356 The Sick Queens

Now that everything was a little bit calmer (apart from Ginny, Luna, and Colin's non-ending questions), Chris took a good look at her friends. They all looked taller and older somehow, Colin and Ginny both were now a little bit taller than Chris, Luna was the same height as Chris. But Ginny was right, they really looked like they went through hell to get here. All of their clothes and faces gave signs of exhaustion. Especially the dark circles under Colin's eyes clearly stated that he was very low on sleep. Luna's dirty blonde hair looked messier than usual and her unique jewelry like her butterbeer cork necklace or her radish earrings were missing. And well, Ginny looked angrier but she also looked skinnier. Chris felt guilty but she was also grateful. She decided, this time there will be no more secrets, truly.

Chris started from the beginning . . . the letter from the Flamels . . . her journey with Zil . . . coming to this vampire territory . . . meeting the Queen . . . meeting Oziyat . . . the duel with Rosaline . . . the Gryffindor's sword . . . She was about to finish the story of Gryffindor and Wilma when someone knocked at the door.

"Come in," Chris called as they turned to the door.

Sarah entered the room. Sarah was the human girl Oziyat stationed at the guest wing for Chris after the incident. Sarah was nice to Chris, unlike the other gossip-seeking servants, so Chris liked her.

"Sorry to bother you Lady Christina, but First Princess had sent clothes for your guests and we have arranged three guest rooms for them . . . next to your room, of course," Sarah added noticing the shocked look on Ginny, Luna, and Colin's face.

"We can stay here? You are not going to kick us out as soon as we finish talking to Chris?" Colin asked dumbfounded.

"Of course not, sir. Why would you think that? You are Lady Christina's guest and the First Princess personally arranged your stay. No one except the Queen can make you leave," Sarah replied seriously. "Anyway, after you have freshened up we will bring your dinner here if you like or we could deliver it to your individual rooms. And as always, I will stay close in case you need anything else, Lady Christina, if your guests need anything else feel free to call me."

Bowing Sarah left the room.

"Wow," Colin exclaimed looking excited.

"Wow is right," Ginny said suspiciously. "I doubt that Handsome Prince -- what's his name? Oziyat, right?" Chris nodded and Ginny continued, "Yeah, I don't think he sees us as guests here."

"Why would you think that? I just told you Oziyat is the one who helped me the most here. I am sure he--" Chris stopped as Ginny crossed her arms huffing. She had to ask, "What's going on?"

Ginny didn't answer and Luna chuckled.

"He took Ginny's wand," Luna said smiling.

"Wait, what? Oziyat took her wand?" Chris said surprised and a little bit angrily. "How could he? After I told him, you guys are my friends. I am gonna have a word with him. Did he take all of your wands? Don't worry, I will get your wands back."

"You don't worry, Chris. It wasn't his fault," Luna replied. "He didn't take mine or Colin's wand. He just took Ginny's because she was threatening you, violently. Multiple times."

"I can threaten my best friend as much as I like. He had no right to say in this even if he is a handsome vampire Prince," Ginny glared at Luna and Luna started laughing. Colin rolled his eyes.

"Ignore her, Chris. I don't think Prince Oziyat is bad, especially after listening to your story and also the way he acted after you fainted."

"I don't know, he looked too good to be true," Ginny said moodily.

"Oh, shut up," Luna smiled. "He was being nice. If you ask me he just showed how much he likes our Chris."

"Er . . ." Chris was almost afraid to ask after Luna's comment. "What happened after I fainted?"

"He panicked. But he quickly picked you up, called off the meeting declaring that we are your friends and not a threat to them," Colin answered. "Then he asked us to follow him while he carried you here. He hastily called Leyla and only after Leyla said that you fainted because you were exhausted and there is nothing to worry about, he relaxed and talked to us. Leyla also gave her words that we are trustworthy then, he gave back our wands and left as he thought we would have a lot to talk about with you. And he said he will just keep Ginny's wand until Ginny and you have talked and she is a little bit calmer."

Ginny rolled her eyes exaggeratedly, Luna and Chris looked at each other and burst out laughing. Soon Colin joined in.

It's been long since Chris had laughed this much. She knew Ginny had a good reason to be angry and she was going to keep threatening her until the end of the time but Chris found the situation with Oziyat amusing. 

"Don't forget, with or without a wand, I can still punch you in the face," Ginny said irritated. "I am not doing it because you already looked like someone beat the crap out of you."

Colin stopped laughing and worriedly glanced at Chris.

"No, seriously, what happened? What made you so injured? You didn't say that."

Chris was about to answer Colin but a fit of cough took over and Luna stopped her from talking.

