Chapter 228: Two-way Mirror

In the staff table, there was a different story: Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall were deep in conversation, both looking extremely grave. Professor Sprout had the Prophet propped against a bottle of ketchup and was reading the front page with such concentration that she was not noticing the gentle drip of egg yolk falling into her lap from her stationary spoon. Meanwhile, at the far end of the table, Umbridge was tucking into a bowl of porridge. For once her pouchy toad's eyes were not sweeping the Great Hall looking for misbehaving students. She scowled as she gulped down her food and every now and then she shot a malevolent glance up the table to where Dumbledore and McGonagall were talking so intently.

"Now, I just need an idea, how to reach out to Dumbledore without her interference," Chris said glaring at Umbridge. "Should I jinx her, so that she could end up in the Hospital Wing for a week, at least?"

"No," said Hermione. "Chris, I know you're upset but think calmly about this."

"Yes, don't forget Fudge is still under Imperious Curse," said Colin. "She is practically the Minister right now."

"Colin is right, Chris. Calm down," Luna said sadly.

Ginny and Colin had filled her about the Dementor incident, that morning. She was upset more than anyone (apart from Chris).

"We could tell Sirius," Harry piped up.

"How?" Chris turned towards him. "I hope you are not suggesting owl —"

"No, of course not," Harry said quickly. "It's something Sirius gave me over Christmas. A way to contact him, when I need."

"What is it?" Chris asked surprised.

"Don't know, I didn't open it," Harry said. "He said to use it when it's an emergency."

"It is an emergency," Ginny said.

"Yes, yes, I know, that's why I suggested it," said Harry.

At that moment Chris felt her D. A. coin growing hot. Everyone must have felt that too because all of them looked startled. Chris looked at the Hufflepuff table and found Cedric looking at her.

"Cedric called a meeting," whispered Harry.

"Yeah, I understood," Chris said. "Listen, Harry, meet me at Room of Requirement at lunch. I would like to see how you contact Sirius. I hope he talks to Dumbledore fast and I get to see him, today."

"Alright."

Half-heartedly they all went to their classes. 

After their morning classes, Chris grabbed some food from the kitchen and head to the Room of Requirement. She was halfway to the fourth floor when she heard a few girls giggling and one girl's shrieking voice.

"How dare you?" yelled a familiar voice.

"Oh my God, Astoria, look at you," laughed a girl horribly.

Chris walked towards them and saw Pansy Parkinson and her group of girls laughing. Astoria was scratching her arms, standing in front of them and animal-like fur was slowly growing on her skin.

"You are just horrible, Pansy," cried out Astoria. "I will Daphne about it and Draco. . ."

"Of course you will," Pansy laughed again. "That's what you do. Go whine to them."

Tears filled Astoria's eyes, she pulled out wand but Pansy disarmed her quickly and howled with her friends. Astoria was about to turn around and run when Chris disarmed Pansy.

The shock stopped Pansy's laugh. She glared at Chris. All of her friends pulled out their wands.

"Don't even try," Chris warned.

"If it's not our favourite Mud-blood," snorted Pansy.

Chris' patience was already on its edge, meeting Pansy didn't help with that. Before Pansy could say something else Chris threw Furnunculus Curse and bat-boggy hex at her face. Pansy screamed, surely she had understood what it was. She ran hiding her face, her girlfriends had no choice but to follow.

Chris turned to Astoria.

"Astoria, you need to go to the hospital wing."

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"I didn't need your help," snapped Astoria as eyes leaked down her cheeks.

"Good thing then I'm not helping," said Chris. "I just advised you the obvious and she called me a Mud-blood."

The fur had grown thick on Astoria's arms.

"I can't run around like this," Astoria sobbed. "This is horrible. I can barely move my arms. I don't even know what curse did she put on me."

"I do," sighed Chris and after thinking a moment she pulled out a vial from her locket. "Here, it will help you."

Astoria eyed the vial suspiciously.

"Astoria, have I ever tried to do something bad to you?" Chris asked impatiently. "You hate me without any concrete reason. That's just ridiculous! Do as you like, drink it or run to the hospital wing, I don't care."

Astoria looked stunned but then slowly took the vial and took one sip. She looked down at herself and saw after a few moments the fur started to disappear.

"Sorry," she mumbled.

"It's fine," Chris put the vial back in her locket.

There was an awkward silence.

"So why Parkinson was so bitchy to you? I mean she is always like that to everyone else but I never saw her bullying any fellow Slytherin before."

"It's not the first time," said Astoria. "She was being bitchy to me for a month now, because of —"

"Draco?" Chris guessed.

"Yeah," Astoria nodded watching her clean arms. "Thanks, by the way."

Another awkward silence.

"Well. . . I think I should go," said Chris.

"Huh? Yes, sure, me too, bye," Astoria started to turn around.

"Hey Astoria," Chris called.

"Yes?"

"Do you know why Theodore left?" Chris asked casually.

"Not really, I just heard he had some kind of emergency in his house," Astoria replied.

"Oh!"

"Jason didn't tell you anything?" Astoria asked coolly.

"Yep, he told me Theodore left, that's all," Chris sighed. "Umm. . . Astoria, you know, Jason had only you guys as friends but then this year, you and Daphne kind of pulled away and now Theodore is not here. He will never say it but I think he misses you all."

"I know, he will never admit even if he feels that way," smiled Astoria. "But I thought he had you so. . ."

"Yeah but lately I'm so busy and he is — anyways, I will see you later," Chris smiled at her.

"See you."

Harry was already unpacking a badly wrapped package when Chris entered. He pulled out a small, square mirror. It looked old; it was certainly dirty.

"Oh! It's a mirror," Chris felt happy as she sat down beside Harry. "It's brilliant! Nothing dangerous."

"You have seen this before?" Harry asked.

"Yeah, last year — never mind — let's talk to Sirius."

Harry nodded and turned the mirror over. There on the reverse side was a scribbled note from Sirius.

This is a two-way mirror. I've got the other. If you need to speak to me, just say my name into it; you'll appear in my mirror and I'll be able to talk in yours. James and I used to use them when we were in separate detentions.

Harry and Chris both smiled reading it. Then Harry said, loudly and clearly, "Sirius."

There was a flash in the mirror then within seconds Sirius Black was beaming at them.

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To be continued. . .