147 Chapter 144: The fruit is ripe, ready to be eaten

While Dora had a tearful reunion with her parents after a long time, Chris sat at the edge of his terrace of his Villa for some time, looking at the London skyline in the distance. He was feeling too happy that Dora had finally given him the kiss he so desired.

The last one and this one were different. The last one was just a touch, while this one was a real kiss. And this time, she knew that he was awake.

Chris had decided. The fruit was now ripe to be eaten.

"The next time we're alone, I'm gonna... hehehehehe" he laughed wickedly as he rubbed his hands together.

For some reason, he was craving a cigarette right now. This was also something he'd quit after returning to Hogwarts.

'Well, just one wouldn't hurt to celebrate tonight,' he thought. Now, that he'd decided, he only need the cigarette. But how to get it? He was feeling too lazy to move. He activated the trigger and put his hand up in the air.

"Accio Cigarettes?" he called out and slowly increased the magic output. Soon, he had a few packs on hand.

"Neat," he muttered in satisfaction as he picked the best brand one and held it in his mouth.

"Incendio," small flames began dancing on his index finger, lighting up the cigarette, he took a long drag. The taste was Marlboro black menthol.

'This one indeed brings back memories.'

But, the familiar dizziness and rush he was expecting didn't hit at all. He even tried smoking the second one, but it was all in vain.

"Damn it!" He threw away the rest of the cigarettes.

"This dragon body won't even let me smoke now," He muttered as he stood up from the edge of the terrace. He's now immune to nicotine as well. It can't affect his brain anymore. Heck, even normal muggles develop a good resistance to nicotine if they smoke regularly. But they compensate for it by smoking more. But it's just useless for Chris who now has complete nicotine resistance.

[Warning: Smoking and Tobacco kills. It can cause slow and painful death 🚭⛔🚬🙅.]

Chris decided to go back to his home now. Now that Dora was here, he wasn't able to give Esmée a lot of time as he had promised. The little girl's face was pouting the whole day today, what could he do? He didn't know that Dora would suddenly turn up.

Thus, he went to Esmée's room for the night. The little girl is awake, playing with Nyxie. Chris entertained them till late night and even helped Esmée practice with his gold wand, so as to make up for the slight neglect which she would inevitably notice for the duration of Dora's stay.

In the end, the three of them fell asleep with Chris in the middle and Nyxie and Esmée cuddled on either side of him.

"Well, this much better than smoking alone," he decided before he fell asleep.

The next morning, Chris woke up early to do his exercises and magic practice. In his routine, he had also added swordsmanship to his routine. He's been researching Swordfighting and fencing for a while now.

For now, he's mostly practicing Fencing since it's mainly focused on the defense. He finds the aspect of cutting down and defending multiple spells coming at him more difficult than slashing out sword beams. Thus, he's currently focusing on defense more.

On the other hand, he's also been trying to incorporate various magics in his Fencing and Swordsmanship.

All this sword training is also helping him figure out what kind of sword he's going to make for himself. He'll need Sebastian's help, but there's no need to go to him. That busy man will make time and come to Chris by himself now that he's heard about the Sword of Griffindor from the other Delacour's. A geek knows another geek the best.

Today, Chris didn't practice for much since he also had to go and pick up his girlfriend from her home. Dora was already calling him through the Diary.

Chris went through the Vanishing Cabinet and apparated directly to the Tonks residence.

*knock* *knock*

Andromeda was the one who opened the Door. As soon as the door opened, Chris was enveloped in a tight hug as kisses rained down his head.

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you so much!- - -"

Chris patted her back as a sign of tap out or surrender, "Hey... hey! It's alright, it's alright! I need to breathe, mom."

That got her to stop instantly, "W-What you say?"

"Um... it's alright?"

"No! After that."

"I need to breathe?"

"No! No! After that! What did you call me?"

"Err... Mom?"

Well, it was indeed the first time he called her that. But she really gave off a similar feeling like the mom in his previous life (personality-wise), and also, she's most likely his future mother-in-law, so it's not a big deal, is it?

Andromeda hugged him once again, this time with some tears in her eyes.

"So... there's no need to thank me, is there? After all, you don't need to thank family."

