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Title: An Evening’s Entertainment

Contributors: starkravenluna, ginny_ginger, chochang___, lucamoonstone, pb_prince

Edited by: Carla Lute

Posted: 2006-01-14 to 16

Game Date: September 6^th

Disclaimer: No one at Levicorpus owns Harry Potter, the world or its characters. We just like to play in J.K. Rowling’s world.

Note: Mulitple Threads

* * * * * * *

Cho got a sweater on and left her room to go out to the courtyard and sit. She knew that someone had to be out there . When she finally arrived, she sat down, looking around for someone she knew. There were few people out considering it was a cold night. She didn’t know any of them, so she decided just to look at the stars.

Luca sat down in the courtyard, tuning his Buzuq for tonight’s performance; already a few students who had heard of it came by to watch him strum it in practice. He smiled at Professor Chang, inviting her to sit down.

"Tonight I am to be incorporating some broomstick work that brothers and I use during our nightly performances, perhaps you stay and watch, in unlikely case of things going bad, or students trying to do what I do... many of these tricks can only be done by some who are skilled in such things."

"I’ll be here for a while, so I’d love to stay." Cho replied to Luca.

He grinned, satisfied of the tuning and commanded his broom up, although in Romanian. He closed his eyes and climbed upon it, sitting on it as it floated there, arching his legs a bit and soon laying back on it, letting a leg dangle as he begins to play, lazily letting the broom, him atop, drift among the courtyard. He began to sing, letting the emotions of his music flow out and among the crowd, smiling to himself as he bore his soul to all around him, lifting gently in the air.

Cho watched Luca, happy that people were actually out in the courtyard. When she first came out, she was expecting there to be no one she knew. Luca was very skilled with his broom so Cho found that amusing. She directed her attention to everyone else watching, and they were amazed too.

Luca smiled, he wore the robe from this morning, which in fact was made for all occasions, he let it hang and flutter under him in the breeze, the silvers and greens sparkling as he played.

The tempo picked up as the broom began to move a bit faster, as if one were controlling the other, his voice carrying the melody well, a song of unrequited love, hoping that the passion in the words broke the language barrier.

* * * * * * *

The term was only a few days old and already Luna was exhausted. Since giving her mother's mirror to Ginny, who apparently had no clue what it was, Luna had managed to forget about two classes and avoid most human contact, except with that wierd portrait of a maid hanging just outside the second floor corridor entrance, with whom she had struck up quite a pleasant friendship.

Needing a change from the Ravenclaw Common Room, Luna decided to take her studying (and extra homework assignments because of her tardiness) to the library. She gathered up her books and, of course, the latest copy of "The Quibbler" and headed out, not really planning to meet up with anyone...

Ginny was on her way back from the library, carrying a Transfiguration book with her, when she saw Luna. "Hey, what are you doing around these parts?" Ginny asked, smiling at her friend.

"Oh wow! Ginny! You look pretty good, considering the explosion. No permanent scars I hope. I hadn't heard you were out of the hospital wing yet. My source must be...Nevermind. I'm heading to the library to study. What are you up to?"

"Nothing really, just picked up a book. I'm doing a lot better, Madame Pomfrey says the scars should clear up, so I'm going to be alright."

"That's good, can't have pretty Ginny all messed up. Though, on the bright side, I bet your brother would like someone else in the family to match him!" Luna laughed playfully. Then, something from her pocket started beeping. She turned to the side, lamely attempting to look discreet.

"Umm... I'm going to talk to Cho. For some reason, I have a 'feeling' she's in the courtyard outside. Come?"

Before waiting for an answer, Luna turned and ran.

* * * * * * *

A loud, clamoring noise was coming from the stairwell just beyond the walkway to the outdoor corridor. A moment later, Luna Lovegood appeared, heading straight towards Cho. However, she stopped abruptly as soon as her feet hit the outdoor grounds. She looked up, pulled out a pad, took some notes, shook her head, and sighed. With no further explanation, she began her sprint towards Cho once more.

Without asking, Luna plopped next to Cho on the bench. "Hi," she said out of breath. She sat there, smiling, panting, as if she were going to continue a conversation, but said nothing else.

"Hi, are you okay, Luna?" Cho said as she watched Luna with a look of disbelief.

