Goblins and Ghosts

by tanabubbles

Erik knew he was a magician, but he never expected himself to be a wizard.

4. Chapter 4

Erik's heart plummeted.

"You noticed?" It was a dumb question. Why would she ask if she hadn't noticed? A small and pitiful part of Erik was trying to delay this conversation, hoping that she instead was asking him to walk her around the Great Lake.

Christine nibbled her lower lip. They both were unable to look at each other. Erik felt pinpricks of shame and fear gathering behind his sunken eyes. "Not at first," she said. "Your mask is very realistic. Where'd you get it?"

"I made it," Erik said almost immediately and regretted it just as quickly. It was a strange response to an already strange conversation.

"Oh." Christine's leg was jumping up and down, a nervous habit she did when she was tense. Erik was completely still. "Raoul said you're a Death Eater," she said suddenly. Her voice was just a little above a whisper. "He said you're hiding your face because the Ministry would put you in jail. Or because your family is like the Malfoy purebloods. You switched in the middle." She was blurting out her assumptions.

Okay, that wasn't where he thought she was going with this. Her beaux was creative, he'd give him that. "Death Eaters aren't eleven," he answered dryly. "I'm a muggleborn. I didn't even know about wizard racism until about two months ago."

"Really?" She squealed. She didn't hide her relief at his words, but Erik was still experiencing the same dread he felt a minute ago. She was looking at him happily now. Erik found that he didn't like it.

He nodded regardless. "Really."

"I told Raoul!" She grinned smugly. "I told him he was being ridiculous. You guys should talk more! I think you'd like each other."

"Right..." Erik would hate that, but he didn't want to deny her wishes outright.

"But Erik?"

"Christine?"

"Why do you wear a mask?"

Ah, there it was. If Erik didn't know any better, he'd think that she tried to distract him with her ease and levity. He thought about lying, but just the thought of doing it made him feel dirty.

He decided to evade the question entirely. "Doesn't everyone wear a mask?"

She furrowed her brows. "What?"

Erik shrugged elegantly, raising a still gloved hand in the air. "Everyone hides a piece of themselves behind something. Erik simply chooses a less tangible approach."

"You're avoiding the question." She looked uncomfortable now and Erik realized that referring to himself in the third person wouldn't endear him to her. "Erik..."

Erik was growing restless, feeling the shock he felt at her asking fading away into suspicion. His legs were jumping up and down as his eyes shifted to anywhere but Christine. It was getting hard to breathe again, like someone had punched him in the gut and knocked the wind out of him. He tried to soothe himself by hugging his arms around him.

He didn't like that this was turning into an interrogation. It reminded him of the past, when teachers or social workers cornered him and forced him to tattle on his mother. They swore to protect him and take him away if he just complied like a good boy. Erik used to answer easily, almost hopefully, until his mother just beat the disobedience out of him. He could never rely on empty promises, but he could always rely on pain.

"It's a simple question, Erik. Why can't you answer? Are you actually hiding something?" She prodded testily, bordering on insensitively.

Erik turned to sneer at her. He knew he looked cruel. "Why must you know?" He suddenly slammed his hand on the table with a loud thud and she jumped. Erik only felt slightly guilty. "Why must you know? Would you die if you didn't? Would your boy save you from me even if he didn't know the reason why? Do you want him to comfort you? Are you trying to find a way to monopolize his attention?" He laughed and the cruelty in his beautiful voice was chilling. "Silly Christine! You don't need a monster to have your knight in shining armor come running."

"That's not what I'm doing and you know it!" She wiped her mouth with a napkin and angrily threw it on the table, crossing her arms and facing him head-on. "I'm just curious, okay? You don't have to answer if you don't want to! You're awful when you're mad, Erik."

"I'm awful all the time, Christine." He hissed back, eyes narrowed. "It's a shame you're pretty eyes can't see it. Your boy is right, you know? Nothing good comes out of associating with me. You should listen to him more often. He'll protect you."

"Why is everyone babying me?" She groaned and angrily put her hands on her face. Her cheeks were red and her eyes were starting to water. Erik's guilt gnawed at his chest, but he was too upset to deal with it. "Stop it! I didn't think you'd be like them!"

Erik was unsure of what she was referring to. He'd never been similar to anyone in his life. "If you think I'm in anyway the same as de Chagny-"

"You are, Erik! You're like dad, too!" She sniffed. "They both think I need help all the time! It's like I can't make my own decisions. They always try to tell me what to do or what to think or what to say! I don't even understand why. I'm not dumb! I know I ask for your help a lot, but I'm doing just fine on my own. You know that, right?" She hastily wiped her nose, but she was not crying yet. Erik wouldn't be able to handle it if she were. "It's been bothering me for so long, but then I met you. You don't talk much, but at least you've never talked over me like they have."

Erik hesitated. He felt his anger dwindle out of him. It was replaced with confusion and tiredness. "Christine..."

She breathed in deeply. "I know I'm not outspoken or physically strong, but I know my own mind. I don't understand why they don't think so! Do I look like the ditzy blonde stereotype to them? To you?"

"I- no, of course not! You look-" like an angel, even when you're mad at me "-fine."

Her anger was melting away. She hugged herself, pulling her slightly too large robes closer to her body. "I'm not as childish as you think, Erik."

"I know." Erik's voice was gentle and soft. He wanted to soothe her so desperately, but he was afraid he'd say something wrong and make it worse again. "I- I apologize for making you feel that way." He wasn't used to apologizing. He could only hope that it didn't sound insincere.

"No, it's not really your fault." She weakly grinned at him. "You got angry and I got angry. It happens." She lowered her eyes. "I just get frustrated with daddy and Raoul sometimes."

"Why?" Erik tilted his head to the side. This was news to him. During the whole month of their little breakfast duo, she'd never voiced a word of displeasure against either of the two.

She shrugged. "Like I said. They don't think I can handle much." She pursed her lips. "My dad's always been like this. Mom died from cancer a few years ago and he's been worse since. He likes taking care of me, but it's made him overprotective. I can't really do anything without him hovering over me or making sure I don't trip on my face. It took forever to convince him to let me go to Hogwarts!" She sighed. "I love him more than anything, Erik. It just sucks that sometimes it's like he doesn't believe in me."

Erik absorbed everything she said. All his years, he'd never been privy to the intimate details of someone else's family dynamic. He'd been with his mother for so long that sometimes he forgets that other people didn't experience the same things he did.

He wondered what it would feel like to have a parent that cared if he lived or not. If he'd eaten breakfast or not. If he'd been hurt or if he'd been crying. He thinks it would feel nice. Erik grimly recalled the handful of times she'd put him in the middle of danger to get a fix, unbothered by the fact that he could get beaten or killed in the process.

He and his mother trapped themselves in their own cycle of hell filled with drugs and isolation. They never had a chance to be normal. They were doomed as a tragedy from the very beginning.

Erik, very briefly, felt the tiniest bit of envy at Christine's worries. He wished those were his problems instead.

