Chapter 301 - Deceiving

February moved toward March with no change in the weather except that it became windy as well as wet. To make matter worse, Chris felt Harry was always around. This way she felt weird to ignore him. Harry was still an idiot but now, something about him made him a likeable idiot, which frustrated Chris. So when she found herself watching him or noticing his every move for the third time an evening, she bitterly reminded herself of Ginny.

But you are just observing him. Nothing is wrong with that, is it? A tiny voice inside her protested.

And Ginny is your best friend, reasoned another voice.

"Where is Gin?" Chris asked tearing her gaze away from Harry, who was laughing on something with Hermione and Ron while doing homework on the table in a corner of the common room.

She was sitting with Colin in front of the fireplace and as she turned to Colin with the question she realized Colin was telling her something which she didn't hear, not even a little bit. Feeling guilty she tried to ask the question again but Colin didn't notice any of it and just frowned at her question.

". . . I don't know," Colin replied. "She just said she was going to do a Muggle studies essay with one of her Hufflepuff classmates."

"Muggle Studies homework? Seriously?" Chris said incredulously, pointing her finger back and forth between herself and Colin. "Muggle Studies?"

"That's what I thought," Colin said. "But she just shrugged and said 'I have my reason, Colin.'"

"Hey!" Chris sat up straight alarmed. "She just said that? Really?"

"She apologized quickly though," Colin added hastily but Chris knew he was hurt by Ginny.

"Ok, that's it. Ginny's secret has gone for too long now. I'm going to follow her next time."

"Chris!" Colin looked at her surprised.

"What?" Chris groaned. "Don't you remember, what happened when Ginny kept a secret in her first year?"

"But Chris, Ginny has changed, I don't think she will — and honestly, you kept big secrets too. . ." Colin trailed off looking apologetic. "Sorry."

"No, it's cool," Chris sighed. "You are right. But if Ginny doesn't tell us what's going on with her within this week then we following her. Deal?"

"Deal," Colin replied reluctantly.

Unfortunately, Ginny wasn't the only stressful thing on Chris' mind. Dumbledore had told her repeated times that they are out of time. They need the memory from Slughorn fast. Chris was trying very hard to talk to Slughorn about Dark Arts. First, he was cautious but soon Slughorn seemed to believe that Chris was just a curious student. Though they were now talking more frankly about Dark Arts, Slughorn always looked firmed about the boundaries. Chris realized she can't push her luck that way anymore, she needed to change her strategy. Now, she was so desperate that she thought of including Harry many times but then sternly stopped herself. But. . . time was running out. . .

"Hey, you okay?" Adrian whispered to Chris.

They were attending one of the Slughorn's dinner parties, in the second week of March. Harry was also there talking to Slughorn, more like Slughorn was talking to him. He said he came because of his lack of excuses, which surprised Chris as Ginny didn't come. She said she wasn't feeling well. But right now, Chris wasn't thinking about Harry or Ginny, she was thinking how to approach Slughorn when Adrian blocked her trail of thoughts. 

"Huh?" Chris looked up him surprised.

"I said, are you okay?" Adrian repeated slowly with amusement in his eyes. "You look a bit lost."

"Oh!" Chris tried to smile. "Sorry, and yes, I'm fine."

"Good," Adrian smiled. "Though I don't trust that, I won't bother you anymore."

Chris gave an apologetic shrug and Adrian waved his hand in dismissal.

"What are you doing on the next Hogsmeade visit?" he asked.

Automatically, Chris' eyes flickered towards Harry and she mentally cursed herself.

"I don't know," she said looking back at Adrian.

"Want to go together?" Adrian said brightly.

His excitement made Chris laugh. She opened her mouth to say no but at that moment, a weird thought occurred to her. She looked back at Harry and their eyes meet, he smiled and Chris felt her heart skipping a beat.

This is all wrong. This is wrong. Ignoring him isn't working. You need a distraction. Do it. Do it, Christina!

"Alright, we can go," she replied to Adrian. He grinned and she felt ashamed, she hastily added, "but as friends, okay? It's not a date."

"I didn't mention a date," Adrian smirked. "But whatever you say."

Chris chuckled shaking her head. 

At ten o'clock, Slughorn gave his permission to leave but Chris decided to hang back as usual. Adrian knew she talks potion stuff with Slughorn so he left saying goodnight. Harry, however, waited for her.

"Let's go," he said to Chris.

"Uh — Harry, I —" Chris tried to explain him but she felt Slughorn watching them. For a second she just stared at him and then an idea occurred to her. 

Dumbledore said I can include Harry. I hope this works or else I am screwed! This is dangerous!

"Yeah, let's go," she smiled at Harry and took his hand and he looked so surprised that Chris had to control her laugh but then she felt sad, weird and remorseful.

What the hell I am doing?

But there was no going back. Slughorn was watching them. Chris started to walk confidently towards the door with Harry and out of the corner of her eye, Chris saw Slughorn smiling. She felt less guilty.

This is for a good reason.

But as she reached the door, with horror, she realized Hermione hadn't left and she was watching them critically standing by the door. Her eyes stared at Harry and Chris' locked hands for a second too long then she looked at Chris. Her eyes seemed to ask the same question, Chris was thinking.

What are you playing at, Chris?

****

"At that time, I thought it was a good idea, but now I don't know," Chris threw up her hands in helplessness. 

"Well, I think that strategy was wise," said the Grey Lady. "You did what you had to do."

"Did I? I mean using Harry like that? Do you know how he looked when I told him that it was an act? You don't know how Hermione looked at me when I said those words," said Chris bitterly.

"She has lost her mind," said the Grey Lady turning to Luna.

At the highest top of Ravenclaw tower, there was a small triangular attic type of space with a big window. It was a bare place, the favourite place of the Grey Lady. She gave permission to Luna to come up there, sometimes, but not anyone else. But Luna had convinced her that Chris really needed a peaceful place for the evening so she agreed. Chris and Luna both were sitting on the floor cross-legged and Helena was floating around. 

For a week Chris acted in front of Slughorn and showed him that she and Harry were very close. Only, Harry, Hermione, Colin, Chris and Luna knew about this plan.

"And now, I am feeling like I am the evil queen, who destroys people's lives and play with their emotions," Chris said looking down.

"You are being dramatic. You didn't destroy anyone's life. They will endure it," said the Grey Lady dispassionately.

"Helena, I am messing with my friends' feelings and you think they will get over it?" Chris snapped.

"I think, if you are really disarraying with anyone's emotions, that's your emotions," Helena glared at her. "You look most stressful in this."

Chris opened her mouth angrily.

"Okay, calm down, please," Luna said. "Both of you."

"My goodness, girl, you haven't kill your friends," said Helena. "You have hardly effected anyone here and if your friends, Harry Potter and that Weasley girl are mean to be then they will get together — unless you claim him before."

"And hurt my best friend? No thanks," Chris said grimacing.

"Harry is still helping you, right?" Luna asked and Chris nodded. "And Ginny still don't know about this?" Chris shook her head. "So, I guess you don't need to worry about it. Everything will be fine."

"But —" Chris began.

"When you don't know how you feel and what to do, let just let it be," Luna smiled. "My mom used to say when you can't decide something for you, fate decides for you."

"And about the young intelligent boy, Adrian," said Helena. "Go with him and enjoy the evening. You can't worry about everyone except you. You are equally important to yourself."

"Fine," Chris sighed after a few minutes. "But you can't tell anyone else about this. No one. Not a single soul. Helena?"

"I know how to keep a secret," scowled Helena.

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To be continued. . .