Chapter Text
“And one, and two, pas de bourrée, rond de jambe et…non! no, no, no, it can’t work like that James."
Remus shook his head and approached the dancer pensively, thinking of how to explain his vision so the group would render it as expected.
“You’re moving too fast in the pas de bourrée, making it difficult for you to be set up right for the rond de jambe.”
He explained, marking the steps as he talked. James, his jet-black hair stuck to his neck and forehead by the sweat, kept nodding to indicate his attention to Remus.
“Alright, let’s do it again, don’t think about it too much, it should flow naturally.”
Finished Remus, going back to the front of the studio, turning his back to the wall of mirrors facing the company dancers of the Opéra de Paris.
They had just started this new exercise so Remus wasn’t too worried about the time it would take for them to catch on. Other professors might have been more authoritative or even vicious in their remarks, but Remus didn’t share this way of thinking. To him, dancers could really flourish in this art if they felt comfortable and supported. Yes, you had to be rough at times, but there was no need for cruelty.
He kept observing his “students” while they moved almost flawlessly through the rest of the exercise he just taught them, shouting corrections from times to times. It was the beginning of a new season at the Opéra, after a few weeks of summer rest for the company, they were back in the studios to exercise and learn to perform new pieces for the upcoming season. Remus Lupin was a « professeur du Ballet de l’Opéra de Paris », which meant he oversaw the training of the dancers of the company, from the corps de Ballet to the Etoiles. He had been part of the pedagogical team of the Ballet for five years now, integrating it at a relatively young age, making him an exception in this world.
When the clock struck 12, he thanked his student who saluted him before gathering their things and trickling out of the room, all sweaty and red-faced.
“Remus, can I talk to you for a minute?” Asked a voice from the doors of the studio.
Remus turned to see Minerva McGonagall, assistant to the director of danse at the Ballet, looking expectantly at him. He nodded and excused himself to James who had come to ask more details about his performance during the lesson.
“Morning Minerva, how can I help you?”
“Not here, Remus.” She answered, giving him a clipped smile and starting towards the stairs leading down to the offices.
While a bit surprised, Remus followed without questions, which was often the case with Minerva. She had been his unofficial mentor since he started as a professor, leading him through the unspoken rules and traditions of the ballet and guiding him towards the people that mattered and those who didn’t. She had also been the person he talked to. He couldn’t count the hours he spent in her office downstairs, exchanging in hushed tones with her about his previous life, his memories and his regrets.
But now was not the time. He focused on the moment, breathing deep as they walked down the steps to the first floor of the building. The older woman’s heels were clicking against the marbled floor as she preceded him in the corridor. The first floor was always calmer than the rest of the building. It was dedicated to all the administrative side of the Opéra, meaning there were no studios and therefore no dancers.
They slipped into her office, still in silence. A glass desk was facing the door and behind it, a window was opening to the Parisian streets. A grey light was bathing the room before Minerva switched on the lamp on her desk, turning the sinister room in a more jovial space.
“Have a sit Remus” she said as she herself sat down in a comfortable armchair on the other side of the table. “I’m sorry, I didn’t want to talk about this around the dancers. But there’s going to be some change in your classes at the beginning of next week.”
“Change?” answered Remus, intrigued.
“Yes. You are about to welcome two new students.” Minerva continued, shooting him a look when finishing, fully aware of the bomb she just launched.
Remus chuckled in shock.
“Now, how on earth is that possible? The results from the yearly exam of the school of the Opéra have been out for weeks now, and I’m pretty sure I have already met and given classes to all the new members of the ballet.” Minerva shook her head as he spoke.
“I know, I know, I can’t quite believe it myself. I don’t think this has ever been done in the history of the Opéra. Apparently, the opportunity was too good to ignore, and Dumbledore has decided that it would do good for the Opéra to extend its walls and give a more…open vision of the house.”
Remus stayed silent for a bit, trying to digest the information.
“Alright…so who would that be and in what level?”
“Remus…it’s the Black brothers.”
The silence grew stronger. There was absolutely no way Remus had heard that right. He was simply and purely stunned.
The Black Brothers had to be the most famous ballet dancers in this current day and age. The oldest, Sirius, was already recognized by the profession as an exceptional talent, starring as first dancer for most of the productions set by the New York City Ballet and featuring in a lot of media as of late. His natural charm and good looks had helped drive a new public to ballet and were genuinely rejuvenating the profession. Regulus, the youngest by a year or so was also incredibly talented, but he seemed naturally drawn to a more discreet career than is brother. At 26 and 25 years old, they were both in line for fantastic futures.
“There’s no way…what?”
“It came as a shock to me too Remus. As I said, the circumstances are quite peculiar. They did not explain anything. Apparently, they both suddenly shut the door to the NYCB last month and came to us asking to enter the ballet, negotiating their placement as first dancers. I don’t know the specificities; Dumbledore would not develop.”
“That’s crazy, the dancers will hate it, Minerva!”
“I know Remus, believe me I know. But that’s not all.”