"He wants to protect you," he said instead. "That's all it is."

"All dads want to protect their kids." Not the dead ones, Erik thought. "I think daddy's going overboard." She scowled suddenly. "At least he has a reason. Raoul, on the other hand..." She trailed off distastefully.

"What about him?" Erik innocently inclined his head towards her.

"We had a row yesterday," she explained. "It was about you and your mask, but it's also more than that!" She sipped some of her juice before continuing. "He's like my dad for some reason. He's so overprotective! I don't know why. I know I'm like a little sister to him, but this is ridiculous!"

Erik had a feeling de Chagny didn't view her as a younger sibling.

"The whole mask conversation thing was his idea." She scowled. "I'm so sorry I made you uncomfortable, but- well, he has a talent where he puts ideas in my head. He thinks he can think for both of us." She gripped her cup tighter. "He's been bugging me about you since our stupid sorting! He doesn't like that we're friends. He thinks you're dangerous. I told him I don't want to. I keep trying to convince him that you're alright!" She frowned. Erik was silent. "It's either he wants me to stop hanging out or he's asking me to spy on you. I'd say he's jealous, but he doesn't mind me being friends with other people. Just you."

"He is… paranoid." Erik supplied helpfully. It was true. Erik was a bastard, but he didn't exactly have the time to be a proper one recently. He was busy with the library and finishing the tedious homework the professors kept supplying them with. If de Chagny wanted a cartoon villain, he'd have to wait until after he'd finished the Potions book series he's reading.

"Very." She agreed with a nod.

Erik drummed the melody of a Rachmaninoff concerto on his knee. "Why are you still friends with him?"

Christine blinked, almost surprised by the question. "Because," she said. "He's being a git, but I still like him. He's really nice most of the time and I guess he's just looking out for me. I just gotta talk to him about it."

Erik hummed and didn't comment any further. He was now only realizing how much people were already in the Great Hall. It was turning into late morning already and he hadn't noticed. He was too absorbed with Christine and her presence.

"Anyway, I think I'd better go and get ready for class. Sorry for word vomiting on you." Christine smiled wanly and stood up, Erik following right after. "My first period is Defense with the Slytherins and I don't want Professor Hazebrew to nag me about forgetting my book or something." She was moving away from him now.

"Christine?" He called out hesitantly and she turned to look at him again. "It's a medical thing." Erik's voice was tight, but firm. "The mask. I can't… I can't remove it." He clenched his hands.

Her blue eyes were wide. Erik stared into them, ashamed that his horrible golden ones were defiling hers. Not a second later, she smiled at him so softly that Erik felt himself melt like a puddle at her feet.

"Thank you, Erik." She grinned. Suddenly, Christine gasped and held his gloved hand in hers. She was so very warm. "Do you want to walk me to class?"

His heart was pounding and his throat was dry. His fingers were tingling from the contact. No one had ever held him like this before. "What about the boy?" He croaked.

"He'll have to deal with my choice." She shrugged and happily led him away from the Great Hall, expecting him to follow behind her.

He felt lightheaded at her admission. It would forever amaze him that the most perfect person he'd ever met was willing to put up with a goblin. Erik was more than happy to oblige, faintly wondering if she'd realized yet that he is but a faithful dog at her feet.

But apparently, Nadir was a tick hellbent on sucking the life out of him.

"Erik!" Nadir entered the Great Hall to find the two of them. He raised an eyebrow at their clasped hands, but didn't comment under Erik's scowl and Christine's curious gaze.

"What could you possibly want this morning, Daroga?" His teeth were clenched, but he made sure not to tighten his grip on Christine.

"Good morning to you, too!" Nadir's voice was drenched with sarcasm.

Christine looked at him with a frown. "No need to be rude, Erik. Classes don't start for another hour." When he didn't look likely to respond, Christine shook her head with a sigh and turned to Nadir. "I don't think we've spoken before. I'm Christine Daae." She wiggled her hand away from Erik to extend to him.

"I'm Nadir Khan. Nice to meet you." He shook her hand and steadfastly ignored Erik's seething glare.

She smiled politely at him as she encouragingly pat Erik's shoulder blade. Erij enjoyed her brief touch, but would have preferred she just held his hand again. "Did you need Erik for something?"

"Yeah, actually." Nadir faced him. "Professor McGonagall came by Gryffindor Tower to greet the first years. She asked me to tell you that she expects you in the Hospital Wing for a checkup."

Ah. Erik vaguely remembered her telling him that she'll have a healer look into his deformity during their excursion to Diagon Alley. Erik had shrugged at the implications then, sure that she'd forget as soon as she had other things on her plate.

"That can wait," Erik said with a scoff. Christine had just asked him to walk her around the halls. She'd never done that before. Why the hell would he choose being a lab rat over being in the company of an angel?

Christine looked up at him worriedly. "What's wrong, Erik?"

"It's nothing. Professor McGonagall wants to… ensure that my medical issues aren't life threatening."

"Oh." She bit her lower lip. "Well- are you going?"

Erik snorted. "No," he said. "I'd much rather walk you to class."

"Don't be silly, Erik." She huffed. "I'll be fine, but you may not be. Health is important. You can come with me next time. Just go. I'll see you in Charms." She waved her hand at the both of them and carried on walking.

Nadir blinked. "So I guess we should-"

"You idiot!" Erik growled and tightly grabbed Nadir's shoulder. He winced as Erik shoved him outside and into a more secluded hall.

Nadir glowered at him and rubbed his sore shoulder. "What the hell was that, Erik? You can't just haul me around like a sack of potatoes!"

"Your brain is the size of a potato, you imbecile!" Erik paced up and down the floor. "Christine had asked me to accompany her to her classroom and you took the chance away from me! Do you have any idea how precious these opportunities are? Who knows when the next time will be!"

Nadir stared at him weirdly. "Has anyone told you that you're a drama queen?" He rolled his eyes. "Just calm down, will you? Why don't you offer to walk her tomorrow? Hell, why not later?"

"I-" Erik hadn't thought of that. He had never dared. "She'll refuse."

"You guys are friends. She won't say no." Nadir hummed in thought. "Just be less intimidating and smile! Christine seems nice. I'm sure she wouldn't mind. Be a gentleman and carry her bookbag. Gentlemen always get the ladies." He smirked devilishly.

"I don't want ladies." Erik blinked. "I want to walk Christine to class."

"And Christine would love to be walked by a gentleman, Erik." Nadir tilted his head to the side. "You gotta stop being so rude around her."

"I'm never-"

"Oh, but you are! I see it all the time, Erik." Nadir tutted. "You're so quiet when she's talking. Your sentences are so short you might as well be grunting! Your back is always slouching and you never look her in the eye." Nadir shrugged. "You gotta show Christine that you're interested in talking to her. That way you can have longer conversations and do more things together." Nadir raised an accusing eyebrow. "Once that's done, you don't have to get all moody with me about your crush."

