All I Ask Of you

An opera singer, Regulus black, stands stiff in the center of a rehearsal stage. He is cloaked in magnificent robes and holds a stage prop of a severed head. He belts beautifully and when finished with his note, music erupts.

Dancers and singers follow out behind him, careful to dodge the stage hands building the scenery for the night's opera. All are adorned in beautiful outfits and extravagant make up.

The young man's belting filled the building sending a crisp chill throughout the stage.

Two men outside the opera house can feel it in their chest.

One of the two, a middle aged man with dark brown neat hair that had small hints of white from age, and a beard to match. He wore an expensive, well tailored, tan and black suit. His face was filled with longing for the mysteries of the opera house.

His look was very neat, tidy, and meant to display a seriousness attitude; Possibly to counteract the other man, whose look was the complete opposite.

He wore a fashionable suit, blending different fabrics and patterns together, accessories with gold chains and a pocket watch hanging from his vest. His blond hair, lacking the aging white stripe, was brushed back. He looked board and was twisting one of his many rings.

"How long do we have to wait", the blond man asked.

The other man chuckled. "We haven't even been waiting five minutes. You can check that wonderful watch of yours."

The blond man glanced at his hanging watch and huffed. "You may be right. But i would thought the owner would be here to show us our new investment. Or at least say goodbye."

"He's an old man, Gell. He's probably on his way now." The brown haired man replied.

Just as he had begun to lean on the railing beside him, the massive door creaked open.

Unlike the brown haired man's statement, the man was not old. He couldn't have been more than seven years older than the pair.

"Glad to see we aren't going to freeze to death out here." The blond muttered.

"Albus-" The man at the door turned to the brown haired man. "Tell your pretty pet to hold his tongue. Or the deals off"

Albus smiled. "As if you are willing to spend one more moment in this place, Albert. But still, Gellert no longer speaks till we have the papers."

The blond man, Gellert, opened his mouth but Albus held his hand up.

The man at the door, Albert, seemed satisfied. He opened up the door to let them in, rehearsals growing louder.

Instead of leading the pair through the normal doors into the main room, Albert led them through a different pair of doors off to the side.

The backstage was far less glamorous than the public areas. But the lively costumes rushing around and the sneaky drinks being thrown back made up for it.

The two were so amused and distracted by the events around them to notice they had made their way to behind the stage, which was even more lively. The area was to small for the amount of people stuffed into it, but they all moved so quickly that you hardly had time to notice.

Ballerinas stood against the walls preparing for their dance. Masks were being painted and the air smelled of paint, fragrance, and make up powder. Two young boys dressed in red and gold ballerina attire rushed past Albus and Gellert.

"The trumpets of Carthage resound !

Hear, Romans, now and tremble!

Hark to our step on the ground!"

Albert led them to the edge of the rehearsal scene where a young man was dressed in an elaborate costume and belting loudly surrounded by an elaborate scene with rulers in gowns, head pieces, and gold. Fake elephants circle the stage and the singing is so loud as the dancers march to their final position, the ground rumbles.

As the young man gives on last belt, the music reaches its climax and the stage falls quiet.

Gellert begins clapping. Loudly.

The entire stage, as though rehearsed, turns to him and stares.

A moment of awkward silence goes by before the old man from the door speaks.

"We apologize for interrupting." He turns to the two men. "Tomorrow is the opening night of Hannibal." He turns back to the crowd and raises his hand. "Now that we have your attention, i'd like to make an important announcement. The rumors are true. I am retiring."

There was an audible gasp, a couple small cheers, and a dead silence.

"Yes i know. You all will miss me. But i'm leaving you in the care of Mr. Grindelwald and Mr. Dumbledore."

"Lovely to meet you all. I look forward to working together." Albus stated.

The dancers and actors seemed unamused and quickly moved off to the sides or back stage.

Ballerinas then flooded the stage despite the new buyers being in the way.

It was a mix of men and women dancers. The men were wearing a sheer cover around their chest and flowing pants. They leaped over the woman, who wore a thicker shirts, long flowing skirts that swayed with their movements, and false chains that bound them together.

The new owners were clearly in the way but didn't seem to notice, as it took a another woman to ask them to move out of the way.

They apologized and the woman accepted it.

"Apologies accepted. My name is Madam Euphemia. I teach the students." she gestured toward the ballerinas. "We take great pride in our dancers"

"I can see why." Albus stated.

"Who is the brown haired boy. The one with the curls?" Gellert asked.

Albus glanced in Gellerts direction, unreadbale.

The dance insturucter smiled slightly. "My son, James."

"Hes quite good."

Albert, who looked flustered, stood next to them suddenly. "I hope you to weren't pestering Madam Ellfie." He didn't wait for an answer but pulled out a binder full of paper and handed it to the new owners. "Here is your papers. They have all been sighed and approved. The opera house is now yours."

"Forgive me sir-" Madam Elfie spoke. "But why are you retiring? I hope no one has given the impression that you are un-enjoyable?"

"Of course not." He laughed. "I will miss you all dearly. I'm simply ready to be rid of the business. Spend some...Family time." He said the last part bitterly and sneard at Albus, who looked down at his shoes slightly.

Gellert, seemingly sensing this, snatched the binder out of the old mans hand and tucked it under his arm. "Well we look forward to the operas ahead. And for the record-"

"Concentrate Black! Concentrate!" Madam Elfie shouted.

The boy she yelled out seemed to have stepped out of turn, nearly nocking a head piece of another dancers head.

"Black? Quite the name. Any relation to the Noble family by chance?" Albus asked.

