Chapter 12:

Kristin didn't know what was going to happen. She knew that Severus was beyond angry. He was dragging her all the way down to his lair, the anger radiating off him in waves. They reached the lake, where the boat was sitting and waiting for them. Severus reached down and pulled a rope out of the boat, scaring Kristin. Before she could react, he stealthily tied her up and gagged her. She was thrown into the boat, which he started to row furiously. She merely remained curled up on the bottom of the boat, trying not to gain his attention.

He rowed until the middle of the lake and then stopped, letting the momentum and the waves push the boat forward. Severus turned to face Kristin, now sitting up and staring at him. "I'm sure you're wondering why I've tied you up, aren't you?" Kristin made some noise through her gag. "Yes, you've committed a crime." Kristin's eyebrow went up; he had understood her question? But Severus thought she was curious about her crime, which was also the case. "You've revealed my face! Why, Kristin? Why?" He just kept asking her why as the boat glided to the shores of his lair.

A rat crawled out of the tunnels and darted across the path of the two travelers. McGonagall let out a cry of surprise, disgust and nerves. She was on edge, which the appearance of the rat proved. She had seen many of them, why would she care now? She stopped and took a breath, looking at the staircase that would lead to the lake. McGonagall turned to face Sirius. "I leave you here, I don't dare go any further. I've never really been to the other side, to the lair. It's his personal space and, though he has Kristin, I don't feel right entering it. You will do fine, I'd just hinder you.

"Go down these stairs until you reach the lake. If there isn't a boat down there, do not attempt to swim across. There is a giant squid living in it which Severus has trained as a guard of sorts. There is a thin ledge surrounding the lake, it will take longer but you will get to the other side. Remember, your hand at the level of your eyes. Good luck." With that, McGonagall disappeared as Sirius started down the stairs.

Meanwhile, Harmony had lost control of the mob and they stormed down to the lair. "We must find this murder!" one of the rioters called. "He's preyed on this opera house and its company for too long!"

"He's here, the Phantom of the Opera! He's down here!" the ballerinas sang, dragging a reluctant Harmony with them. The blonde dancer hoped her mother and Sirius were already well enough ahead.

A man near her held his torch high, addressing the crowd. "We are avenging angels! Hagrid and Fudge will have their revenge through us!" he exclaimed. The crowd cheered and pressed forward.

Severus paced his lair, waiting for Kristin. There was no place for her to run; he was the only one who knew he secret exits. Soon, her bedroom door opened and she came out. She tossed her torn costume in a corner, it was worthless now. She was wearing a beautiful white wedding dress. It had long lace sleeves, square neckline and a long flowing skirt. She wore a wreath of green and silver ribbon in her hair in lieu of a veil. She looked disgusted at Severus. "So, your need for blood is done now you're going to use me for needs of the flesh?" she asked.

"I'm condemned to a life of blood, denied the flesh," Severus said, getting angrier. "This face has done it! This face which caused my parents to sell me to a traveling circus as a freak! This face people gasped at and laughed as I was beaten! This face I've been covering up because that's all anyone sees, not the person behind it. Not the genius in the brain it hides! Well, get used to this face because you are going to see it every waking moment of every day. Welcome to your fate."

"Your face doesn't scare me anymore—it's your soul! Terror is your soul!" Kristin cried defiantly. She certainly sounded a lot more confident than she felt.

However, Severus heard something and smiled. "I hate to interrupt your insults about my character, dear lady, but I believe we are no longer alone," he said, vaguely. Kristin was confused as she watched him move towards the gate, glee evident in his eyes.

Sirius had quickly and quietly made his way around the lake, or so he had thought. He landed by the gates and was tiptoeing into the lair when a cold voice stopped him in his tracks. "Good evening, Count, it is so nice to see you again." Sirius whipped around and came face to face with Death. "This is quite a delight and working out perfectly. My plan called for your presence and here you are, without even knowing about my plan!" Severus chuckled a fake laugh that sent shivers up both Sirius' and Kristin's backs.

"Let her go," Sirius demanded but it sounded like a plea. "You have nothing against her, take me instead."

"Sirius, no!"

