Chapter 10:

"Remember, he is armed and dangerous. He knows wandless magic," Sirius instructed a group of Aurors gathered before him. The Phantom's opera was going to be performed that night and his demise was to be its grand finale. Dumbledore and Lupin had little difficulties convincing the Ministry to dispatch some Aurors since the Phantom had killed Hagrid.

"Keep your hands at the level of your eyes," McGonagall warned cryptically. Everyone looked at her, shuddered and went to their stations.

"I'm going to wish Kristin good luck," Sirius said to the McGonagalls. "What do you say?"

"Just tell her to knock them dead," Harmony said, rolling her eyes. Sirius smiled and walked off. "Do you think this will work?" she asked her mother.

"No." With that, both separated to finish preparations.

Kristin was beyond nervous now that the overture was soon to start. She knew that the Phantom was not going to resist watching her perform his own opera but that he wasn't going to fall into Sirius' trap. She wouldn't be surprised if he already had his own counter plan. And that it included her. The more she thought about it, the more she wanted to back out. Perhaps she could feign illness and ran away from England? The Phantom wouldn't be happy but she would finally be free. She was just about to put that plan into action when Sirius opened the door and stepped inside.

"Are you ready?" he asked. Kristin shook her head. "Oh, I'm sure you'll do fine. You're great—you're better than great! You'll knock them dead, wow them!"

"Sirius, it's not that. I know I can sing the part."

"I know you can. So what is it?"

"The plan."

"Kristin, I love you but don't start that again!" he said. "The plan will work. I cooked it up and factored everything in."

"The Phantom! You haven't factored in the Phantom! He's smarter than you give him credit for and that's your problem. Can't we just ran away now. I feel ill, give me a few more minutes and I'll be sick for real. We can go, leave England. Go somewhere, anywhere else. Just, don't make me do this."

"No, even if we leave, he will still haunt us. You yourself even said so. This is the only way. Once tonight is over, we can breathe easier. Okay?"

Kristin continued to shake her head. "Please, Sirius, I just can't. You have to understand it. I love you but I also can't betray him. I can't betray my angel."

"Don't think of him as your angel. Think of him as a demon. Remember him in the graveyard, throwing those fire balls at me while declaring himself the Angel of Death. That's the image you need and that will help you, understand?"

"I'll try."

Sirius smiled and kissed her. "That's my girl. I'm going to go sit with Dumbledore and Lupin. We'll be able to give the orders to the Aurors easier from there. You'll be fine." With another kiss, he was gone. Kristin walked over to her couch and curled up there, still shaking.

"Is it ready?" Lupin asked Sirius as the Count sat down. Sirius nodded and the manager breathed a sigh of relief.

"Dumbledore is in the back giving a pep talk to the performers. This isn't the best opera and we all know that, even us without proper musical training. We know it isn't going to be too well received and that might be hard on our performers. We want them to keep their spirits through this whole operation," the man continued to explain.

Sirius made a noise of understanding but was looking at Box Five. McGonagall was standing around there and he stood up. "Pardon me, sir. But I think we need to prevent a little bird from singing," Sirius said, motioning to McGonagall with his head.

"I don't think you would need to worry about her," Lupin said. "She's loyal to Hogwarts, we all know that."

"Indeed, but I also know she is the only other person with direct contact with the Phantom. I just want to be safe." With that, Sirius swept out of the managers' box and to the Phantom's.

Minerva McGonagall was pacing outside of Box Five, standing guard until Severus slipped into his seat at the beginning of the overture. She wasn't going to have any contact with the man, she wasn't supposed to. He didn't like people talking to him before one of his works was about to be revealed; she learned the hard way with the new designs on the building. She was just there to make sure no one took his box, but she figured they would have to be crazy to do so after the Hagrid incident during "Il Muto." She shook her head as Sirius approached.

"How is she?" she asked, concerned for Kristin.

"She is fine. It is you I'm worried about," Sirius replied.

"Me?"

"Yes. Why are you out here?"

McGonagall looked around and she immediately knew what he was thinking. "I am not waiting for Severus to warn him," she asserted. "I'm merely standing guard. You remember what happened when you sat in his box, imagine what would happen if someone would sat here tonight."

"Is that it? You're merely saving his seat," Sirius said, hands clasped behind his back.

"Yes. I'm loyal to Hogwarts. It has been my home for years. I raised my daughter between these walls. How dare you imply I do not care?"

"But my dear McGonagall, you yourself told me that you've been caring for the monster since he came to England."

"He is not a monster, sir. I wish you would stop calling him that."

