Chapter 366 - Believe

To the Silver Stag,

Hey, I got your message and all I can say is thanks. Thank you so much for believing in me and my decisions. To be honest, even I had doubted myself but you believed in me. I don't know what to say about that. You really are something else, huh? Also, if you are wondering I am safe and my group has found me. They are safe too. I hope you are doing well too. I miss you and others.

~See you soon,

Eagle.

Chris finished with a flourish and she reread the letter several times, trying to see it from the point of view of an outsider. She could not see how they would know who she was talking to - just from reading this letter. With a sigh, she closed the letter and looked at the fiery bird sitting on her table staring at her with curiosity. Chris knew Fawkes was smart and she would carefully deliver the message to Harry but just in case she had to be extra careful.

"It's not written but you know, it's for Harry, right?" Chris asked holding out the letter.

Fawkes gave a musical cry.

"Good, deliver it when he is alone, okay?"

With another musical cry, Fawkes burst into flames taking the letter with her.

Chris took a deep breath and wrapped her arms around herself. She looked out the window and could see the sun was about to rise.

"I promise, we will see each other as soon as possible, Potter."

For the next few days, things started to get better. Ginny was still grumbling but she wasn't sulking in her room anymore, which was a good start. Chris was sharing her experience, learning the news about what happened after she left, from Luna and Colin. Soon the sore topics were thinning out and they were talking about good memories. However, as time passed Chris felt restless again. Her mind and emotions were all over the place and she couldn't concentrate on the mysteries as to why the Snallygaster attacked her, why she didn't forget, and most importantly, what was in there, what was the Snallygaster guarding? No matter what, Chris knew she needed to be more prepared before she faced the Snallygaster again. Yet, Leyla and Oziyat strictly forbid her from doing anything exhausting until she recovered completely, which drove her crazy. She just couldn't sit still. That's when Luna advised Chris to make a board and write all the things she had learned till now.

"Like an evidence board?" Chris had asked surprised.

"Do it. It will be easier for you to understand the questions and answers," Colin had said agreeing with Luna. 

"Also it will keep you occupied," Luna had added.

And that was what Chris did for the next two days. She conjured a whiteboard and wrote down everything she had learned. She thought it helped. She wrote down every little thing she could remember and soon everything was getting clearer.

"Here . . ." Sol entered the room with arms full of books. He dropped them on Chris's bed, then looked at the board where Chris was still staring.

"Found . . . anything?" he asked.

Chris shook her head but smiled when she saw the stack of books.

"But I think these will help. Thanks, Sol."

"You . . ." Sol looked down looking red. ". . . wanted to . . . read the . . . books about . . . Snallygasters? So I . . . brought . . . these . . . from the. . . library."

"Wait, you guys have a library?" Chris asked surprised.

Sol looked at Chris as if she was stupid.

"We . . . have . . . everything."

"Hey! Don't judge. I barely saw anything apart from the guest wing," Chris said sitting down beside the books.

"What . . . about . . . when you . . . sneaked out?" Sol asked.

"Wait, what? How do you know about that?" Chris stopped midway through flipping the pages of the first book.

"I . . . know," Sol mumbled and to Chris's surprise, he giggled.

"ookkkaaayyyy . . . just don't tell anyone."

Chris looked at Sol pointedly who just smiled.

After hesitating a bit Oziyat finally knocked on the Queen's ornate door.

"Come in." Queen Vasilisa's voice came from inside the room and the guardians opened the door for Oziyat.

"You called for me, Mother," Oziyat stepped inside the room which was filled with servants and in the middle laying on the canopied bed was a weak and pale-looking Vasilisa.

"Yes," Vasilisa nodded then waved her hand at the servants. "Leave us." 

The servants hurried out. And an uncomfortable silence followed.

"You wanted to talk to me?" Oziyat asked looking very uneasy. He was hoping to confront his mother but he wasn't ready for it just yet.

"Yes, I thought you would come and inform me about what is going on but when you didn't I had no choice but to call on you," Vasilisa said smiling.

"What do you want to know, mother?" Oziyat said very calmly.

