Harry Potter And The Fortunate Queen

The Holidays were very near. The Gryffindor Quidditch team were practicing very hard for their much awaited match with the Slytherins.

Two weeks before the end of term, the sky lightened suddenly to a dazzling, opaline white and the muddy grounds were revealed one morning covered in glittering frost. Inside the castle, there was a buzz of Christmas in the air. Professor Flitwick, the Charms teacher, had already decorated his classroom with shimmering lights that turned out to be real, fluttering fairies. The students were all happily discussing their plans for the holidays. Chris decided to stay, her father asked her to stay in Hogwarts for the Christmas as he couldn't come back from his business trip. Chris liked the Christmas in Hogwarts, last year, so she was happy to stay.

The day before everyone leaves for Holidays, Chris, Ginny and Colin were talking about the Quidditch matches. Colin had took lots of photos and Ginny and Chris were looking at them, dividing the photos among them.

"This picture is really good Colin. I'm looking a perfect chaser in it." Ginny grinned.

"I like this one more. It's have all of us, look. The entire Gryffindor team." Chris showed a picture.

Ginny smiled and picked up another one. "Well.. It's funny."

"What?" Chris asked curiously.

"Look at this, it's crookshanks, Hermione's cat." Ginny answered giving Chris the picture.

"You've taken pictures of Hermione's cat? Colin you're crazy." Chris grinned too as she took the picture but as soon as she looked at it, her smile disappeared. The picture was crookshanks's indeed but there was a another figure beside him, a big black dog. The thing everyone believed as the grim. The dog was sitting beside crookshanks, it was the rainy day when Harry's accident happened. Before Chris could say anything the Common room's door opened and the seniors walked in from their Hogsmeade trip. Fred and George were giving them few weird looking candy when Harry, Ron and Hermione came in. Chris looked at them and found Hermione looking sad, Ron looking confused(like he don't know how he should feel) and Harry was looking completely lost. Harry walked towards boys dormitory and went upstairs. Hermione bit her lip and sat down.

"Everything ok Hermione?" Chris asked.

Hermione looked at her surroundings and then nodded.

Chris didn't pushed it and nodded back. She slipped the picture of Crookshanks with that dog, between her selected pictures and picked them up. "I'm taking all of these. Ginny you can take the rest." Chris said and Ginny nodded. Then she went upstairs towards her room.

Next Morning almost everyone left. Ginny wanted to stay with Chris but her mother asked her to come, so Chris insisted her to go. Chris said bye to her friends and came back and sat in the common room. Few minutes later Ron entered the common room.

"Hey Chris!" Ron said sitting on a chair.

"Hey!" Chris noticed Ron was still looking very down. "Everything alright?"

"Huh?" Ron asked startled.

"Everything ok Ron? You three are looking very disturbed from yesterday."

"Oh! Yeah.. about that..."

Chris raised her eyebrows. "About that...?"

Ron sighed. "Yesterday Harry sneaked into Hogsmeade. We were having fun together until.."

"Ron?" Hermione came down. She was looking very disapproving.

"What? She can help with this situation. Then why not?" Ron said to Hermione.

"Fine." Hermione sat down. "We went to three broomsticks yesterday, where we heard Professor McGonagall, Professor Flitwik, Hagrid, Minister of Magic and Madam Rosmerta."

Chris nodded seriously, Hermione continued, "They were talking about Sirius Black and..." Hermione's voice cracked, so Ron completed the line, "And Harry's parents."

"Harry's parents? They've a connection with Black?" Chris asked surprised.

"Yes. A big one. They were best friends, Harry's father and Sirius Black... He is Harry's godfather." Ron sighed again.

"He betrayed them. He told You-Know-Who their location." Hermione was about to cry.

"Wait. Wait. Tell me from the beginning. It's doesn't making sense." Chris said.

"Everything started when they were in school, like us." Ron said and Hermione shouted,"Ron!"

"What... we'll never betray Harry like that..." Ron snapped.

"Still.. it feels weird.." Hermione said quietly.

"Guys.. back to the point?" Chris said.

"Oh! Yes.. so they were best friends in school. Sirius Black, Harry's Dad and a boy named Peter Pettigrew." Ron said.

