Chapter 2:

Lupin and Dumbledore laughed merrily after the conclusion of the opera. They had thought that it was going to be a disaster of unknown proportions earlier. Kristin's beautiful voice had quelled some of their fears, but new ones had arisen when they heard grumbling over the fact that La Cissa wasn't performing that night. However, once Miss Wright opened her mouth to sing, the audience was immediately captivated and gave her a standing ovation. They were all taken with her.

Their new patron was also taken with the young new star of the Hogwarts Opera. Lupin and Dumbledore had warned the Count that La Cissa wasn't going on, but that a Kristin Wright would. And all throughout the performance he wondered why that name rang a few bells in his mind. It wasn't until halfway through Elissa's "Think of Me" did it hit. And when it hit, Sirius Black nearly fell off his chair. After the show, he walked backstage, hoping that the managers would allow him time with his little Kiki…

Meanwhile, Harmony went running through the under workings of the Opera house. She had not been able to congratulate her friend as Kristin had been swept up in a sea of well wishers and admirers. Then she seemed to disappear and no one knew where she went. But Harmony had some clue and she turned towards the secret little alcove that Kristin had turned into a memorial for her father shortly after her arrival. How could Harmony forget it? She and her mother had helped the forlorn child set it up—that's how the two became inseparable friends.

She rounded the corner and snuck down stairs no one in the palace knew existed. She reached the dark hallway and pulled out her wand—something most ballerinas in the Opera learned to hide in case of an emergency—and lit it up so she could see where she was going. At the end, she could see other lights flickering and knew that she would find Kristin there. She didn't even bother looking as she rounded the last corner. "Kristin, have you been hiding down here the entire time? I've wanted to congratulate you—you were perfect! Now, don't let your best friend be kept in the dark—tell me your secret. Who is this mysterious tutor my mother keeps jabbering on about?"

Kristin stood up from her position in front of her father's portrait and motioned Harmony closer. "When my father lay on his death bed, he promised me that he would send me the Angel of Music. And he's made good on his promise!"

Harmony glanced at her friend in confusion. "Kristin, what are you talking about? Is this mysterious tutor of yours the Angel of Music?"

"Who else would it be? He's never really acknowledged it himself, but I know he is," Kristin exclaimed, a strange burst of energy and zeal bursting forth. "He's been coming to me in my sleep and at other points when I'm alone, teaching me. My voice has improved because of him—he watches over me and guides me!"

The two had started walking back towards the busier section of the Opera, where all the dressing rooms were. Harmony felt the odd sensation of being watched come over her, but she shrugged it off and turned to see if Kristin had felt it. She gasped when she saw how her friend's demeanor had changed. Instead of the zealous young woman she was before—burst with energy and life—she was now pale, eyes wide. She was afraid—the fear rolled off her body and made Harmony nervous again. "Kristin?" she questioned

"He's here—he's with me right now," her friend said. Harmony began searching the crowd for anyone out of the ordinary. "He wouldn't be in among the crowds—I told you he's an angel. He hides in the shadows watching me." Harmony turned to her friend, who looked at her with tears of fear in her eyes. "But if he's an angel, why am I so afraid?" To this Harmony had no answers and she merely shook her head.

After a few minutes, Kristin had calmed down and the two began walking towards her dressing room. They met with Madame McGonagall, who was beaming at Kristin with motherly pride. "You were wonderful tonight!" she exclaimed, ushering her two daughters inside. Flowers from fans now filled Kristin's room, but McGonagall picked up a lone rose tied with a green and silver bow. "He is pleased with your performance," she told Kristin, handing the rose to her. Kristin took it and fingered it gently.

After a few minutes, McGonagall cleared her throat. "Someone wants to see you. The new patron—Count Sirius Black," she said, looking over Kristin. She suddenly understood when a happy smile came to the young woman's face. "You know him." It wasn't a question—confirmation was in that smile.

"Sirius and I, well, we grew up together for a bit. My father was once employed by his and the two of us were the only children on the manor. We were almost childhood sweethearts—he once gave me a flower, I once gave him a kiss. If only on the cheek," Kristin explained, still smiling wide.

McGonagall ushered Harmony outside and left Kristin alone. Within minutes, Dumbledore and Lupin approached the dressing room with their young patron in tow. Sirius had sent one of his young pages out quickly to get a bouquet of daisies—the same type of flower he had given Kristin when he was a young boy. "Well, gentlemen, this is where I leave you," he said, giving a short bow before opening the door. He walked in quickly and shut the door behind him. "Little Kiki, sitting by the river's edge, wondered what she preferred…"

"Oh, Sirius, you do remember," Kristin declared, more over the little poem he was about to recite than the fact his bouquet was daisies.

"Do I like brooms or floo?"

"Spells or potions?"

"Hippogriffs or Thestrals?"

"Though surrounded by magical things, what I prefer is the one thing I've never seen—just heard the Angel of Music singing to me, my Angel of Music singing to me," Kristin said, the ending coming as if she were in a trance.

Sirius laughed and hugged his old friend. "Oh, Kristin, you have grown! And you were fantastic out there!"

Kristin smiled. "Remember how my father always said that I would be visited by the Angel of Music—and I have, Sirius, I have!" She was now almost bursting with joy.

Sirius laughed. "Of course you have! It's so obvious," he said, straightening up. "But now, we go to dinner. We have much to catch up on!"

Sirius moved for the door, ignoring Kristin's paling face and the wild fear in her voice. "No, Sirius, the Angel of Music is strict!"

By this time, Sirius was at the door. "I shan't keep you late. Five more minutes, little Kiki." With that, he swept out of the room, leaving behind a very fearful Kristin.

She carefully started to change from her costume into the dress Madame McGonagall had been kind to lay out for her. She couldn't shake off her feeling of being watched, which was confirmed when she heard someone breathing. "Who's there?" she demanded, whipping around. "Sirius, are you back?"

"That insolent fop?" a smooth voice called out. "He's just a boy, sharing in your triumphant and my glory!"

Kristin put a hand up to her heart in hopes to get to slow down. "Angel, you scared me," she said, talking to the air. "But where are my manners? Enter, please."

"No, not here," the "angel" whispered back. "Come towards your mirror."

"My mirror?"

"Yes, come to me. Come to your Angel," the voice whispered, sending Kristin into a trance like state. She walked slowly to her mirror as the voice kept whispering the same phrase over and over. "Come to me. Come to your Angel."

Sirius whistled as he walked back towards Kristin's room, ready to take her out to dinner. He paused at the door and found it odd that it was locked. It hadn't been before he left and he doubted Kristin would look him out. He knocked gently. "Kristin, it's Sirius. Are you still in there?" he asked.

Putting his ear to the door to make out an answer, all he heard was: "Come to me. Come to your Angel."

"Angel?" Sirius asked, brows furrowed. Kristin had mentioned the Angel of Music had visited her, the angel her father had always spoken of…but such tales were merely that, tales. Right? "Kristin, are you alright? Kristin?" He tried the door handle harder and this time it gave way. He tumbled into the room to find it completely empty, no sign of Kristin everywhere. "Wha--?" he mumbled.

A/N: Hello, out there! Well, anyone familiar with my updating habits of "Elaborate Lives" knows I update every week on the same day. I would've updated last week, but I had my cousin's wedding. Anyway, I also would like to warn now that I may not be able to do my usual 2 chapter update with this story. Anyway, thanks to my only reviewer: phantomoftheopera92. Mac