Erik was growing increasingly scandalized. "I don't have-" he choked. "-I don't have a crush on her, Daroga. That's disgustingly juvenile." He swallowed. "I'm happy just being near her."

"Uhuh, yeah. Whatever you say. Now get moving, lover boy. Madam Pomfrey is waiting for you in the Hospital Wing."

Erik numbly followed him. He was looking at his feet as he contemplated whether he should just run up Gryffindor Tower just then or strangle Nadir from behind.

"Say, Erik?"

"What?"

"Why do you wear a mask?" Nadir's voice was nonchalant, but Erik knew just how much he was dying from curiosity. Apparently Gryffindors were recycling topics of conversation nowadays.

"I'm afraid it's for your benefit, Daroga."

"Huh?"

"My good looks would surely make you feel insecure." Erik scoffed. "I choose to save you from embarrassment by concealing my face." He dramatically sighed, putting the back of his hand on his mask's forehead. "It's an uphill battle, but I will endure it all for you."

"Prick!" Nadir grabbed a crumpled piece of parchment from his pocket and threw it at Erik, who easily dodged and watched it uselessly fall on the floor. WIth a self-satisfied smirk, he brought out his wand and vanished it from existence.

"No need to get upset, Daroga. I'm only teasing." Erik rolled his eyes. He did look at Nadir, though. Erik's expression was solemn as he considered him. "Why is it important for you to know?"

Nadir averted his gaze. "It's not that important, I guess." He relented. "It wouldn't be the end of the world if you won't tell me, but I guess sometimes I feel like I don't know you." Nadir weakly shrugged. He didn't plan ahead for this conversation, it seemed.

"Don't be ridiculous. You know Erik!" Erik condescendingly snorted.

The darker skinned boy exasperatedly glared at him. "Duh. Of course I know you, but do I know you?"

"You're not making much sense, Daroga."

They walked further and they were nearing the Infirmary. "Yeah," he replied. "You gotta understand that I basically spill my guts every conversation we have because talking to you is talking to a brick wall. I could be speaking to myself and I wouldn't even notice. I know nothing about you, dude." He smiled grimly. "It's like it wouldn't have made a difference if we met on the train or not."

Erik considered what he said. He was never really sure if he was quiet due to circumstance or nature.

"I'll be honest," he conceded. "My life beyond is miserable. I don't participate in conversations often because it would simply be depressing."

Nadir pursed his lips. "I sorta expected." He didn't look at him with any pity, much to Erik's relief. "I guess it can't be helped if you're just a quiet guy."

"You're quite right." Erik rolled his eyes. As they walked, Erik took a sharp left and Nadir followed obliviously, too engrossed in their conversation to notice the wrong direction they took. "You are wrong on some accounts."

"What?"

"Well, it may not be much, but I suppose you know me better than anyone here." Erik sighed. "You know I despise our classes because of how boring they are. You know I can draw. You know my favorite subjects to study. You know I loathe de Chagny with every fiber of my being." He waved his hand in the air. "You are aware of these things because we actually spend time together, a privilege not many can handle." He ended sarcastically.

Nadir laughed. "Bugger- I guess you're right." He snickered. "Lord knows I'd pull my hair out if I hear you muttering about Raoul again. You should really get to know him, Erik. He's a nice guy."

"Daroga, I would rather throw myself out of Gryffindor Tower."

"He'd swoop in on his broom and catch you- ow! That hurts, you prick!" He rubbed his ear which Erik had just pulled in annoyance.

"Oh?" Erik innocently hummed. "Why don't you ask de Chagny to kiss the booboo away, then?"

Nadir glared at him. "Now I wish I didn't know you." He looked around where they were suddenly and his expression turned confused before morphing into disbelief. "Erik, what the hell? We aren't anywhere near the Infirmary!"

"Can't believe it took you this long to notice." Erik grinned condescendingly at the shorter boy. "All I had to do was bat my eyes and you followed me like a lost puppy."

"I will k-"

"Now, now. No need to get grotesque, Daroga. I'm doing you a favor. It's about ten minutes to class time and I noticed you forgot to bring your school bag. Here, I've brought you to Gryffindor Tower. Since you found it fit to ruin my extra time with Christine, I'll bestow upon you the honor of Erik walking you to class."

Nadir looked ready to pull out the hair out of both their heads. "The Deputy Headmistress told me to bring you to Madam Pomfrey! They expected you to go and they expected me to bring you." He glowered at him.

"What can I say? I tend to go beyond expectations."

"But Erik..." Nadir slowly turned wary. "I just- Headmistress McGonagall said this was for your health. It's gotta be important. Why don't you want to go?"

Erik rolled his eyes and nudged Nadir to the portrait. Erik said lion and the large painting swung open. Erik looked smug while Nadir looked exasperated.

"I'm not even going to ask how you got our password again, but I'll annoy the hell out of you until you go to the nurse's office." Nadir stepped into Gryffindor Tower and left to get his bag without another word.

Erik simply brought out his pocketbook and leaned against the wall, waiting for Nadir to come out.

After Erik walked a nagging Nadir to his Charms class, he travelled down to the dungeons.

Potions was a sore spot for him. On one hand, he was very interested in the subject. He adored reading about its theory and was always on his toes trying to actually apply it. On the other, Professor Hubert sucked the joy out of everything he touched.

Erik was in the farthest back, as always. The class was uneven so he thankfully didn't have a partner. He preferred to work alone, especially when his focus must be on the intricacies of his work. He was a perfectionist to boot and he wouldn't let a lazy idiot ruin what could have been a good potion.

They were finishing up a Forgetfulness Potion and he eyed the brew he had done. The texture and coloration was exactly what was described in his book. He felt pleased at having done the potion better than anyone else in the class, judging by the pitiful outputs they had at their own desks.

He confidently brought his bottle to the desk where Professor Hubert was waiting. He quietly placed it in the designated tray. He expectantly tilted his head at the professor who was nodding appreciatively at his work.

"Well done, as always." Professor Hubert's voice was dull and monotone. Erik found that he rather hated it, despite him only using it to tell him praise. "Take five points, Mr. Dupont. You may leave. Everyone else, bottle your potions and next meeting. Not everyone can do it on the first try quite like the boy genius here." Erik smirked as his classmates glared at his back. "I'm assigning everyone except Mr. Dupont an essay about the Forgetfulness Potion. Three feet. Have it ready by next week. Dismissed!"

Erik quickly grabbed his things and made a beeline for the door.

But a dainty hand on his shoulder paralysed any movement he wanted to make.

"Erik?" A voice, both familiar and not, called from behind him.

With wide eyes, Erik turned to find a shorter girl looking at him. She was beautiful. Her skin was slightly tanned and her dark eyes were beautiful in that they were calculating and narrow. Her black hair fell straight down her back, though she was rather tall compared to the other girls in her year.

Erik coughed uncomfortably. "Yes?"

She giggled, demurely blinking up at him. "Do you know me?"