After separating from her, Ted also hugged him,

"You've been a blessing," was all he said to Chris as he thumped his back.

He looked behind ahead to see Dora peeking from the dining room. She looked kinda nervous, like a child who'd done something wrong and she also looked incredibly bashful.

Dora was indeed very nervous and flustered right now. Whenever she thought of how bold she was last night when she kissed him, she just had the urge to go and beat up the Dora of that moment. Now how was she ever supposed to face Chris?! What would he think of her now? What if he no longer liked her that way anymore and just saw her as a friend? After all, he even had that beautiful veela as his friend now.

The whole time, she's been having these useless thoughts popping in her head one after another.

Ted and Andromeda also noticed that something was up between the two of them. The couple looked at each other and smiled knowingly but didn't interfere. Seeing the match that they'd been shipping progress has a great feeling of accomplishment that's hard to describe. It seems that their daughter who's been focused on her carrier is finally falling in love. Chris really did succeed.

Throughout the breakfast, Chris behaved normally, as if nothing happened yesterday. While Dora kept squirming in her seat while stealing glances at Chris.

After that, it was time to leave. Moody might arrive at any time today, and Chris didn't want him to know about the Vanishing Cabinet.

"I'll send her back tonight, don't look so reluctant," Chris reassured Andromeda who was reluctant to part.

Andromeda nodded but still hugged Dora just in case.

Dora, on the other hand, looked increasingly nervous since now they were going to be alone.

"Let's go,"

Chris took Dora's hand.

But Dora looked a bit embarrassed, "Um... I don't clearly remember the place we apparated yesterday since it was nighttime," she said apologetically as they began walking along the road.

"??"

Chris looked surprised for a second, but then it clicked to him,

"Oh! Right, you don't know I can already apparate?"

"What?! No! Since when did you learn it?!"

Chris sighed as they kept walking, the Tonks residence was left behind now, "I've been able to do it for years, Dora. Didn't I tell you after you found out about my millionaire identity that my magical abilities are much more advanced than I'd been showing?"

"Oh! I forgot..." She really did forget since Chris still hadn't shown her much of ability even after telling her that he'd been hiding his true abilities all along.

She became even more depressed, "I don't even know this about you..." she muttered dejectedly. The more she finds out about Chris, the more realizes just how little she knew about it.

"Hey, I thought you might get scared of me if I revealed too much of my abnormality," Chris said, truthfully. This, along with the fact that her occlumency was still not too strong at the time. But now...

By now, Dora had already forgotten her earlier insecurities since Chris really seems to not behave any different, in fact, he's looking at her with even more love now. And now seeing him confess about his insecurities, she couldn't help but clear his insecurities.

Dora held his hand tightly, "Hey, no matter what, I'll never be scared of you. Even if you turn out to be a Dark Lord incarnate," she promised sincerely. She really felt it. It was already too late. She had already fallen too deep.

'Damn,' Chris muttered inwardly as he squeezed her hand. Looking into her sincere eyes, he made a decision.

"Alright, do you really want to know more about me?" He asked her one last time.

"Yes!" Dora nodded earnestly. She was very excited now. She's always been curious about him since the first time she met him. With this, they're going to be even more close now.

"Then, get ready. I'm going to apparate now." with that, he Apparated with her in front of his villa. He decided to show her a place where only he has been upto now.

"Woah! Was that Apparation?" She didn't even feel an ounce of the familiar discomfort that's characteristic to side-along Apparation.

"Well... It was," Chris had researched a bit on this, to incorporate his unique magic casting in it, but he stopped after he'd almost died once. But till then, he'd at least been able to

achieve this much.

Dora looked at the luxurious Villa in front of her curiously.

"What is this place?"

"This... is my home or my base of operations. I've never brought anyone else here before," he smiled as he looked into her eyes.

Dora was surprised and also moved, she realized that they were still holding hands and Chris didn't seem to behave with any intention of letting it go. Always before this, she'd categorized their close proximity as just friends being friendly. But, if he's still being intimate with her after she clearly kissed him, doesn't this mean he reciprocates?

Thinking this, Dora couldn't help feeling butterflies in her stomach, and by just holding hands with him. And now, he even brought her to his home.