Wondering where this would go, Remus kept silent, waiting for her to continue.
“Sirius was asked to audition for an Etoile position by Dumbledore. He was reluctant at first, but it was done in the end, and he passed brilliantly. It will be announced to the media at the beginning of next week, Sirius Black is now a “danseur étoile de l’Opéra de Paris”.”
Remus felt a tinge of pain in his chest that he pushed away immediately. He could not believe it. The Opéra was known for its rigorous procedures and how difficult it was for dancers to climb the ranks. Most of the time positions were freed because of a departure, retirement or worse, an inability to dance after an incident. Every time it happened, the company was a frenzy of last-minute rehearsal and private sessions requests to be ready for the audition to level up. The expectations were crazy and the reward even crazier.
Being an Etoile was the most gratifying position of all, the goal of all dancers. Many tried but only a few were selected to represent French excellence in ballet. For Sirius Black to be given this position with no open audition and therefore no competition would not be received well by the company.
Considering Remus’ silence, the assistant director kept going.
“It was all very quick and hushed up. Dumbledore knows exactly the reactions that will generate and told me he was ready to face it. He’s certain of his decision, saying it is time for us to step up our game, that our image will for sure benefit from this.”
Remus hummed lightly, indicating he was listening.
“He’s not the one who’s facing the dancers everyday though. How am I supposed to explain this to them? Do the other Etoiles know about this?”
“He will gather the company for an official announcement tomorrow evening, right before the weekend. An email has been sent this morning. The Etoiles will learn everything with the rest of the company.”
“Jesus, Minerva, what on earth…”
The older woman said nothing, lost in thoughts too.
“Well, I guess I have to go figure that out then, I have to reorganise my lessons and, I don’t know…See how that will impact everything, I guess.”
She acquiesced and they said their goodbyes before he walked out of her office and went down the stairs and out onto the forecourt of the Opéra. The chill autumn air snapped him out of his daze as he walked to a nearby café. There he reviewed the program for the year and tried to understand how the arrival of the two new dancers would impact the headlined shows.
He unlocked his phone to check the email Minerva mentioned but received a call from James before he could even read anything.
“James, hey.”
“Hey Rem, what’s up? Have you seen that email? Do you know anything about it? Sounds a bit dramatic to be honest.”
Remus should have expected it. James and he had been friends for years, even before he became a professor for the ballet. While he had never taken advantage of Remus’ current position, he couldn’t blame him for trying to get more information about the situation.
“Yeah I saw it, you know Dumbledore has a flair for dramatics.”
James laughed on the other side of the line.
“I know but still, a gathering before the weekend…sounds like they want to tell us something enraging and give us two days to calm down.”
Remus kept silent because…well, that’s what it was, wasn’t it?
“…Remus? How my fucking god I knew it! Spill the beans, what is this all about?”
Remus sighed at his own inability to lie.
“It’s…It’s a big change James, I’m not gonna lie, but I can’t tell you more about this. Please don’t make me reveal stuff I’m supposed to keep quiet.”
“Alright” James laughed “but is it bad? Should I be worried?”
“No. I don’t think so. You’re an Etoile, James, you genuinely don’t have anything to worry about.”
James was more than an Etoile if Remus was being honest. James Potter was the whole bloody sun. They had both aspired to become ballet dancers very early and had met during their first year at the école de danse de l’Opéra de Paris.
Considering how tough it was for students to not only go through the six years of studying at the school but to then be selected to integrate the company of the Opéra, Remus Lupin was really lucky to work with his best friend. James was an incredible dancer, his talent exploding on stage as if he had belonged there since birth. He had been an Etoile for around 6 years now and was the pride of the Opéra. He was also an incredible human being, so warm and jovial you could only feel good when you were with him. He was one of the main reasons Remus made it through his school years, and then to the company, and then…
“Well, that’s all very mysterious, damn. I guess I’ll just trust you Remus, as always! Hey, wanna come have dinner with Lily and me tonight?”
“Oh, I would have loved to James, but tonight is not ideal, what about this weekend?”
“Sure thing, you’re lucky we’re free this Saturday evening! See you then, I’ll text you, ok?”
Remus thanked him and hung up.
~*~
Remus could hear the chatter from the corridor leading to the room, James was not the only one intrigued by the email sent by Dumbledore and other dancers had tried to get the truth out of Remus during rehearsals today, but he kept quiet.
He pushed through the big wooden doors opening onto the Foyer de la danse and stood on his tiptoes to try and spot James and Lily in the crowd of the company.
The foyer de la danse was a room located behind the stage of the Opéra Garnier. It was relatively small but good enough for a meeting of that sort. One wall was covered in mirrors and the rest in columns of white stucco. A huge candelabra was hanging from the high ceiling and the sides of the room had bars alongside them. The foyer was used by dancers during representations to prepare and warm up before getting on stage. The music was also streamed there so they’d know when to move backstage and get ready.
