2 - the first stage is denial <3
THURSDAY
au!di!tions!
[8:03 PM]
james potter: thanks for deciding to do this with me guys
james potter: it means a lot and it was really fun <3
sirius black: i have to say i’m glad i did it
james potter: YAY!!!
james potter: i knew you’d like it once we got there, and it’s SO AWESOME THAT WE’RE ALL DOING IT TOGETHER!!!!
remus lupin: wow you’re really excited about this
james potter: yeah i guess i am
james potter: i don’t know, having an audition gave me this rush that i forgot about
james potter: i’m really glad we all decided to audition <3
peter pettigrew: Me too! It was so much fun :)
regulus black: yes i agree! hoping we all get cast!!
the beatles but female and fruity
[8:13 PM]
lily aka paul: ahh that was so much fun!!
lily aka paul: i didn’t realize how much i missed theater
mary aka george: omg same, i felt like a teenager again
mary aka george: has anyone gotten the callback email yet?
lily aka paul: no but i’ve been refreshing my email like every two minutes
lily aka paul: manifesting that all of us get cast 🙏🙏
marlene aka john: i have to admit
marlene aka john: that was fun
lily aka paul: YES WE GOT MARLENE FULLY ON BOARD
dorcas aka ringo: omg wait i got the email
lily aka paul: OMG OK OK LET ME CHECK MY EMAIL
marlene aka john: jesus
lily aka paul: what?
marlene aka john: oh no sorry i was just imagining you in high school
lily aka paul: i’m choosing to ignore that
lily aka paul: WAIT OMG I GOT A CALLBACK????
lily aka paul: OMFG FOR BELLE????!!!!???
lily aka paul: AHSFUHDFKHDA IM FREAKING OUT
dorcas aka ringo: LILY!!!!
dorcas aka ringo: CONGRATS!!!!!
dorcas aka ringo: hey wait i got a callback too
lily aka paul: DORKUS!!!!!
lily aka paul: YAYYYY <333333
marlene aka john: congrats guys!
mary aka george: marlene? using an exclamation point? what world is this??
mary aka george: anyways IM SO HAPPY FOR YOU TWO YAY
lily aka paul: ty love <333
lily aka paul: but also don’t be disappointed yet because you both had INCREDIBLE auditions
lily aka paul: like marlene?? who knew you sang like that, oml
lily aka paul: and mary’s dance audition was literally perfect
dorcas aka ringo: fr
dorcas aka ringo: you’re both incredible
mary aka george: aww
mary aka george: i love you guys <33
marlene aka john: me too <3
marlene aka john: but can we talk about how james potter was looking at lily???
mary aka george: I WAS WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO SAY SOMETHING OML
lily aka paul: what?
lily aka paul: no one was looking at me like anything
dorcas aka ringo: it’s okay babe, the first stage is denial <3
lily aka paul: no seriously what are you talking about
mary aka george: lily he was staring at you with undivided attention for ALL of the vocal part of your audition
mary aka george: and i think his cheeks are permanently stained pink from how much he was blushing when you two were reading the sides for belle + the beast
mary aka george: it’s beyond me how he still managed to be a good actor
dorcas aka ringo: and did you HEAR his singing?! angelic
lily aka paul: well i don’t know what looks you’re talking about but it is unfortunate that he’s such a good actor
lily aka paul: AND that he got a callback
lily aka paul: he’s probably being all cocky and like annoyingly chill about it
the marauders
[8:16 PM]
james potter: AHFJSAHJKFHSAJKFHJKASHF AHHHIOSFHJSAFH I GOT A CALLBACK
james potter: IM SOBBING OMG OMG OMG
sirius black: mate…
sirius black: it’s just a callback
james potter: YES BUT IT MEANS IT WASNT ALL FOR NOTHING
james potter: AND YOU GOT ONE TOOO
sirius black: yes yay
remus lupin: …remind me to stay away from you the day the cast list comes out
remus lupin: i don’t want tear stains on my favorite sweater
the beatles but female and fruity
[8:17 PM]
marlene aka john: …
marlene aka john: maybe potter isn’t the only one w a crush
lily aka paul: that is the stupidest thing i’ve ever heard
lily aka paul: i despise james potter
lily aka paul: he’s the worst
lily aka paul: AND he’s probably going to ruin this whole show
mary aka george: lily i hate to say it but there’s a good chance you two will be cast as belle and the beast and that means that you’ll have to get along
