he must really not be having fun.

The two ponder this as the scene continues.

Attack on the Rue Plumet

Snape was right, after all--nobody could deny, after the Bishop scene, that Crabbe and Goyle were more or less useless. Luckily, all this scene called for was for them to stand around menacingly, which they knew how to do very well. So, Seamus and his GANG stride over to stand in front of the gate, all looking very devious and evil.

NOTT (with lots of gestures and posturing)

This is his lair, I've seen the old fox around!

He keeps himself to himself, he's staying close to the ground!

SEAMUS

Ten years ago he came and paid for Cosette.

I let her go for a song, it's time we settled the debt!

This'll cost him dear!

NOTT (grabbing Seamus by the lapels)

What do I care who you should rob?

Give me my share! Finish the job!

SEAMUS (shoving Nott away)

You shut your mouth!

You'll get what's yours!

He turns and sees

Cho crouching by the gate. He points to her.

Who is this hussy?

Cho gasps and looks offended, before remembering that it's part of the play. Seamus rolls his eyes at her reaction, as Nott continues.

NOTT

It's your brat Eponine.

Don't you know your own kid? Why's she hanging about you?

Seamus, followed by the rest of his GANG, advance on Cho, who leaps to her feet.

CHO (dramatically)

I'm gonna scream!

I'm gonna warn them here!

SEAMUS (shaking a finger at her)

One little scream, and you'll regret it for a year!

Cho's been waiting for this. She takes a deep breath, and lets loose a glass-shattering shriek. The GANG members wince, as Luna and Cedric glance interestedly downstage at Cho. Her voice finally gives out, and her scream ends in a noise that's almost a gurgle. There's some applause from Ravenclaw House out in the audience, which Cho acknowledges with a tiny nod. Seamus shakes his head a little, then puts on his best "evil" voice as he points his finger at her again.

SEAMUS

You wait my girl, you'll rue this night!

I'll make you scream! You'll scream all right!

Seamus takes off at a run toward a trapdoor located far downstage right. The top of it has been painted to look like a sewer grate. He flings it open, and waves his GANG members over.

SEAMUS (as his GANG climbs down through the trapdoor)

Make for the sewers!

Get underground!

With a final glare toward

Cho, who's rubbing her now sore throat, Seamus exits through the trapdoor, closing it behind him. As soon as he's gone, Cedric and Luna, holding the libretto between them, get up and go to stand by the archway, facing Cho. Reading from the libretto, Cedric sings:

CEDRIC

Dearest Cosette,

My friend Eponine.

Almost as an afterthought,

Cedric waves his hand between the girls, introducing them. All three turn as Harry begins to enter from stage right.

CEDRIC

Somebody's near, let's not be seen.

Somebody's here!

Cedric runs back around the archway to join Cho, and they both run offstage right, Luna watching them with mild interest. Harry enters fully, dragging Cedric back with him and looking harrassed. He whispers furiously:

HARRY:

You're not supposed to exit yet! Go over there!

With that, Harry pushes Cedric back over to the archway, motioning for him to kneel down "out of sight." Cedric complies, blushing a little. Just in time for his cue, Harry goes over to Luna, who has sat back down on her bench.

HARRY

My God, Cosette, I heard a cry in the dark.

I heard the shout of angry voices in the street.

Luna, incredibly and inexplicably, suddenly remembers her lines perfectly. Harry gapes at her for a moment, then catches himself as she sings.

LUNA

Three men I saw beyond the wall.

Three men in shadow moving fast.

Harry looks shocked, and then turns out toward the audience. It's obviously supposed to look as though he's talking to himself, but instead it seems as though he's talking directly to the audience. Which Snape mentions in a whisper before Dumbledore shushes him.

HARRY

Must be Javert! He's found my cover at last!

I've got to get Cosette away before they return.

We must get away from the shadows that will never let us be.

Tomorrow to Calais, then a ship across the sea!

(turning back to

Luna)

Hurry Cosette, it's time to close another door and live another day!

The RUE PLUMET set disappears in a puff of smoke, leaving the stage empty.

Harry and Luna stand together stage right, and Cedric, holding up the libretto so that it obscures his face, moves over to far stage left. Harry, over the excited murmuring from backstage, begins:

ONE DAY MORE

HARRY

One day more.

Another day, another destiny.

This never-ending road to Calvary.

These men who seem to know my crime will surely come a second time.

One day more.

Harry exits stage right.

CEDRIC (reading from libretto, as he will continue to do throughout the song)

I did not live until today.

How can I live when we are parted?

He sounds anything but lovelorn--his delivery, as usual, is absolutely flat and a tad off-tempo.

Harry returns, carrying a trunk and the silver candlesticks that he got from the Bishop. Stopping at center stage, he sets the trunk down and regards the candlesticks for a moment.

HARRY (placing the candlesticks in the trunk)

One day more.

While

Cedric is doing a less commendable job, Luna has obviously hit her stride, line-wise.

CEDRIC AND LUNA

Tomorrow you'll be worlds away,

And yet, with you my world has started.

Cho enters from stage left, and stands close to Cedric, looking forlorn (she's getting very good at it).

CHO (hands over her heart)

One more day all on my own.

CEDRIC AND LUNA

Will we ever meet again?

CHO

One more day with him not caring.

CEDRIC AND LUNA

I was born to be with you.

CHO

What a life I might have known.

CEDRIC AND LUNA

And I swear I will be true.

CHO (throwing her arms wide, dramatically)

But he never saw me there!

