Capítulo 266: Cruel World
Chris, Ginny, Hermione and Harry returned to Burrow with bags full of things from the Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. Colin, Dennis and Luna left with Cedric after Luna said to Chris that they will meet at the King's Cross.
"Dumbledore asked us to stick together," said Luna with great awe. "We should listen to him."
Ginny also convinced Mrs Weasley that the cat was under budget, though, Chris was sure Mrs Weasley had guessed the truth, she decided to keep it quiet.
Their departure on September 1st was smoother than usual. The Ministry cars glided up to the front of the Burrow to find them waiting, trunks packed; Hermione's cat, Crookshanks, and Ginny's new cat, Heavenleigh, safely enclosed in their travelling basket; and Harry's owl, Hedwig; Ron's owl, Pigwidgeon; and Chris' Leon in cages.
"Au revoir, Chrees," said Fleur throatily, kissing Chris on a cheek before leaving.
Fleur was suddenly very fond of Chris, almost same as Harry. Where Harry had rescued Fleur's little sister once, Chris had helped Fleur with her wedding day appearance and Bridesmaids' dress colour (earning several eye rolls and angry remarks from Ginny).
As they reached King's Cross, two grim-faced, bearded Aurors in dark Muggle suits moved forward the moment the cars stopped and, flanking the party, marched them into King's Cross station without speaking.
"Quick, quick, through the barrier," said Mrs Weasley, who seemed a little flustered by this austere efficiency. "Harry had better go first, with —"
She looked inquiringly at one of the Aurors, who nodded briefly, seized Harry's upper arm, and attempted to steer him toward the barrier between platforms nine and ten.
"I can walk, thanks," said Harry irritably, jerking his arm out of the Auror's grip.
"Chris, you next dear —" Mrs Weasley began as soon as Harry disappeared in the barrier followed by his companion.
Before Mrs Weasley could finish, Chris nodded at her and pushed her trolley directly at the solid barrier. A second later, she found herself standing on platform nine and three-quarters, where the scarlet Hogwarts Express stood belching steam over the crowd.
Hermione and the Weasleys joined her within seconds and Chris found Colin, Dennis and Luna a little far away standing with a wizard, who Chris realized was an Order member.
"Let's go," said Harry and he, Chris and the rest quickly joined them.
"You'd better get straight on the train, all of you, you've only got a few minutes to go," said Mrs Weasley, consulting her watch. "Well, have a lovely term, Ron. . . Ginny. . ."
Chris reached for the train door but looked back at her friends, who wasn't following her.
"We have to go with Hermione and Ron," said Colin looking apologetic. "We have to patrol the corridors for a bit. You don't mind if Dennis stays with you, do you?"
"Of course not," said Chris realizing her friends have Prefect duties now.
"I have friends, Colin," said Dennis looking red in the face. "I can sit with them."
"But you just said you want to sit with Chris and Harry," said Luna surprised.
"Luna, you weren't supposed to say that," said Dennis jumping. "Not in front of them."
Chris, Harry and Colin laughed as Dennis ran inside the train, embarrassed.
Chris, Luna and Harry hoisted their trunks and said goodbye to Mrs Weasley, who invited them for Christmas. As soon as they were out of sight of Mrs Weasley, Chris levitated all the three trunks and started looking for an empty compartment. People stared shamelessly as they walked. They even pressed their faces against the windows of their compartments to get a look at them, especially the girls were staring at Harry, mesmerized. Chris had expected this after the 'Chosen One' thing but what surprised her more was that many boys were glancing at her too, not quite unabashed like the girls but enough for Chris to notice them.
At last, they found an empty compartment and quickly arranged their trunks and cages inside.
"Did they really have to stare like that," said Chris sitting near the window.
At this Harry laughed.
"I am glad I'm not their only target."
"People always stares at me, you know, they think I'm funny," said Luna, opening her latest edition of The Quibbler to read.
At that moment, the compartment door opened.
"Hi Harry, Chris, Luna."
"Hi Neville," said Chris, Harry and Luna together looking at a familiar round-faced boy.
"Can I sit here?" He asked. "The other compartments —"
"No need to ask, Neville," said Harry getting up to help Neville with his trunk. "Sit." He then turned to Luna, "Luna, I think people are staring because you were at the Ministry too, our little adventure is still all over the Daily Prophet."
"I thought Gran would be angry about all the publicity," said Neville, "but she was really pleased. Says I'm starting to live up to my dad at long last. She bought me this." He dug the hand that was not keeping a firm grip on Trevor into his schoolbag and after a little bit of rummaging pulled out what appeared to be a small gray cactus in a pot, except that it was covered with what looked like boils rather than spines. "Mimbulus mimbletonia."
It was pulsating slightly, giving it the rather sinister look of some diseased internal organ.
"It's really, really rare," said Neville, beaming. "I don't know if there's one in the greenhouse at Hogwarts, even. I can't wait to show it to Professor Sprout."
"Yeah, you do that and tell me about it later. I have heard that name, but that's all I remember about it," Chris said.
Harry, Luna and Neville laughed.
Neville opened his mouth to say something but there was a disturbance outside their compartment door; a group of fourth-year girls was whispering and giggling together on the other side of the glass.
"You ask him!"
"No, you!"
"I'll do it!"
And one of them, a bold-looking girl with large dark eyes, a prominent chin, and long black hair pushed her way through the door.
"Hi, Harry, I'm Romilda, Romilda Vane," she said loudly and confidently. "Why don't you join us in our compartment? You don't have to sit with them," she added in a stage whisper, indicating at Neville, who was struggling with his frog and Luna, who was now wearing her free Spectrespecs (which came with The Quibbler and gave her the look of a demented, multicoloured owl).
Funnily enough, the girl didn't look at Chris.
"Excuse me?" said Chris looking at the girl, who pretended to notice her just now.
"They're friends of mine," said Harry coldly.
"Oh," said the girl, looking very surprised. "Oh. Okay."
And she withdrew, glaring at Chris, sliding the door closed behind her.
"Padma won't be happy about these, you know," said Chris. Her voice sounded so unpleasant that it surprised even her.
"Yeah, well — she will understand, it's not my fault," said Harry unconvincingly.
Then he changed the subject to O.W.L. results as soon as he could. Neville started to recite his grades and wondered aloud whether he would be allowed to take a Transfiguration N.E.W.T. with only an "Acceptable".
"Take other subjects then," said Chris bracingly. "You have good marks in Herbology, Charms, Astronomy, and Care of Magical Creatures. Why not choose Charms or Astronomy?"
"I don't know," shrugged Neville. "Gran thinks Charms is a soft — you all right, Harry? You look funny."
Harry was staring at Neville with an expression which looked somewhere between a frown and a smile.
"Sorry — I —" He shuttered.
"Wrackspurt got you?" asked Luna sympathetically, peering at Harry through her enormous coloured spectacles.
"Yes," said Harry at once looking out of the window.
Chris stared at him for a moment then it hit her. She looked back at Neville — Neville could be the chosen one too if Voldemort had chosen him that night. Maybe then Neville and Harry had switched places or maybe there won't be any of them alive today if Voldemort had killed them before either of their mothers could interfere. Then there would have been only Chris sitting here in that compartment with Luna. . . without Harry and Neville.
Chris shivered. Life was cruel.
______________________________
To be continued.
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Mystical_Snowflake
Mystical_Snowflake Hey guys. . .
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Ch 4
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