Luna blinked confusedly at Cho. "Yeah, why wouldn't I be? Hmmm...I though for sure Ginny would be here by now. Interesting." Luna took out her pad again and wrote a few notes. She then tucked in back into her bag, auspiciously acting as if she hadn't done anything, whistling an odd little tune.

"Ahh. no reason. You just startled me that’s all." Cho said with a warm smile. She watched Luna take her notes, not even bothering to ask what they were about.

Scratching her head and looking confused, Ginny followed Luna out and looked around, "What, exactly, are we doing here?"

"Hello Ginny," Cho said as Ginny walked out. "I’m glad to see you out of the hospital wing."

"Me too," Ginny replied with a nod. "It's no fun being out the first week back."

"I bet! Are you catching up though?" Cho didn’t even notice what she was saying "Wow, I’m really starting to sound like a teacher," she laughed

"Ginny! Fancy meeting you here!" Luna said casually, giving her a wink. Then, another beep came from somewhere on Luna, causing her to gasp in alarm.

"Oh, it's nothing," she said to her friends, "just a little um…Wow, Orion sure is prominent tonight, don't you think?"

She quickly turned aside to check on the beep, turning back moments later. "No reason, just out of curiosity, is there any reason why we should be concerned if a Slytherin might or might not be maybe watching us from somewhere, or not. I'm just saying is all," Luna smiled and grabbed her bags.

"Well, I'm beat. Bedtime for me. 'Night Cho, Ginny, cute little guy on broom, Bla-, umm... 'Night." She laughed nervously and headed back to her dormitory.

* * * * * * *

When Blaise had finished all his homework, he checked the common room to make sure Luca's threatened party was not underway. When the coast was clear, he remembered that Luca had been boasting about another one of his performances. Blaise headed up to the courtyard and leaned against a pillar where he was hidden by a shadow.

Luca began to play, showing a grace and acrobatic ability upon broomstick not seen in a long time, and certainly not in the courtyard. It was old hat to him, many of the tricks were almost automatic in nature, and some of the movements of the broom were done by trigger words in the songs themselves. For the most part, the stunts were done from years of practice, the loss of a proper childhood being replaced with a need to entertain the audience. He sung his heart out, his way of getting to know people, letting them see him in a instant and then leaving that night only the impression remained, and he knew in time that faded.

By now he was standing on the broomstick some twenty feet in the air, when his hand went of his wand.

"Accentioska..."

The blue light coursed over the end as he brought it over the strings, he winked to the crowd. This was the finale he had not shown before.

He placed the wand under the bridge letting the glow emanate forth as his hand stuck chords with an electric fire. He swooped down, the flame following after him, trails of the strings putting on an impressive lightshow, he soared just overhead, holding on tight with his legs as he corkscrewed with finesse, letting the blue trails soar after.

Luca played, his hands and fingers a blur, surrounded by the light as he went in for the finale, the crowd pleaser for when wizards watch... HE skyrocketed up, till the music was just a whisper on the wind, then gripped the broom firmly behind one knee and commanded the broom.

It spiraled down quick, the waves of light spreading out as he suspended, holding on by one leg, he played the music of his people faster and faster as he came to earth, giving himself over to his training and the music, some worried that something must had gone wrong that he was coming down too fast, when at the last minute, he jumped and did his acrobatic flip, even making the compensation for his two brothers who did the trick with him, bringing his fingertips down in a sweep over the strings one last time, taking the wand in the same motion, tapping the light when no one was really looking, and bowing, speaking a few words, simple spells in quick succession..

The blue light exploded in flame trailing back over his course, followed by the flames themselves becoming simple enchanted fireworks, which seemed to explode into flower blossoms that fell graceful in the air around him and the crowd, perfuming the air.

As he stood up, he silently thanked his mother for teaching him over two summers how to do the finale... a simple modified wizard-writing spell, fireworks and floris charm, but when done in just the right way, could impress even Ministry officials.

Luca stood and looked at the crowd, exhausted, sweat on his brow, sliding the wand to his side and putting the Buzuq away. He smiled and sat down, letting any applause or fans approach him...

* * * * * * *

Blaise stepped out of the shadows after Luna left. While Luca was performing, he sat down near Cho. "Evening, professor," he said as though nothing of particular interest was going on.

"Ha ha, call me Cho, please. The sound of Professor and Cho…just don’t go together at all," Cho said not realizing who she was talking to until she turned to him and said, "hi Blaise."