Erik thought back to the sorting. He remembered her being called at the very end, strutting around with a kind of confidence even Erik didn't possess. Eventually, many of his classmates referred to her as the Slytherin Princess, awestruck by her beauty and poise. She wore that title with unabashed pride considering that sort of title wasn't ever used on a muggleborn.

"Lucianna Visconti." He nodded.

She smirked, pleased. "Just call me Lucy." She walked out of the emptying classroom and beckoned him to follow her. "You're Mr. Boy Genius."

"I resent that name," Erik said dryly, but followed her anyway.

Lucy rolled her eyes. "You're very picky. I think it's a nice nickname. Very flattering"

"What do you want?" Erik stopped moving abruptly. His next class was Charms with Christine and she was making him walk her to the opposite of the castle.

"Isn't it obvious?"

"No."

"I want to be friends."

"Pardon?" Erik looked at her, confused out of his mind. This whole conversation was so random and unprecedented that he was having a hard time convincing himself that this was real and not the result of a hallucinogen.

She sighed impatiently. "I want to be friends with you, Wonderboy."

"I don't really see why that would be appealing to you." Erik wasn't even sure what his relationship with Christine was yet, and this girl was offering him friendship like it was an ambush.

Lucy smiled, clearly amused by his cynicism. "You're different."

The mask felt heavier suddenly, like Erik had just remembered it was there. "Excuse me?" He whispered dangerously.

"You don't trip over your feet trying to impress me." She inclined her head thoughtfully. "And everyone's talking about you. You're pretty popular."

"I am?" He was doubtful his fame came without malicious intent.

"I like that you're smart and that you don't care." She stepped closer to Erik, who was rooted to the spot. "I think that us being friends would boost our reputations. We'll be the talk of the halls, Wonderboy!"

"What makes you think I'd want any of that?" Erik sneered down at her.

Lucy paused, almost unable to comprehend what his point was. "We'd be popular. That's the point."

"No," he said tartly. "Good day, Visconti."

Before he left, Erik saw her pout in indignation. She crossed her arms and looked barely able to restrain an outburst. The Slytherins were trying to offer her comfort by speaking words of encouragement or speaking unkindly about the masked Ravenclaw. She wasn't listening. Lucy marched up to him and with a determined glint in her eyes, she hissed- "You and I are going to be talking soon, Wonderboy."

With a huff, she left the other way with her housemates in tow.

Erik snorted and practically skipped over to Charms.

It took Professor McGonagall two weeks to question him about his absence at the Infirmary.

"Mr. Dupont? Do stay behind." A pause. "No, Ms. Daae. This doesn't involve you. I believe you have Defense now? Yes, run along now. I'm only going to share my concerns with Mr. Dupont."

After the heavy doors to the Transfiguration classroom closed, Erik and Professor McGonagall looked at eachother. Professor Spinnet rushed out with the others, claiming a new order of his favorite Neo-Transfiguration Magazine was releasing a new issue today. Professor McGonagall allowed herself to snort derisively before going back to glaring at Erik.

Erik was often scolded for his insolence. He never backed down from a confrontation even if the other person were older or held more power over him. He usually glared back, said his piece, and left before the one he was arguing with gave up and left him alone. He was never intimidated by anyone he knew he could easily subdue or evade.

Professor McGonagally was simply capable of dredging up whatever self-control he had.

"Mr. Dupont." She stared down at him, which wasn't very effective considering his height.

Erik kept his face impassive. "Headmistress," he said simply.

"Poppy told me you haven't attended any of the required check-ups I've set for you."

Erik cocked his head to the side. He brought a finger to his lip and tapped it, pretending to be deep in thought. "I'm afraid I've either never been informed or the scheduling didn't work."

"Really?" Professor McGonagall scowled, clearly getting impatient with him. Although Erik would never get inside that Infirmary even if he were dragged kicking and screaming, it did bother him slightly that he was upsetting her. This particular brand of guilt was foreign to him and made him uncomfortable.

"Really," he pressed lightly.

It was self-destructive, he knew, but he wanted to test the waters. Erik wanted to see how far he could push her until she screamed and beat the life out of him. Everyone had a limit, and she probably did too.

A small part of Erik was scared of purposefully making her angry, unable to comprehend the task of ruining the image of Professor McGonagall he had built up in his mind. He just didn't want to wait around until she finally did snap on him out of nowhere when he was unprepared. At least like this, when he was being a brat, he knew what he was expecting.

"Then I suppose the letters I've sent to you weren't enough?"

He shook his head. Erik shooed away the bloody owls before they even dropped any mail on him.

"And the number of times I've asked your concerned friend Mr. Khan to fetch you during free time was inconvenient to your schedule?"

"I wouldn't phrase it like that," he said quietly as he braced himself.

"I'm sure you wouldn't." Another pause. "I believe five points from Ravenclaw is in order."

Frankly, Erik couldn't care less about the point system. It was his first time losing points, however, and he didn't anticipate the sting he felt right after. "Why?" He plainly asked.

"For evading required check-ups and then lying about it to my face, of course."

"I see," he said with his thin lips set in a thin line.

Professor McGonagall clearly wasn't finished. She crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow, making use of the blessed few inches of superior height she had to look down on him. "And several detentions, Mr. Dupont. Once every week until Christmas break."

Erik did the math in his head and guffawed at her. "That's practically eight weeks, Professor!"

A time out? He was getting a time out? He was expecting much worse, for sure. Perhaps a beating or a week without food. But detention? It made him feel like a toddler. If he weren't so horribly disfigured, she would see a scarlet red blush of embarrassment flush his face.

"Would you like for me to extend it? It seems to me that you're dissatisfied."

Erik slowly and deliberately shook his head, keeping quiet lest she increase the punishment. "What am I supposed to do during detention, Professor?" He narrowed the sunken eyes she couldn't see.

She smiled wickedly back at him. "Your detentions will be with Madam Pomfrey. You shall help her with whatever tasks she needs you to do, Mr. Dupont. I'm sure she'll keep you busy." She lazily waved her hand. "You may visit her today to see your schedule. Understood, Mr. Dupont?"

Erik suppressed a groan bubbling at the back of his throat. There was a finality in her voice. He was sure he had no choice but to comply. Professor McGonagall might actually drag him kicking and screaming if he didn't.

Or just expel him.

He shivered at the thought.

"Understood, Professor."

"Very good. Off you go, then."

That night, Erik and Nadir were lazing in the library. The table they were using was filled with various books and used parchment. Erik was blissfully scouring through a new Potions book about poisons and their respective antidotes while Nadir had his eyes locked on a Quidditch magazine he'd found in the Wizarding Sports aisle.

"-are crazy. Wizards have no sense of self-preservation. Their point system is insane, too." Nadir paused. "When do we get to try? I can't believe this awful Scottish weather stopped us from playing out in the field for almost two months. If we were in Iran, the sun would never leave us alone."

