Chapter 357 - The Stag

"You know, not everyone smuggles so much food to the right Hospital Wing," Chris said biting a piece of chicken leg. She laughed. "Madam Pomfrey would think we have started our celebratory feast here."

"Well, what can we do when our best friend ends up in the Hospital Wing every month, twice," Ginny replied helping herself with a bowl of dessert as she sat down at the foot of Chris's bed.

Colin and Luna who were sitting on chairs beside the bed laughed.

"I don't end up here every month, twice," Chris said defiantly. Then raised her eyebrows. "Do I?"

"Not every month," Luna said smiling. "But often."

Chris rolled her eyes as Ginny and Luna started laughing.

"Oh, give her a break," Colin said taking a bit of chicken piece from Chris's plate. "She just took a bludger on her head."

"Thanks, Colin," Chris smiled. "But you know, you were the beater. It was your job to keep that bloody thing away from me."

"Hey!" Colin tried to look offended.

"Serves you right for taking her side," Ginny joked.

"I would like you to know, I was going to beat that bludger but you came in the middle," Colin said seriously. "You just attract danger."

"Oh just like she attracted those seventh and six years boys?" Luna said and she, Colin, and Ginny burst out laughing.

"Oh please, they are annoying than dangerous," Chris snorted and threw a piece of bread towards her friends.

"No food fight in the Hospital Wing," Colin said catching the bread before it could hit Luna. "Unless you want Madam Pomfrey to kick us out."

"Yes, please kick them out. They are disturbing a critical patient," Chris acted like she was calling to Madam Pomfrey.

"Critical? You didn't even flinch after waking up," Ginny rolled her eyes. "And if you're so bothered I am taking all this food back."

"God, I have the worst friends in the world," Chris snatched the pudding before Ginny could take it.

"Yeah, I have a bad best friend too," Ginny laughed and stuffed bread in Chris's mouth.

The next moment the four of them were laughing so hard that they had tears in their eyes. They were just happy.

Chris was walking back from Quidditch field after Harry finished the practice. Dark clouds filled the sky as Angelina, Ginny, Colin, and others walked towards the changing room. Chris was about to follow them when with a loud rumbling the rain came down. Within seconds she was soaked.

"I guess we both were too late," Harry said and Chris turned around only to find him as soaked as her, standing in the middle of the field.

"Why didn't you run?" Chris yelled as the rumble of the rain became louder.

"Why didn't you run?" Harry shouted back.

"No clue," Chris screamed. She truly didn't have any idea. She could have run to the changing room with others but she didn't.

Harry suddenly ran towards her and almost slipped on the wet grass but Chris quickly caught him. He wrapped his hands around her waist and steadied himself.

"Why are you running now?" Chris giggled as she held him by shoulders.

"No clue," Harry laughed. His messy wet hair was stuck on his forehead as he stared at Chris.

"What?" Chris stopped laughing.

"Nothing," Harry smiled. "It's just nice having you so close."

Chris looked down at the very little distance between their soaked figures and chuckled.

"We are very close."

"Dance with me?" Harry asked smiling brightly.

"We would look ridiculous," Chris giggled then wrapped her arms around his neck. "But who cares?"

Harry laughed and they swayed side to side under the pouring rain holding each other close. Chris looked at Harry for a long time smiling.

"You know, you really do have very beautiful green eyes," she mumbled then the smile slid off her face. "I miss your eyes."

"But why? I am right here with my eyes," Harry tried to joke but then looked concerned. "Hey, I am not going anywhere."

"You aren't. But what about me?"

In the Gryffindor common room, Chris, Harry, Ginny, Luna, Colin, Ron, Hermione, Fred, and Gorge all were sitting around the fireplace. Ginny, Ron, and Gorge were playing Exploding snaps. Luna and Colin were sitting together at the end of a couch and Luna was painting a yellow flower on Colin's forearm, on the other end of the couch, Hermione snuggled closed to Fred with a book in her hands. Harry encouraged Ron for a while then joined Chris on the armchair.

"What is it?" Harry asked as he noticed Chris's tense face.

"This is perfect," Chris mumbled frowning.

"Isn't that a good thing?" Harry asked surprised.

"It's too perfect," Chris's voice shook with fear. "It isn't real, is it?"

"Of course, it's not real," Harry smiled then hugged Chris tight. "But don't worry, it will be over soon."

"What . . . will be?" Chris choked on his words. Harry wasn't sounding like him.

"This." A creepy but familiar voice said and Chris snapped towards the voice.

