Chapter 12: A Party

Two men took out their wands and pointed at each other. They were about to start a duel.

A lady was watching this, looking terrified. But before they could start the duel, another lady came running and disarmed them both.

"You have to stop this madness. Both of you." The other lady said furiously.

"Yes, we can't fight with each other. We are friends." The first lady said.

"No. Maybe we used to be friends but not anymore. Friends understand each other. But he doesn't." A man said.

"I don't? Like you did? That's it if you three have made up your mind then alright. I am leaving." Said the other man.

"Where? Don't. Please." The other lady protested. But the man left, leaving everyone else in shock.

Chris woke up from her dream. She looked around and saw she was in her bed and it was early morning.

These nightmares. Need to stop.

She got up. She looked at Ginny, who was sleeping. Why do I feel you are the reason behind these nightmares, Ginny?

She sighed and went to take a shower. Ginny hardly talks to anyone nowadays. She was just attending the classes with Chris and was eating with her sometimes. Other than that she always gave excuses, like she was too busy to hang out with others.

It was almost more than a month Ginny was avoiding people like that. Ginny was looking pale all of a sudden. Chris asked her about her heath but Ginny dismissed her.

Chris's nightmares weren't helping either. She was having them two or three times a week. The visions in her nightmares were feeling clearer. She was seeing everything clear in her dream except the people's faces. But the dream remained the same.

Two men arguing and two ladies trying to stop them. Chris discovered recently that the place where her dream characters were fighting, was none other than the Hogwarts castle.

Chris got up from her bed, took a shower and went towards a corridor from where she can see the lake. It was raining outside. Chris was feeling the cold breeze. Raindrops the size of bullets were thundering on the castle windows. The lake was rising every day. Chris took a deep breath thinking about Ginny and her nightmares.

Her mind was in mess. She took another few deep breaths and went for breakfast. Chris was now spending her free times with Luna or Hermione.

Hermione was helping her to learn new spells and potions. Together they even found some spells which were for 5th and 6th-year students. Hermione was very excited to learn those spells with someone who was equally enthusiastic about it.

Though Hermione was mostly about books, Luna was the opposite. She believed more in experiences. People in her year called her weird but the more Chris knew Luna, Chris understood she is full of life. Luna taught her, how to see the world from a different angle. For Chris, her favourite day was, when Luna asked her to stand in the courtyard, closing her eyes, while the raindrops fell on her body and face. That was a beautiful and amusing feeling. They were completely drenched when they entered the castle, but they were lucky enough, as they did not feel sick.

Chris loved both girls' company. Harry was mostly busy with his Quidditch practice but he talked to Chris sometimes. He told her that their team was not hopeless, they all were trying to give their hundred per cent on the match. Wood was trying to inspire them every day.

Chris also pulled a prank on the Slytherin Quidditch team with Fred and George Weasley and Peeves. Peeves didn't want to be part of it, because of Bloody Baron, the Slytherin house ghost. But Fred and George convinced him. The Slytherins suspected Fred and George but didn't find any proofs.

After dinner, Chris was sitting with Ron and Hermione in the common room. The common room was packed with students. Ron was teaching Chris how to play wizard chess. Chris wanted to learn and Ron was very happy to teach. The game was exactly like Muggle chess except that the figures were alive, which made it a lot like directing troops in battle. Ron was very good at that game because the set belonged to his grandfather so Ron knew the chessmen so well he never had trouble getting them to do what he wanted. Ron informed Chris that usually, the chessmen didn't trust the player immediately. So she needs to have patience. While Chris played with Ron, Hermione was reading a book. Chris noticed that the chessmen weren't sure at first but slowly they were trusting Chris and following her orders without any hesitation. Suddenly Harry entered the common room drenched to the skin and splattered with mud. Before he can speak Hermione ordered him to take shower and change. Harry obliged. Ron and Chris resumed their game.

Ron won but Chris was excited to play again, when Harry came back, changing his clothes. He sat with them.

"So I was trying to say before, Nick invited us to his party," Harry said grinning.

"Nick? Do you mean Headless Nick? He is throwing a party?" Ron asked with a confused look.