Erik grunted. He wasn't listening to him. He was busy reading the various applications of a bezoar in healing potions. Anything was more riveting than whatever drivel he assumed the Daroga was yapping about.

"It's a bummer that first years can't play outside of class." Nadir dramatically sighed. "I think I'd be good. I've always been alright at sports. I was the junior football captain of my school before I left for Hogwarts. Quidditch is pretty different, though. Definitely more dangerous. I think you'd like it, actually."

That earned a snort from Erik. He never participated in any sports, much less team based ones. He continued scanning through the diagrams helpfully supplemented by the book. He wondered if Madam Pomfrey would let him brew things during his detentions.

"Did you know Harry Potter was put in the Gryffindor team as a first year? He was a prodigy! He literally cannot get cooler." Nadir got stars in his eyes as he pointed at the magazine, showing Erik the moving picture of a young Harry Potter on a broom up in the sky.

Erik looked up at that, curious. "The Boy-Who-Lived?"

Nadir enthusiastically nodded. "The one and only!"

"Professor McGonagall fought on the same side of the war with him. He's rather young. Professor McGonagall was his House Head and Transfiguration Professor," Erik stated. "I read it in The Battle of Hogwarts by H.G. Weasley."

"Nerd," he said under his breath. Erik ignored the jab. "It kinda sucks that race wars happen in the wizarding world, too." Nadir looked sullen at his own admission. "I mean- think about it. If we were six years early, you and I would be killed or discriminated against. You'd think these magic people would have other things to do than be racist." He huffed, looking very disgusted at the thought.

Erik smiled grimly. "Bloodshed doesn't matter to someone who wants to experience the full extent of magical and political power." He eyed the Restricted Section at the very end of the library. "But yes. It would be a hassle if we went to Hogwarts then." He snickered to himself. "Although, I'm sure Professor McGonagall would be busier keeping The-Boy-Who-Constantly-Puts-Himself-In-Deadly-Situations alive than reminding me to go to the Infirmary."

"Hey! Harry Potter is a veteran! Show some respect!" Erik stuck out his tongue as Nadir defended his hero. Nadir rolled his eyes and just moved on, knowing Erik had more fun when he showed his annoyance. "Anyway, I heard Professor McGonagall called for you after your Transfiguration class."

"Detention," Erik said with a shrug. "I skipped too many checkups and now I'll be Madam Pomfrey's assistant once a week." With a frown, Erik glanced at the books on magical healing he'd gathered from the library. He wanted to know what he was getting into and felt that he needed to research as much as possible before throwing himself into an environment he was wholly unprepared for.

"I told you so."

"Don't be that person, Daroga."

Nadir snickered. "I have the right to be because I also heard that you finally took my advice, coward. How did it feel walking the lovely Ms. Daae around the halls of Hogwarts?"

The tips of Erik's ears turned red and it took everything in him to refrain from pulling his book up higher and then hiding behind it. Instead, he inclined his head and mimicked someone deep in thought. "It was pleasant," he said monotonously.

"Come on!" Nadir whined. "It's gotta be more interesting than that! You've been worrying about it for two weeks. Spill, dude. I'm dying over here."

Erik grabbed a quill and glumly began doodling on a blank piece of parchment. "I only walked her from Transfiguration to History of Magic. The rooms weren't even that far apart. We were barely able to speak with one another because Professor McGonagall held me back. I had to run to Herbology or else I would've been late."

"That's not all of it," Nadir said smugly. "You were in such a good mood after that. What happened?"

"If you must know, Christine asked me to accompany her everyday when we have the same classes."

Nadir laughed. "I had to pull your teeth for that? Well, congratulations anyway. I know how big your crush is."

"I don't have a crush on her."

"Of course you don't. Anyway, do you mind going over my Astronomy essay? I fell asleep in class again because someone didn't wake me up when I asked him to."

The Infirmary was surprisingly nice.

Erik had never been there before. His horrible body had a strong immune system, it seemed. When he got inside, he immediately saw the large arched windows reaching the high ceiling. Hospital beds lined the walls with white sheets separating them. Cabinets and closets were neatly shoved anywhere they'd fit, allowing storage for multiple kinds of potions and whatever healing apparatus a school full of accident prone students would need.

It didn't remind Erik of the hospitals he frequented when he was young. He supposed he preferred the natural lighting it possessed over the bright white bulbs hospitals usually had. The infirmary was cozier, at least.

"Glad you could finally make it, Mr. Dupont." Madam Pomfrey commented as she neared him. She was rather old but she carried herself like a working woman in her prime. She wore a uniform that reminded Erik of nurse outfits during the forties. She looked kind, at least. Matronly, even. She did, however, look cross at him.

Erik was standing near the exit, growing steadily uncomfortable. "I live to please," he said stiffly.

"Quite." She pursed her lips. "Let's not waste any more time, then. Hop on one of the beds and I'll give you your check-up."

He did just that. Erik silently sat on the clean white sheets at the very end of the bed. Madame Pomfrey approached him with her wand in hand.

"I'll simply do a few basic diagnostic spells, Mr. Dupont. Any objections?"

"Would you like a list?"

She snorted but hid it behind a cough. "Don't worry. This won't hurt." She swished her wand in several consecutive movements that were complicated yet precise.

A flurry of red and blue were directed at Erik's body and he tensed. The spells sent tingles all over different parts of his body, almost like static. Madam Pomfrey summoned a quill and parchment and wrote down whatever it was those diagnostic spells told her. She circled him like a hawk and Erik clenched his teeth.

It went on like that for about five minutes, but to Erik it felt like hours. He was just glad she wasn't prodding him with needles or tubes. Lord knew what he'd do if he were supposed to sit still for that.

With a final shudder along his spine, the spells stopped and Erik felt normal again. He pulled his robe closer to himself and glared at the nurse who was worriedly staring at what she wrote down.

"Well?" He demanded. "What's wrong with me?"

"Don't phrase it like that, dear." She tutted. "Well, you are severely malnourished and underweight. Other than that, nothing came up. Granted, these are very basic diagnostic tests. Would you be okay if I do more comprehensive diagnostic tests? It would show me a full history of your medical issues, both minor and major."

"No." He immediately snapped. "Thank you, Madame, but I don't need that. I just need to eat." He crossed his arms and glared at her, daring her to object.

"Very well." She didn't seem happy with that. "But make no mistake, Mr. Dupont. You won't just eat. I will be giving you supplements, vitamins, and a meal plan that you will follow religiously. Understood?"

"Yes, Madam." He sulked, not intending to do so.

She didn't believe him, it seemed. "If you don't, I will have a word with Professor McGonagall to assign a House Elf to watch over you and force it down your throat."

Erik didn't like the sound of that. He read what House Elves were and didn't fancy a wide eyed caretaker breathing down his throat. "Yes, Madam."

"Very good. I'll prepare the potions you'll need and a list of food you need to consume. Now, let's talk about the meat of the discussion." Her eyes sharpened and she bore into Erik's eyes, making him wonder if magic could let people read minds. "Would you care to explain how you got into such a state of malnutrition?"

