บท 222: Conflicts and Compromises

"This is the third time few wizards had visited Azkaban, my Queen," said Ryan, the young Dementor.

"And we are sure that they are working for the dark lord," said Jose, the other Dementor.

"The situation is getting out of hands, my Queen. They are promising a lot to us, it is a matter of time before few of the Dementors give in to that," said Dames. "I am going back to Azkaban. I will try to pursue them. . ."

"My Queen, a woman mistook me for our elder Dames and told me to inform you that the Minister is being controlled," said Fitz. "She said the Minister is under the Imperious Curse."

"Miss Norton! Miss Norton! MISS NORTON!"

Chris jerked her face towards the calling voice and saw a furious looking Professor McGonagall.

"Y—yes Professor?"

"I asked you to demonstrate transfigure your goblet into a rat — for the fifth time," said Professor McGonagall, clearly irritated. "I don't expect this kind of negligence from any of my students."

"Yes, sorry Professor," Chris replied nervously and waved her wand.

The goblet changed into a rat which tried to scurried away but Professor McGonagall created a cage out of thin air and caught the rat in it. Still glaring at Chris, she held up the cage showed the rat to the class. As she walked away Ginny leaned towards Chris.

"You alright?" Ginny whispered.

"Are you thinking about your last night Astronomy tower visit?" asked Colin quietly.

Chris silently nodded.

"Things are getting out of hands, I — "

Ginny nudged Chris hard before Professor McGonagall could look at them again. They decided to fell silent for now. After the class, they went to the great hall for lunch.

"I don't know what to do anymore, really," Chris sighed.

"Hey!" Ginny chastised. "Why so defeated comments?"

"Gin, things are bad in Azkaban, I don't know what's going on with the prophecy, Fudge is under the imperious curse, Harry is having no progress in Occlumency and Umbridge is planning — God knows what — how am I supposed to fix all of this?" Chris hissed.

"Wow," Colin shook his head. "You are not supposed to fix all of this, remember? Dumbledore is here for that, the order is here for that."

"True," Luna nodded. "You are — we are supposed to think about the mystery behind Malgino's immorality."

"We have limited options on that, Luna," Chris said. "Helena has told me what she knew, Baron — I don't think — is going to talk and we've found nothing in those ancient magic books about the curse or any way of immortality."

"But that doesn't mean we are going to stop looking. We'll find something eventually," Ginny said firmly. "Have you told Dumbledore about this?"

"Yeah, this morning," Chris replied, with a small smile. Ginny was really optimistic.

"What did he said?" Colin asked.

"Nothing, just 'thanks for the information, Christina,'" said Chris. "He is really busy, I get it."

"I think you're not the only one with confusion here," Luna said. "Dumbledore is probably having the same problems. Probably not like us but he is stressed too."

"Yeah," Chris nodded.

"You are more worried about Harry, aren't you?" Ginny said.

"Yup. It's going to be a huge threat if he doesn't control his feelings soon," said Chris.

To fuel Chris' distress more, every single Divination and Care of Magical Creatures lesson was now conducted in the presence of Umbridge and her clipboard. She lurked by the fire in the heavily perfumed tower room, interrupting Professor Trelawney's increasingly hysterical talks with difficult questions about Ornithomancy and Heptomology, insisting that she predict students' answers before they gave them and demanding that she demonstrate her skill at the crystal ball, the tea leaves, and the rune stones in turn. Hagrid wasn't putting up a better show than Trelawney. Though he seemed to be following Chris' advice and had shown them nothing more frightening than a crup. He was also oddly distracted and jumpy in lessons, losing the thread of what he was saying while talking to the class, answering questions wrongly and glancing anxiously at Umbridge all the time.

These only gave Chris more reasons to loathe Umbridge.

Other than that, turned out Talisman making wasn't that easy, they had to be very patient about it as the process took a long time. Before Chris knew it, February had arrived, bringing with it wetter and warmer weather and the prospect of the second Hogsmeade visit of the year. Unfortunately, Chris and Colin had to hang back every evening for Quidditch practice. Angelina was determined to make Chris as perfect as possible. And honestly, Chris couldn't blame her, not after Ron's performance and lack of confidence.

"I can't go to Hogsmeade, this Valentine's Day," Chris informed Jason as they walked beside the lake, a day before Valentine's Day.

"Let me guess, your secret group needs you," Jason said flatly.

"No, Quidditch team does," Chris replied calmly.

Jason sighed and didn't say anything.

"Hey, you know what happened to our Quidditch team, don't you?" Chris said coming to a halt. "I can't bail on them now."

"I know," Jason stopped too. "It's just — with your secret group, Quidditch and your friends — we hardly spend any time together."

"I know," Chris echoed. "I'm a lot busy now because a lot of things are going on, but I promise I'll try to hang out more. Just like I am right now."

Jason turned to face Chris.

"You are lucky I like you too much."

"You are too," Chris grinned.

Jason rolled his eyes but with a smirk, he kissed her.

On the morning of the fourteenth, Chris, Ginny, Colin and Luna sat with Hermione at breakfast. When Hermione heard that Ginny was going Hogsmeade with Luna (as Colin had Quidditch practice), she decided to join them as Harry was going with Padma and Ron had Quidditch practice like Chris and Colin. Harry joined them at breakfast after some time. He looked casual but Chris knew better. Chris had already mastered Occlumency and she was now replacing Harry's position as a seeker. No matter what he said, Chris knew those small things were hurting Harry. He didn't hate Chris but there was a bitterness in his voice whenever anyone mentioned his Occlumency lessons or Quidditch.

It was a fresh, breezy sort of day and when Chris entered the Quidditch ground after changing, she found Jason sitting on the stands alone, reading a book or pretending to be reading a book. Chris suddenly felt very warm and fuzzy in her heart. Jason had again gone out of his comfort zone for her.

"Isn't he Slytherin?" asked Kirke, the new beater. His tone was spiteful enough to Chris snap back at him but Colin spoke first.

"He is Chris' boyfriend."

"Oh!" Kirke hastily looked at Chris, who was already glaring at him. "Sorry."

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To be continued. . .