"Yes. It's his deathday party. He invited you, me and Hermione." Harry answered then looked at Chris. "Chris you can also come with us."

"Well. I don't know. He really didn't invite me. Don't you think it will be rude?" Chris asked.

"No. Of course not. He asked me to bring my friends. And You are my friend." Harry said with a big smile.

"Yes, Chris. And I bet there aren't many living people who can say they have been to a deathday party....it'll be fascinating. We should go." Hermione said.

"But why would anyone want to celebrate the day they died? Sounds dead depressing to me. . . ." Said Ron.

"I am with Ron on this one. It really sounds depressing." Chris replied.

"Well Nick saved me from Filch and I promised to help him about the Headless Hunt thing. So I have to go." Harry said with a sad tone.

"He saved you from Filch?" Hermione asked.

"Now what is Headless Hunt?" Chris asked at the same time.

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"Headless Hunt is some kind of game for headless ghosts. Nick was very upset that he was not selected to play. That's why he wanted me to join his deathday party and so that I can say a few words about him to a ghost. Maybe then they'll consider to select him." He said looking at Chris and then turned towards Hermione. "And yes. Filch took me to his office because of the mud, Nick saved me. But do you know I found something interesting at his office? There was a letter..."

Before Harry could finish a loud applaud interrupted them.

They all looked toward the place where Fred and George were surrounded by many students. Suddenly they saw a salamander whizzed into the air, emitting loud sparks and bangs as it whirled wildly round the room. Percy furiously started scolding Fred and George, at least he tried to. There was a spectacular display of tangerine stars showering from the salamander's mouth, then its escape into the fire, with accompanying explosions. Percy's voice was slowly lost in the laughing and clapping sound in the common room. This also laughed, but she just realized how much she was missing Ginny and watching this with her.

Soon the Halloween arrived. The deathday party was on the same day as Halloween. Chris really didn't want to miss her first Halloween feast in Hogwarts and after seeing the decorations it was more difficult. Harry also tried to change the plan but Hermione reminded everyone that a promise is a promise, and they should keep it.

So at seven o'clock in the evening, they decided to meet in the common room.

Chris was about to leave her room when Ginny called, "Chris?"

Chris was very surprised. She stopped and looked at Ginny.

"Do you want to go to the feast together?" Ginny asked uncertainly.

Chris's face fell. She was waiting for Ginny to talk to her, but now what should she do. She already promised Harry.

She sighed, "Ummm... Ginny, actually... I am not going to the feast. I am going to Nick's deathday party. Harry invited me."

As Chris answered she saw Ginny's pale face was looking paler.

She hurriedly added, "I am so sorry Ginny. I will make it up to you. I..."

"No need. Go." Ginny said as she turned her back towards Chris.

"Ginny?" Chris was hurt but she thought that she had hurt Ginny more. She called her name again and tried to reach her. But Ginny took a book from her bed and ran out.

Chris didn't understand, what just happened. Her brain was repeating only one thing, 

Did she hurt her that much? Did she take the right decision?

Confused and hurt she went downstairs. Harry was standing in the common room alone.

"Ron will be here in a minute." He said and then noticed the look on Chris's face. "Chris are you ok?"

Chris didn't hear him. She was looking at the floor distracted.

"Chris?" Harry touched her shoulder.

Startled she looked at him.

"Were you saying something?" Chris asked.

"What happened?" Harry asked.

Chris didn't know how to explain.

"Ginny. It's Ginny. I think she is upset about something and I made her more upset. I don't think I am a good friend Harry." Her voice cracked at the last line.

She remembered her previous friends from her muggle school and her chest hurt.

Harry was looking at her, surprised. She never showed any sign of pain in front of anyone before, not even when her arm was cursed. Harry didn't understand what should he do. He just gripped her shoulder tightly and said, "That's not right Chris. You are a great friend... Ron and Hermione fight too, but that doesn't mean they are not good friends. They are my best friends. You and Ginny will be fine. Don't worry."

"I hope." Chris sighed. "I just want her to be fine. I think..."

Hermione came down and Chris stopped talking. She took a few breaths to calm down.