"See? Your maternal feelings may cause our plan to be foiled. Maybe those feelings may override your loyalty to this opera house and company."

"How dare you! More accusations! Yes, I've cared for Severus since he arrived here, but my daughter is also a member of this opera company. And Kristin, I've raised her as my own daughter since Richard died. If anything, my maternal feelings would magnify my loyalty to this place.

"I suggest you return to the managers' box. The overture should start soon and Severus would not like to see you standing here," McGonagall said. "Please." Sirius nodded and walked off, still not entirely sure if she was on their side. But he would have to trust her for now.

Flitwick waved his wand as the workers dimmed the house lights. The overture started to polite applause as Aurors stood around, waiting. Dumbledore slipped into the box next to a tightly wound Remus and a very suspicious yet smug Sirius. The older man couldn't' happen to notice the Count was too cocky, especially since the plan hadn't been executed yet. Sirius would have to watch himself, he was sure. But for now, Dumbledore leaned back and prepared for the disaster.

Backstage, people rushed about the stage as places were called. Narcissa was in a funk still over the size of her part. She sulked in the wings, awaiting her first cue. Harmony stood with Kristin, who was anxiously pacing the hallway. She tried to comfort her friend, but nothing was working. They could hear the music start and Kristin grabbed Harmony's hands. They both knew it was now or never. Without a word, they gave each other a hug, unsure of how the night was going to end.

McGonagall found herself in a darkened hallway as the overture started. She took a deep breath and continued to pace the floor outside of Box Five. The curtain rustled a bit and she heard footsteps inside the box. A shadow took a seat before turning, pushing the curtain back. A familiar silver mask greeted her as well as a black gloved hand. He waved to her, holding her hand for a bit before turning back to the action on the stage. McGonagall nodded and walked away, releasing another deep breath. She realized they had now started a chain reaction that wouldn't end until something exploded.

There were only two people who weren't nervous. One was smugly sitting in the managers' box, victory almost assured to be his. He looked around at the Aurors stationed in Hogwarts' house as the curtain rose. Oh yes, Count Sirius Black was going to walk away with his girl and that madman was going to Azkaban where he belonged. The other person was sitting, smirking at everyone. Especially at the Aurors stationed around, ready to capture him. Pitiful creatures, he thought lazily. No one would expect what he planned to do. Oh, yes, Severus was going to walk away with his girl and that Count was going to go home empty handed.

The opera was nearing its conclusion. It seemed to be receiving mixed reviews from the audience. The more traditional opera lovers hated it with a passion. Only courtesy kept them in the house. Then there were the people who liked experimentation and were enjoying the opera. And of course, the people who just felt it was alright and had no strong feelings about the show. Dumbledore and Lupin were squirming in their seat as each gasp of shock sounded through their heads amplified. Sirius, however, was busy watching all the Aurors as well as the opera. McGonagall was backstage, rushing everyone to make sure the production continued flawlessly. No one was looking at Box Five, so no one knew when it was empty.

Narcissa was not happy. She was on stage with the chorus, performers who were below her. Her part wasn't big and was the worst she ever sung. She was trying her best, however, when she was on. And when she wasn't center, she was making sure she was outshining everyone else. No matter what her part, she was still the only prima donna on the stage. She sang one of her last parts as little Harmony came dancing out, playing one of Don Juan's conquests. Fudge and another tenor came out, singing about how they were going to trick the woman of Don Juan's lust into his bed. The plan was set and the two left the stage to pull of the disguise as Kristin as the woman entered. As her line ended, the other tenor entered without Fudge. "Master?" he asked. He was told to go away and Don Juan re-entered.

The three people in the managers' box tensed up. Don Juan may have been wearing a mask for the switch, but those three knew it was not the same Don Juan behind the mask. "Where's Fudge?" Albus asked Lupin. The other man could only shrug while an Auror came into the box to talk to Sirius.

"That isn't the same actor is it?" the man asked. "I'm sorry, it's just I've never been to the opera before so I'm not familiar with the people and all…"

"No," Sirius snapped, rudely cutting off the Auror. "That isn't the same person. That's your target."

"Give us the signal and we can take him down now."

"No. You might hit Kristin," Sirius said, watching as the two maneuvered around each other as Don Juan sang a very seductive song.

The Auror sighed. "He's open. We can take him down."

"NO! Kristin is not to be harmed, you idiot!" the Count roared, distracting some people. He calmed himself down. "This will be played out as it goes."

A/N: Another chapter! It's coming to an end too. Sniff I'd say more, but I think everything to be said was written in EL3. I have about two more chapters to write, three more to post. And, who knows, I may do another Broadway musical themed story. Any ideas? –Mac