"I'd rather not, honestly." He almost rolled his eyes.

"Is your family not earning enough, perhaps? Not enough to put food on the table? Hogwarts provides aid for students in need, you know. It's easily available for anyone."

Erik snorted and crossed his arms. His legs were swinging as he sat on the soft mattress. "I'm sure I could buy Hogwarts once my trust fund pulls through." He wasn't sure about that, but who knew? Not Erik, but neither did she.

"I see," she said skeptically. Madam Pomfrey summoned a chair and sat on it. She was still in front of Erik, but Erik was glad she wasn't hovering around him anymore. "So I take it your… starvation was a personal choice?"

Erik blinked. "I suppose. I'm not hungry often."

"Would you say you have body issues? Perhaps you're insecure about your looks?"

Erik let out a bark of laughter. It was mirthless and cold. It was almost hard to believe that a child of eleven could sound so cynical. Madam Pomfrey shifted uncomfortably in her seat, probably realizing how eerie Erik sounded when he laughed like that.

Erik, on the other hand, was clutching his sides. He could hardly breathe from the fits of giggles that left his body. Madam Pomfrey's question was just so absurd that it took him by surprise. Nobody had asked him that so confidently before.

Did he have body issues? Was he insecure? He bloody well didn't know! His face was ugly and it cost him a lifetime of pain and fear. He could admit that sometimes he didn't think or act normally, but what was that if not a direct reaction to all the trauma his ugliness has put him through?

Life was unfair. It really was. At that moment, he truly envied all the other annoying brats his age he'd met. They perhaps didn't have his magic or his intellect or his apparent wealth, but they were so blessedly normal that Erik could have wept for the same opportunity, even if just for a day.

He shook so much with laughter that he felt a tear escape down his eyes, but as he reached out to wipe it away, he realized that he was still in his mask when his fingertips brushed against its soft surface. Erik's giggles died down and he took deep breaths. His head was bowed and his back was slouching, making him appear smaller.

Madam Pomfrey looked very concerned and unsure of what to do. She looked both parts wanting to comfort him and wanting to watch in horror. Deciding, she stood and sat on the hospital bed next to him. Madam Pomfrey lightly rubbed soothing circles on his back, wincing whenever she felt his sharp spine protruding too far out of his skinny frame.

"Is it about the mask, dear?" She prodded gently.

Erik mutely nodded.

"Do you hide your face behind the mask because you think you're ugly?"

"It's not really subjective, Madam." He sighed. "The deformity I have has visually wrecked my face since I was born."

"And people have treated you differently because you look different?"

"I don't blame them," he sighed. He's admitting more than he should, but it had been a tiring day and the calming patterns she traced on his back felt so wonderful that he could melt. Erik was afraid that if he answered incorrectly, she'd realize she was touching a corpse and recoil in horror. "It's human nature to despise ugly things. Natural selection, really."

"I regret you think that way, dear." She sniffed to herself and Erik shivered in disgust, ashamed that he let a kind woman feel empathy for a monster.

"Me too, Madame." Erik admitted to her with a very tiny sorrowful smile and she looked close to bursting into tears.

"Would you be willing to show me underneath, Erik?"

"No," he snapped as the smile faded from his lips. He bared his teeth and tensed up, ready to stop her if she even tried to do so against his will. "Never. Erik would rather die than remove the mask."

Madame Pomfrey sighed deeply and stood up. Erik felt the loss of her touch almost immediately. "One day," she said. "Things will change for you. I know it. Professor McGonagall and I will make things better. I promise."

Erik crossed his arms and looked away from her, unable to bear the pity and sadness in her eyes.

De Chagny's hair was a flaming neon pink and Erik would deny having anything to do with it until the day he died.

Well, perhaps he had a little to do with it. Just not on purpose.

Late into the school year, they had their first flying lesson when it stopped being rainy outside. Erik wasn't very excited about it. He didn't really fantasize about hovering a hundred meters up in the air with a flimsy school-issued stick standing between him and his fortunate demise.

De Chagny, however, was infuriating enough to tempt him.

The first years were rather few, barely having enough to reach thirty. That gave them the so-called opportunity to have their first flying class together. All Houses were spread out across the wide field, figuring out how to wield a broom themselves.

Erik snuck away from the other Ravenclaws to go bother Nadir. He knew the boy had been waiting for this day and he wanted to see if he could ruin it a little. Unfortunately, Nadir was doing alright.

"Up!" Nadir yelled as Erik approached him. The old broom jolted at his command and rose to his open hand. Nadir jumped with surprise and joy at his little achievement and Erik couldn't help but slowly clap, whether it was sarcastic or supportive was up to debate. Nadir turned to him, a smug smile playing at his lips. "Did you see that, Erik?"

"Of course," he drawled. "I also see great potential in you as a highschool graduate coach."

The jab rolled off of Nadir's back like water. "I can't wait til we're in the air. I always liked rollercoasters and stuff so I guess I'd be into flying, too."

He turned fully at Erik, who stuck out like a sore thumb. Erik appeared subdued and uncomfortable in this specific class compared to the others who were giddy and loud. His hood was pulled so far down his face that he almost looked like a specter passing by to take their souls. He was as tense as the broom tightly in his left hand.

"Honestly?" Nadir raised his brows at him. "I expected you to come here with a helmet, knee pads, and a lawyer ready to sue for damages."

Erik smiled sardonically. "I imagine Hogwarts would be able to cough up a large settlement," he said.

"Have you even summoned your broom up yet?" Nadir judgmentally cocked his head to the side.

"No." Erik glared at him. "Madam Hooch is busy and I'm sure she wouldn't know the difference between a summoned broom and a broom someone took two seconds to pick up from the floor."

"Just try it, Erik! It feels good. You're always yapping about the rush magic brings. You never know, you could be the next Harry Potter!"

Erik scoffed distastefully. "His mother sacrificed herself out of love, Daroga." He snickered. "Mine would sacrifice me for hot chips."

"Erik!" Nadir scolded, horrified. Erik shrugged.

And then, Christine skipped over to them.

With de Chagny in tow.

The rollercoaster of emotions Erik felt left him with whiplash. He saw Christine first, her golden curls even prettier under the afternoon sunlight. She was like a fairy, meant for the outdoors and warmth. Her pale face was flushed with excitement and her happy blue eyes spoke volumes of wonderment. Erik softened immediately at the sight of her, regretting that she would never experience such soft thoughts whenever she saw him.

She smiled at both Nadir and Erik. Nadir smiled back, but hid a snicker as he pushed Erik in front of him. Erik flinched at the action, vowing to strangle him later, but chose to simply enjoy Christine's company first.

He opened his mouth to speak, but de Chagny came not long after.