"Sirius, no!" Severus mocked her. With a speed so fast, the other two forgot to blink, Sirius was hanging by the Punjab lasso. The rope was being held in air as if by magic. "Order your threstrals now, keep your hand at the level of your eyes. You're doomed and nothing can help you. Well, actually…" Severus turned to face Kristin. "You can save him."

"Kristin…leave her alone!"

"Choose me or your lover," Severus demanded. "The scorpion or the grasshopper, you're pick."

"Either way, I won't see him again. Will I?"

"No, you won't. So, are you going to let him die or live with me forever?"

"Kristin, don't worry about me," Sirius gasped out. Was the rope getting tighter or was it just him? "I fought to free you. Don't undo everything I've done, please."

"This is the point of no return, what the song was returning to. Pick!"

"Angel of music, why are you doing this?" Kristin pleaded. Severus and Sirius kept imploring her to make a decision, the right decision. "You showed me beauty, why are you now only horrors? Angel, I was stupid to trust you. You knew I was vulnerable and preyed on me!" She was crying now.

"Stop with the tears. Grasshopper or Scorpion? MAKE YOUR CHOICE!" Severus bellowed. Kristin wiped her tears and gazed at Severus. She seemed to be seeing him in a new light.

She walked towards him. To Severus and Sirius, it looked like she was in one of her Phantom-induced trances again. The former's heart soared to the heavens while the latter's took permanent residency in his stomach. It seemed she made her decision, but if they had looked carefully, it was clear Kristin was acting of her own volition. She had a clear mind—clearer than it had ever been, like it had been when her father was still alive. She believed her father was helping her see the truth of the situation and how to rectify it. "Poor son of the darkness, son of scorn. What kind of life is that? I hope Merlin will give me the courage to show you that you don't have to be alone!"

With those words, before anyone could react, Kristin grabbed Severus' face. She crashed her lips onto his and just kissed him. For a few seconds, he tried to jerk away, not used to such human contact. However, he let himself give into the kiss. Kristin and he were pouring everything into the kiss, while Sirius stopped struggling and stared. He was too shock to realize that he had also been able to breath better once he stopped moving. Kristin ended the kiss, tears still running down her face.

But there were also tears running down Severus' face as well. She had willingly kissed him, with nothing to cause her to. She wasn't under a trance, he knew that now. She kissed him freely, knowingly. He looked at her and wanted her to be happy, so he waved his hand. The rope and Sirius fell to the ground, the man gasping for air. Krisitn rushed forward and embraced him. They watched Severus, cautiously, unsure of what he was going to do next.

Around them, they heard the cries of the mob. "Kill the Phantom!" they heard. "Find the Phantom! Make him pay! We'll avenge you Fudge and Hagrid!" These sentiments reverberated throughout the lair, not helping the tensions already present. Severus was still crying and Kristin tried to go to him, but Sirius stopped her. The mob's cries grew louder as Severus whipped around to face them.

"Take the boat and go," he said, low but authoritative. "There's a little canal that will lead to another exit, when that will lead you directly to the streets. Right by the stables."

Sirius and Kristin remained standing there, dumbstruck. Neither realized just yet that Severus was setting her free, free to be with Sirius. To marry him, have his children, make a life with him. "Forget me, please. Just…forget me. Forget everything you've seen. Don't tell anyone. It'll be better that way," Severus continued, seemingly ignoring the mob's cries.

However, when the two still refused to move, he became upset. "Go, save yourselves! They're coming for me, I don't want them to find you and hurt you! Go! Go now and leave me!" he exclaimed, arms moving wildly. Sirius took the hint and yanked Kristin away. They ran out of the lair while Severus collapsed. He was spent emotionally and physically, barely able to move anywhere. He played his snake music box, the haunting lullaby filling the air as the mob's cries faded distantly in his mind.

