Chapter 356 - The Half-Blood

Behind an abandoned tower a beautiful woman with dark hair and red eyes was staring worriedly at the small sleeping boy in her arms. Her white dress and the crown on her head sparkled in the moonlight as she looked at the path ahead. After a minute, another figure emerged and tugged back his cloak to reveal the face of a thirty-something years old Godric Gryffindor with shoulder-length red hair and big green eyes.

For a minute he just stared at the woman and the small boy in her arms. Her beauty and elegance astonished him even now, he gave a soft smile.

"What is it?" The woman caught him staring and asked.

"I am going to miss you, Wilma," Godric Gryffindor said as his smile faded a little bit.

Wilma, the Vampire Queen stiffened for a moment, her hands tightening around the sleeping boy.

"Then don't go."

"We have talked about this, Wilma. You know I can not do that. I have a duty towards the school. I . . . will visit," Godric Gryffindor tried to sound diplomatic. "It is necessary."

"Is it also necessary to take him with you?" Wilma's voice softened. "He is not even two years old, Godric. He needs me."

"I am sorry, Wilma. I know but . . ." Godric Gryffindor sighed. "He is the reason I have to go back. He needs proper education for his magic or you know what will happen. If his magic gets out of control again he will . . . he is too powerful for his own good."

"I can teach him. I may not be powerful like you but I am his mother, " Wilma caressed the boy's dark hair.

"May I remind you that you are a Queen now, Wilma? You can not give him the attention he needs no matter how much you want to," Godric Gryffindor rested his hand on her shoulder. "And you have worked too hard for this crown, Wilma. Your people need you as much as Fergus does. You can not give up the crown." 

"Of course, I can. Fergus is my only child. I love him more than I have loved anything or anyone," Wilma snapped, and Fergus stirred in her arms. She sighed. "But I know what you mean if people found out the Queen's son has some kind of unruly magic then it wouldn't be good for any of us. I just don't want him to go through anything bad, Godric."

"I know."

"Then promise me you will take care of him and will not treat him like your other students," Wilma held out one of her hands with a stern look. "He is your son and an extraordinary child and you will treat him such. Because if I found out you have neglected your duty and stopped caring for our son, I promise you, I will march to your wizard school myself without caring about your bizarre wizard friends or students will think of me."

"My friends are just fine," Godric Gryffindor laughed and caught Wilma's outstretched hand and pulled her into his arms. "But I promise you. Fergus will be safe with his father. I am taking him for his safety. I will not disappoint you or our son."

Godric Gryffindor embraced Wilma and their child Fergus. Wilma rested her head on his shoulder with a smile but her eyes became watery.

"I love you both so much. I am going to miss you."

"Wilma, I --" Godric Gryffindor's throat closed with emotions as he held Wilma and Fergus tighter.

Fergus woke up and sleepily rubbed his green eyes.

"Mama? Fa-ther?" He mumbled.

Godric Gryffindor and Wilma looked at each other then Wilma looked up at the sky. It was going to be morning soon. Godric Gryffindor nodded at her and she turned to her boy.

"You are going with your Father, Darling," Wilma kissed Fergus's forehead. "But don't worry you will visit Mama soon, okay? Be good and be brave. And always remember Mama loves you the most."

"Mama?" Fergus looked confused and before he could understand what was happening Godric Gryffindor scooped him up and kissed Wilma.

"See you soon, my love."

"I love you." Wilma smiled as tears run down her cheeks.

She stood there as the silhouette of her lover and her son disappeared inside the lush forest.

⁂

A few years later in the headmaster's office in Hogwarts. Four founders were staring down a small group. All four of them looked furious.

"I will ask the last time what happened?" Salazar Slytherin hissed. 

No one from the group met Salazar Slytherin's eyes.

"This is ridiculous!" Godric Gryffindor exclaimed glaring at the group. "You need to answer if all of you don't want to be punished."

"I do not think you understand the gravity of the situation," said Rowena Ravenclaw, her anger barely contained under her calm voice. "You have not only damaged our school but you also have harmed other students. We want to know what happened?"

"And "harmed" might be putting it lightly," said Helga Hufflepuff grimly. "Genevieve, you are honest. Tell us what you saw."

