Chapitre Deux

Chapitre Deux

Standing outside, parts of his crisp white shirt gleaming in the moonlight, Severus paced the cobbled street as he waited for the others. His tuxedo, paired with his top hat, was exceptionally cut and emphasized his height while taking away from his lanky build. The door opened and Sirius stumbled out, followed by Remus, Harry and Neville.

"Sevewus, there you are! Are you weady?"

"A herd of Hippogriffs couldn't drag me away," Severus replied dryly.

Laughing wildly, the group of men ambled across the street, stumbling occasionally, to the Magie Noir. So many people were inside, a slight roar could be heard each time the door opened to admit a patron.

Inside, there was a slight haze from cigar smoke, and motioning with his arm, Sirius led them to a booth near the center of the club and sat down. Remus, Harry and Neville slid in next to him, leaving Severus on the other end. A hush fell over the crowd when the lights lowered and spotlights converged on the red, velvet curtain concealing the stage.

Simultaneously, Severus' and Lucius' mouths fell open as Horace Slughorn emerged from behind the curtain – face meticulously made up – followed by dozens of beautiful, corseted witches, flailing their skirts in the air. "It's Magie Noir!" he announced excitedly.

Amidst flying skirts, the dancers' voices rose above the cheers that filled the hall upon their appearance. "Voulez vous coucher avec moi ce soir... Hey, sista; go, sista; soul, sista; flow, sista. Hey, sista; go, sista; soul, sista; flow, sista."

Horace's voice also rose above the den. "If life's a formal ball and living's just a draw that you do cause that's not much fun. I just omit the dirt, and hell I mustn't gloat, at the Magie Noir, you'll have fun. Yes, you can, can, can... Not you can't, can't, can't."

Across the room, scores of fine gentlemen gathered, their voices adding to the mix. "Here we are now, entertain us, we feel stupid and contagious..."

A plethora of activity surrounded Severus, Lucius and the Bohemians. Scantily clad dancers flashed knickers and kicked their legs high in the air. Tuxedoed wizards partied with staffs, and Horace Slughorn directed the chaos.

Suddenly, the commotion died down, and all eyes were drawn to the enchanted ceiling. A shower of sparkling confetti rained down, followed by an alluring and curvaceous woman with chestnut curls. She was dressed in a sparkling, mock tuxedo, complete with tails and top hat, but the front was cut low, showing off generous cleavage, and the bottom hugged her thighs, revealing her slender legs. Lucius, Severus and many other men in the room whispered, "Hermione."

Slowly, provocatively, using a Levitation Charm, Hermione descended on a swing to the gathering below. "The French are glad to die for love; they delight in fighting duels. But I prefer a wizard who lives to give expensive charms." Arching her back in a seductive move, Hermione sang, "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 magic flat, or help you feed your pussy cat."

Leaning out of the booth, Sirius watched Slughorn as he moved across the floor, making his way to the stall opposite them. "I'll be wight back. I am going to set up your meeting with Hermione." Severus and the others nodded, watching Sirius rise and stride to the right, out of view.

Sirius walked through Lucius to stand on the opposite side of the table next to him, leaning behind the curtain out of sight.

Following Sirius' retreat and standing next to Severus' seat, Lucius sucked in his breath when he turned and came face to face with himself. Sitting down, Horace leaned in and spoke to Lucius' likeness. "I've arranged a private rendezvous with the girl."

"When do I get to meet her?"

"My dear Duke, just as soon as her number is over, she'll meet you in the Dragon suite."

Out in the crowd, Hermione sang on, "Cause we are living in a Material World, and I am a Material... Girl! Come and get me, boys."

Narrowing his eyes, Lucius studied his doppelganger copiously. He saw a different light in the man's eyes, one he recognized very well because it was a look he had held often when he was younger, especially when the Dark Lord had been alive. Those feelings were now a thing of the past, but a reminder still of what had come to pass.

"Oh, excuse me." Horace quickly rose from the table and scurried off toward the on-going number.

As Horace strode away, Sirius crept toward the table where the duke was seated. With a twitch of his wand, the tray on the table flipped forward, drenching the blond with Firewhiskey. A conniving smile flashed on Lucius' face, but the duke gasped with disdain.

Turning the corner, Sirius let out a wail. "Oh, my goodness, I am so tewwibly sowwy. Here, let me help you," he insisted, pulling out his handkerchief and swiping at the amber stain forming on the other wizards' neat, white shirt. Leaning toward Severus abruptly, Sirius inquired, "Sevewus, do you mind?" He snatched the younger wizard's handkerchief whilst Severus tilted away, for Sirius' unexpected reappearance had startled him.

Moving in slowly, Sirius held out the hankie and shoved it in the duke's face. "No, no, that's not necessary," the duke replied, standing and pulling his wand from his coat to vanish the liquid from his pants. But Sirius advanced more forcefully toward him, and the duke backed away from the booth.

