Harry Potter And The Fortunate Queen

Christmas spirit was definitely thin on the ground in the Gryffindor common room that morning. Hermione had shut Crookshanks in her dormitory, but was furious with Ron for trying to kick him; Ron was still fuming about Crookshanks's fresh attempt to eat Scabbers. Harry gave up trying to make them talk to each other, and devoted himself to examining the Firebolt, which he had brought down to the common room with him. For some reason this seemed to annoy Hermione as well; she didn't say anything, but she kept looking darkly at the broom as though it, too, had been criticising her cat. Chris just watch them and started to read the book, which Luna gave her.

The Tales of Beedle the Bard.

At lunchtime they went down to the Great Hall, to find that the house tables had been moved against the walls again, and that a single table, set for twelve, stood in the middle of the room. Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape, Sprout and Flitwick were there, along with Filch, the caretaker, who had taken off his usual brown coat and was wearing a very old and rather mouldy-looking tail coat. There were only two other students: one extremely nervous-looking first-year and a second year Slytherin boy, Jason Fawley.

"Merry Christmas!" said Dumbledore, as Chris, Harry, Ron and Hermione approached the table. "As there are so few of us, it seemed foolish to use the house tables … sit down, sit down!"

They sat down side by side at the end of the table. Chris found a sit between Jason and Harry.

"Crackers!" said Dumbledore enthusiastically, offering the end of a large silver one to Snape, who took it reluctantly and tugged. With a bang like a gunshot, the cracker flew apart to reveal a large, pointed witch's hat topped with a stuffed vulture. Snape's mouth thinned and he pushed the hat towards Dumbledore, who swapped it for his wizard's hat at once.

"Tuck in!" he advised the table, beaming around.

As Chris was helping herself to roasted chickens, the doors of the Great Hall opened again. It was a lady, gliding towards them as though on wheels. She had put on a green sequined dress in honour of the occasion, making her look more than ever like a glittering, oversize dragonfly.

Chris looked at Harry and Harry whispered, "Professor Trelawney."

"Sybill, this is a pleasant surprise!" said Dumbledore, standing up.

"I have been crystal-gazing, Headmaster," said Professor Trelawney, in a mistiest, most faraway voice, "and to my astonishment, I saw myself abandoning my solitary luncheon and coming to join you. Who am I to refuse the promptings of fate? I at once hastened from my tower, and I do beg you to forgive my lateness …"

"Certainly, certainly," said Dumbledore, his eyes twinkling. "Let me draw you up a chair .."

And he did indeed draw a chair in mid-air with his wand, which revolved for a few seconds before falling with a thud between Professors Snape and McGonagall. Professor Trelawney, however, did not sit down; her enormous eyes had been roving around the table, and she suddenly uttered a kind of soft scream.

"I dare not, Headmaster! If I join the table, we shall be thirteen! Nothing could be more unlucky! Never forget that when thirteen dine together, the first to rise will be the first to die!"

"We'll risk it, Sybill," said Professor McGonagall impatiently. "Do sit down, the turkey's getting stone cold."

Professor Trelawney hesitated, then lowered herself into the empty chair, eyes shut and mouth clenched tight, as though expecting a thunderbolt to hit the table. Professor McGonagall poked a large spoon into the nearest tureen.

"Tripe, Sybill?"

Professor Trelawney ignored her. Eyes open again, she looked around once more and said, "But where is dear Professor Lupin?"

"I'm afraid the poor fellow is ill again," said Dumbledore, indicating that everybody should start serving themselves. "Most unfortunate that it should happen on Christmas Day."

"But surely you already knew that, Sybill?" said Professor McGonagall, her eyebrows raised.

Professor Trelawney gave Professor McGonagall a very cold look.

"Certainly I knew, Minerva," she said quietly. "But one does not parade the fact that one is All-Knowing. I frequently act as though I am not possessed of the Inner Eye, so as not to make others nervous."

"That explains a great deal," said Professor McGonagall tartly.

Professor Trelawney's voice suddenly became a good deal less misty.

"If you must know, Minerva, I have seen that poor Professor Lupin will not be with us for very long. He seems aware, himself, that his time is short. He positively fled when I offered to crystal-gaze for him .."

"Imagine that," said Professor McGonagall drily.