During the stretched-out note of "there,"

Ron leads his group of STUDENTS onstage, carrying a red flag (the tablecloth tied to a stick) over his shoulder. All of the STUDENTS are wearing red sashes in addition to their black caps. They make a triangle formation next to Harry, Ron at the very front. Hoisting up the flag, he sings:

RON

One more day before the storm!

CEDRIC

Do I follow where she goes?

RON

At the barricades of freedom!!

CEDRIC

Shall I join my brothers there?

RON

As our ranks begin to form!

CEDRIC

Do I stay and do I dare?

RON (using a sweeping arm gesture to indicate the audience)

Will you take your place with me?!

As

Ron shouts this last line, a huge chorus made up of all four Houses filters onstage, and arranges itself in rows behind the principals.

THE FOUR-HOUSE CHORUS

The time is now, the day is here!

HARRY

One day more!

On this cue,

Draco storms onstage from stage left, and comes to stop downstage center. Weilding his billy club violently, his face contorts and turns very pink as he sings:

DRACO

One more day till revolution.

We will nip it in the bud.

We'll be ready for these schoolboys,

They will wet themselves with blood!

With a final stab of the billy club,

Draco whirls on his heel and stalks offstage right, bumping into Harry as he goes.

HARRY (teetering a bit)

One day more!

Seamus and Pansy pop up out of the trapdoor, only the top halves of their bodies showing. They're greeted by some laughter from the audience. Seamus is having a wonderful time, pulling semi-grotesque faces in an attempt to look evil and scary. Even Pansy has forgotten herself in all the excitement of this song; she actually sings with gusto, going so far as to make some dramatic hand motions.

SEAMUS AND PANSY

Watch'em run amok, catch'em as they fall,

Never know your luck when there's a free-for-all!

Here a little dip, there a little touch!

Most of'em are goners, so they won't miss much!

The next bit is an extremely powerful chorus. Nobody is quite on-key here, but the audience is held in thrall all the same. A smile is playing on

Dumbledore's lips as he watches the cast, and even Snape falls silent.

RON, NEVILLE, DEAN, AND GRYFFINDOR HOUSE

One day to a new beginning!

THE REST

Raise the flag of freedom high!

RON, NEVILLE, DEAN, AND GRYFFINDOR HOUSE

Every man will be a king!

THE REST

Every man will be a king!

RON, NEVILLE, DEAN, AND GRYFFINDOR HOUSE

There's a new world for the winning!

THE REST

There's a new world to be won!

COMPANY

Do you hear the people sing?

CEDRIC (stepping forward a bit so that he's standing beside the cluster of STUDENTS)

My place is here.

I fight with you!

The import of that line must have struck a chord with

Cedric, because he grins widely at Neville, who is nearest. Neville smiles back, as he pulls Cedric by the sleeve into the STUDENTS' group.

HARRY (giving it his all, holding the last note for a long time)

One

day more!!

Draco marches back onstage from the right, and takes his spot near the trapdoor. He's now dressed in a similar manner to the STUDENTS: his uniform is gone, replaced by a white shirt and red sash around his waist.

The next bit of this song is the most powerful--everyone joins in, a veritable barrage of voices, everyone finally really getting into the show.

DRACO

I will join these people's heroes,

I will follow where they go!

I will learn their little secrets,

I will know the things they know!

SEAMUS AND PANSY

Watch'em run amok, catch'em as they fall,

Never know your luck when there's a free-for-all!

Here a little dip, there a little touch!

CHO

One more day all on my own!

HARRY

Tomorrow we'll be far away.

HARRY, RON, AND DRACO

Tomorrow is the Judgment Day!

On this cue,

Harry, Ron, and Draco begin to walk toward the apron of the stage, trying to time their steps with the beat of the music (all three of them consistently late and off the beat).

COMPANY

Tomorrow we'll discover what our God in

Heaven

Harry, Ron, and Draco take a step forward.

Has in

And another step.

Store!

Now the three stop. They've wound up pretty close to one another, with

Harry in the center and Ron on his left, holding up the flag. Draco stands on Harry's right, looking petulant at having to share center stage with Harry and Ron.

The whole company joins in for the big finish, singing only slightly off-key. Scattered applause has already begun out in the house.

COMPANY

One more dawn!

One more day!

Harry has really gotten into the song, and although he's singing in completely the wrong key, he's singing it with feeling. So he doesn't notice Draco give him a furtive and quick sideways glance.

One day

Moh-

Draco glances at Harry again. It's obvious he's planning something. However, nobody seems to notice.

Oh-

Another sideways glance.

Draco takes a minute sideways step toward Harry.

Ore!!

On the last note change of "more," which is held for a while,

Draco steps directly in front of Harry, blocking him from view. Harry, furious (but still singing), gives Draco a hard shove, sending him staggering. Also still holding the note, Draco shoves back. Ron, surprisingly, is happily oblivious to the brawl going on next to him as he waves the red flag triumphantly.

As the song comes to an end with a crescendo of music,

Ron hoists the flag, a huge grin on his face, and the rest of the company all raise a fist to the sky. However, Harry and Draco are standing center stage, facing off with furious glares, and their fists clenched at their sides. They look ready to kill one another.

They snap out of it when the lights go down. Both of them stalk off angrily in opposite directions, followed by the rest of the cast.

The auditorium reverberates with rioutous applause, whistles, and cheers, as the houselights come up and the curtain goes down.

Dumbledore stands and turns to address the students:

DUMBLEDORE:

Fifteen minute intermission, everyone!

End of Act One!!