lily aka paul: well beauty and the beast is enemies to lovers
lily aka paul: and at least i’ll nail the enemies part
marlene aka john: theater is bringing out a very dramatic side of you lily evans
lily aka paul: theater brings out the TRUE me marlene mckinnon
marlene aka john: remind me to stay away from you when cast lists are posted <3
lily aka paul: hate you too
mary aka george: wait for it…
dorcas aka ringo: wait for it…
lily aka paul: i cant stay mad i love you marlene
marlene aka john: there it is
FRIDAY
[3:47 PM]
James opened the door to the theater for the second time in his entire Hogwarts career. For someone who had been in the center of the theater scene in high school, it was a strange fact. In some ways, it made James hate himself. No, not hate- that was too intense. Just question. Why had he chosen to give up theater? Was there a real reason? He knew he wanted to do engineering in the long run, but he’d had to choose between football and theater. When he’d gotten a scholarship for football, he’d somewhat unconsciously decided on football. No real reason. But when he’d seen the flyer for Beauty and the Beast, something in him knew that he’d be cast, that it’d open a door he’d closed three years ago. It sounded cocky, saying that he knew he’d be cast, but he decided to view it as a manifestation instead. Mary MacDonald from his Computer Science class had been teaching him about crystals and astrology and that kind of thing. He remembered, as he walked up to the stage, that she’d auditioned yesterday. The theater was empty, and he sat on the edge of the stage to wait. Sirius was coming, but he’d told James to head on down to the theater early because he wanted to be “fashionably late.” There was a rustle from the curtains on stage left, and someone poked their head out. With a start, James realized it was Lily Evans. Despite his greatest efforts, his cheeks began to pink. She’d been fantastic at last night’s auditions, and he was hoping- or manifesting- that they’d get cast as Belle and the Beast. He wanted an opportunity to get to know her without being creepy or weird or annoying. God, he hoped she didn’t think he was annoying. She noticed him, and stepped out from behind the curtain.
“Hi,” she said, waving slightly.
“Hi,” said James, waving back and offering a small smile. She returned it hesitantly. “So, you got a callback for Belle? That’s exciting!”
“Yeah, it’s pretty cool,” said Lily, drifting aimlessly across the stage. “Trying not to get my hopes up too much, though, because there were other great options.”
“Oh, yeah, that makes sense,” said James, nodding in a way that he hoped was sage. “I’m doing the same, since I got a Beast callback.”
Did that sound cocky? Or rude? God, do I come off as rude? Shit, James, everyone thinks you’re rude.
“You sounded great last night!” Said James, trying to prove to his brain that he was not rude. Lily’s cheeks turned a tiny bit pink, like a little bit of blush.
“Thank you,” she said politely. “You did too!”
“Thanks,” James grinned. He faced the rows of chairs and tried to picture them full of people.
“Isn’t your friend coming?” Lily was asking. “What’s his name? Black?”
“Oh, yeah,” said James, spinning to face Lily again. “Sirius. He wanted to be fashionably late.” Lily laughed. It was as pretty as her singing voice.
“My friend Dorcas is coming too, but she had a study group,” Lily informed him.
“Cool,” said James awkwardly. As if summoned, the doors opened, and a tall girl with long braids walked through, carrying a green shoulder bag.
“Dorcas!” Called Lily, sounding relieved.
“Hey, Lil,” said Dorcas, reaching the stage and sitting a few feet away from James. “Have you been standing all this time?” Dorcas patted the spot between her and James. James looked away, expecting a conversation through looks between the two girls. After a few moments, Lily plopped down between James and Dorcas. He scooched over to make room for her. She looked only at the door until Professor McGonagall walked through, greeting the three of them with a brisk smile. James swallowed his nerves and stood, shaking his hands.
Don’t fuck this up, Jamie.