"I doubt," said Dumbledore, in a cheerful but slightly raised voice, which put an end to Professor McGonagall and Professor Trelawney's conversation, "that Professor Lupin is in any immediate danger. Severus, you've made the Potion for him again?"

"Yes, Headmaster," said Snape.

"Good," said Dumbledore. "Then he should be up and about in no time … Derek, have you had any of these chipolatas? They're excellent."

The first-year boy went furiously red on being addressed directly by Dumbledore, and took the platter of sausages with trembling hands.

Professor Trelawney behaved almost normally until the very end of Christmas dinner, two hours later. Full to bursting with Christmas dinner and still wearing their cracker hats, Chris got up first from the table and she shrieked loudly.

"Oh my God, dear, why you got up first? I warned you. Don't you believe my inner eye."

"Umm... I certainly believe you Professor." Chris answered seriously. "That's why I thought, why endanger my friends or Professors life."

"Very noble of you." Jason snorted, beside her.

Chris gave a fake smile towards him.

"I doubt it will make much difference," said Professor McGonagall coldly, "unless a mad axe-man is waiting outside the doors to slaughter the first into the Entrance Hall."

Even Ron laughed. Professor Trelawney looked highly affronted.

"Coming?" Harry said to Hermione.

"No," Hermione muttered. "I want a quick word with Professor McGonagall."

"Probably trying to see if she can take any more classes," yawned Ron as they made their way into the Entrance Hall, which was completely devoid of mad axe-men.

When they reached the portrait hole they found Sir Cadogan enjoying a Christmas party with a couple of monks, several previous Headmasters of Hogwarts and his fat pony. He pushed up his visor and toasted them with a flagon of mead.

"Merry – hic – Christmas! Password?"

"Scurvy cur," said Chris. "Merry Christmas Sir Cadogan."

"And the same to you, lady!" roared Sir Cadogan, as the painting swung forward to admit them.

Chris entered and sat on her previous seat to resume the reading The Tales of Beedle the Bard.

Harry brought his Firebolt and a Broomstick Servicing kit and tried to find something to do to the Firebolt. Ron just sat their watching the broom. Then the portrait hole opened, and Hermione came in, accompanied by Professor McGonagall.

Though Professor McGonagall was Head of Gryffindor house, Chris had only seen her in the common room once before, and that had been to make a very grave announcement. Harry and Ron stared at her, both holding the Firebolt. Hermione walked around them, sat down, picked up the nearest book and hid her face behind it.

"So that's it, is it?" said Professor McGonagall beadily, walking over to the fireside and staring at the Firebolt. "Miss Granger has just informed me that you have been sent a broomstick, Potter."

"May I?" said Professor McGonagall, but she didn't wait for an answer before pulling the Firebolt out of their hands. She examined it carefully from handle to twig-ends. "Hmm. And there was no note at all, Potter? No card? No message of any kind?"

"No," said Harry blankly.

"I see …" said Professor McGonagall. "Well, I'm afraid I will have to take this, Potter."

"W-what?" said Harry, scrambling to his feet. "Why?"

"It will need to be checked for jinxes," said Professor McGonagall. "Of course, I'm no expert, but I daresay Madam Hooch and Professor Flitwick will strip it down ..."

"Strip it down?" repeated Ron, as though Professor McGonagall was mad.

"It shouldn't take more than a few weeks," said Professor McGonagall. "You will have it back if we are sure it is jinx-free."

"There's nothing wrong with it!" said Harry, his voice shaking slightly. "Honestly, Professor .."

"You can't know that, Potter," said Professor McGonagall, quite kindly, "not until you've flown it, at any rate, and I'm afraid that is out of the question until we are certain that it has not been tampered with. I shall keep you informed."

"What did you go running to McGonagall for?"

Hermione threw her book aside. She was still pink in the face, but stood up and faced Ron defiantly.

"Because I thought – and Professor McGonagall agrees with me – that that broom was probably sent to Harry by Sirius Black!" Hermione looked at Chris, "What do you think Chris?"

"Umm.. I think..." Chris started to say but Ron interrupted, "Of course she'll agree with you. You both are same lunatic."