"Just because I am bedridden doesn't mean that I don't know anything, Oziyat. I heard a lot of things in this past few days," Vasilisa was still smiling but her smile looked forced. "Lady Chistina's friends are here, right?"

"We called a meeting for that and Sister Rosaline ordered that they can stay."

"Rosaline ordered or you declared?" Vasilisa asked. "Just before you carried Lady Christina out of the Throne Room?"

Oziyat was surprised but he didn't show it.

"I noticed how much you took interest in her from the very beginning but I ignored, considering your relationsh.i.p.s with women. But now I see, it was a mistake. You care for her more than any other woman you have met. Remember Oziyat, just because she is the chosen one doesn't mean you can have a relationship with her. No matter who she claims to be, her kind was is and always will be filthy, untrustworthy, and arrogant kind. Do not repeat your sister's mistakes, Darling."

These words shattered all the patience Oziyat was holding onto. He snapped.

"She collapsed in the throne room, mother. What was I supposed to do? Let her be when I knew she was injured? Also, she is very very very different from Ethan. And most importantly, if she lives, our kind will be benefitted and I have decided to help her since you are not going to."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I am asking why are you ill, mother? Why every monarch dies at the exact age? Why father died of the same illness?" Oziyat asked.

Vasilisa stiffened, her pale face went white as chalk.

"As I have said multiple times . . . It's because of that thief."

"You know, what I am talking about, right?" Oziyat gave a mocking smile. "We all know this is because of the thing Malgino stole but you know more than that, don't you, mother?"

Vasilisa didn't move for a long time. Her mouth pressed together in a thin line.

"I think it's time you tell us the truth, mother. Me, Sister, and Christina all deserve to know the truth," Oziyat said with a note of finality in his voice.

"Why does your sister — " Vasilisa looked at Oziyat face and realized there was no point pretending. "Very well. I will tell you when I will feel like it."

"You will talk to us . . . tomorrow."

"Don't forget I am still the Queen, Oziyat. I give the orders around here," Vasilisa glared at her son.

"And I am the future King!" Oziyat's voice rang through the room. "Our people's future is mine to decide."

"I haven't given you the Crown yet. There is still Volker, who would listen to —"

"Really mother? Are you not done with all this manipulation? Because I am. You know, mother, I always thought—no—believed that you chose Volker and me after Rosaline because you wanted what's best for our people. But now, I can clearly see why. It was never about our people's good, was it? It was who will do your bidding and run this place just like you. Like you, they will also keep us and the wizarding world apart. Rosaline broke your rule, you pulled her aside then fueled my and Volker's differences by pitting us against for the crown. I wondered a lot of times mother . . . I wondered why didn't you announced the next monarch even when you are so ill, why were you procrastinating? It's because you wanted Volker to win, didn't you? I lost my chances a long time ago, even before Christina came here."

"But you have underestimated me, mother. My heart which you always called my weakness is far more stronger than you can imagine. I will be the next King, you want it or not. Half of the court supports me and respects Rosaline, who also believes in me. On the other hand, your Volker had been a disgrace after disgrace in the last few months. So if I call on the council, the results will be very obvious. So give up. You are going to tell us everything you know about Malgino and whatever this illness is about and do not try to do anything against Christina. She will be the damn Queen she wants to. I believe in her more than you."

Oziyat finally turned around, ready to walk out the door, and Vasilisa recovered from her shock.

"You wouldn't dare! You wouldn't dare! You are not ready, Oziyat! You aren't ready for the truth!" Vasilisa spat angrily but the fear in her voice was apparent.

"The ten years old Oziyat believed you, mother, without seeing how you were trying to break him and mold him to your wishes. However, this Oziyat knows it. I know I am ready. But even if you feel like going against me then I wouldn't be the first Dragozera to fight my blood for the throne, would I? And like Wilma, I will win, because I too have a proud Gryffindor by my side."

Without looking back at his mother's stunned expression, he walked out with his head held high and as usual, his mother didn't notice the tears of pain shining in his eyes.

⟦To be continued⟧