Lucius grinned, enjoying the folly of his twin, but his smile faded when his eyes fell on a pale face he knew very well. It was younger and less snake-like, but he would never forget Tom Riddle's face. When the duke had risen and was being advanced upon, Tom had moved closer.

Clearing his throat, Tom gained Sirius' attention and opened his robe to reveal a black, heavily carved wand. Immediately, Sirius backed off. Letting out a sound of disgust and spinning on his heel, the duke motioned to Tom and left the smaller man behind.

Sirius grinned madly, turning to rejoin his compatriots, but Lucius had a sick feeling in his gut. He did not like where this vision was going, and he could not get rid of the feeling of dread that had fallen over him suddenly.

"I have awwanged a pwivate meeting for you with Hermione, totally alone," Sirius whispered conspiratorially to Severus, bending over the table.

"Me? A...and Hermione? Alone?" Severus' Adam's apple bobbed nervously as his gaze traveled to the stunning woman in the center of the stage now dancing toward their table.

Opening and shutting his mouth, Severus sat dumbfounded when he turned and came face to chest with Hermione arriving at their table. She had changed; her form was now encased in pink feathers that had been charmed to sparkle when she shimmied. "I believe you were expecting me," she told him breathlessly.

Severus merely nodded, speechless.

"Hmmm, why don't you join me on the dance floor?" she asked him seductively, turning to the crowd. "Come on, ladies, it's time to dance!" she announced, causing a roar to rise from the crowd.

Whirling around, Hermione held out her arm, wand extended, and Summoned Severus to her from his seat. "Ah, that's more like it," she purred, wrapping her arms around his neck. "I believe you owe me a dance." She grinned in a cat-like way.

"B-but..." Severus began but was cut off as Hermione hopped in his arms and bent backwards in a daring dip.

"H-Hermione, this is the..." Sirius tried to explain when her upside-down head was at his level.

"I know, Sirius. I've got it under control," she told him breathlessly.

Harry turned to Remus and Neville with a surprised look. "Severus is so lucky and a wonderful dancer, too!" The other two simply nodded, grinning as they watched Hermione whisk Severus off across the room.

Out on the dance floor, Hermione pulled Severus to her bosom briefly, then pushed him away, giving a loud squeal. Circling each other, their feet stepping intricately to the beat, Severus' and Hermione's bodies vibrated to the music. From the wings, Lucius watched their interaction and tried to listen to the conversations around him. Mayhem surrounded him; wizards and scantily clad witches danced wildly while an extremely short woman who looked like Poppy Pomfrey sang. Suddenly, his breath stopped short.

Just ahead, Narcissa was twisting her body around Ron Weasley. Moving forward, Lucius prepared to tear the redhead away from her, but when he reached them, his hands passed right through them. Clenching and unclenching his fists, he breathed slowly, trying to calm himself. Tears rose to his eyes as he remembered his losses and attempted to will himself out of this torture.

At that moment, the torches lowered and the enchanted ceiling lit once more. Hermione was levitated above the crowd on a swing while she sang. "Diamonds. Diamonds. Are a girl's... best...."

Gasping, Hermione grasped the ropes tightly, and all eyes in the room turned to her as everyone fell silent. Slackening on the ropes, Hermione's hands dropped to her side when her unconscious form slipped from the seat, plummeting to the ground. The patrons, Severus, and the Bohemians collectively sucked in their breath.

Abruptly, Horace yelled, "NO!"

"NO!" Lucius called out, moving forward and raising his wand, but nothing happened.

Lunging forward, Kingsley Shacklebolt pointed his wand at Hermione. "Arresto Momentum," he called out, and Hermione's limp body slowed its descent, coming gently to rest in the center of the circle. Kingsley moved forward, levitating the girl away from the crowd.

"HOORAY! What a dramatic ending! Let's hear it for my 'Sparkling Diamond'! Hermione, Hermione, Hermione," Horace chanted, and the crowd joined him. Holding out his hands, Horace signaled for the intoning to stop. "I see so many lonely Magie Noir witches out there. Why don't you lucky wizards let them weave their magic for you!" he exclaimed, restarting the bedlam that had ceased at the end of the show.

Rising from the seat, Severus tugged on his coat. "Hermione told me to meet her in the Dragon suite," he told Sirius nervously.

"Don't wowwy, I'm sure she'll be fine and meet you there like she said. Go on up, we'll be neawby, don't wowwy," Sirius reassured the young writer.

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A/N: My thanks and hugs go to the lovely Ladyinthecloak, Sempra, and OSUSprinks.

Songs included in this chapter are:

Lady Marmalade by Labelle

Because We Can by Fatboy Slim

Smells like Teen Spirit by Nirvana

Material Girl by Madonna

Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend by Carol Channing