Chapter 117: Trouble

"Where were you?" Ginny asked as she sat beside Chris on the Gryffindor table for lunch. "You didn't turn up for the entire task."

"I did." Chris said, mouth full of roasted chicken.

"When? I didn't see you?" Colin said.

"I was sitting with Jason." Chris replied.

Ginny, Luna and Colin exchange looks then Ginny and Luna giggled.

"What?" Chris asked.

"Nothing." Ginny replied still giggling. "You never clearly said that you two are a thing or not?"

"I didn't because it's not clear." Chris felt her cheeks getting hot because of the blood rush. Why she have to blush now in front of her friends?

"What do you mean it's not clear? Clearly there is something beautiful between you two." Luna said smiling.

"Yeah... actually he asked me for next Hogsmeade trip." Chris said trying to concentrate on the food.

"Really?" Ginny said excitedly. "What did you say?"

"I said I'll go." Chris replied.

"Oh my God. I'm so happy." Ginny giggled.

Luna and Colin laughed.

"You're crazy." Chris said shaking her head.

There was loud applause all around the Great Hall. Chris looked up from her food. The champions just entered the Great Hall. Fleur gave a bright smile to Ron and Harry as she made her way towards Ravenclaw table with her sister. Cedric and Cho came to sit on the Hufflepuff table. Victor whispered something to Hermione and went towards the Slytherin table as Harry, Ron and Hermione came and sat opposite to them.

"Congratulations!" Many Gryffindors said including Luna, Colin and Ginny.

"How was it?" Chris asked to Harry.

"A little difficult... but now it's a relief as I don't have to think about it till june." Harry replied.

Chris rolled her eyes.

"What happened to you two?" Colin asked to Ron and Hermione. "How did you end up down there?"

"Yesterday, as Fred and George left me and Hermione in Professor McGonagall office, we saw Cho and Fleur sister there. Then Dumbledore came." Ron said eagerly, his face looked like he was telling a thriller story of his life. "Dumbledore first told us what was going to happen at the task then assured us that we will be safe, and will wake up when we'll be back above the water. Then..." he took a dramatical pause. "He put all four us into a bewitched sleep in Professor McGonagall's office."

Many Gryffindors heard the story attentively. Ginny and Chris looked at each other and grinned.

One of the funniest things about the aftermath of the second task was that everybody was very keen to hear details of what had happened down in the lake, which meant that Ron was getting to share Harry's limelight for once. At first, Ron gave what seemed to be the truth. One week later, however, Ron was telling a thrilling tale of kidnap in which he struggled single-handedly against fifty heavily armed merpeople who had to beat him into submission before tying him up.

"But I had my wand hidden up my sleeve," he assured few third and second year girls, who seemed to be a lot keener on Ron now that he was getting so much attention. "I could've taken those mer-idiots any time I wanted."

"What were you going to do, snore at them?" said Hermione waspishly. People had been teasing her so much about being the thing that Viktor Krum would most miss that she was in a rather tetchy mood.

Ron's ears went red, and thereafter, he reverted to the bewitched sleep version of events.

As they entered March the weather became drier, but cruel winds skinned their hands and faces every time they went out onto the grounds. There were delays in the post because the owls kept being blown off course. Leon came back with Mr Norton's letter after few days later than he usually comes. Chris had made a request to her father in her last letter. As expected her father agreed to it and replied he'll buy the 'thing' for her as soon as possible.

Finally the day of most awaited Hogsmeade trip arrived. Chris, Ginny and Colin decided to meet Luna at the Great Hall for breakfast before leaving. After breakfast as they left Great Hall, Shawn joined them. Then Chris saw Jason was already waiting for her at the stone steps in the Entrance Hall. Jason looked at her and smiled. Chris felt her cheeks burning again.

Ginny and Luna giggled even Shawn and Colin laughed.

'Stupid face.' Chris thought angrily as Jason walked towards them.

"Hi." He said looking at everyone and Chris smiled at him.

Everyone replied, Shawn even shook hands with him then they decided to leave for Hogsmeade.

"We'll see you at dinner." Ginny shouted as she and Jason walked out. Jason chuckled and Chris rolled her eyes and shouted, "See you."

"Hey... you're looking different.." Jason said suddenly as they crossed the Hogwarts castle gate.

Chris looked surprised as she did changed her hairstyle a bit but really didn't expect Jason to notice.

"Is it a bad different? Am I looking weird?" She asked.

"Oh no no. Of course not." He said hurriedly. "You're looking beautiful."

"Thanks." Chris said blushing a little bit. But soon she controlled herself. "Where are we going?"

"The places you haven't seen yet in Hogsmeade." Jason replied.

"Then it's a long trip as I'ven't seen anything yet.. except Honeydukes, Three broomsticks and shrieking shack."