Malgino stood in front of her. His yellow eyes and creepy smile made Chris's skin crawl. Suddenly the warmth and brightness of the common room were gone. Replaced by coldness and dark. 

"What are you doing here?" Chris pulled out her wand. "Don't you dare to come near us."

"Silly girl," Malgino chuckled happily. "Still trying to fight your fate? Don't you see you have already lost?"

"No, I -- What do you mean?" Chris's hands shook as dread filled her.

"Look around," Malgino smiled looking pleased.

Chris slowly turned around only to find all her friends lying on the ground. All bloody and lifeless and cold.

"NO!"

Then her eyes fell on the body in the corner. Harry was still alive and struggling to get up. Towering over him was Voldemort.

"All for nothing, is it not? Harry Potter?" Voldemort laughed cruelly as he raised his wand.

Harry looked up at Chris. Their eyes met.

"This happened because of you. You left us. You abandoned us," he whispered.

"Avada Kade--"

"HARRY!!!"

Chris woke up in a jolt. She was sweating and her heart was pounding wildly. But she couldn't sit up very quickly. Two hands pushed her back to the bed.

"Don't. . . get up."

Chris looked up hurriedly struggling but as soon as she saw Sol she calmed down. She looked around the room and realized she was in her room in the vampire Palace.

"Sol, I --" Chris was confused for a moment then at once everything came crashing down. Ginny, Colin, and Luna were dead. Zil was dead. There was no news of Harry, Ron, and Hermione.

As if all strength had left Chris's body, she went still on the bed and stared at the ceiling.

"Are you . . . feeling . . . okay?" Sol said sitting back.

. . . Silence . . .

Chris didn't reply. She felt numb. Her eyes burned with dryness. Snippets of her dream played in her mind again and again.

"I thought you were our best friend."

"I thought you will be with us."

"You abandoned us."

"You left us."

"Your friends are dead because of you, Christina."

The pain in her c.h.e.s.t was far more suffocating and bitter than her physical pain. She felt distant. Just like she had felt after Dumbledore's death. But this time she had also lost her courage and motivation. She just felt hollow and lifeless.

"Oziyat . . . went to . . . bring a . . . wizard healer . . . for you," Sol mumbled suddenly looking intently at Chris. "He said . . . he was sorry . . . for your . . . friends." 

Chris was about to ignore Sol but then she understood what Sol just said.

". . . Friends?" 

"You . . . told him . . . when he . . . was carrying . . . you back . . . about . . . your friends . . ." Sol replied timidly. "How . . . you lost . . . your . . . best friends. . . all three . . . of them."

Chris stared at Sol for a long moment.

"I am . . . sorry . . . too," Sol said looking sad.

Chris didn't know how to react. How much had she said to Oziyat? Chris felt tired all over again. With a sigh, she muttered, "What are you doing here, Sol?"

"Guardian . . . Gweneth . . . was supposed . . . to send . . . a human . . . servant . . . for you," Sol frowned. "But they . . . are not . . . here yet. So . . . I came to . . . check on . . . you. Nolan . . . said . . . you shouldn't . . . be alone . . . today."

"Did you tell everyone what happened . . . there?" Chris asked hesitantly. "Apart from Oziyat, I mean."

"Actually . . . I haven't . . ." Sol began but stopped short.

A streak of light came flying across the open window and onto her table, where it resolved itself into a bright silver Stag. Then the Patronus's mouth opened wide and it spoke in a very very familiar voice,

"Chris! I hope you get this. I just thought you need to know that we are fine. Are you okay? I miss you."

The Stag Patronus dissolved, only Harry's voice stayed ringing in Chris's ears. It was a small message but Chris knew how much effort Harry had put into it. Harry was a powerful wizard but it took a lot of concentration to learn a new spell and he lacked that concentration all the time. But he learned when he felt it was important. Chris remembered how hard Harry worked when he needed to learn the Patronus charm. And making your Patronus talk to send messages was another level difficult. But he did it. For her. She knew it was for her. 

With the message, she knew Harry didn't blame her for leaving. He understood why she left them. After all, she has done, he didn't lose hope. He didn't stop believing. He was still there.

"Lady Christina?" Sol looked at her surprised and Chris realized her cheeks were wet. She was crying. But these tears felt different from the tears of grief. It was not happy tears but it was for the boy who was always with her. Who trusted her more than everything. Who knew her.

And she needed to get back to him. No matter what.

⟦~To be continued~⟧