"I'm sorry, Professor Chang," Blaise said pleasantly. "But I don't think it would be appropriate for me to call you by you given name. I could call you ma'am if you prefer."

"Oh come on, seriously? I was a student not too long ago, I’m sure you remember. Calling me Professor Chang is like me calling you Student Blaise," she laughed. She was definitely not going to make the people she knew before her teaching days call her Professor Chang.

"As you like," Blaise said. "But a title is a way of establishing authority. I wouldn't be too quick to dismiss it if I were you." He looked up as Luca flashed a light across the sky.

"Having the people I knew and are used to before I was a teacher call me Cho, has nothing to do with how I am looked at as an authority," she looked up at the same time Blaise did. "How do you feel about that kid Luca? I’ve been hearing mixed opinions on him, and I don’t know what to think myself "

"He gave that exploding clay to Malcolm," Blaise said, looking past Cho at Ginny. "He didn't tell me why."

"Oh." Cho’s expression went blank as she looked to the floor and said, "Yeah…now I know exactly what to think of him. Thanks. " She laughed. "That’s kind of odd...hasn’t he been talking to Granger a lot? I wonder if he knows…"

Blaise shrugged, neither interested nor concerned.

* * * * * * *

Luca got up once he had caught his breath, his open case having more than a few handfuls of knuts sickles and galleons. He pocketed the change in an ornate pouch that tied around his belt and headed to where Cho and Blaise say, broom and Buzuq strapped to his back.

"It is good to be seeing you again, Professor Chang, and our new Prefect as well.” Luce grinned an honest smile, emotions and spirits high after every performance. "Professor, forgive interruption again, was music to your liking, and was skill of broomstick to your expectations, I am still of practicing, only performed for audiences 5 times! I was not expecting you to be present for this, Blaise, but it warms my heart that you would listen to the music of my people. Is this conversation private, or may I be in joining?""

"It's private," Blaise said in a clear, sharp voice.

Luca blinked, a bit stunned. He had been hoping his broomstick acrobatics would have impressed the new flying coach. He took a step back and bowed. He smiled politely, but could feel his temper rising.

"I shall leave you in peace then, may the winds carry blessing towards you both."

He bowed again and walked back to the tree, where he took out a bit of parchment and began to write, looking up now and then at Zabini.

"Do you ever watch the broom races?" Blaise asked Cho.

"Umm.. occasionally. Before I came here of course. I’m guessing you do?"

Blaise nodded. "I've been in a few. I'm wanting to enter the annual Swedish race this October, but Professor McGonagall won't let me out of school for it."

"She won’t let you go because of safety right? I overheard them talking…Oh the perks of being a teacher huh?"

"It is nice to know what's going on," Blaise said. "But do you think that's fair. I mean; I'm of age. Shouldn't I get to determine what level of risk I take?"

"Yeah, I agree. I wish there was something I could do, but I don’t have that authority yet," Cho said. "I would like to go to one myself. Almost as good as Quidditch?"

"Loads better than Quidditch," Blaise said, his voice taking on a hint of warmth. "I mean you're just stuck flying around in circles on a Quidditch pitch. And the Swedish race has dragons."

Blaise sounded like a young boy explaining the races. The way he said that the race had dragons made her giggle. "Aren’t dragons dangerous? What do you do? race them?" Cho asked

"Avoid them mostly," Blaise said. "It's a big deal just to survive the race, but I think I might have a chance at actually placing."

"The thought of dragons even being next to me just scares me," Cho said "You’re that good? How long have you been racing?"

"Since, I was ten," Blaise said. "But I only started getting into competitions when I was thirteen."

"Wow. That’s a pretty long time. I’m sure its long enough to be good at it. Well, I hope everything goes well for you and if you need any help, I suppose I could try to help you. If you have any luck with going I’ll probably hear about it. But, I must go... I’m freezing... " Cho stood up and put her hand on Blaise’s shoulder and said, "See you around" and walked off into the halls

Blaise watched Professor Chang leave. He spotted Luca scribbling. Luca looked up at him, and Blaise looked away. He realized he was sitting alone on a bench with Ginny Weasley. Even though she was not close, he decided he did not want to be seen with her and stood up. He liked the nighttime and would have like to take a long walk on the grounds, but that really wasn't an option these days, so he headed back to Slytherin common room.

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