"Really? What were you doing at the past two trips?" He asked.

Chris remembered her first visit getting messed up with the news of Dragons and the second one by Rita Skeeter. Chris sighed.

"Nothing special." She replied.

"Alright. You like birds, right?" Jason said half grinning half smiling.

"Yeah."

"So let's visit the post office first." Jason said and then brushed something from Chris's shoulder.

"What happened?" Chris asked looking at her shoulder.

"There was a beetle on your shoulder." Jason replied.

"Oh."

They went to the post office; Chris took a good look around. It really was beautiful for Chris. The owls sat hooting softly down at her, at least three hundred of them; from Great Grays right down to tiny little Scops owls ("Local Deliveries Only"), which were so small they could have sat in the palm of Chris's hand.

Then they visited Zonko's, desipte of Jason's objections. It was completely packed with Hogwarts students, there were jokes and tricks to fulfill even Fred's and George's wildest dreams. Chris found many interesting things and hurriedly brought them when Jason was waiting outside for her.

When Chris left Zonko's joke shop, the weather was getting milder than it had been all year. Chris suggested the Three broomsticks but Jason refused.

"I don't like place. It always too crowded." Jason replied. "But I know a place, I heard it's quite peaceful."

"All right then." Chris smiled.

Then they made their way up the High Street, past Dervish and Banges, Jason led her up a side road and into a small tea shop. A sign outside told Chris that it was Madam Puddifoot's teashop. It was a cramped, steamy little place where everything seemed to have been decorated with frills or bows. Also there was couples all around the shop.

"Er...." Jason also looked surprised like Chris. "I swear I didn't... that Theodore. I shouldn't have trusted him."

Chris laughed, "Though it's too sweet for my taste, it's cool."

They sat down at the last remaining table, which was situated in the steamy window. Chris looked around and saw all of the couples were either holding hands or were kissing.

She hurriedly looked away and saw Jason was also looking outside the window.

"What can I get you, m'dears?" said Madam Puddifoot, a very stout woman with a shiny black bun, squeezing between tables came to them.

"Coffee?" Chris asked Jason.

"Sure." He replied without looking.

"Ok. Two coffees, please," said Chris to Madam Puddifoot.

As Madam Puddifoot left, Chris chuckled.

"You know my Dad makes great coffee." She said.

Jason turned to her, a sign of relief was on his face. He smiled.

"My Dad actually a great cook, he makes everything so great..." Chris continued. "Before I came to Hogwarts he used to make breakfast for me everyday. You know he's a businessman, he have to go to work everyday but still he always spared time for me. As much as he can."

There coffees arrived and they concentrated on it. Suddenly the couple in front of their table started to kiss, Chris looked away and her eyes fell on a couple sitting in corner. They looked awfully familiar. It was Michael Corner and Ginny holding hands. Chris grinned and decided not to spy on her best friend, so she looked down, then saw something funny. There was another beetle near their legs. Chris was thinking about it when Jason cleared his throat and Chris concentrated on him.

"I don't remember my Dad much." Jason said. "I was two when... you know... he.."

"I understand."

"Yeah.. he died... so it was me and mother since then." He smiled a little. "My mother means the world to me. She have no one other than me that's why I always try to stay out of troubles..."

"And I messed it up?"

"No.. not.. but actually yeah kind of." He sighed. "I know if you wasn't here then no one could've knew who Jason Fawley is. I was okay to live as a background Slytherin. Taking classes and minding my own business..."

Jason looked at Chris and hold her right hand which was on the table. Something jumped inside Chris's stomach, up and down few times.

"But.. I can't say I was happy." He said smiling.

Chris smiled back.

"But I'm a trouble, don't you think?" Chris asked grinning.

"Oh you're a walking talking most dangerous trouble." Jason chuckled. "Well..nowadays what're you doing inside out of order places?"

"How do you...?"

"I've my ways.. You're practicing potions, aren't you? Because you can't master a art like potions without practicing and I've noticed you're getting better in it."

"Well that's a compliment coming from Mr Fawley." Chris chuckled. "Yes, I'm practicing some advance potions, you know just for general knowledge."

"See what I meant..."

Both of them grinned.

They finished their coffees and walked out of the shop holding hands. Ginny didn't notice them as she was too busy to explain something to her boyfriend.

On the way something caught Chris's eyes, a Daily Prophet news about Mr Crouch. Chris stopped to read the article, Phrases jumped out at her: hasn't been seen in public since November . . . house appears deserted . . . St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries decline comment . . . Ministry refuses to confirm rumors of critical illness. . . .

"They're making it sound like he's dying," Jason snorted.

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"Maybe he's but it's a little suspicious." Chris replied as they resumed their walk.

"Never trust the Daily Prophet. I repeat never." Jason said firmly.