But she also noticed some of else,

"You never brought anyone here?" She asked in surprise. He'd been living in this large villa himself? Isn't it too lonely?

Chris nodded, "Yeah, just me and Jilly of course, my house elf. That's it," he then smiled, as if reminiscing the old days as they walked through the garden which was somehow well maintained, "I used to just lock myself in the basement and do lots of training and magic experiments. The time I used to come out was to play with stocks and eat your mom's food," he said as they reached the front door.

Chris put his hand on the big handprint space that was etched into the door and poured pure magic into it. The runes lit up and the door recognized him as it swung open.

"Wicked!"

Dora was surprised by this advanced way of opening the door. This was so cool! When she was a kid dreaming to be an Auror, she had always wanted to do this kind of stuff.

"Isn't it?"

Chris, who was anxiously waiting for her reaction grinned in satisfaction. He's so glad that someone understands! Dora didn't know that she'd suddenly scored a lot of brownie points from Chris without even trying.

"The wards already recognize you, so you can directly Apparate inside form the next time. But, if you really want to use the door, here's the key," he said as he summon the key from his pocket and threw it to her.

Surprised, Dora could only obediently catch the key with both hands.

'Doesn't a man usually give the key to his girlfriend or something?' While Chris had already moved on, Dora looked at the key for a while before she pocketed it.

"Sit here," he said as he pushed her onto a comfortable-looking armchair.

"Now, get ready for a nice ride," he said as he poured pure magic into the runic socket and he the voice activation code.

'Ride?' Dora couldn't understand, but her unasked question was answered in the next moment as the armchair transformed into a sled-like ride and the ground beneath her opened.

"This is so COOooooool—"

With that, she disappeared into the tunnel.

Last time, Chris had already fixed this thing up, so it will quite comfortably ride this time. Chris grinned and apparated directly into the basement as well,

"Wooohoooo!" The next moment, Dora slid in as well. Apparently, she didn't hate the experience.

The cart slowed down on its own and Chris took Dora's hand once again as he helped her up.

"How was it?" He asked.

Dora grinned, "It was sooo great! Just how did you get it installed?!" She asked excitedly.

Chris's smile diminished, "See? That's why I wasn't telling you everything," he said as walked further into the huge basement.

Dora blinked, What did she say wrong? Isn't it a good thing that she liked it? While thinking this, her gaze casually swept the huge room they were in and she froze.

The room was filled with things. They were all organized, but there was still a messiness to it that was characteristic to Chris. The first place she saw was a place with different potion ingredients lying around in jars, and there were quite a lot of exploded cauldrons stacked together. Some were so badly deformed that they were no different than a piece of scrap metal. The floor had fillings in places, and it was clear that there used to be craters and holes there.

The next thing she was was a place that was filled with rune carvings on all kinds of objects. It was apparent that all the runes there were inscribed by Chris himself. There was a separate section dedicated to all kinds of wands, staff, and other magical Foci.

The crater fillings here were even bigger as compared to the Potions section, suggesting bigger explosions. And if that wasn't enough evidence, the craters of the high ceiling were completely forgotten by the one who was repairing this mess. Apparently, the fact that the explosions would even reach that high ceiling is so absurd that even he forgot to fix it.

"!!!!"

But the thing that surprised her the most wasn't these explosion marks. There, in the pile of rune inscribed materials, Dora saw many precious gems and stones and pieces of Jewelries. And... some of those looked very similar to the miraculous and phenomenal pieces of jewelry and stones that he'd gifted her and her family...

Dora's hand unconsciously went to the pair of earrings that was his first gift to her, then to the gem necklace, and then to the bracelets. 'All these...'

"Yes..." she heard Chris's voice whisper in her ear. "I made them all with my own genius hands...."

"...."

Dora now realized just what was the reason why Chris seemed disappointed with her just now when she asked him how he got them made.

This guy set up everything by himself.

Now she can also understand why he was reluctant to tell her everything. It is indeed a bit overwhelming...

A.N.: The next chapter: A Magical Kiss

Power Stones....just give them if you have them. It's not too difficult, and it means a lot to me when I get them.

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