A.N. I apologize for the lack of updating. I seem to have come down with a bad case of writer's block and I am slowly recovering. I am trying to put more Erik wit into the story as it goes along and have many ideas for later on. I just need to figure out how to get there in the meantime. And as is the plee from every fanfic autor: please review (good or bad, I don't mind) and thanks to those who already have. :-D

Chapter 7 Angel of Music

"Class, I have an announcement to make," Madame Giry said loudly. "It has recently come to my attention that the Board has decided to cut the budget for the Vocal department drastically." A nervous murmur ran through the room. "Ahem! Thank you. What this means is that they are capping the size of each class year in the vocal major." The murmur grew louder as students chatted with their neighbors.

"Does this mean that just the freshman class next year will be smaller?" one girl asked. Madame Giry shook her head sadly.

"Unfortunately, no. Every year will be limited to twenty students making the grand total to be eighty Vocal majors attending this school at any given time. You make be..." she tried to continue but the room was in a near frenzied state. "Class, quiet down! Excuse me!" Finding that either attempt to regain their attention had failed, she raised her wooden cane- mostly for show- and struck the floor with it resulting in a thunderous crack and a silent room of students. "AS I WAS SAYING, you may be asking yourselves how they are going to choose who gets to stay in the program and who will have to seek their vocal education elsewhere. Part of it will be decided based upon class participation and scores. The larger part, however, will be decided during several of our performances over the academic year. You will each be evaluated in your roles by members of the Board, the President of the college, and members of the Vocal department."

Christine sat stunned. Here she was, halfway through the semester and could not have been happier. Her time at Crawford College had been the best couple of months she had spent since almost before she could remember. She had two great friends who never let her get herself down, and her mysterious confidant who always seemed to be there right when she needed him to be. Sometimes he just sat silently and let her vent her frustrations, and other times he gave her quiet words of wisdom. Life was looking so happy for her and now suddenly everything she had worked for could be taken away just because some high-up businessmen in their expensive suits sat around a table and decided that something like having more comfortable chairs in the executive offices was more important than an entire major. She knew that similar thoughts were running through the minds of those around her and she didn't even realize that Madame Giry had dismissed the class until the room was almost empty. Upon closer inspection, the room was empty except for herself and Madame Giry who was gathering her things. Christine leaned down to collect her books and knocked her pen farther down the row. She sighed in frustration and dropped down on hands and knees, looking under the other chairs. Spotting the familiar pink top, she reached under and emerged victorious. She was about to sit up when she overheard Madame Giry speaking to someone.

"I know the situation looks dire but there is nothing that can be done about it," Madame Giry said solemly.

"Of course there is. I could..." a male voice replied ominously. It sounded familiar. Christine tried to place it.

"NO! Erik, please don't do anything rash," Madame Giry begged. Erik! Christine peeked over the chair and saw Madame Giry standing next to Erik who was leaning over the front table with his arms spread and head down. Outfitted in his usual black, Christine couldn't help but fell drawn to him. Something about the way he was standing there, something about his posture, just something about him in general...

"But we can't just stand back and do nothing. You know I respect your opinion as you have respected mine, but how can you stand by and watch these damn imbeciles tear apart the foundation of this institution? This program is the very reason this college is still in existence. You may not realize this, but Crawford College was at bankruptcy's doorstep when they changed this institution from a more technical school to that of fine arts and business. The Vocal program is this school's crowning gem and yet they seek to crush it."

Christine sat silent with only her eyes following him as Erik paced the front of the classroom during his tirade. She didn't realize she was holding her breath until she found herself gasping for air. She suddenly felt the urge to sneeze and tried desperately to hold it in. No, not now! Not now! Oh no... "Ahhh CHOOOO!" It seemed like such a small noise, but in the near empty and now-silent room, it echoed off of the walls. She peeked over the chair again to see Erik staring intently in her direction.

"Who is there? SHOW YOURSELF AT ONCE!" He bellowed and started up the aisle. Christine grabbed her books and stood hesitantly, keeping her eyes on the ground. She had not seen this side of Erik and she felt a chill run down her spine.