"Excuse me Ron, but I think Harry's mother didn't died for him, so that her thirteen years old son can die on a jinxed broomstick." Chris said sharply looking at Ron then went towards her room.

Next few days, Hermione mostly spent her time in Chris's room. She was doing homeworks, after finishing her own, she even did half of Chris's. Chris understood she was trying not to think about Harry and Ron who were not talking to her. Harry talked a little when he saw her but Ron almost dragged Harry away. Hermione was hurt, Chris consoled her few times, but in vain.

After new year, everyone returned to Hogwarts. Chris told Ginny everything happened during the break, to Chris's surprise Ginny took everything without any sign of fear or shock, she was just worried about Harry, Ron and Hermione.

Lessons started again next day. Chris, Ginny and Colin were at the dinner in Great Hall when Hermione came in and sat with them.

"Still not talking to you?" Chris asked Hermione.

Hermione just shook her head and started eating.

"It's fine Hermione, you can spend time with us if you want." Ginny said smiling. "I know Ron can act very stupid sometimes."

Hermione smiled back. Ron and Harry came and sat a little far on the table. Hermione looked away. Chris and Ginny exchanged looks.

"Chris!" Harry called suddenly.

"Yeah." Harry haven't talked much with her in few days. Chris looked surprised.

"Professor Lupin said to inform you, eight o'clock on Thursday evening, The History of Magic classroom." Harry said simply.

Chris nodded, "Ok. Thanks."

"What's on Thursday?" Colin asked Chris.

"Oh! I'm taking a extra class from Professor Lupin." Chris answered.

"What extra class?" Ginny asked, raising her eyebrows.

"A spell to fight Dementors." Chris said while eating.

Colin and Ginny looked at each other but didn't said anything.

At eight o'clock on Thursday evening, Chris left Gryffindor Tower for the History of Magic classroom, on the way she met Harry. It was dark and empty when they arrived, but she lit the lamps with her wand and had waited only five minutes when Professor Lupin turned up, carrying a large packing case, which he heaved onto Professor Binns' desk.

"What's that?" said Chris.

"Another Boggart," said Lupin, stripping off his cloak. "I've been combing the castle ever since Tuesday, and very luckily, I found this one lurking inside Mr Filch's filing cabinet. It's the nearest we'll get to a real Dementor. The Boggart will turn into a Dementor when he sees Harry, so we'll be able to practise on him. Chris you can practice on him too, just don't come in front of Harry or it'll take a look like your biggest fear. I can store him in my office when we're not using him; there's a cupboard under my desk he'll like."

"OK," Harry and Chris said together.

"So …" Professor Lupin had taken out his own wand, and indicated that they should do the same. "The spell I am going to try and teach you is highly advanced magic, well beyond Ordinary Wizarding Level. It is called the Patronus Charm."

"How does it work?" said Harry nervously.

"Well, when it works correctly, it conjures up a Patronus," said Lupin, "which is a kind of Anti-Dementor – a guardian which acts as a shield between you and the Dementor."

Professor Lupin continued, "The Patronus is a kind of positive force, a projection of the very things that the Dementor feeds upon – hope, happiness, the d.e.s.i.r.e to survive – but it cannot feel despair, as real humans can, so the Dementors can't hurt it. But I must warn you, both, that the Charm might be too advanced for you. Many qualified wizards have difficulty with it."

"What does a Patronus look like?" Chris asked curiously.

"Each one is unique to the wizard who conjures it."

"And how do you conjure it?" Harry asked next.

"With an incantation, which will work only if you are concentrating, with all your might, on a single, very happy memory."

'A happy memory. That's why Dames said the Dementors will recognize it because I'll create it with my happy memory... and because the power of happiness in a Patronus is too much, Dementors avoid it.' Chris thought.

"The incantation is this .." Lupin cleared his throat, "expecto patronum!"

"Expecto patronum," Harry and Chris repeated.

"Concentrating hard on your happy memory?"

"Oh – yeah –" said Harry.

Chris was still searching a happy memory inside her. She remembered her time with her dad and whispered, "Expecto Patronum."

Something whooshed suddenly out of the end of his wand; it looked like a wisp of silvery gas.

"Very good Christina. Concentrate hard." Lupin said and Chris nodded.

Then something happened in Harry's wand as well.