He started to cry again, muffled sobs coming from behind his silver gloves. As he calmed down, he felt someone staring at him. Fearing a mobster, he turned quickly. Kristin was watching him, a peculiar expression on her face. He was torn. One side hoped she had instead chosen to be with him and was returning, despite the angry mob intent on killing him. The other side wanted her to run back out, back to the man who could make her happy and away from the danger presented by said angry mob intent on killing him. She walked forward, seemingly wringing her hand. When she reached him, she held out her hand but not to grasp. In her palm was the ring he had given her at the end of their song earlier. He took it gingerly, fishing around his pockets before pulling out a beautiful ring on a chain—her engagement ring. He dropped it in place of his ring, causing Kristin to smile. He couldn't help it. "I love you, Kristin," he said, tears running down his face again.

She smiled but walked back out of the lair, back to the boat with Sirius in it. They rowed out of the lair, reaffirming their love for one another. "Tell me you'll love me every minute of every day," Kristin said, remembering their vows on the rooftop those many months ago.

"Every day of every week of every year together," Sirius responded. "That's all I want."

"That's all I want," Kristin echoed, taunting Severus in his lair. He let it run around his mind before turning to face their general direction.

"It's over…my music is gone," he whispered, ascending the throne he took from an old production. The mob members were now crossing the lake, some having captured the giant squid. He could hear it thrashing about and wanted to go help it, but knew he couldn't. He heard someone walking into his lair, his personal sanctuary ruined.

Harmony waded faster than the other members of the mob, most of whom had stopped to either help contain the giant squid or gawk at it. Harmony could only focus on one person: her best friend Kristin. She had to get to her and Sirius, warn them they were in danger or at least protect them when the mob got there. She could tell these were the type of people who wouldn't care who got in their way. She made it across the lake and found herself on the upper part of the lair. She climbed down the gate, entering the main part. She was relieved to find no sign of Kristin or Sirius. Or of a boat, which McGonagall had gasped out to her daughter when she ran into the mob. They had let her pass, but just barely. Harmony figured Kristin and Sirius were able to escape using the boat.

With thoughts that her friends were safe, Harmony began to search for the main target: the Phantom. Her mother had pleaded with her to help him, but Harmony wasn't sure she could. She didn't want to nor was the mob going to let her just waltz out of the lair with their prey. She quietly searched the lair, her ballerina skills allowing her to nimbly make her way around the cluttered place. She saw Kristin's discarded costume, a naked mannequin figure of Kristin and a detailed replica of the Don Juan set. She smiled, realizing her mother was correct in her view of the Phantom being a genius. He also certainly lived a life of recluse.

She kept walking, sounds of the mob drifting farther away. Kristin had never really told Harmony what the lair looked like, but she had described something that now caught the ballerina's eye. It was a music box, with a snake on it. Kristin had told her about it after the Phantom took her the first time. The soprano was in love with the music the box played. It sat in front of a throne Harmony dimly remembered from her past. It was empty, except for one silver half mask sitting on the chair. It was the Phantom's mask, but he was no where to be seen. She quickly clutched it to herself as the mob sprawled about the lair. She hid it in her large belt, turning to face the lead man. "He is gone, sir," she said.

The man nodded and turned to everyone. "No one is to touch anything down here, you hear me? We look for ways to get out, but nothing is taken. That goes for you, too, miss," he said, turning to face Harmony. The ballerina stopped fingering the music box. She couldn't argue for it, but she knew something they might give her.

"Sir, Kristin Wright was down here. I believe Count Sirius Black rescued her, but her costume is still here. Can I bring it back up? I think the costumer would have a heart attack if not everything was accounted for."

"Perfectly reasonable. Take it and go. This isn't a place for a young woman like yourself, miss." With that, the mob went deeper into the lair as Harmony grabbed up the costume.

Later, Harmony would show her mother the dress to prove Kristin had escaped as well as the mask to prove the Phantom escaped. McGonagall broke down and cried both times. Kristin sent the two a note later on, explaining everything that happened in the lair that night before inviting them to the wedding. But one image that always stuck with Harmony from that time on was the one of the grand gold throne decorated in black velvet with the silver mask sitting there. The Phantom's white flag of surrender of power over the Opera House.

A/N: That's the end of Sev's dream! Only the epilogue to go! I want to thank everyone who read this! And I may also continue the series, if anyone has any suggestions (except "Cats"—sorry cerzee). Mac