"It's just me, " she said in hushed embarrassment, daring to only give Erik a sideways glance. "I was chasing my pen."

"Christine?" he said in surprise, all anger melting away from his voice and face.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to eavesdrop," Christine could feel the heat rising in her cheeks.

"Erik, you know this girl?" Madame Giry asked when they approached her again. Her eyes darted nervously between the two.

"He rescued me one night at a party- well, outside of a party," Christine explained, smiling at the shadow engulfed face next to her. Madame Giry merely raised an eyebrow, her eyes never leaving his.

"I see," was all she said.

"Getting back to the problem at hand, what can we do?" Erik asked suddenly as if snapped back to reality. Madame Giry paused in gathering her books and looked thoughtful.

"Well," she said at last. "We could begin by making sure that our most deserving students have the best shot at being one of the twenty...starting with you, Miss Daaé."

"What! Me?" Christine nearly dropped her books as she stared at the woman in disbelief. She knew she could sing better than the average person, but there was no possibility that she could ever be good enough to stay in the program.

"Yes, you," a smile crossed Madame Giry's face making it appear much younger. "You have the technique down fairly well and you are extremely talented. It is in your self-confidence where you are lacking. Once you get over that, you will be able to sing like an angel. I'm going to refer you to a friend of mine- a really genius when it comes to music- who can work miracles. I mean, he taught this old ballerina how to sing on key!" Christine couldn't believe her ears. Madame Giry was one of the best singers she knew and she was being completely humble in her talents. Just the fact that she was going to meet such a gifted person was enough to give her goosebumps.

"Who is this amazing man and where can I find him?" she asked breathlessly. The woman smirked and said simply,

"We call him the Angel of Music...and he's standing right next to you." Christine's mouth dropped as she wheeled around to face Erik.

"You!" she gaped. He removed his fedora and gave a chivalrous bow.

"Angel of Music, at your service," he said, standing up straight. He gave a faint grin at the shocked girl's expression. With a long, thing finger, he gently lifted Christine's refined chin to close her mouth. "Come now, we have much work to do."

"That's horrible!" Meg exclaimed later that day in the coffee shop. "How can they cut such an important program?"

"That seems to be the question of the century," Christine sighed and then sipped on her green tea. The honey soothed her scratchy throat after the grueling session she had with Erik/Angel of Music. "I am the Angel of Music and I shall be referred to in that manner," he had said when she mistakenly called him by his name during their lesson. He then demanded an apology when Christine started laughing at the silliness of it all. Angel of Musicwas so much longer to say than Erik, but he refused to be acknowledged as such. They finally came to a compromise by shortening his title to "Angel". It cost her several more rounds of scales and exercises which left her vocal cords strained and tender. She had been given strict orders to drink plenty of fluids and restrict her conversations to zero. At least she was doing well with one of them.

"That puts a lot of unneeded pressure on you guys for those performances," Raoul frowned over his espresso. "My father is on the Board, but he never mentioned anything about this. I think we need to have a little talk, right now," Raoul excused himself from the table and started to dial on his cell phone.

"Where did we find him?" Christine asked, smiling in admiration at his loyalty to help the situation.

"Psh, along the road somewhere," Meg joked. "So what is up with your new singing coach? By the sound of your voice right now, he must be pretty tough."

"He's certainly not easy. He's a demanding-controlling-perfectionist, but that's what makes him so great. I need someone like that to push me to be a better singer. If I'm not on stage with a solo during our performances, I'll have no hope of staying in the program."

"Christine, do I see that glassy look in your eyes?" Meg smirked. "Are you interested in this 'Angel of Music' fellow?"

"Um..."

"WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING! DO YOU REALIZE WHAT THIS MEANS!" Christine and Meg were interrupted by Raoul's shouts. He glanced around and noticed that all eyes in the shop were on him. He grinned sheepishly and turned to face the wall, continuing to rant in a loud whisper.

"Did you see how tight he was holding that phone?" Meg asked, trying to stifle a giggle.

"He looks really mad," Christine agreed. "I guess Mr. Chagney voted in favor of the cut. If the look on Raoul's face is any indication, Thanksgiving dinner in the Chagney household will certainly be interesting."

"Indeed."