"Professor Flitwik said, Sirius Black was like a brother to Harry's father. Even at their wedding, he was the best man." Tears flowing down from Hermione's eyes. "When Dumbledore's spy told Dumbledore that You-Know-Who is after Harry, Dumbledore asked them to go in hiding and told them to use the Fidelius Charm... it involves the magical concealment of a secret inside a single, living soul. The information is hidden inside the chosen person, or Secret Keeper, and is henceforth impossible to find – unless, of course, the Secret Keeper chooses to divulge it. As long as the Secret Keeper refused to speak, You-Know-Who couldn't have find them."

"And Black was their secret keeper. He told You-Know-Who about their location and then..." Ron stopped.

"Dumbledore himself wanted to be the secret keeper but Harry's father refused. He trusted Black."

"Fudge, the Minister said that Black was tired of his double-agent role, he was ready to declare his support openly for You-Know-Who, and he seems to have planned this for the moment of Harry's parents' death. But, as we all know, You-Know-Who met his downfall in little Harry. Powers gone, horribly weakened, he fled. And this left Black in a very nasty position. His Master had fallen at the very moment when he, Black, had shown his true colours as a traitor."

"Hagrid was the one who rescued Harry from there... he said that Black came there in his motorbike and asked Hagrid to give him Harry, but Hagrid refused as he had Dumbledore's orders. Then he gave Hagrid his motorbike so no one can track him."

"Peter Pettigrew went there and cornered him, asked him about his betrayal and he blew him in pieces. He had only a finger left, the muggles saw that. A crater in the middle of the street, so deep it had cracked the sewer below. Bodies everywhere. Muggles screaming. And Black standing there laughing, with what was left of Pettigrew in front of him … a heap of blood-stained robes and a few .. a few fragments.. Fudge saw this."

"Trained Hit Wizards from the Magical Law Enforcement Squad stood a chance against Black once he was cornered. At last, Black was taken away by twenty members of the Magical Law Enforcement Patrol and Pettigrew received the Order of Merlin, First Class." Hermione finished.

There was a long silence other than Hermione's few sobbing sounds and Ron's angry movements. Chris took few deep breaths then spoke, "So.. Harry heard everything?"

"Yes. After that he didn't talk. I'm worried about him." Hermione said. "We've to tell him not to go after Black. We've to stop him."

"I agree. He'll be very angry and don't know what..." Ron said and ate few Peppermint Toads.

"Let's act normal. Then....Harry will come down and we'll talk to him." Hermione said got up and went towards her room.

"Do you know Chris, Fudge said, the Dementors didn't affect him. He was very normal in Azkaban, people go mad there but he... he was asking for Fudge's newspaper for crosswords. It's unbelievable because his cell is most guarded one by Dementors..." Ron stopped then said with a scared voice, "Everyone fears, if he joined You-Know-Who before the Dementors can catch him then You-Know-Who will rise in his power soon and Harry...."

Hermione came back with lots of books. She set them on the table and opened her different Homeworks.

"Umm... Hermione? How many subjects you've this year?" Chris asked looking at those books.

"Many.. why?" Hermione replied.

"No. Nothing. You're really talented." Chris said. Chris was never been a book person. She can't read books if it's not necessary. She always focuses on class and try to base her knowledge at understanding not books reading.

Chris saw Crookshanks came after Hermione and spread out in front of the fire like a large, ginger rug. Snow was still falling outside the windows. Chris started to think about all of those things she just discovered about Harry's life. 'It's really difficult to be in Harry's shoes.' She sighed. 'But what's the reason that made Black betray his friend like brother and join Voldemort? He was already powerful if they needed so many trained Wizards to capture him... so it can't be for power... Hating muggles? .... no he rode a motorbike, he couldn't be the person who hate muggles... He wasn't mad... so why go exposing himself when he could've gone hiding. Betraying his best friend for Voldemort understandable but killing... no... blowing up his other friend like that just because he stopped him... sounds like a madman's job.... but then again he was very normal, even in Azkaban... urghh... nothing is making sense.'

"Harry, you – you look terrible." Ron said, Hermione and Chris turned to see Harry coming downstairs.

"Where is everyone?" said Harry.

"Gone! It's the first day of the holidays, remember?" said Ron, watching Harry closely. "It's nearly lunchtime, I was going to come and wake you up in a minute."

"You really don't look well, you know," Hermione said, peering anxiously into his face.

"I'm fine," said Harry.

"Harry, listen," said Hermione, exchanging a look with Ron and Chris, "you must be really upset about what we heard yesterday. But the thing is, you mustn't go doing anything stupid."

