Chapter 297 - Trust

Ronald Weasley's room was on top of the Burrow, just under the attic. Inside the room, everything seemed to be a violent shade of orange: the bedspread, the walls, even the ceiling. Nearly every inch of the shabby wallpaper with posters of the same seven witches and wizards of the Quidditch team, Chudley Cannons, all wearing bright orange robes, carrying broomsticks, and waving energetically. The room was absolutely silent.

In a corner of the room, pulling her knees to her chest, burying her face on her knees, curling up into a ball Chris was shaking violently. Her eyes were red, tears were flowing down her cheeks silently. 

Someone knocked on the room's door.

"Chris, are you in there?" came Ginny's voice.

Chris didn't move or answered.

"Mr Norton is okay now," Ginny continued. "He will be conscious in a bit. Aurelia asked you to come down."

No reply.

"Come down in half an hour if you feel like it," Ginny said with a sigh. 

No answer.

"It's not your fault, Chris. People lost control over their magic, many times. Especially, the underage wizards and witches like us," Ginny said angrily. "No one is going to blame you."

Chris still didn't answer so Ginny angrily stomped downstairs.

Chris pulled her knees more to herself, her hands around her knees tightened. More tears started to come out but she didn't make any noise. She didn't cry in a long time, this made crying more difficult and even though the tears were coming out nothing eased inside her. The pain only increased.

Chris didn't notice but more than half an hour passed. In between Hermione and Aurelia had tried to get her out but Chris was motionless. When it was almost an hour someone else knocked on the door and then came Harry's voice. As expected, Chris didn't answer or made any noise but after a moment Harry unlocked the door and came inside. Chris was surprised because she thought she locked the door from inside, she didn't look up at him. Harry closed the door and silently sat beside her. For a long time, he said nothing or interrupted Chris. Then he spoke,

"Just in case you are wondering, how do I know to unlock the door from outside, Ron had shown me the trick a long time ago when I started to live here with him."

Harry's voice was too calm that Chris felt that it was almost disturbing. 

"No one else knows the trick, except Mrs Weasley, I guess," said Harry. "You know, I still remember the day, it was before my second year. Because I wasn't replying to Ron or Hermione's letters Ron, Fred and George flew Mr Weasley's flying car and get me out of the Dursley house. They didn't know that I didn't reply because I didn't get any letter because of Dobby. He was stealing them. Anyway, that was the first time I came to Burrow. I felt brilliant. Even Mrs Weasley's angry scolding felt nice. It felt like home."

Chris wiped her wet cheeks and slightly looked up at Harry.

"I want to be alone," she whispered. 

"I was alone that summer before I came here. All summer I was isolated, I was locked in my room," said Harry casually. "It wasn't nice, you know."

"I'm sorry," Chris said automatically. Then buried her face on her knees again. "But I want to be alone, right now. My magic is — you know, my magic —"

And that was it, her voice shook and she started to cry loudly. Harry didn't look surprised at all, he calmly put a silencing charm on the door and scoot closer to Chris. As he put an arm around her, Chris buried her face in his shoulder and cried her eyes out. 

"I — I attacked my Dad. I hurt —" Chris sobbed and her voice came in a muffled way.

Harry patted her lightly on her back.

"You didn't do it intentionally," Harry said softly. "It was reflective magic. Everyone has that. Remember, when I blew up my Aunt."

"You know it's different. My magic is different," she pointed out.

"I do know and maybe I also know why that thing happened today," said Harry.

Chris choked suddenly, Harry pounded at her back lightly and she coughed then looked up at him.

"What do you mean?"

Harry looked into her eyes and sighed, "You were trying to hold off your anger this entire time, weren't you after the thing happened at the Ministry?"

Chris looked down.

"You were keeping your emotions inside and you were pushing your magic too much," he continued. "It was bound to burst out of you. Dumbledore warned me, he told me that the more you will suppress yourself and your feelings it will get out like this."

"Dumbledore told you and you didn't tell me?" Chris looked up at him surprised.

"He asked me not to, it would have made it worse because you wouldn't have understood."

"What?"

"Yes Chris, if that thing with your father didn't happen then you wouldn't have understood," said Harry firmly. "Don't do it to yourself. This is dangerous."

"I know I'm dangerous," Chris hung her face down as her eyes filled again.

Harry held her face up and forced her to look at him.

"I didn't mean this is dangerous," he said. "I mean this suppressing magic thing is dangerous even for you. Dumbledore said it could —"

"It could what?" Chris implored as she saw fear in Harry's eyes.

"It can harm you," he said swallowing hard and didn't elaborate what he meant. "Just know, you can't go on like this. You can't blame everything on yourself. I know it's not easy and whatever happened to your father it happened because of you but you can face him. You are strong enough to face everything and I know you will never hurt him again."

"How do you know?" Chris said and she felt she sounded like a six years old kid.

"I know —" Harry wiped a tear away from her cheek, "because of this. Don't worry, you will control it. I know it. You are the best sorcerer I know, — after Dumbledore, of course. You can do anything."

Harry gave a small smile at her and she hugged him feeling grateful. Chris never thought Harry could be so calm and nice and understanding and — maybe she knew but this was different. It felt — unlike Harry. This was — weird but nice. Very nice.

Wait, I can't fancy Harry. I never did, I just liked him as friends. I never — this is not right. He is —

Chris pulled away from Harry and didn't meet his eyes. Harry looked surprised for a second but quickly changed her expression.

"You want to meet your Dad before he leaves?" he asked.

"He is leaving?" Chris looked shocked. "Is he well enough to leave?"

"Yes, nothing serious happened, I mean not physically. Your magic just stunned him and obliviate some of his memories," said Harry then looked guilty at Chris. "Sorry. But don't worry Remus, Aurelia and Tonks made sure he is okay. They had to modify his memory a bit but he is perfectly alright now. When I came he was talking to Mr Weasley about aeroplanes. But the way they modified his memory, Tonks thinks it shouldn't be good for him to stay long. Remus will be with him for a few days and order members will guard Mr Norton from now on."

Chris gulped then took a deep breath to stop herself from shaking again. The results of what she had done weren't easy to take in. Harry noticed her hands and squeezed them reassuringly. Chris sighed.

"Fine, let's go," she said wiping her face. She tried to sound brave though she didn't feel much of it.

"You want to wash your face, before going out?" Harry asked. "Your father wouldn't like if he realises you were crying."

"Here?" Chris looked around for a water source.

"You are a witch, Chris," Harry chuckled softly and waved his wand. "Accio Argumenti!"

A bowl full of water appeared in front of Chris, she took it gratefully and rinsed off the tears from her face then dried it. She checked her reflection in a mirror. Her eyes still looked puffed and red but overall she looked better.

"I don't know what to do with my eyes," she said.

"Well, neither do I," Harry said and Chris smiled weakly. "Let's go."

Harry held out his hand and Chris took it. They walked back downstairs and saw everyone was in the kitchen. Mr Norton and Remus looked ready to leave.

"My eagle," Mr Norton smiled at Chris as soon as he saw her. "I was just waiting for you. We are about to leave — what happened to your eyes, love?"

Mr Norton looked a little bit disoriented almost drunk. Chris froze for a moment then Harry gave her hand another squeeze and let go. Everyone was looking at her sympathetically.

"I rubbed my eyes too hard," Chris lied and hugged him. "I will miss you. See you soon?"

"Yes, see you soon," said Mr Norton happily.

After saying goodbye to everyone he left with Remus. Chris walked them to the gate and something inside her told her that she won't be seeing him very soon.

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To be continued. . .