Okay, so after such a long absence, I'm working my ass off to update all of my stories and to keep them coming. Now, with summer here and a new computer, I'll actually be able to update! Yay! so, without further ranting...I bring you, Of Music and Magic, chapter 2...

CHAPTER TWO: TRANSPORTED?

"Begin the scale again." Erik sighed as he used his ventriloquism to throw his voice to all the corners of the room from behind his two way mirror.

Christine Daae, his prodigy and love, was becoming a serious headache. Not only couldn't she get the musical scale right, she kept daydreaming! Speaking of which...

"Christine!" her head snapped up at the commanding voice of her teacher, the "Angel of Music". "Yes, Angel?" "You were daydreaming again..."

She mumbled a quick apology, staring at her ballet-slipper clad feet.

Erik sighed from behind the mirror. "That's enough for today Mon Ange. Go to practice, then get some sleep...and try not to drift off as much tomorrow..."

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Harry, Ron, and Hermione had packed their bags and, much to their displeasure, had learned that Draco Malfoy was going as well, though without his goons, Crabbe and Goyle. They had also learned that they were going to take a portkey to get to the Opera.

So, as they latched onto each other and their things (Harry and Draco trying to tear each others arms off), they grabbed the portkey, a rusty old pot, and began to spin...

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Erik sighed as his gondola quietly skimmed the surface of the clear water of his underground land of music. The beautiful life-sized doll of Christine stood in a small space set aside for just the purpose, next to his sketches, paintings, and compositions tacked to special boards on the surface of the rocks. Millions of candles lit themselves upon his approach, and he smiled slightly at his ingenious invention as he watched some of the candles that had previously been submerged rise out of the water on their stands and light without problem.

He pulled the small boat onto the sandy shore, making sure it was tightly secured before moving off to check on his Siamese cat, Ayesha.

Just as he was placing some fish into a small dish for the pampered cat, he heard a loud splashing coming from the front of his "home".

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They fell into some sort of cold lake. Sputtering as they coughed up water, they looked to see where they had landed. Heaven? Or...a candle store?

Millions upon millions of candles, all lit, some even floating on the surface of the lake or rising from it. A small bushel of roses lay on a table, littered with what appeared to be drawings and music. A small boat was tied to a large rock nearby and a cape was hanging over the side of one of the many rocks in the cavern.

"Oh no! We're...?!"

"Who are you, children?!" a rather tall, lithe man in a black suit called out angrily, his voice resounding off of the rocky walls. His gelled back black hair brought attention to his beautiful gold eyes, but what really caught their attention...was a white porclein mask, covering half of his face.

"The Phantom of the Opera..." Hermione whispered in awe.

"The Phantom..."