"Like what?" said Harry.

"Like trying to go after Black," said Ron sharply.

"You won't, will you, Harry?" said Hermione.

"Because Black's not worth dying for," said Ron.

Chris didn't said anything, she just watched how it goes because she was very sure this will not workout. Harry will definitely not agree with this.

"D'you know what I see and hear every time a Dementor gets too near me?" Ron and Hermione shook their heads, looking apprehensive. "I can hear my mum screaming and pleading with Voldemort. And if you'd heard your mum screaming like that, just about to be killed, you wouldn't forget it in a hurry. And if you found out someone who was supposed to be a friend of hers betrayed her and sent Voldemort after her ..."

"There's nothing you can do!" said Hermione, looking stricken. "The Dementors will catch Black and he'll go back to Azkaban and – and serve him right!"

"You heard what Fudge said. Black isn't affected by Azkaban like normal people are. It's not a punishment for him like it is for the others."

"So what are you saying?" said Ron, looking very tense. "You want to – to kill Black or something?"

"Don't be silly," said Hermione in a panicky voice. "Harry doesn't want to kill anyone, do you, Harry?"

Chris watched Harry closely but he didn't answered Hermione's question.

"Malfoy knows," he said abruptly. "Remember what he said to me in Potions? 'If it was me, I'd hunt him down myself … I'd want revenge.'"

"You're going to take Malfoy's advice instead of ours?" said Ron furiously. "Listen … you know what Pettigrew's mother got back after Black had finished with him? Dad told me – the Order of Merlin, First Class, and Pettigrew's finger in a box. That was the biggest bit of him they could find. Black's a madman, Harry, and he's dangerous .."

"Malfoy's dad must have told him," said Harry, ignoring Ron. "He was right in Voldemort's inner circle .."

"Say You-Know-Who, will you?" interjected Ron angrily.

"..so obviously, the Malfoys knew Black was working for Voldemort .."

"... and Malfoy'd love to see you blown into about a million pieces, like Pettigrew! Get a grip, Malfoy's just hoping you'll get yourself killed before he has to play you at Quidditch."

"Harry, please," said Hermione, her eyes now shining with tears, "please be sensible. Black did a terrible, terrible thing, but d-don't put yourself in danger, it's what Black wants … oh, Harry, you'd be playing right into Black's hands if you went looking for him. Your mum and dad wouldn't want you to get hurt, would they? They'd never want you to go looking for Black!"

"I'll never know what they'd have wanted because, thanks to Black, I've never spoken to them," said Harry shortly.

As Chris expected the conversation went badly, she decided to speak and cleared her throat. Harry looked at her like he noticed her for the first time.

"I'll help you." Chris said and the three of them looked at her with shocked expression. "Yes. You heard it right if you want to go after Black I'll help you Harry."

"Chris what are you saying? We didn't told you all of this because you can encourage Harry to die." Hermione said angrily.

"Are you on Black's side Chris? Do you want Harry to be dead?" Ron said fuming.

"See, that's your problem. You came to conclusion without wasting your time in thinking." Chris said sharply.

"What do you mean?" Hermione asked firmly.

"I mean.. you heard a story in three broomsticks and decided to believe it without thinking or analyzing it." Chris said.

"No Chris.. We've spent lots of time thinking about it." Hermione snapped.

"Then tell me why Sirius Black joined Voldemort and betrayed Harry's parents who were his best friends?" Chris asked.

"Because..." Hermione abruptly stopped. "Bad persons don't need reasons for joining the dark side Chris." She said stubbornly.

"If he was a bad person then why Harry's dad was friends with him?" Chris asked next.

"Maybe Harry's dad didn't understood first what's inside him." Hermione answered.

"Hmm. So tell me Harry, after living with Ron for almost three years, being his best friend, will you know if he done something wrong? Heck you'll know if he have any wrong intentions, Yes or no?"

"Umm.. Yes." Harry said nervously.

"Of course you'll. Last year when Ginny wasn't even talking to me, I realized something was wrong with her. That's happens when you're best friends or live together or both." Chris said with a matter-of-fact tone. "But Harry's father didn't found anything bad inside Black. He was a smart person, I guess, and he believed him blindly, so we can assume Black wasn't bad at first. That means he needed a reason to be on dark side." Chris said the last part looking at Hermione. "So, Ron and Hermione, think, what can be a reason which can force you to betray Harry."

