Chapter 68: An Encounter

Next day after lunch, Chris, Ginny and Colin went towards the Whomping Willow. Its branches were creaking as though in a high wind, whipping backwards and forwards to stop them going nearer.

"Now?" Ginny asked.

"Impedimenta," Chris said, pointing the wand towards the tree and it slowed down. "Now. Let's go."

"Chris you're a genius," Colin said happily.

They covered the distance to the trunk in seconds. They slid down an earthy slope to the bottom of a very low tunnel.

"Lumos" Ginny whispered. Colin and Chris did the same. Then they set off, then bent almost double; ahead of them. And then the tunnel began to rise; moments later it twisted, and Chris could see a patch of dim light through a small opening.

They paused, gasping for breath, edging forwards. Raising their wands to see what lay beyond.

It was a room, a very disordered, dusty room. Paper was peeling from the walls; there were stains all over the floor; every piece of furniture was broken as though somebody had smashed it. The windows were all boarded-up. The room was deserted, but a door to their right stood open, leading to a shadowy hallway. They pulled themselves out of the passageway.

"Do you think it's the Shrieking Shack?" Ginny asked.

"I think so," Chris answered.

Their eyes fell on a big chair. Large chunks had been torn out of it; one of the legs had been ripped off entirely.

"Ghosts didn't do that, do they?" Colin said while shaking a little.

They crept out into the hall and up the crumbling staircase. Everything was covered in a thick layer of dust.

They reached the dark landing. Chris opened the door slowly, inside a magnificent four-poster bed with dusty hangings.

"Nothing. Nothing is here." Ginny said with a sigh.

"But —?" Chris was confused. "I had a feeling. How —?"

"Er. . ." Colin said. "I think we should go."

"Yeah, Chris. Colin is right, we'll prove Sirius Black's innocence any other day." Ginny said, then turned and froze.

"What happened, Ginny?" Colin asked and followed his gaze and he froze as well.

Chris looked at them and turned around. A big, enormous, pale-eyed, jet-black dog stood behind the door.

"Gr — grim," Colin whispered.

"Relax. It's just a dog." Chris said looking at the dog. "I think he is hiding here because people take them as a bad omen and hate to see them." Chris smiled. "Don't worry. We don't think you're a bad omen or something, isn't it guys?"

". . . Er. . ." Colin just stared at the dog.

"Guys?" Chris raised her voice.

"Yeah, yeah." Colin nodded.

"Yep. It's right." Ginny sighed. "Sorry, Chris. I just freaked out a bit."

"We should go now, don't you think, Ginny?" Colin said looking outside.

"But Sirius Black —" Chris began.

"— is not here. Chris, there is nothing we can do." Ginny said seriously.

"So I'll never get to know the truth? Harry will always think his Godfather betrayed his parents? And there is nothing we can do?" Chris said, with a disappointed tone.

"It's alright Chris. Let's go, or we'll be in trouble," said Ginny.

Suddenly the dog sprang back towards them, he pushed Colin and Colin dropped his wands. In a split second, the dog changed into a mass of filthy, matted hair hung to his elbows. If eyes hadn't been shining out of the deep, dark sockets, he might have been a corpse. The waxy skin was stretched so tightly over the bones of his face, it looked like a skull. His yellow teeth were bared in a grin. It was Sirius Black.

"Expelliarmus!" he croaked, pointing Colin's wand at them.

Chris and Ginny's wands shot out of their hands, high in the air, and Black caught them. Then he took a step closer.

Colin and Ginny were looking terrified but Chris grinned as a realisation dawned upon her.

"You're an Animagus, like Professor McGonagall. That's why the Dementors didn't sense you, they can't sense animals. That's how you escaped Azkaban and — and you're Harry's Grim." Chris said grinning.

"That's right. Now tell me who told you I'm innocent?" Sirius Black inquired.

"No one. I figured it out." Chris said coolly. "You had no reasons to betray Harry's parents and if you really were a killer, you would've killed Ron, that day."

Black nodded.

"So what happened exactly?" Chris asked curiously. Finally, she was going to have some answers.

"I'll tell you if you can give me a piece of information," Black said looking at Ginny.

"What kind of information?" Ginny said, looking still a little cautious.

"Do you know where your brother's rat is?"

"What? Scabbers? But he died. Crookshanks —" Ginny said surprised.

"Crookshanks didn't kill him. He couldn't be killed by a cat." Black shouted.

"Why?" Colin asked quietly.

