Looney (Luna Lovegood x Fem Reader)

Chapter 41: All The World's A Stage

We continued to rehearse for a week or two after that, and then we had our shows. It was exciting, and terrifying, and a half million other things on top of that. I'd never been onstage before and therefore had no idea what to expect.

"I've heard it's not too bad," Rory said before one of our dress rehearsals. "I have friends that were in a stageplay at school back home once, and according to them it's sort of like being on autopilot. Like your lines just come naturally because you've been practicing so long." Regardless, I was still terrified that I'd say something wrong (or just forget to say anything at all) and make a fool out of myself in front of everybody. Up until now, I never understood why everyone used to be so nervous. Lately, though, it seems that I'd been feeling all the nervousness that everyone had, all jammed into a few days instead of spread out over months.

One good thing, though, was that Flitwick wasn't on our backs about authenticity anymore. Because my eyes would be closed when I kissed Rory, I'd taken to pretending that I was kissing Luna. I suppose it must have shown on the outside because Flitwick and Burbage seemed much more satisfied with those parts. That week went by in a flash, and the next thing we knew it was time to perform for the rest of the school. I knew we'd all been practicing and practicing for months now, and we were more than ready for an audience, but the churning in my stomach wouldn't go away even as I stood backstage waiting for the lights to cue the start of the show.

"Don't drive yourself mad about it," Cedric said when he found me pacing. "I've seen you this week, and I don't think you ever put your script down. You know this part, don't convince yourself otherwise. And even on the off chance that something does go wrong, you'll find a way to fix it. You always do." His words make me feel a bit better, but I kept running my lines over and over in my head to make sure I had every word right.

It didn't help.

Strangely enough, I only remember some things about being onstage as Juliet that day. One of those things was scanning the audience and seeing Cora, with a polaroid camera in hand, sitting between Fred and George in the front section. I remembered hearing a faint click and a familiar giggle right when Rory and I kissed in the balcony scene, and I remember how my stomach dropped as I realized Cora had a camera and that she and the twins would never let either one of us forget about this.

Between the scenes when I had nothing else to do I would spend my time with whoever was waiting backstage, which happened to be Luna most of the time. We sat with our backs against the wall and watched the show from the wings, and even after watching and rehearsing for so many months neither of us tired of it. In these little windows of time where I was left alone with my thoughts, I found it bittersweet to face the end of a part of my life that I'd become so accustomed to. Of course, I never needed a reason to spend time with my friends, but hiding behind the show and using it as an excuse to spend just a little extra time with Luna or anyone else was something that I did much more often than I realized. I should really make up some more excuses now that I'll be losing the ability to use this one after today.

In the end, when they held the funeral for Rory and me as the finale, I was certain I saw Fred or George wipe a tear away. I wasn't sure how I should have felt about this show making people cry, but I've heard people say that means you had a good performance. And, in all honesty, I did feel like it was a good performance because as I took a bow on stage, I felt Rory squeeze my hand while the crowd stood up and clapped for us. The churning in my stomach was finally gone and I felt a smile spread across my face as the applause continued, and I know that everyone else is feeling the same adrenaline rush as I am right now.

The second we were backstage, my suspicions were confirmed as everyone started laughing and hugging each other, shouting with joy as we barrelled through the corridors and into the open hallway where people were starting to filter out of the theater. Luna had her arm linked through mine as she skipped along with me, and Rory and Ced were jumping around with excitement. It sort of reminded me of how little children might behave on Christmas morning, and seeing everyone so happy made me happy too.

"We did it," Rory laughed as he hugged me. It felt good to finally be able to let go of trying to see him as a romantic partner, to know that at long last I had my friend back. We found Luna and Cedric and ran to meet up with Cora and the twins, dodging in and out of scattered clusters of students and actors, all of us smiling from ear to ear.

"That was amazing," Cora grinned as she hugged Ced. She held up her camera and a handful of square photographs. "I took a bunch of pictures, see? I thought you might like to see yourselves." I made a mental note to look at them later and take out any photos of the kiss scenes, there was no way I'd have her hold that over my head.

"Anyways, Freddie and I were thinking of taking you all out to Hogsmeade for dinner to celebrate, on us. I think I'm in the mood for some butterbeer," George said, and Cora can barely contain her joy.

"Can I come too?" she squeals, unaware that she's close to crushing the photos in her fist.

"No, we were actually planning on barricading you in the kitchen and leaving you to your own devices," Fred responded, his voice laced with sarcasm, and he turned back to us. "Now go change out of all that stuff and meet us back here when you're done, right? I want to go before they get busy."

I don't think I've ever gotten changed out of clothes faster in my life.

Dear Reader,

AHHH we're so close and I rlly don't wanna waste time on doing an authors note because I wanna work on the ending now...until next time!!

XOXO,
Frankie :)