'Divination is an instinct, not a study, Mr. Potter,' she trilled, stopping next to his desk and tapping his parchment with one long, purple fingernail. 'Your work is to hone the latent ability inside the gifted witch and wizard, not merely to repeat techniques and theories. Let go of your boundaries and allow yourself to truly see, my boy. What fate do you divine for yourself in the octocards?'
James blinked up at Trelawney, then glanced down at the strew of octagonal cards on the table in front of him. 'Oh, er, I see this one, which has a star on it,' he said, pulling a card out at random. 'Stars represent pain, and, er… Christmas. It means that I'm going to be run down by a lorry next holiday, but that I won't be killed, just really, really hurt,' he looked up at Trelawney again, judging her response. 'I'll probably die weeks later, in the hospital… er… right?'
Trelawney's face changed to a bemused smile and she ruffled his hair indulgently. 'You are trying too hard, dear boy. You chose a star because that's what you shall be this night.' Trelawney sighed mistily and drifted toward the front of the room. 'Few people know it, but I was a rather gifted performer myself in my younger years. There are those today who still speak of my singing performance in the Hogsmeade Players production of The
James glanced aside at Ralph, whose face was as pale and worried as James felt. Considering Professor Trelawney's track record with predictions, her assurances about tonight's performance were anything but comforting.
For the rest of the afternoon, James couldn't help reciting his lines over and over in his head. He was terrified that he would step onto the stage and completely forget every word. It didn't help that everyone seemed to think he should be enjoying the excitement. As he moved through the halls, even older students grinned and clapped him on the shoulder, wishing him good luck and telling him to 'break a wand'.
He saw his mum and sister fleetingly after dinner on his way to the amphitheater. They'd just arrived at the castle, having taken the train from London. Lily was wide-eyed, so enamored by the castle and the bustle of the students that she barely noticed her older brother. His mum, on the other hand, seemed almost impossibly proud of James.
'Oh, you've just become such a man,' she said, brushing his shoulders and straightening his tie. 'You'll be simply wonderful, James. You aren't nervous, are you?'
'Between people telling me how great I'm going to be and asking me if I'm nervous,' James said, sighing, 'I'm wondering why I ever signed up for this part to begin with.'
Ginny clucked her tongue. 'You signed up because you knew you could do it, and obviously, everyone agrees. Now just try to relax. You won't do yourself any favors by worrying about it.'
'Easy for you to say,' James grumped.
'It is, actually,' Ginny agreed, smiling at her son. 'Because unlike the rest of the people here, I know
James nodded. 'Did you bring the Omnioculars?'
'Your Uncle Ron has them,' Ginny replied, rolling her eyes. 'He insists on recording the play himself. I told him he could do it so long as he let Hermione help. They stopped over in Hogsmeade to meet up with George, Angelina, and Ted. They should be here in half an hour or so, and they're bringing a little surprise for you.'
James had forgotten how many of his own family and friends were going to be in attendance. He felt another pang of nervous fear but quelled it. Truthfully, now that the moment was nearly upon him, he felt a little better about the performance. One way or another, it would be over soon. After the production, Professor Curry had arranged for something called a 'wrap party' in the Great Hall, complete with punch and an array of sweets. All the cast and crew would be there along with their families. It was a great relief to know that in less than three hours, James would be there as well, eating cake and congratulating Petra, Noah, and the rest on their completed performance. Thinking that, James left his mum and sister, telling them he'd see them afterwards. Ginny smiled and nodded, shooing him on.
The ushers outside the amphitheater's main entry saw James coming. Hugo Paulson, resplendent in his red coat and pillbox cap, opened a door for him. 'Curry was looking for you,' he said as James passed. 'They want to get you into your beard right away. Gennifer insists she could charm you to grow a real one for the night, but Curry isn't going for it. Looks like it's glue and goat hair for you after all.'
James nodded, hardly hearing Hugo. As he came into the amphitheater he stopped and looked down at the stage. It bustled with activity as the crew manhandled the castle backdrop into place and Professor Curry marched around, testing spotlights and calling for last-minute adjustments. On the stage, Petra glanced up and saw James. She smiled and waved him down. James smiled back, and for the first time he felt a thrill of delight untainted by fear at being part of such an elaborate production. He ran down the main aisle, taking the stairs two at a time.
'There's our Treus,' Curry acknowledged as James climbed onto the stage. 'Your costume is in the dressing room. Get into it and then get down to make-up, Mr. Potter. Your beard awaits.'
James looked around, but there was no sign of Tabitha Corsica. She was probably backstage overseeing the costuming and make-up. He hoped he wouldn't see her as he ducked behind the castle backdrop, heading for the makeshift changing rooms.
The boys' dressing room was crowded with bustling characters struggling into tight-fitting coats, leotards, and baggy pantaloons. Cameron Creevey stopped James as he passed.
'Is this hat on right?' he asked, turning the strange headwear this way and that. 'It's a five-corner hat, right? But what corner goes in front? Does it matter?'
'You'll have to ask Gennifer, Cam. I don't have the foggiest notion. Looks fine to me like it is.'
'Gennifer's busy in the girls' changing room,' Cameron fretted. 'I just don't want to look like an idiot in front of everybody!'
Noah called over from the three-way mirror, 'Honestly, I think you have it upside down, Cameron. Try flipping it over.'
James stopped Cameron as the boy scrambled to invert his hat. 'He's winding you up, Cam. Leave it alone.'
'And you've got your cummerbund on all wrong,' Noah added. 'You're supposed to wear it over your bum like a diaper. See how Graham's wearing his?'
James rolled his eyes and took advantage of the overall confusion to slip past Cameron. Sure enough, he found his costume hung on a hook next to his locker. His name had been pinned to the front on a piece of parchment. The curtain wasn't scheduled to go up for nearly an hour, but James couldn't help feeling that he needed to hurry. He was buttoning the last of the many buttons of his vest when a voice spoke directly behind him, startling him badly.
'Hiya, James!' Zane chirped. 'Can you give me a quick boost here?'
James turned, exasperated and bemused. 'Zane! You have to stop popping up like that!' Impatiently, James produced his wand and shot a quick Stinging Hex at the blonde boy, who yelped in pain and dropped the huge bouquet of flowers he'd been holding.
'Yow!' Zane cried, clutching his bottom. 'That really smarts! What was that for?'
'Zane?' James said, reaching out to touch his friend. 'It's really you? I thought you were another mad Doppelganger message! What are you doing here?'
'Well, I was trying to reach that vase on the shelf there,' Zane said, rolling his eyes. 'But now I'm thinking I'll just leave this good luck bouquet right there on the floor, what do you say?'
'It really is you!' James said, struggling not to laugh. 'I'm really sorry, mate! I thought you needed a magical boost like the other times. I really didn't mean to Sting you in the… but how'd you get here?'
Zane shrugged and grinned. 'I got out of school day before yesterday. When I talked to your mum over the