Hermione slammed her book shut. "Where are you going with this Chris? We'll never betray Harry."

"Yes. We'll rather die." Ron said strongly.

"You'll never understand a situation until you imagine yourself there." Chris said calmly. "Fine, if you two can't do it. I'll do it. So what can be a reason for me to join Voldemort and betray Harry." She looked at Harry. "Tell me Harry. What do you think? You were a little nervous at the chamber last year, don't you?"

Harry looked at Chris then think for few moments. "Yes... I was... I even thought you're going to listen to that Riddle when he said that he was going to give you lots of power..."

"Yeah. So it can be for power. Black could've gone for power but... he already had lots of power, didn't he?" Chris asked and Harry nodded.

"Then... He could've hate muggles.. I mean many followers of You-Know-Who follows him because of the same believe like Malfoys. And he was a Black... it was a wealthiest pure-blood family. So that can be the reason, right?" Ron said.

"Yes. I thought the same but then again... if he hates muggles and muggle-borns then why will he ride a motorbike, a muggle vehicle?" Chris replied.

"So you're saying Black is innocent?" Harry said suddenly, hatred in his voice.

"No. I'm not saying that... I'm just not seeing the reason of his crimes." Chris answered thoughtfully.

"But Minister of Magic said this and even Professor McGonagall and Flitwik believed it. How can be..." Hermione tried to protest.

"That minister also thought Hagrid was the heir of Slytherin, just based on what Riddle made him see." Chris said raising her eyebrows. "After spending this adventurous two years...well.. almost two years... in Hogwarts, I realized something, that, in this magical world anything is possible. You can't trust a thing just like that. It can be proved wrong on your face. So don't go around hunting Black." Chris said and got up.

"But.... " Harry was loss of words.

"I know Harry... it hurts to think about your mother.. your parents.. but will revenge change anything? Will it bring back your parents?" Chris sighed. "But if you kill Black then maybe your parents will be hurt. No one wants their children to become a murderer, Harry. No one."

Chris looked at Harry, Ron and Hermione's stunt faces and left the common room.

After lunch, Chris didn't returned to the Gryffindor tower. She wasn't in the mood of facing the trio again. She went towards the countryard, it was covered in deep snow. She was standing alone, feeling that cold, icy breeze when she heard a voice. She turned sharply, and saw a familiar person with a serious look stuck in snow.

"Now who is following whom, Fawley?" Chris asked looking surprised.

"Just passing by." He snorted. "Ugh.. this snow..."

"Wait. Let me help.." she went towards him and pulled him out of the snow.

"Thanks." He said.

"Its cool." She replied and went towards where she was standing before.

"What happened?" He came beside her. "The girl who can't stop talking, wanted to be alone?"

"Yes... and guess what... the rude boy who never like to talk is trying to make a conversation here." Chris replied.

"I was bored. Usually I work on my subjects or study different books to kill time but I've finished my subject books and works, so, decided to take a break."

"Are you ok? I mean you're talking so much. I think you're unusual than me, today." Chris said smirking.

"You know what? My bad. I shouldn't have came here. First that snow. Now you. I should've stayed in the library. Bye." He turned away.

Chris grabbed his hand, "Hey.. Hey.. Sorry. Just a weird day."

Jason looked at her. "Mine too." He sighed. "Just don't ask me why?"

"Ok.... So ..... why didn't you went home for Christmas?" Chris asked.

"My mom, went to a celebration at her sister's place outside the country."

"And your dad?"

"Dead."

"Oh! Sorry." Chris said and there was awkward silence.

"What's your reason?"

"My dad is out for a business trip."

"Is your mom also....?"

"No no. She is alive... she lives with her new family." Chris said and looked away.

"Sorry."

"Its fine. I don't feel anything for her anymore."

"Lie."

"What?" Chris looked at him.

"You're lying. If you hadn't felt anything then you wouldn't have turned your face away."

"What're you? A lie catching expert?"

"No. A lying expert. I do that everytime I lie so I know." He sighed.

There was an another long awkward silence.

"Do you have friends?" Chris asked.

"No. I don't do friends. I think you shouldn't open yourself in front of someone completely."

"Why not? That's why friends are for. We can tell them anything."

"So you tell everything to your friends?"

"Ye..." Chris remembered the things she had hid from her friends. "I'll soon."

"You can't tell everything to someone. Somethings you need to lock inside yourself. That's life."

