Harry Potter And The Fortunate Queen

Chris returned to the Gryffindor common room with others, one evening after Quidditch training, cold and stiff but pleased with the way practice had gone, to find the room buzzing excitedly.

"What's going on? She asked Hermione, who was sitting by the fireside with Ron. Harry also went towards them.

"First Hogsmeade weekend," said Hermione, pointing at a notice that had appeared on the battered old noticeboard. "End of October. Hallowe'en."

"Excellent," said Fred, who had followed Harry through the portrait hole. "I need to visit Zonko's, I'm nearly out of Stink Pellets."

Harry threw himself into a chair beside Ron, looking sad.

"Harry, I'm sure you'll be able to go next time," she said. "They're bound to catch Black soon, he's been sighted once already."

"Black's not fool enough to try anything in Hogsmeade," said Ron. "Ask McGonagall if you can go this time, Harry, the next one might not be for ages .."

"Ron!" said Hermione. "Harry's supposed to stay in school ..."

"He can't be the only third-year left behind," said Ron. "Ask McGonagall, go on, Harry .."

"What're you three talking about?" Chris asked raising an eyebrow. "Is this the top most secret of Harry's life? Which he wanted to talk with only you two?"

"....er..." Ron looked around mindlessly and looked at Ginny.

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Really very subtle Ron."

"Fine. If you don't want to tell." Chris said. "We're not dying to hear that... but... I don't think Professor McGonagall will allow you to go without the signed permission letter, which you don't have."

Harry opened his mouth to say something. At that moment Crookshanks leapt lightly onto Hermione's l.a.p. A large, dead spider was dangling from his mouth.

"Does he have to eat that in front of us?" said Ron, scowling.

"Clever Crookshanks, did you catch that all by yourself?" said Hermione.

Crookshanks slowly chewed up the spider, his yellow eyes fixed insolently on Ron.

"Just keep him over there, that's all," said Ron irritably, turning back to his star chart. "I've got Scabbers asleep in my bag."

"Is Scabbers still not well, Ron?" Ginny asked.

"No. I'm giving him the tonic but he's still not recovering." Ron answered sadly.

Ginny nodded. "He'll be fine. Don't worry."

Chris and Ginny turned and headed towards their room to change. They had barely stepped on the stairs when they heard Ron's voice.

"OY!" Ron roared, seizing his bag, as Crookshanks sank four sets of claws deeply into it, and began tearing ferociously. "GET OFF, YOU STUPID ANIMAL!"

Ron tried to pull the bag away from Crookshanks, but Crookshanks clung on, spitting and slashing.

"Ron, don't hurt him!" squealed Hermione. The whole common room was watching; Ron whirled the bag around, Crookshanks still clinging to it, and Scabbers came flying out of the top ...

"CATCH THAT CAT!" Ron yelled, as Crookshanks freed himself from the remnants of the bag, sprang over the table and chased after the terrified Scabbers.

George Weasley made a lunge for Crookshanks but missed; Scabbers streaked through twenty pairs of legs and shot beneath an old c.h.e.s.t of drawers. Crookshanks skidded to a halt, crouched low on his bandy legs and started making furious swipes beneath the c.h.e.s.t of drawers with his front paw.

Chris hurriedly went there, "Crookshanks! No. It's a bad thing. Don't do it. Crookshanks stop. Hermione will be upset if you do this."

"Look at him!" he said furiously to Hermione, dangling Scabbers in front of her. "He's skin and bone! You keep that cat away from him!"

"Crookshanks doesn't understand it's wrong!" said Hermione, her voice shaking. "All cats chase rats, Ron!"

"There's something funny about that animal!" said Ron, who was trying to persuade a frantically wiggling Scabbers back into his pocket. "It heard me say that Scabbers was in my bag!"

"Oh, what rubbish," said Hermione impatiently. "Crookshanks could smell him, Ron, how else d'you think ..."

"I think Ron is right. He can understand humans language." Chris said and Hermione looked at her in disbelief. The people around them, who were starting to giggle, looked at her as well.

"What do you mean by that Chris? What are you talking about?" Hermione asked angrily.

".. umm... I mean what I said Hermione. He really heard Ron that Scabbers was in his bag, then he stopped when I told him that you'll be upset if he chases Scabbers." Chris answered.