Erik sneered. It was honestly ridiculous how de Chagny could perfectly replicate the American Dream's boy-next-door. Despite running around outside, not a hair out of his head was out of place and his dimpled face barely even broke a sweat. He wore black slacks and a crisp white polo shirt beneath the Hogwarts sweater, a red and gold tie smartly tied at the collar. Erik internally gagged, nauseated by how it seemed like de Chagny flaunted his good looks without even realizing it.

"Nadir! Erik!" Christine clasped her hands behind her back. "How's flying class going for you guys?"

"Great!" Nadir and Erik answered simultaneously, although with very different tones.

De Chagny took the spot next to her and crossed his arms. He almost ignored Nadir completely, preferring to keep his guard up around Erik. "Nadir. Dupont." He greeted them lightly. Christine looked pleased.

"Hey, Raoul!" Nadir chirped brightly.

Erik was silent.

"So, Dupont." He surveyed Erik's form from top to bottom, looking every bit like the spoiled aristocrat that Erik was envisioning him as. "I see you haven't summoned your broom yet."

"Oh?" Erik smirked and tilted his head. "I'm flattered. I didn't know how invested you were in my academic progress."

"I'm just trying to make sure you don't do any funny business while everyone's busy." He glared and Erik could almost count his pathetic attempt as cute. "That, or you just can't do it."

"Raoul!" Christine hissed, but de Chagny was looking at Erik, daring him to contradict.

Erik laughed outright, almost offended at how the brat was trying to goad him. "Are you challenging me?" Nadir and Erik shared a look. Erik's face was hidden, but the glint in his gold eyes and the smirk on his lips made him appear amused, if not bored. Nadir just rolled his eyes skywards.

"It shouldn't be a challenge if you're as good as you think you are." De Chagny crossed his arms. Christine moved to pull him away from this conversation, tugging at his grey sleeve. She failed quite miserably as de Chagny stood there like a statue as he waited for Erik to reply.

"Very well." Erik raised an eyebrow, but they couldn't see it. "What sort of game are we playing? I'm assuming you spent all night thinking about our little playdate together. Again, I'm flattered." He grinned wickedly, enjoying the angry red that spilled de Chagny's cheeks.

The boy clenched his soft hands. "I brought a snitch from home," he said through clenched teeth.

Erik blinked. "Good for you?"

"What? No. I mean I have the ball people use in Quidditch. My father and I used it to practice flying at home." He shoved his fingers into his pocket and brought out a small circular orb of gold. It had an intricate design with lines swirling all around it and two grand wings that allowed it to float around their heads. "You and I will fly and the first one to catch it wins. Simple."

"What are the stakes, then? Make it interesting." Erik was already attempting to recall every manual and book he'd read on Quidditch which, admittedly, wasn't a lot. He hadn't even summoned his broom yet, much less flown or chased a flying ball. He thought back to all the times Nadir wouldn't shut up about it as he forced Erik to read sports magazines with him, hoping it would help him a little. Erik knew the pesky snitch wasn't easy to find, but damn it all to hell if de Chagny thought he wouldn't put up a fight.

"If I win, you show everyone what you look like underneath that mask." De Chagny declared haughtily, chin up high.

The three of them looked at him with bewilderment. Christine snapped out of it first, pulling him to the side and whispered her scoldings at him. The boys couldn't hear what she was telling de Chagny, but he did look sheepish and perhaps a little regretful after a few of her harsher words. He still didn't recant his wager.

Nadir glanced up at Erik incredulously. Erik responded with disbelief. "Well," Nadir said. "The boy has guts."

"And a peanut for a brain." Erik scoffed.

"Are you actually gonna play against him?" Nadir worriedly asked. "I heard they have a whole Quidditch pitch in their backyard for fun. Hell, he's been playing before he could even walk." Nadir snickered. "The only way I can see you holding a broom is in the future when you and Christine are married and you're her obedient house husband."

"You say that as a joke, but I see that as the best possible ending for my miserable life." Erik shrugged. "I don't have the experience de Chagny does, but trust me." The teasing light in his eyes was gone, replaced by a steely determination. "I won't lose."

"If you say so," he responded doubtfully. "What are you betting, then?"

"De Chagny!" Erik called and the two blondes snapped their heads over at him. "I accept your wager, but-" he smirked, "-if I win, you'll have to be my servant for the rest of the year."

"What? No!"

Nadir hid a laugh behind a cough and Christine exasperatedly rolled her eyes. De Chagny looked positively green at his bet, scrunching up his nose in disgust. Apparently, his delicate rich boy sensibilities were revolted at the idea of being a little maid.

"Afraid you'll lose, de Chagny?" Erik taunted smugly.

The blonde grit his teeth. "To you?" He snorted. "Never. Let's play." He turned to go fetch his broom from the other side of the field, giving Erik a few minutes to prepare.

"As your friend, I'd hate to see you lose." Nadir sighed in an exaggeratedly despondent way. "But as your very good friend, seeing you lose would actually be kinda funny. I'd love to see you get knocked down a peg or two, Mr. Boy Genius."

Erik stared at him irritably. "Seriously, who started that nickname? I hate it."

"Dunno," he replied honestly. "I heard it and it stuck with me."

Christine walked closer to them with a worried glance. "Aren't you muggleborn, Erik? Is this your first time on a broom?" At Erik's nod, she bit her lip. "Well, good luck. Raoul's pretty good. I wish you didn't agree to the mask thing. It's a total invasion of your privacy and he knows that, but he won't listen to me!" She looked ready to stomp her foot at the injustice of it all.

"The two of you worry too much. I'll be fine" Erik rolled his eyes, although slightly gratified at Christine's apparent concern no matter how misplaced.

"He told me he had a trainer come by every week since he was a kid," Christine muttered. "Excuse us for not being fully confident in the skills you've learned ten minutes ago."

Before he could respond, de Chagny jogged over to them. Madam Hooch had brought another kid to the Hospital wing when he fractured a finger after a nasty fall and was nowhere to be seen. The other first years were gathering around them after they heard about a bet between the handsome pureblood and the masked genius. Whispers were flying around them, but Erik was more focused on the tiny ball de Chagny clenched between his fingers.

"Ready, Dupont?"

"Ready as the tea I'd like for you to make me when we're done here." Erik smiled.

De Chagny snarled and let go of the snitch, letting it flutter into the air before it madly dashed in and out of sight. Erik stood still on the ground, looking up at it with narrowed eyes, while de Chagny shot up on his broom like lightning.

"Erik, what the hell are you doing? Fly!" Nadir was shaking his shoulders and shoving his broom into Erik's hand, but Erik continued watching in silence.

Taunts and cheers were raging amongst the crowd. Some were urging Erik to start flying while the others supported de Chagny as he blindly flew around. Christine and Nadir were pestering him, trying to get him to move.

Erik, however, was content to watch first. He had never seen any of this in action before. He memorized the patterns the snitch used, how it flew and when. It was fast, but it only flew short distances before changing direction at will. Erik analyzed the patterns as critically as he could despite the circumstances, quickly attempting to recall whatever theory on Quidditch and sports he had in his head.