"Did you see that?" said Harry excitedly. "Something happened!"

"Very good," said Lupin, smiling. "Right then – ready to try it on a Dementor?"

"Yes," Harry said, gripping his wand very tightly, and moving into the middle of the deserted classroom.

Chris just nodded and stood a little far from Harry, gripping her wand as well. The Dementors didn't affect her, so she just have to cast it if Harry fails, she thought this as Lupin grasped the lid of the packing case and pulled.

A Dementor rose slowly from the box, its hooded face turned towards Harry, one glistening, scabbed hand gripping its cloak. The lamps around the classroom flickered and went out. The Dementor stepped from the box and started to sweep silently towards Harry, drawing a deep, rattling breath.

"Expecto patronum!" Harry yelled. "Expecto patronum! Expecto ..."

Harry started to fall, Chris thought hard on happy memories with her dad and her friends.

"Expecto Patronum." She yelled and a huge, silver shadow came bursting out of the end of her wand, to hover in front of the Dementor.

"Riddikulus!" roared Lupin, springing forwards. The boggart vanished inside the box. Lupin was looking at Chris very surprised. "Well done, Christina. I guessed you'll do it quickly. After seeing you in train. You're really talented." Lupin smiled.

Chris smiled back and ran towards Harry, "Harry! Harry!" She called, shaking him a little.

Harry jerked back to life.

"Sorry," he muttered, sitting up and feeling cold sweat trickling down behind his glasses.

"Are you all right?" said Lupin.

"Yes …" Harry pulled himself up on one of the desks and leant against it.

"Here .." Lupin handed him a Chocolate Frog. "Eat this before we try again. I didn't expect you to do it first time. In fact, I would have been astounded if you had." Lupin gave a side glance towards Chris.

"It's getting worse," Harry muttered, biting the Frog's head off. "I could hear her louder that time – and him – Voldemort .."

Lupin looked paler than usual.

"Harry, if you don't want to continue, I will more than understand... "

"I do!" said Harry fiercely, stuffing the rest of the Chocolate Frog into his mouth. "I've got to! What if the Dementors turn up at our match against Slytherin? I can't afford to fall off again. If we lose this game we've lost the Quidditch Cup!"

"They'll not Harry. Dumbledore is still very angry about last time. He'll not let them in." Chris said.

"But what if they come Chris? Dumbledore forbid them before but they did came.. didn't they?" Harry said.

"Last time they came because...." Chris stopped, Lupin and Harry both looking at her. "Fine. Do it."

"All right then …" said Lupin. "You might want to select another memory, a happy memory, I mean, to concentrate on … that one doesn't seem to have been strong enough …"

Harry gripped his wand tightly again, and took up his position in the middle of the classroom.

"Ready?" said Lupin, gripping the box lid.

"Ready," said Harry.

"Go!" said Lupin, pulling off the lid. The room went icily cold and dark once more. The Dementor glided forwards, drawing its rattly breath; one rotting hand was extending towards Harry ...

"Expecto patronum!" Harry yelled. "Expecto patronum!"

Chris realized, it's still not working for Harry and she came between the Dementor and Harry holding her wand. Little thing she forgot that it was a boggart, as soon as she came in front of Harry. The Dementor started to change into a woman. A woman with same deep brown hair like her but her face was looking as she was feeling disgusted about something.

Chris froze looking at her. She woman started to speak, "How dare you to do that? You're just like your father hopeless. That's it I'm not taking you with me."

There was another voice, a voice of a little girl, "Please mumma, Please.. Don't leave me... Don't go. Don't leave me and Dad. I promise I'll be a good girl." She was crying so badly that she wasn't not able to breath.

"No. You can't be a good girl. You can't be a good daughter. You don't deserve to be loved. I'm ashamed of you. I'm ashamed that I'm your mother."

The little girl cried more loudly.

Professor Lupin came forward, Then the Woman turned into a silvery white orb hanging in the air in front of Lupin, who said "Riddikulus!" almost lazily.

Crack! Professor Lupin locked it in the box again.

Chris was still standing there, holding her wand straight, like a statue. Harry and Lupin looked at her. Then Harry went towards her and put a arm around her shoulder. Chris jerked back to the reality. She looked at Harry and then Lupin, her eyes were full of tears, about to drop on her face, "Sorry." She whispered.