"See.. even Chris understood something is wrong with that beast." Ron said fuming.

"You two don't know what you're talking about." Hermione said stubbornly.

"You believe it or not Hermione, that cat's got it in for Scabbers!" said Ron and marched through the common room and out of sight up the stairs to the boys' dormitories.

Hermione also marched towards her room angrily.

Harry looked at Chris, "Are you sure about what you said Chris? I mean how can be...?"

"We live in a magical world, Harry; ... and Hermione brought her cat from a magical market. Isn't it enough proof for you that anything is possible here." Chris said with a matter-of-fact tone.

Next day was no better, at Lunch and Dinner, Chris realized, Ron and Hermione wasn't talking to each other. Harry was particularly sad looking. Chris couldn't help but asked, "What's going on?"

There was a pause then a quarrel break out..

"Ron thinks that Professor Trelawney's prophecys are right... just because Lavender's rabbit died." Hermione hissed.

"So it's just a rabbit nothing else for you, isn't it Hermione? Only that cat matters to you." Ron snapped.

"I didn't said it's meant nothing Ron. I just said she can't dread a baby rabbit's death without reason. Professor Trelawney is not right." Hermione slammed her hand on the table. "We can't trust her and be stupid."

"Just because you're right, that doesn't make everyone else wrong Hermione." Chris said calmly. "Relax."

But Hermione wasn't in mind of listening, she turned to Chris, "Of all people I thought you're smart enough to not believe in stupid prophecys and omens, Chris! But fine. I get it." She stormed out of the Hall.

Chris watched her leave. "I really didn't mean to upset her."

Luna put a hand on Chris's shoulder, "I always found her as a bookhead and stubborn girl. She just believes she is right. Don't worry Chris, she'll come around when she'll understand her mistake, which I don't know when."

Chris looked at Luna. She knew, Luna always speaks her mind, no matter what people think about her, but she never said anything bad about Ron, Harry or Hermione. Chris understood she didn't because, she considered them as Chris's friends.

Chris understood long ago that Luna is really different from Hermione. For a example, Hermione complained about every careless thing Ron and Harry did... but Luna, she never complained about anything. She just love the way everyone is. Hermione wants to go everything according to her calculation where Luna accepts the unknown dearly.

Chris looked at Harry and Ron. Harry was looking more depressed and Ron was shoving a piece of pie into his mouth angrily. 'Hermione is a great friend but I'm glad my best-freind is Luna.' She said in her mind and started eating.

________________________________________

On Hallowe'en morning, Chris woke up excitedly, this is the first time, she was going to enjoy Hallowe'en with her friends, without stress or anything. Last year, she had a fight with Ginny at this day and also she had to go to the deathday party of Nick and had to miss the Hallowe'en feast, not to mention the first attack of that Basilisk on a cat. She got ready and went to the Great Hall with Colin and Ginny. Then Luna joined them. They talked, laughed and ate many delicious things. Then they decided to go back to the Gryffindor tower and do something. Luna was excited to see the Gryffindor tower for the first time. As it was just a password they decided to tell that to Luna, Luna wanted to show them the Ravenclaw common room as well but it needed to solve a riddle to pass it, Chris wasn't in the mood of solving riddles, so they thought Gryffindor tower is better option. As they started to leave the Hall, Chris saw Jason walking towards the other direction.

"Guys, you go. I'll join you in a bit." She said and ran after him.

After following him in few corridors, Jason stopped and turned around. Chris didn't feel like hiding so she stood there like she was just passing and happened to be notice him.

"Why're you following me?" He asked seriously.

"Who? Me? No... I was just passing." Chris smiled.

"Really? Then just pass on." He said and waited for her to leave.

"Oh! Well I wanted to talk to you." Chris said.

"I don't want to."

"Please Jason. Wait."

"What?"

"How did you knew... I was going to save Ginny at the chamber?"

"Because you're an idiot."

"Hey!"

"What? I said the truth.. other than that why will a person who don't know anything about dark magic and dangerous creatures will go to save a girl like that?"

"Excuse me... first, that girl is my friend. Second, maybe I don't know everything but I'm not entirely hopeless, ok?"