"You know what, we should freshen up first. We can meet here for dinner. While Chris could have a little bit of rest. We will talk later, okay?"

Colin nodded but Ginny hesitated.

"Ginny?" Luna got up and urged Ginny.

"Fine, but we will be back soon. You are not going to get rid of us this time," Ginny declared.

Chris took a deep breath and smiled, "Wouldn't dream of it."

Ginny, Luna, and Colin left the room, and Chris lay down on her bed, a smile on her lips. Her friends were alive and with her. She promised herself that she was never going to let them go. Soon, the exhaustion took over and Chris felt herself drifting off.

⁂

"Wilma?" Godric Gryffindor (who looked older than the last time) was running through the halls of the Vampire Castle, panicked. "Wilma!"

The Vampire Castle looked too quiet and empty but Godric Gryffindor didn't care. He ran straight to the Queen's chamber.

As soon as the Guards recognized him, they let him pass and Godric entered the room only to stop short in front of the bed, where surrounded by maids and servants laid their Queen.

"Wilma?" Godric's voice came out as a hoarse whisper. He couldn't believe his eyes. Wilma, the most beautiful and strong-willed girl he had ever met in his life, was looking small and weak and broken.

But despite looking like a skeleton, Wilma managed to give a queenly wave to her servants, "Leave us."

Most of the servants walked out but one girl hesitated. Wilma nodded at her reassuringly and she bowed and left.

"If I knew, it would take me to be in my death bed for you to visit me, then I would have done that a long time ago," Wilma smiled at Gryffindor.

"Wilma!" Gryffindor stepped forward and grasped her hand. "Don't you ever say that! You are going to be fine."

"You don't really believe that, do you?" Wilma smiled softly. "We both know my time is limited."

"Wilma, please!" the brave Godric Gryffindor's hands shook as he tried to speak. "Who did this Wilma? I promise I will find him and fix everything. You will be fine."

"If you really want to help me," Wilma began seriously. "Then tell me why have you been avoiding me for the past seven years. You stopped coming here. You stopped writing letters. You just stopped. Why?"

Wilma choked and started to cough violently. Gryffindor waited for it to pass before speaking,

"Because . . ." Gryffindor hesitated probably for the first time in his life. How could he say that he had failed her?

Wilma waited for Gryffindor to answer but when he couldn't, she gave a painful smile.

"The newly established ministry doesn't like any other races interfering with wizards and I understand if you support them and don't like my involvement in the wizarding world. I --"

"What? No! Wilma, it is not about the ministry. If you ask me, they are being stupid. We magicals have to stay together if we want to stay hidden from humans. But the ministry is driven by fear rather than reason." Gryffindor sighed. "It's Fergus."

"Fergus? What has he done?" Wilma looked more than surprised.

"He ran away from Hogwarts. I haven't seen him for more than a year and even when he was at Hogwarts we grew distant. I have failed you, Wilma. You were right, I wasn't a great father." 

"But Godric . . . he was here. He was with me and he didn't mention that he ran away. He said he was traveling with his friend. Or I thought so." Wilma grimaced as a realization dawned on her.

"Who friend?" Gryffindor looked up at Wilma, shocked.

"He said his name was Malgino."

⁂

Chris woke up coughing vigorously. Someone held a glass of water to her. She quickly gulped it then looked up.

"Sol?"

Sol took the glass from her and put it on the table silently.

"Sol, what are you doing here?"

Sol just sat down without replying.

"Sol, were you waiting for me to wake up?"

No answer.

"Sol, are you angry with me?"

Sol just glared at her.

"I would take that as a yes," Chris smiled. "Sol, you have to understand, Oziyat is trying to keep you safe. Even though you sometimes won't like it, it's for your own good."

"I am . . . not a . . . kid," Sol jabbed every word with great force. "I can . . . handle . . . stuff."

"I know, Sol. But not now, please?" Chris said as sweetly as possible but Sol didn't budge so she thought of something else. "Do you know, my friends are alive and they came here looking for me?"

Sol nodded. ". . . I heard . . . the guards." 

"Do you want to meet them?"

Hearing Chris, a bright smile flickered on Sol's face but as soon as Chris caught it, it was gone. Chris chuckled and noticed it was still night outside. Ginny, Luna, and Colin would probably be here any minute.

"Ask Sarah to call them and we are going to have our dinner here together. Do you want to join?"

Without answering Sol ran out of the room and Chris soon heard Sarah's voice outside her room.

Smiling Chris got up and changed her clothes and freshen up a little bit. She was tying her hair up when a thought suddenly barged into her head.

What if Wilma was sick the same way Queen Vasilisa is?

⟦To be continued. . .⟧