The Hogwarts Players Present

INTERMISSION

The Entr'acte music is playing as the students and professors filter back into the auditorium. The students take their seats, conversing and tossing the occasional look at the closed curtain.

Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Snape are the last ones to settle into their seats in the front row. They're talking quietly together while waiting for the next act to begin.

MCGONAGALL:

Do you suppose the students are ready to begin yet?

SNAPE:

I highly doubt it. Everything from entrances to lines to tempo was off during the first act--why should the second begin on time?

DUMBLEDORE:

Now, now. I, for one, am quite enjoying this performance. It is perhaps the most creative interpretation of this show I have yet to see.

SNAPE:

(scoffing) Interpretation?

DUMBLEDORE:

Of course.

Dumbledore points to the curtained stage, where several pairs of feet are visible in the gap between the bottom of the curtain and the stage. Some muffled bickering can also be heard.

DUMBLEDORE:

Look--the cast has even staged a little play-within-a-play for us before the next act begins. I must admit, I never saw anything quite like that in the West End.

Dumbledore gives McGonagall a little wink as Snape grunts and begins to rub his temples again.

DUMBLEDORE:

(cheerfully) But if you think it advisable, Severus, I shall go and inform the cast that we are ready to begin when they are.

With that, Dumbledore rises and begins to make his way backstage. Snape and McGonagall exchange a look, then begin to quiet the audience, whose noise level has grown considerably louder. The Entr'acte music draws to a close as second act time draws near.

As the orchestra and audience quiet, what was before muffled bickering and shuffling behind the curtain is now perfectly audible:

HERMIONE:

Everyone, listen! Dumbledore just announced it--it's time for Act Two!

DRACO:

Not yet, damn it! It's happened again...WHERE IS MY BILLY CLUB?!

HARRY:

Will you SHUT UP! The audience'll hear you!

DRACO:

(nastily) Not as well as they heard your off-key caterwauling during that last song, Scarhead!

HARRY:

Oh, SOD OFF, you...

HERMIONE:

Everybody quiet! We have to get ready to start! Ron, have you found your gun yet?

RON:

(a bit panicky) No, and I have no idea where I put it...And damn it all, I lost the flag, too! Bloody hell...I don't want to make a prat out of myself!

DRACO:

(sneeringly) Yeah, well, Weasel...

HERMIONE:

STOP IT, Malfoy! Ron, no! Don't hit him again!

RON:

He deserves it!

HERMIONE:

I know...But you'd better focus on getting your props in order for now.

RON:

But...He...Oh, fine.

Another pair of feet runs onstage, and then Pansy is audible:

PANSY:

Draco! Draco!

DRACO:

(mumbling) For God's sake...(normal volume) Yeah, Pansy--what do you want?

PANSY:

(simpering) Draco, I found your billy club. It was in the boys' dressing room, underneath your robes.

DRACO:

Why were you...? Never mind, I don't want to know. Just give it here.

There's a slight pause, and yet more pairs of feet appear onstage.

CEDRIC:

(happily) I think I finally know my lines!

CHO:

Oh, that's wonderful!

HARRY:

(muttering) Oh yeah, it's wonderful...

RON:

(also muttering) And about bloody time...

CEDRIC:

(not hearing) Yeah! Luna and I spent all of intermission going over the libretto. Right, Luna?

LUNA:

(dreamily) Oh, yes. All of intermission... "Weasley is our king...Weasley is our king...he didn't let the quaffle in..."

CEDRIC:

Um, well...She came through before, didn't she?

Suddenly, there's a thud, and someone curses as they fall to the floor.

SEAMUS:

Ron, mate...I think I found your rifle.

RON:

Thanks! Where was it?

SEAMUS:

Under my feet.

HARRY:

Under...?

SEAMUS:

Before I fell flat on my face, yeah.

HARRY:

Did you happen to trip over the flag, too? That's still missing...

RON:

No it's not. Neville had it the whole time.

NEVILLE:

(a little hurt) Well, if you'd told me you were looking...

HERMIONE:

(very impatient) Will you all come ON? We have to begin! Let's go!

There's some more mumbling as all of the feet disappear into the wings.

As the houselights go down and the curtain lifts, Snape gets in one more dig.

SNAPE:

(sarcastically) Yes, Professor McGonagall...All of the students seem to be QUITE prepared.

DUMBLEDORE:

(glancing sideways at Snape) What's the trouble, Severus? Aren't you having fun?

Snape just snorts again as Dumbledore fixes his gaze on the stage, a little smile on his face.

The second act is ready to begin.