His gold eyes glanced at de Chagny as well. He was confident in the air, fast and steady. He appeared in control of his surroundings. He flew with an alertness that was ready to win and Erik felt a begrudging respect for that.

But he saw that de Chagny was reckless when it came to the snitch. He was gullible to its every appearance and fell for every trap it sent his way. He was going to get dizzy and tired fast if he kept following it every chance he got without going for the kill.

Erik smiled, grabbed the broom, and shot up in the sky without further notice. He grimaced a little, wondering why the school didn't update their brooms' cushioning charms more often.

He wasn't completely sure how he did it, but he reckoned that since most magic was a matter of intent and visualization, flying on a broom couldn't be very different. He angled his body steadily, clutching the wood between his hands tightly as he copied the flying stance de Chagny was using. He was careful as he flew and conjured whatever grace his body had to stop him from any embarrassing wobbling.

The hood on his head almost fell off because of the wind, but a quiet sticking charm prevented it from showing everyone the back of his almost bald head. Erik grimaced at the thought of that, but willed his broom to fly quicker regardless. He'll have to remember about getting that wig soon.

The sun hurt his eyes quite a bit and the wind irritated them, as well. He wasn't used to being outdoors like this, but he would push it just to rub it in de Chagny's face. He hovered in the air, several feet above de Chagny who was madly darting around for the snitch, and remained still.

Erik slowed his breathing and simply listened. His ears searched for the high pitched whirring the snitch emitted when it was nearby and ready to pop out of hiding. He could faintly hear it, getting louder or softer depending on its distance. Erik hovered close. He knew it would show itself for a little tease eventually.

De Chagny turned to glare at him, a bead of sweat falling down his forehead. Erik sarcastically smiled and sent him a wave. De Chagny flew up and closer to Erik, intending to give him a piece of his mind, but suddenly Erik lunged his own broom towards de Chagny with an absurd amount of speed.

De Chagny hesitated, confused, before he realized Erik was quickly attempting to go behind him. De Chagny turned, sure that Erik saw the snitch and was attempting to get it before him. De Chagny smirked and faced the same way Erik did before immediately pushing all his speed forward.

But the snitch wasn't there.

Erik laughed, amazed at how the stupid feint worked, and turned the opposite direction to where he was sure the snitch was going to be. The soft whirring of its wings alerted him to its presence and he pushed his broom to get there faster. The distance between him and de Chagny was impossibly big by the time the boy knew what happened.

Still, de Chagny tried.

Erik felt rather than saw de Chagny gaining up on him and was very close to his side. Erik set his mouth into a firm line and scooted closer to the edge of the broom, carefully allowing one hand to reach out for the snitch.

But the snitch suddenly swerved to the right and so hopelessly close to de Chagny's position that Erik clicked his tongue, turned ninety degrees before he could even blink, and leapt out of his broom with his gangly legs barely keeping him afloat as they clutched the thin wood for dear life.

His ears were ringing, sure that he would've died a painful death had this situation been even an inch different. His long fingers, however, thrummed with numbing static as his gloved hand clenched around a tiny golden ball whose wings contentedly fluttered against his skin. Erik let out a breathless laugh as he realized that he won and that stupid perfect de Chagny was going to-

-to bump into him midair and fall out of his broom.

Erik tightly clutched his broom -his heart was doing somersaults and he was sure he was going to die from a heart attack soon- after de Chagny gracelessly crashed into him in a (rather late) attempt to secure the snitch for himself. Erik could only watch in horror as de Chagny took most of the impact. The boy wobbled dangerously, trying to keep his body on his broom, but failed as his sweaty hands and trembling form were unable to support him.

So he fell.

They were more than a hundred meters up in the air, but Erik could hear Christine screaming even from there. De Chagny and Erik locked eyes as he plunged to his doom, gold meeting blue, and Erik saw the fear of death clear as day in the eyes that were once naive and almost child-like in confidence.

Erik stopped breathing and as quickly as he could, brought out his wand from the inner pocket of his robe. He fumbled a little, nerves making him a jittery mess, but he forced himself to calm down when Christine's screams got louder.

"MOLLIARE!" He screeched with abandon when de Chagny was barely a foot from the ground.

Raoul didn't die.

But a sickening crunch and snap told him his cushioning charm was a tiny bit late

Also, his hair was somehow pink in a surprisingly appealing way.

Erik flew down, eyes wide and his heart pounding. Everyone gathered around Raoul who was whimpering like a child, but so blessedly alive that Erik could feel his soul leave his body.

"Erik!" Two voices yelled from his side and he was tackled by Christine and Nadir. Christine was red and her eyes were puffy, her golden hair wildly messy. Nadir was sweating and trembling all over, practically sobbing in relief at the turn of events.

They all turned to look at Raoul. His arm was broken on impact, but he was otherwise fine. Christine squeezed Erik's shoulder and tearily smiled at him before jogging over to her friend, trying to keep him calm while they waited for someone to help.

"I thought he was going to die," Nadir said.

Erik nodded shakily. "Me too."

"But you stopped it."

"I did."

"How?"

"Cushioning charm," Erik muttered. "I was going to complain about how they barely make their school-issued brooms comfortable when the spell to do it is easy." He swallowed thickly. "I read how to do it in a book and I know it works on people, too. I've never practiced it before, which explains the pink hair, I suppose. So. There."

"Oh."

"Yes," he said softly. "I can't believe it either."

"Well, you better believe it." Nadir turned away warily. "Because I see Madam Hooch, Professor Flitwick, and Headmistress McGonagall coming your way and I don't think they're going to ask you to take your vitamins this time."

Erik groaned and closed his eyes.

The next morning, Erik sulkily had breakfast with Christine.

"What did they say? Raoul won't tell me."

"We both got detention until the rest of the year. Everyone lost points because no one called a teacher, but Gryffindor and Ravenclaw lost a hundred more."

"Bummer… but why does Ravenclaw still have a bunch of points?"

Erik smirked. "All the teachers agreed that my immense magical knowledge and quick thinking deserves a reward, albeit a small one." He shrugged carelessly. "I did save your boy's life, you know?"

"I know and I'm thankful for it." Christine pushed his supplemental potions closer to his body and Erik stifled a gag. "Anyway, the headmistress told me to make sure you ate and drank your potions. So here you go! Bon appetit!"

"Your French sounds horrible."

Christine grinned. "Don't be mean, Erik. I'm trying to get our hero to eat up!"

Erik glared only because he didn't want her to see how affected he was by her calling him a hero. He sniffed and shovelled another slice of pancake into his mouth, noting how pretty Christine looked when she was pleased.

---

A/N: sorry for the late update! school's starting and i thoroughly underestimated how much I wanted to write for this fic. anyway, i'd love to hear your thoughts on this new chapter! we're slowly but surely going through erik's first year and i'm excited to write the rest of it. that's all! thank your for reading (and reviewing, maybe?) 3