Harry Potter And The Fortunate Queen

Next day after lunch, Chris, Ginny and Colin went towards the Whomping Willow. It's branches were creaking as though in a high wind, whipping backwards and forwards to stop them going nearer.

"Now?" Ginny asked.

"Impedimenta." Chris said, pointing the wand towards the tree and it slowed down. "Now. Let's go."

"Chris you're a genius." Colin said happily.

They covered the distance to the trunk in seconds. They slid down an earthy slope to the bottom of a very low tunnel.

"Lumos" Ginny whispered. Colin and Chris did the same. Then they set off, then bent almost double; ahead of them. And then the tunnel began to rise; moments later it twisted, and Chris could see a patch of dim light through a small opening.

They paused, gasping for breath, edging forwards. Raising their wands to see what lay beyond.

It was a room, a very disordered, dusty room. Paper was peeling from the walls; there were stains all over the floor; every piece of furniture was broken as though somebody had smashed it. The windows were all boarded-up. The room was deserted, but a door to their right stood open, leading to a shadowy hallway. They pulled themselves out of the passageway.

"Do you think it's the Shrieking Shack?" Ginny asked.

"I think so." Chris answered.

"Ghosts didn't do that, do they?" Colin said while shaking a little.

They crept out into the hall and up the crumbling staircase. Everything was covered in a thick layer of dust.

They reached the dark landing. Chris opened the door slowly, inside a magnificent four-poster bed with dusty hangings.

"Nothing. Nothing is here." Ginny said with a sigh.

"But...?" Chris was confused. "I had a feeling. How...?"

"Umm." Colin said. "I think we should go."

"Yeah, Chris. Colin is right, we'll prove Sirius Black's innocence any other day." Ginny said, then turned and froze.

"What happened Ginny?" Colin asked.

Chris looked at them and followed Ginny's gaze. A big, enormous, pale-eyed, jet-black dog stood behind the door.

"Gr.. grim.." Colin whispered.

"Relax. It's just a dog." Chris said looking at the dog. "I think he is hiding here, because people think him as a bad omen and hate to see him." Chris smiled. "Don't worry. We don't think you're a bad omen or something. Isn't it guys?"

"...er..." Colin just stared at the dog.

"Guys?" Chris raised her voice.

"Yeah. Yeah." Colin nodded.

"Yep. It's right." Ginny sighed. "Sorry, Chris. I just freaked out a bit."

"We should go now, don't you think Ginny?" Colin said looking outside.

"But Sirius Black..."

"Chris there is nothing we can do. Sirius Black is not here." Ginny said seriously.

"So I'll never get to know the truth? Harry will always think his Godfather betrayed his parents? And there is nothing we can do?" Chris said, with disappointed tone.

"It's alright Chris. Let's go, or we'll be in trouble." said Ginny.

Suddenly the dog sprang back towards them, he pushed Colin and Colin dropped his wands. In a split second, the dog changed into a mass of filthy, matted hair hung to his elbows. If eyes hadn't been shining out of the deep, dark sockets, he might have been a corpse. The waxy skin was stretched so tightly over the bones of his face, it looked like a skull. His yellow teeth were bared in a grin. It was Sirius Black.

"Expelliarmus!" he croaked, pointing Colin's wand at them.

Chris and Ginny's wands shot out of their hands, high in the air, and Black caught them. Then he took a step closer.

Colin and Ginny were looking terrified but Chris grinned as a realisation dawned at her.

"You're an Animagus, like Professor McGonagall. That's why the Dementors didn't sense you, they can't sense animals. That's how you escaped Azkaban. You're Harry's Grim." Chris said grinning.

"That's right. Now tell me who told you I'm innocent?" Sirius Black asked.

"No one. I figured it out." Chris said. "You had no reasons to betray Harry's parents and if you really were a killer, you would've killed Ron, that day."

Black nodded.

"So what happened exactly?" Chris asked.

"I'll tell you if you can give me an information." Black said looking at Ginny.

"What kind of information?" Ginny asked.

"Do you know where your brother's rat is?"

"What? Scabbers? But he died. Crookshanks..." Ginny answered.

"Crookshanks didn't killed him. He couldn't be killed by a cat." Black shouted.