"Great. Then do more stupid things for your 'friends'. No one is stopping you."

"What's your problem? I'm trying to make a conversation here." Chris said getting annoyed.

"And I don't want to.."

"Fine. Go. All I came to say here is thank you. Thank you for the dagger. It was a great help. I will give it back."

"No need. Keep it. You're going to need it if you continue doing this kind of stupid things for your friends." He said and strode away.

Chris angrily went towards the Gryffindor tower.

As soon as she entered she almost collided with Harry.

"Sorry. Didn't see you coming." Chris said.

"Oh. No, it's ok." Harry said, distracted.

"You alright Harry?" Chris asked seeing his face. Chris understood very well that Harry was hiding something big which was eating him inside.

".. umm.. yeah.. I'm fine." Harry said and went towards the portrait hole.

Ginny, Luna and Colin were sitting on a armchair and talking about something. Colin saw Chris and called, "Hey Chris, come here, Luna is telling us a great story."

Few other Colin's roommates were also listening to Luna's story with great interest. Chris was about to go towards them when Harry called, "Chris!"

Chris turned around, "Yes Harry?"

"Will you mind joining me for a walk?" Harry said sadly.

"...ummm..."

"It's ok if you're busy." Harry said and left the portrait hole.

Chris looked towards her friends and found Ginny looking at her.

"Go." Ginny said smiling. Chris smiled back and left.

"Harry! Wait." Chris said, coming out.

Seeing Chris, Harry's face which was looking very depressed, looked a little bit relieved.

"So where you want to go?" Chris asked. She knew Ron and Hermione went to Hogsmade, that's why Harry was alone.

"I don't know.." He said walking.

"Want to go towards the lake?" Chris asked with a smile. The lake is Chris's favorite spot in Hogwarts. She always felt calm and relaxed near it.

"Yeah. Let's go." Harry answered.

They were walking towards the Lake but suddenly turned a corner and came face to face with Filch, the caretaker in Hogwarts.

"What are you doing?" Filch snarled suspiciously.

"Nothing," said Harry truthfully.

"Nothing!" spat Filch, his jowls quivering unpleasantly. "A likely story! Sneaking around on your own, why aren't you in Hogsmeade buying Stink Pellets and Belch Powder and Whizzing Worms like the rest of your nasty little friends?"

Harry shrugged.

"We're just walking around Mr Filch." Chris answered simply.

"Well, get back to your common room where you belong!" snapped Filch, and he stood glaring at them.

Chris opened her mouth to argue but Harry stopped her. "Let's go."

They turned around and started walking.

"What's the point of coming out if we're going back to the Gryffindor tower." Chris asked with a dramatic sigh.

"We're not going back." Harry said.

"Then where?"

"Let's see."

They climbed stairs after stairs, then they were walking along another corridor when a voice from inside one of the rooms said, "Harry?"

They doubled back to see who had spoken and met Professor Lupin, looking around his office door.

"What are you doing?" said Lupin, in a very different voice from Filch. "Where are Ron and Hermione?"

"Hogsmeade," said Harry, in a would-be casual voice.

"Ah!" He noticed Chris, "Didn't saw you've company. Thinking to showing you the Grindylow, I've just taken delivery for our next lesson. It's ok go on."

"A what?" said Harry.

"It's nothing Professor. We really didn't know where were we going." Chris said casually. "But will it be alright if I stay? I mean I'll leave if you need Harry alone."

"No. No. Come in both of you," said Lupin smiling.

They followed Lupin into his office. In the corner stood a very large tank of water. A sickly-green creature with sharp little horns had its face pressed against the glass, pulling faces and flexing its long, spindly fingers.

"Water demon," said Lupin, surveying the Grindylow thoughtfully. "We shouldn't have much difficulty with him, not after the Kappas. The trick is to break his grip. You notice the abnormally long fingers? Strong, but very brittle."

The Grindylow bared its green teeth and then buried itself in a tangle of weed in a corner.

"What's Kappas?" Chris asked getting interested.

"Kappas are water-dwellers that looked like scaly monkeys, with webbed hands itching to strangle unwitting waders in their ponds." Lupin explained.

"Creepy." Chris said imagining it.

Lupin chuckled, "Yeah. That they're."