"Maybe you're wrong."

"That also means... Maybe I'm right?"

"Maybe."

"Exactly."

It was getting dark and the snow fall increased.

"We should go inside." Chris said.

"Right. Bye." He said and hurriedly left.

Next day, in the rest of the castle, the usual magnificent Christmas decorations had been put up, despite the fact that hardly any of the students remained to enjoy them. Thick streamers of holly and mistletoe were strung along the corridors, mysterious lights shone from inside every suit of armour and the Great Hall was filled with its usual twelve Christmas trees, glittering with golden stars. A powerful and delicious smell of cooking pervaded the corridors, and by Christmas Eve.

Chris woke up in the morning by the sound of Leon, who was literally hooting near her ears.

"Yes. Yes. Merry Christmas Leon." Chris patted Leon and he enjoyed it. Then Chris found lot's of gifts in front of her. She opened it.

Her dad sent her a brand-new bag, Hagrid sent a cake which was hard like a brick. Then Colin sent some designer handmade photo-frames for her pictures, Luna sent a book named 'The Tales of Beedle the Bard.' But most surprising thing Chris saw was, Mrs Weasley had sent her a aqua coloured jumper with her name's first letter knitted on the front, also a dozen home-baked mince pies, some Christmas cake and a box of nut brittle, with a card made by Ginny. She said that Mrs Weasley wanted to thank her for the last time, when she saved her from that chamber but didn't knew how, so this year she decided to make a jumper for her like the others in Weasley family. Indicating that, now Chris was also a part of their family. Chris smiled reading the card.

She had sent Colin a wizards game set, Luna a beautiful and colourful hat. She brought gifts for Harry, Ron and Hermione as well; so she got ready, wore the jumper made my Mrs Weasley and went towards boys dormitory, she was sure Hermione will be there.

Chris entered Harry and Ron's room and heard Hermione's voice.

"Well … who'd send Harry something as expensive as that, and not even tell him they'd sent it?" said Hermione.

"What happened?" Chris asked.

"Hey you got a jumper too?" Ron asked noticing her aqua coloured jumper.

"Yeah. Your mother sent me one." Chris smiled and gave them their presents. "So what's going on?"

"Umm... nothing.... It's just a broom Hermione." Harry said.

"A broom can be jinxed Harry. Don't you remember your first match?" Hermione said hotly.

"Anyone want to fill me in?" Chris asked again and noticed the Firebolt in front of Harry.

"Harry got a Firebolt and there is no name who send it. Hermione is over-reacting." Ron said lazily.

"No. She is not, Ron. She is right it can be jinxed. Harry have enough enemies who wants him dead and everyone knows his love for Quidditch, they can definitely use it as a trick to kill him." Chris said seriously.

"See Chris understood my point." Hermione said.

"What rubbish." Ron snorted.

"Ron, you were worried about the grim. Don't you? So now your risking your best friends life for a broom?" Chris said.

But before Ron could answer, Crookshanks sprang from Seamus's bed, right at Ron's c.h.e.s.t.

"GET – HIM – OUT – OF – HERE!" Ron bellowed, as Crookshanks's claws ripped his pyjamas and Scabbers attempted a wild escape over his shoulder. Ron seized Scabbers by the tail and aimed a misjudged kick at Crookshanks which hit the trunk at the end of Harry's bed, knocking it over and causing Ron to hop on the spot, howling with pain.

Crookshanks's fur suddenly stood on end. A shrill, tinny whistling was filling the room.

"What's that?" Chris asked.

"I forgot about that!" Harry said, " It's Ron's gift for my birthday, this is a Pocket Sneakoscope. If there's someone untrustworthy around, it's supposed to light up and spin."

"But I think it's broken, it's making this sound from the train." Ron said still clutching his leg.

"Wow. Interesting." Chris said looking at it.

The Sneakoscope whirled and whistled in Harry's palm. Crookshanks was hissing and spitting at it.

"You'd better take that cat out of here, Hermione," said Ron furiously; he was sitting on Harry's bed nursing his toe. "Can't you shut that thing up?" he added to Harry, as Hermione strode out of the room, Crookshanks's yellow eyes still fixed maliciously on Ron.

Harry stuffed the Sneakoscope back inside the socks and threw it back into his trunk. All that could be heard now was Ron's stifled m.o.a.ns of pain and rage. Scabbers was huddled in Ron's hands.