"Why?" Colin asked quietly.

Black took a deep breath. "No need to know. Just tell Crookshanks, if you find him. That's it." He turned towards Chris. "And to answer your question, I didn't betrayed my best friends, an another person did, who faked his own death and who is still alive. I made him the secret keeper and that was my fault.... Now, you three leave. Or I'll erase all your memories."

"No. No. No need. We're leaving." Ginny almost dragged Chris and Colin.

"Our wands?" Chris asked.

Black threw the wands towards them and they went out.

"See Professor, I told you, I saw her leaving." Draco said smirking.

"Where were you Miss Norton?" Professor McGonagall asked angrily.

"Professor I was walking on the grounds." Chris replied.

"There are restrictions, for your own safety. I hope you're aware of that?" Professor McGonagall said sharply.

"Yes Professor." Chris said looking down.

"I don't want to see Students taking the safety measures so lightly, they should know breaking any rule have it's consequences. Detention Miss Norton."

"Professor McGonagall if you think, I can give Miss Norton, the detention task." Professor Snape said giving a ugly smirk.

But before Professor McGonagall could answer, another voice came, "Everything alright Professors?"

Chris looked up, it was Professor Lupin. He gave a quick glance towards Chris then turned towards the Professors.

"Yes, Lupin. Miss Norton was wondering outside the castle grounds, in this time." Professor McGonagall said furiously.

"If I ask, Why Christina?" Professor Lupin said looking at Chris.

"I just went out for fresh air, Professor. I was just taking a walk." Chris replied looking down again.

"She have already received a detention, Lupin. No need to be worried." Snape snorted.

Malfoy smirked but next second his smirk vanished as Professor Lupin said, "Good, Professor McGonagall, so what is her task? I needed a little assistance... if.."

"Sure Lupin. We haven't decided her task so you can give it to her." Professor McGonagall said.

Lupin nodded and Professor McGonagall walked away. Snape watched Chris and Lupin angrily for few seconds then stroll away too, at last Draco Malfoy stormed off.

"Now tell me what were you really doing outside?" Lupin asked seriously.

"I was practicing few charms outside." She answered.

Lupin wasn't convinced but he nodded, "Last day of exams, five o'clock. Defence Against the Dark Arts class room."

"Yes Professor."

Lupin walked away. Ginny and Colin came out.

"Why did you pushed us?" Ginny asked angrily as they walked towards the Gryffindor tower.

"You faced Black with me, you two have done enough. There was no meaning of facing McGonagall and Snape too." Chris replied.

"But Chris..." Colin tried to say something.

"Just do one thing, keep an eye out for Scabbers. I understood, Black was here for Scabbers, both times. He is after Scabbers, that proves Scabbers isn't a normal rat." Chris said seriously.

"Well. He really isn't normal. I mean he lived in our family for twelve years. Mom always said that's not possible for a normal rat." Ginny said, thinking hard.

"Wait, twelve years? Harry's parents died twelve years ago. It means he is not a rat... What if it's a person? What if he is a Animagus like Black? He is the person who betrayed the Potter's." Chris said with a shocked expression.

"And he was living with Harry's best friend for three years. That's scary." Colin said.

"Yeah it is. My family was living with the actual criminal." Ginny shockingly replied.

"Wait. Wait. Let's not get ahead of ourselves. First things first, we've to pass our exams. We'll see about this later." Chris said as they reached the fat lady's portrait.

________________________________________

Chris's exam went pretty well. She achieved good marks in Charms, Transfiguration, Astronomy, DADA. Herbology's marks were not very bad either. Not like other subjects but nice. Problem happened in Potions, Chris prepared the Swelling Solution perfectly but still Snape cut half marks.

"He did that purposely, didn't he?" Chris asked while leaving the class.

"Yes. Everyone knows that Professor Snape hate famous Gryffindors." Jason replied from behind. "And you're famous now. So..." He smirked and walked away.

"He got full marks. I saw his paper. Arrogant, isn't he?" Colin whispered.

"No. He speaks the truth." Chris smiled. "By the way he is Jason Fawley."

"You stole his potions recipes and he still talks to you?" Colin asked surprised.

"He doesn't know." Chris said grinning.

Ginny shook her head while laughing.