Madam Elfie hesitated for a moment. "Yes. One of the oldest sons. His brother is here with us as well. He is the lead."

"Quite unusual for such noble brothers to share such different positions. Let alone be in theater production at all." Gellert stated.

The old man shifted in annoyance. "I should have you know news and gossip travels fast in such a place. And if the peasants hate the king, the king will have no throne. So at least try to be at least a little like able. Id hate to see this place fall because of...you"

Gellert held his glare for a moment, an invisible battle.

Madam Elfie taped her foot. "Misure why don't you introduce your star before you leave us?"

Albert dropped the glare walked over to the other side of the stage. He returned a moment later with the belting young man from earlier.

He, like his dancing brother, had pale skin, a shallow face, and black hair. His however was cut shorter, just above his ears, and had a small curl to it. Green eyes sank into the faces of Albus and Gellert.

He still wore his elaborate red, blue, and gold costume that trailed behind him. The bells on it ran has he walked and the gold make up on his face shined in the candle light.

Albert stood to his side and moved his arm toward him. "Mr. Marinus. Or has some may know him Regulus Black."

"Quite the name. I'm sure your family must be very proud." Albus stated.

Regulus' face flashed. What emotion it was they could not tell.

"Well! Lets see this talent." Gellert commanded, a small disdain seemingly behind the words.

"Of course." Regulus responded, tilting his head. "Maestro!"

He turned to the front of the stage and positioned him self. The ballerinas around had stop, much to Madam Elfies annoyance.

Slow music started up and Regulus, or Marinus as he was trying to prove, began.

"Think of me,

think of me fondly,

when we've said

goodbye.

Remember me

once in a while -

please promise me

you'll try.

When you find

that, once

again, you long

to take your heart—"

Suddenly, a loud noise rang above the stage and a back drop tumbled down.

Regulus, who was distracted by singing and unable to move quickly due to his costume, was soon under the back drop.

Madam Elfie, Albus, and Gellert, along with a few stage hands rushed forward. Out of the corner of her eye, Madam Elfie saw Sirius attempt to rush to his brother as well. James however held him back, whispering something.

"It him!"

"The ghost!"

"The phantom of the opera!"

"He is with us!"

Several people were shouting out and panic filled the room.

"Great heavens not again." Albert muttered. "I will leave you all to it. I'm finshed with this! Madam Elfie, you know where to reach me if anything goes terribly wrong."

And with that he walked out.

"Goodness where is the stage hand?" Albus asked.

"Pettigrew!" Madam Elfie shouted.

"Pettigrew!" Gellert shouted even louder. He didn't know who he was shouting for but it seemed to work.

A short, chubby, blond haired boy appeared at the railings above stage. "It wasn't me monsieur! I wasn't at my post, I swear honest to God!"

"Fool." Gellert muttered.

Albus knocked his elbow and glared.

"There's no one there! Not one person. Unless it was a ghost." Pettigrew shouted out again, the last part with a small giggle behind it.

"He's there. The phantom of the opera." The curly hair boy, James, spoke looking up.

"Good gracious they're all obsessed" Gellert whispered.

This prompted another knock to the elbow.

The young singer, who was now free of the back drop, stood up face red.

"Monsieur I apologize. Unfortunately these things do happen." Albus prompted.

Regulus now angrier than ever turned to him, shouting. "These things do happen? These things do happen?!?! Well these things have been happening for three years now! And until you stop these things from happening this thing does not happen!"

Regulus kicked his costume train out from behind him and stormed off.

The other sibling stepped forward, this time not stopped by the other boy, but by Madam Elfie. She held out her hand and looked at him as though to saw, "Not now, it wont solve anything."

"He'll be back." Gellert said, trying to sound confident.

Albus turned to him and glared, astonished.

Madam Elfie appeared behind them. "I wouldn't be so sure. I have a message from the opera ghost."

In her hand lie a black envelope with a blood red wax seal imprinted with a skull.

Gellert scuffed.

"He welcomes you to his opera house-"

"His opera house." Albus spoke.

"And demands you continue to leave box five empty for his use. He reminds you his salary is also due."

"Salary?" Gellert and Albus gasped at the same time.

"Twenty thousand francs a month. Though maybe you could pay more? Sense you have a wealthy supporter."

Some of the girls in the back erupted in squeals.

"Madam we had hoped to make that announcement public tonight ourselves." Gellert snapped.

"Will he be here tonight?" Albus interrupted.

"Of course."

"Well than. Who is the understudy?"

The crowd behind then erupted with laughter.

"There is no understudy for Marinus. There was never going to be." Madam Elfie stated.

"Ruined!" Gellert shouted. "Not even in our name for one day and we're ruined! A full house and no star!"

"Sirius Black could sing for you sir." James called out.

"A chorus boy?" Albus asked.

"He is his your stars brother." James responded. "And hes had a great tutor."

"Who?"

"Well. I don't know sir.." Sirius muttered.

"Is it the opera ghost?" Gellert snapped.

"Let him sing for you monsieur. He has been well taught, I assure you." Madam Elfie stated.

A moment passed, than Albus sighed slightly.

"Alright than. Please start from the beginning mam'selle"

Sirius glanced at James, than to Madam Elfie, who nodded and gestured for him to move forward.

His hands were shaking slightly and his heart was beating so fast he could hear it in his ears. He tried to calm his breathing and he wiped his palms on his costume.

He could feel eyes on him and the lights on the edge of the stage seemed brighter than usual.

But he opened his mouth, and sang.

The theater had never been more quite.