"It's alright. I should've trained you first for the boggart." Lupin said.

"No. You said, not to come infront of Harry. I forgot." Chris said quietly. "You ok Harry?"

"Yeah... You?" Harry said looking surprised.

"Yeah." Chris said looking down. "I was seven when this happened. I never thought it's my biggest fear."

Harry hugged Chris by shoulder.

"I'm fine." Chris whispered.

"I heard my dad," Harry mumbled. "That's the first time I've ever heard him – he tried to take on Voldemort himself, to give my mum time to run for it …"

Chris suddenly realised that there were tears on Harry's face as well mingling with the sweat. He hurriedly whipped them off on his robes.

"You heard James?" said Lupin, in a strange voice.

"Yeah …" Face dry, Harry looked up. "Why – you didn't know my dad, did you?"

"I – I did, as a matter of fact,' said Lupin. "We were friends at Hogwarts. Listen, Harry – perhaps we should leave it here for tonight. This charm is ridiculously advanced … I shouldn't have suggested putting you through this …"

"No!" said Harry. "I'll have one more go! I'm not thinking of happy enough things, that's what it is … hang on …"

"Think about your parents." Chris said suddenly. Harry looked at her. "The Dementors are making it your weakness, you can change it into your strength. Think about happy things, like what happened if they were here, I mean... what they've said to you after you won the house cup or the Quidditch matches, you said your Dad was a Quidditch player, so think how happy he felt when you caught the Snitch."

As Chris said, a smile appeared on Harry's face. He faced the packing case once more.

"Stand aside Christina." said Lupin, Chris went to the corner of the room, "Ready?" Lupin said to Harry, he looked as though he was doing this against his better judgement. "Concentrating hard? All right – go!"

He pulled off the lid of the case for the third time, and the Dementor rose out of it; the room fell cold and dark –

"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" Harry bellowed. "EXPECTO PATRONUM! EXPECTO PATRONUM!"

Soon a huge, silver shadow came bursting out of the end of Harry's wand, to hover between him and the Dementor.

Professor Lupin forced it inside the box again and Harry sank into a chair.

"You did great." Chris said coming beside him and sat on a chair.

"Excellent!" Lupin said, striding over to where Harry sat. "Excellent, Harry! That was definitely a start!"

"Can we have another go? Just one more go?"

"Not now," said Lupin firmly. "You've had enough for one night. Here ..."

He handed Harry a large bar of Honeydukes' best chocolate.

"Eat the lot, or Madam Pomfrey will be after my blood. Same time next week?"

"OK,"said Harry.

"Not you Christina. I don't think you need any more lessons on that. You'll be fine." He said and Chris nodded.

Chris looked at Harry and he broke the chocolate in half and gave her. Chris smiled and took a bite of the chocolate and watched Lupin extinguishing the lamps that had rekindled with the disappearance of the Dementor.

"Professor Lupin?" he said. "If you knew my dad, you must've known Sirius Black as well."

Lupin turned very quickly.

"What gives you that idea?" he said sharply.

"Nothing – I mean, I just knew they were friends at Hogwarts, too …"

Lupin's face relaxed.

"Yes, I knew him," he said shortly. "Or I thought I did. You'd better get off, Harry, it's getting late."

"Sometimes our feelings tell us the truth, Professor, not the thing we hear from others." Chris said and Lupin looked at her curiously.

Harry and Chris left.

They walked silently in the empty corridors, finally Harry spoke, "I understand now why you don't want to talk about your mother. I mean who says so horrible things to her daughter?"

"Yeah. Well... it was kind of my fault too."

"What?"

"Yes. She took me to meet the person she was going to marry after she divorced my Dad. I kind of put his suit on fire, it was a small thing but, because of my magic it almost burned him. My mom didn't knew about my magic abilities, of course, everyone thought it's an accident but my mother accused me. Said those things to me." Chris sighed. "I don't think about it anymore but when I was seven it affected me greatly. I think that's why the boggart turned out like that."

"You're really brave Chris. I don't know what I've done. I miss my parents very much. Specially now when I can hear them." Harry said.

"You can always feel them inside your heart Harry. You don't need Dementors for that." Chris said smiling a little.