Godric Gryffindor's twenty-one years old sister Genevieve Gryffindor stepped forward looking upset. Even after finishing school, she stayed at Hogwarts to assist Madam Josephine at the healers' wing in Hogwarts. Today when she was on her way to the healers' wing, she was caught in a mysterious explosion in the West wing.

"As I said, Madam Helga, I just arrived moments before the explosion. I clearly don't know what happened. But I tried to send the injured students to the healers as soon as the accident happened," Genevieve paused hesitating. Her eyes flickered between two people in the group. A seventeen years old Helena and a sixteen years old Malgino. Helena pointedly ignored Genevieve while Malgino looked surprised. Genevieve sighed and continued, "I am sorry, Madams, Sir, Brother. I don't know for sure who could be behind the explosion."

"Do you have any idea, Genevieve?" Salazar asked suspiciously.

"I --" Genevieve's glanced at Malgino, who looked shocked then pressed his lips together looking defeated. Genevieve hesitated but opened her mouth. "I know someone who was supposed to be there. Ma--"

"It was me!"

A thirteen years old boy stepped forward shocking everyone in the room. His black hair messily fell over his eyes but the color of those eyes was unmistakable green.

Instantly Helga's eyes snapped towards Godric Gryffindor, who looked equally shocked and surprised but there was also a hurt look in his identical green eyes. His fist clenched as he opened his mouth, "Correct me if I am wrong, Fergus but I think you, specifically you are forbidden to use magic without our supervision?"

"You will be right. I broke the rules," Fergus said looking down.

"Two students died, Fergus," Godric Gryffindor yelled slapping his hand on the table in front of him.

"Godric, I know he is from Gryffindor but considering the students were from Slytherin and Ravenclaw house, I would like to --" Salazar Slytherin began but Helga cut him off.

"Godric will decide the punishment, Salazar," she waved her hands dismissively.

"But Helga --"

"Salazar."

"Fine," Salazar grumbled but didn't say anything.

"Godric?" Helga put a hand on Godric Gryffindor's shoulder, looking sympathetic.

Godric Gryffindor was glaring at Fergus who didn't meet his eyes, finally, Godric straightened up.

"Do you know what that means, Fergus? About your punishment?"

"Yes, Fa -- sir." Fergus nodded without looking up.

⁂

Chris was feeling comfortable and uncomfortable at the same time. She felt sleepy but there was a nagging feeling in her head that forced her to wake up or it could be the person who was shouting very loudly near her.

". . . I don't care! If Christina needs a wizard healer, I will arrange a wizard healer! I just want her to be okay." 

Someone replied to those words quietly and Chris tried to open her eyes but couldn't. So she listened as the first voice spoke again.

"No, you don't understand!" The voice sounded familiar now.

"I know. . . but I think you don't," Chris heard the other voice say. "You are not acting like yourself."

"Neither are you, Gweneth," said Oziyat angrily. 

"That will be enough," Rosaline's voice sounded quite impatient and Oziyat fell silent. "What do you think, Nolan? How is she?"

"Prince Oziyat is right, First Princess, with all the blood and poison and not knowing exactly what attacked her, it is difficult for me to treat her," The vampire healer Nolan replied calmly. "If we want to heal Lady Christina faultlessly, I am afraid, we do need a wizard healer who can understand this situation better. I have stopped the bleeding with the help of Young Prince Solaryus but you can understand how difficult it is getting for me."

"I understand. Her blood is indeed tempting. If we hadn't been trained or I wasn't honor-bound to protect her, I would have lost my restraint with so much blood," Rosaline said quietly.

"That's it then. I am talking to Mother and leaving tonight," Oziyat sounded determined. "I will bring wizard healers as soon as possible. Keep her alive till then."

"But --" Gweneth tried to protest but Chris heard (Oziyat's) footsteps fading away and then a long silence.

"I think for Lady Christina's safety, we should leave as well," Nolan said clearing his throat. "I would recommend stationing human servants in this room."

"Yes, of course," Rosaline said. "Gweneth, station two servants here."

"Yes, your Highness," Gweneth said but she didn't sound too eager.

After few moments all of their footsteps bustled away from Chris's room and she felt herself drifting off yet again.

⟦To be continued ⟧