A small stand had been put in front of the wall with the mirrors and the audience had naturally moved to face it. Remus finally noticed James’ black hair and brown skin on the right corner, next to Lily’s bright red hair, and he excused himself while pushing his way through the crowd.
“Hey Remus, how are you?” Lily asked the moment she spotted him. She engulfed him in a warm hug as usual.
“Hey Lils” he said, waving a hand and a smile to James while hugging her.
“Still not ready to tell us what all this is about?” James joked and Remus rolled his eyes, making his friends laugh.
“Surely it can’t be that bad, Minerva looked preoccupied but not stressed today” Lily added. She was working for the administration of the Opéra, in the production team, that’s how she had met James. “If it was bad, she would have looked angry.” She concluded, making James giggle.
The room got suddenly quiet, and he could see things moving by the entrance. Dumbledore, an old man with a signature white beard cut in a short and clean style, entered the room, immediately followed by Minerva McGonagall and Gideon Prewett who was basically their minion for all administrative tasks.
The old man silently took place behind the stand, adjusting the mic and taking a long look at the crowd assembled.
“Danseurs et Danseuses, bonsoir.” He started “I know you all want to go home and enjoy your weekend so I’m all the more grateful to see you all gathered here.”
“Yeah, yeah, get to the point grandpa” James muttered under his breath, making Remus laugh.
“The news I am about to share is not going to please everyone, but I want it to be clear: I will not come back on my decision, and everything that has been decided, has been so for good reasons. The general direction of the Opéra was informed, at the beginning of last week, that two new people had submitted a request to integrate the company as first dancers in addition to the already established company for this year.”
This was enough to trigger whispers between the dancers around Remus.
“I know what you are all thinking” continued the director of danse, increasing volume to be heard from everyone “This cannot be done as the levels for the company have already been established. And to this I say: let’s be flexible and open for change.”
Remus groaned, that was the worst way the director could have addressed the whole situation. Dancers worked on merit. The only valid reason to gain ranks in the company was hard work, presenting this whole situation as an “opportunity” was not going to help the pill go down. And he clearly was not the only one to think it, voices started to rise around him.
“Please, quiet down and let me explain” continued Dumbledore, raising his hands in false surrender. “We have been presented with the opportunity of a lifetime and I think we would be stupid to refuse it. I think this old house, as much as we like it, needs some challenge, and I think those two new students are the best way for us to progress and stay relevant in the current artistic landscape.”
“Who is it?” shouted a voice in the assembly, triggering a firm glare from McGonagall.
Dumbledore chuckled lightly and paused dramatically.
“As of this Monday, the Ballet de l’Opéra de Paris is delighted to welcome in its ranks Sirius Black as Etoile and his brother Regulus black as a first dancer.”
And just like that, the foyer exploded in chatter.
~*~
“Jesus, Rem you were right, the old man loves his dramatics” said James, his gaze pensively fixed on his drink.
Everyone around the table shook their heads at the remark.
“I don’t understand, I thought it was impossible for someone who hasn’t studied at the school to enter the company” Lily asked.
“It’s very rare but not impossible” Mary answered from her seat next to Remus. She was an Etoile in the company and a good friend of them all even though she only started hanging out with the group a year ago.
“I mean the Black brothers are insanely talented.” Marlene added “I’m not surprised Dumby approved this, I think it’s a pretty good decision.” She was also a recently appointed Etoile and a very close friend of Remus.
“But it is so fucking unfair though, what do you mean the guy just shows up and gets the title of Etoile just because he asked?” Mary continued, a bit more agitated.
“He had an audition Mary, he wasn’t just offered the title.” Remus told her, even though he, too, thought it was a bit easy for Sirius. Yes, he was insanely talented, it didn’t mean he could just show up and get the best seat in the house. The woman turned to James for support:
“I mean…doesn’t it enrage you, James? We’ve fought so hard to get where we are, and this guy just asks, and he gets it?” To which James simply shrugged.
“It’s not like we can do anything about it. Plus, I’ll be honest, I think that how it works most of the time. I mean, yeah, we’re judged on our artistic abilities, but what makes you think nothing is going on in the background? For all we know Malfoy’s rich daddy made a very generous donation to the Opera’s foundation and that’s how he ended in the corps de Ballet.”
Everyone at the table laughed at that.
“That would explain quite a lot.” Marlene added.
Lucius Malfoy was a good dancer but not an incredible one. He had been one year ahead of James and Remus at school, and they were both surprised to find him in the company when they both got in. He was a good technical dancer, but he lacked…the passion. And he was a downright dickhead.
“I’m just saying. Yes, the whole thing looks sketchy, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t give them a chance. I’ve seen interviews of Sirius, he seems like a nice lad.”
“I think you guys should take it easy.” Remus concluded, hoping to change the conversation. “Sirius and Regulus are both really talented and I truly believe they’ll be a good addition to the company. I know it seems unfair, but you all earned your place so keep doing what you do best, and things will go your way. Don’t feel threatened by them, I don’t think it’s worth it.” James nodded his approval, but the rest of the dancers stayed silent, still unsure of how to take in the news.