355 Start Talking

For a moment, Chris forgot how to breathe. Those three familiar faces in the throne room, surrounded by dozens of vampire guards, looked so unfamiliar to her. Yet they looked real.

"Introduce yourselves," Rosaline's voice rang through the silent room. "State your purpose."

Ginny, Colin, and Luna looked at each other and a dangerous thought brought Chris back to her senses. Without caring, she ran down the stairs, straight to the throne room.

Colin nodded at Ginny and Ginny stepped forward.

"We are looking for --"

Before Ginny could finish, the door behind the throne opened with a loud bang. Everyone in the room surprised turned in that direction, multiple guards drew their weapons in alarm but Chris didn't notice them. She was looking for her wand in her pockets as she ran towards the place Ginny, Luna, and Colin were standing. Three of them looked as shocked as Oziyat and the rest of the Royal Family (except Rosaline, she looked as calm as always). 

Chris cursed under her breath as she realized, for the first time she wasn't carrying her wand with her. Nonetheless, she stood defiantly in front of Ginny. 

"You have two seconds to confess who are you," Chris growled. Dark magic swirling in her fingertips.

"Chris! What --?" A shocked Colin tried to get closer to her.

"Don't you dare! Don't you dare act like Colin! Don't you dare act like friends!" Chris shouted. "I will not let you walk around freely impersonating my friends."

"Why would we act like your friends?" Colin asked feeling ridiculous. "Chris, are you okay? Why are you --?"

Colin tried to step forward but Chris's magic flashed in response as she glared at him. Colin stopped.

"I don't know if they messed with your head or what, Chris," Ginny stepped in front of Chris with a scowl. "But if you hurt Colin or Luna I swear I will break your hands . . . and your nose for leaving us."

"Gin?" Chris looked at Ginny surprised. If this was someone else impersonating Ginny and not the real Ginny, how could they act so much like her?

"Don't you dare 'Gin' me, you complete dung-headed idiot," Ginny advanced looking livid. "You leave us without telling us where are you going and when we worked our butt off to find you, you threaten us? You are so dead, Christina Norton!"

"Ginny!" Luna held Ginny by the shoulder alarmed as a few guards and Oziyat steps towards them. Luna had realized why Chris was questioning them, so she turned to Chris and calmly said, "Your favorite food is fried chicken but you love all kinds of chicken dishes, and your favorite dessert is chocolate pudding."

"I . . ." Chris's hands dropped. Only two people in the world knew that she loved chocolate pudding, her father and Luna. It was a trivial thing that she never thought of mentioning it. She hadn't told anyone this except her. "Luna? You guys are alive?"

"Yes, we are real, Chris," Luna smiled. "We are alive."

Chris tried to smile back but the room started to spin and she felt as if the ground was shaking. Her body swayed.

"Chris?" Colin and Luna reached for her, concerned. Ginny looked surprised as Chris tumbled.

But a strong pair of hands caught her fast before she could hit the ground. Chris saw Oziyat supporting her, again.

"Christina? Are you -- I asked you to stay put. You are still weak," Oziyat said looking worried and angry.

"Oziyat, they are alive. My friends are alive. They didn't die," Chris repeated smiling at him and collapsed in Oziyat's arms. 

⁂

Chris woke up with a jolt. For a moment, she felt it was a dream. Her friends were alive and here in Titania. A good dream but a dream. 

"I cannot believe what you people were thinking," Leyla was fighting to keep her voice down but she was too angry for that. It was real. It wasn't a dream. Chris looked at Leyla as she went on glaring at Ginny, Luna, and Colin. "First, she disappeared then you three faked your death? Were you three out of your minds? Do you what happened after everyone thought you were dead? Luna, your father was - is a mess. He didn't want to do your funeral. He kept repeating that his daughter is alive, he went mad. Ginny, your whole family was broken. Your mother didn't eat for several days and almost became bedridden because of weakness. Your father and Bill were trying everything to comfort your mother, even when they couldn't believe it themselves. Charlie didn't talk for days, Fred and George didn't smile for weeks. And Colin --"

"My parents do not have any memory of me. The Order promised they won't say anything to them. Did they tell them about me?" Colin asked looking panicked.

"No, but that is no excuse for making people believe that you are dead," Leyla retorted.

"Look Leyla, I know you are upset and I understand why but tell me honestly, was what we did really stupid?" Ginny burst out. "We knew the situation, even though everyone tried to hide it from us. We knew what was at stake. If we disappeared without faking our deaths we would have been on death eaters' wanted list because they knew we were friends with Chris. Our families would have been questioned, they would have been in more problems. And please don't suggest that we shouldn't have left at all. Because we couldn't just go to Hogwarts and call Snape headmaster and do his bidding as if he didn't kill Dumbledore to get that position."

This was followed by absolute silence. 

"That was really smart," Chris muttered quietly as she sat up.

"Chris!" Luna quickly turned and lightly hugged Chris, not to hurt her injuries.

"Luna," Chris hugged her back smiling. "I am so sorry. It was all my fault. I was angry with myself when I heard you guys were de--"

Chris choked on her words and Luna patted her back comfortingly.

"It wasn't your fault."

"It was. I left you guys . . . I am so so so sorry."

"You should be," Ginny glared at Chris. "We went through hell to find you."

"Ginny?" Colin shook his head at Ginny and smiled at Chris. "Ignore her. She was really worried about you."

Chris wiped her eyes and hugged Colin next.

"To be honest, we all were worried, Chris. It wasn't a nice thing to do. You shouldn't have left without us," Colin said sadly. "You could have said something before leaving. You promised we were in this together."

"I know. I am really sorry," Chris let go of him and hopefully looked at Ginny.

"You think it's all going to be all right if you just say sorry? Sorry doesn't solve everything. Colin and Luna are too nice to you," Ginny grumbled. 

"Ginny, please?" Luna said softly.

"But I will not break your nose and hands because you are already injured. Though after you are fine, I won't make any promises," Ginny crossed her hands and leaned back on a chair.

"Thanks, Gin," Chris smiled at her.

Leyla cleared her throat.

"Speaking of your injury, I thought you will be fine within this week but after today's activity, I am not sure. You will have to rest if you want to get back on your feet, quickly."

"Sorry, Leyla. I know I am taking a lot of your time, especially when you could be doing something important for Order with your time," Chris sighed.

"I am doing something important for the Order," Leyla smiled. "Keeping you and Harry alive was always our priority. Anyway, now you lay down and take a rest. I have already fed you the potion and changed your bandages. If you need anything call me."

As soon as Leyla closed the door after her, Ginny, Colin, and Luna turned to Chris.

"Okay, now, tell us everything. Why are you here in the first place?" Colin asked.

"And how did you get injured?" Luna asked next. "And how did you know we were dead? Did Layla tell you?" 

"And what is Leyla doing here?" Colin asked. "Wait, is she a vampire?"

"And most importantly, why are these vampires so friendly to you? Especially that handsome and charming looking one?" Ginny inquired. "And why are dressed like a homeless person when you have a beautiful room in a freaking vampire castle? And you better start talking before I change my mind about forgiving you."

⟦To be continued⟧