Black took a deep breath. 

"No need to know. Just tell Crookshanks, if you find him. That's it." He turned towards Chris. "And to answer your question, I didn't betray my best friends, another person did, who faked his own death and who is still alive. I made him the secret keeper and that was my fault. Now, you three leave. Or I'll erase all your memories."

"No, no, no need. We're leaving." Ginny almost dragged Chris and Colin away.

"Our wands?" Chris asked stopping.

Black threw the wands towards them and they walked out.

As they were entering the castle silently, Chris was thinking hard about what Sirius Black said. Suddenly she stopped abruptly, Chris heard a few fast footsteps, she shoved Colin and Ginny behind a statue. As soon as she did that Professor McGonagall, Snape and Draco came in front of her.

"See Professor, I told you, I saw her leaving," Draco said smirking.

"Where were you, Miss Norton?" Professor McGonagall asked angrily.

"Professor I was walking on the grounds," Chris replied.

"There are restrictions, for your own safety. I hope you're aware of that?" Professor McGonagall said sternly.

"Yes Professor," Chris said looking down.

"I don't want to see Students taking the safety measures so lightly, they should know that breaking rules have its consequences. Detention Miss Norton."

"Professor McGonagall if you think, I can give Miss Norton, the detention task." Professor Snape said giving an ugly smirk.

But before Professor McGonagall could answer, another voice came, "Everything alright Professors?"

Chris looked up, it was Professor Lupin. He gave a quick glance towards Chris then turned towards the Professors.

"No, Lupin. Miss Norton was wandering outside the castle grounds at this time." Professor McGonagall said furiously.

"If I ask, Why Christina?" Professor Lupin said looking at Chris.

"I just went out for — fresh air, Professor. I was just taking a walk." Chris replied looking down again.

"She has already received detention, Lupin. No need to be worried." Snape snorted.

Malfoy smirked but next second his smirk vanished as Professor Lupin said, "Good, Professor McGonagall, so what is her task? I needed a little assistance at my office if she —"

"Sure Lupin. We haven't decided on her task so you can give it to her." Professor McGonagall said briskly.

Lupin nodded and Professor McGonagall walked away. Snape watched Chris and Lupin angrily for few seconds then stroll away too, at last, Draco Malfoy stormed off.

"Now tell me what were you really doing outside?" Lupin asked seriously.

"I was practising a few charms outside," Chris lied again.

Lupin wasn't convinced but he nodded, "Last day of exams, five o'clock. Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom."

"Yes Professor."

Lupin walked away. Ginny and Colin came out.

"Why did you push us?" Ginny asked angrily as they walked towards the Gryffindor tower.

"You faced Black with me, you two have done enough. There was no point of facing McGonagall and Snape too." Chris replied.

"But Chris —" Colin began.

"Just do one thing, keep an eye out for Scabbers. I realized, Black was here for Scabbers, both times. He is after Scabbers, that proves Scabbers isn't a normal rat." Chris said seriously.

"Well. He really isn't normal. I mean he lived in our family for twelve years. Mom always said that's not possible for a normal rat." Ginny said, thinking hard.

"Wait, twelve years? Harry's parents died twelve years ago. It could mean he is not a rat at all — what if he is a person? What if he is an Animagus like Black? He is the person who betrayed the Potter's?" Chris said with a shocked expression.

"And he was living with Harry pretending to be his best friend's rat for three years? That's scary." Colin said.

"Yeah, it is. If it's true then my family was living with the actual criminal." Ginny said stunned. 

"Wait — wait. Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Maybe we aren't right. First things first, we've to pass our exams. We'll see about this later." Chris said as they reached the fat lady's portrait.

Chris's exam went pretty well. She achieved good marks in Charms, Transfiguration, Astronomy, DADA. Herbology's marks were not very bad either, not good as other subjects but nice. The problem happened in Potions, Chris prepared the Swelling Solution perfectly but still, Snape cut half marks.

"He did that purposely, didn't he?" Chris asked while leaving the class.

"Yes. Everyone knows that Professor Snape hates famous Gryffindors." Jason replied from behind. "And you're famous now. So. . ." He smirked and walked away.

"He got full marks. I saw his paper. Arrogant, isn't he?" Colin whispered.

"No. He speaks the truth." Chris smiled. "By the way, he is Jason Fawley."

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"You stole his potions recipes and he still talks to you?" Colin asked surprised.

"He doesn't know," Chris said grinning.

Ginny shook her head while laughing.