Chương 290: The Green Pond

On Christmas morning, Chris woke up to find gifts piled on her bed. Hermione was already opening her gifts. Without waiting Chris started to unpack. There were gifts from all of her friends, the usual chocolates, hats, gloves, socks, scarves and so on. Chris was surprised to see a small box from Jason, she quickly untied it and found a Remembrall.

"A Remembrall? Who sent you that?" Ginny sat up on her bed.

"Jason," Chris replied staring at the Remembrall. "He wants me to remember what?"

"That how much he loves you?" Ginny suggested.

"Right," Chris put the Remembrall back to its box and started to look at other gifts. After checking all the gifts she frowned.

"Dad didn't send me anything? That's weird." A bad thought crossed her mind. "He is okay, right?"

Ginny and Hermione exchanged a worried look but didn't speak.

"I have to talk to Mr Weasley," Chris jumped down from the bed and ran out of the room, panic spreading through her whole body.

Mr Weasley was reading the Daily Prophet in the kitchen while Mrs Weasley prepared breakfast.

"You are early, Chris dear," said Mrs Weasley as soon as Chris entered the kitchen but then she noticed the look on her face and asked, "Everything alright, dear?"

Mr Weasley also looked up at her anxiously.

"Mr Weasley, have you heard from my dad? I haven't talked to him for a long time and today, he didn't send me anything for Christmas He never misses my birthday and Christmas. He is okay, right? He should be okay. Mr Weasley?" Chris finished in one breath.

Mr Weasley and Mrs Weasley looked surprised for a second then they both smiled.

"He is alright, Chris," said Mr Weasley. "We've talked — er — quite recently."

"Really?" Chris sighed with relief but the worry didn't go away that easily. "Then why didn't he —?

At this, Mr Weasley coughed loudly looking a little uneasy, so Mrs Weasley stepped in.

"You know dear that the Ministry is checking every mail and gifts nowadays," she said smiling. "I think your father's gift is stuck somewhere in the Ministry. Don't worry, you will get it soon. Won't she, Arthur? Why don't you see if you can bring her gift a little sooner?"

"I — I will try, Molly," said Mr Weasley.

"No, it's alright," said Chris suddenly feeling a little embarrassed. "I wasn't worried about the gift."

"I understood Chris," said Mr Weasley. "And I assure you, your father is fine."

"O-okay then," said Chris after a moment and before Mr and Mrs Weasley could say something else, she went outside.

Without realising what she was doing she started to feed the roosters. She was missing her dad terribly. Her heart clenched as one by one every memory her father floated around her brain. Time to time she remembered him but today it hit her very hard. She was happy that he was okay but that few moments of uncertainty was painful. She thought what will she do if something really happened to her father and she found tears building in her eyes. Someone's angry voice suddenly came near her. Chris took a deep breath and swallowed the tears before they could escape her eyes. She turned around and saw a very angry looking Fleur casting some spells in a corner of the yard while muttering something in French. By the look of it, she didn't see Chris. So Chris tried to creep away, not to intrude on anything. Then she heard the snippets of Fleur's muttering and understood why Fleur was so angry. Mrs Weasley apparently decided not to make her special Christmas jumpers for Fleur, even though she had the time and unfortunately, Fleur had overhead that she didn't make one for Fleur because she thought it would be a waste of time, which obviously had hurt her.

Considering that even Chris got one of Mrs Weasley's sweater and not knowing what to say to Fleur, Chris walked back into the house without interrupting Fleur.

All morning, Chris tried to look normal but she didn't speak much. Ginny, Fred and George tried to cheer her up and tried to play something or go out but Chris refused. She asked Mrs Weasley if she needs help with Christmas dinner but she said she will manage so Chris went outside and walked around a bit. She sat near the green pond which was situated in the far end of the yard. The pond was full of toads, who were jumping happily around as Chris watched them. After almost half an hour, a shadow fell over her face and a smell of the polished wood hit her.

"Am I interrupting something?" said Harry's voice.

"No," Chris replied shorty. "Sit."

Harry sat down beside her but didn't speak. They sat in comfortable silence for a long time. Finally, Chris spoke, "you were polishing your broom, weren't you?"

"Yes," Harry gave a small smile. "Sirius sent me a great polishing kit."

"Yeah, he sent me one too," said Chris still staring at the toads. "Aurelia sent me some potion kit. What did she send you?"

"A golden Snitch," said Harry. "With my initials carved on it."

"You are kidding," Chris turned to face Harry.

"No," Harry couldn't help but grin as he reached in his pocket and pulled out the tiny, walnut-sized golden ball, its silver wings fluttered. Chris took it from him and smiled.

"You know, I always thought Seeker is a better place than Chaser," Chris said closing her fingers around the Golden ball.

"You did?" Harry looked surprised. "I mean you are a great Chaser — and a Seeker too. You played great last year."

"Thanks," said Chris watching the fluttering Snitch in her hand. "I was so jealous of you when Wood was Captain. He always gave you so much importance. I mean, Quidditch doesn't feel like a group sport if everything depends on the Seeker, does it?"

"You were jealous?" Harry exclaimed looking so surprised that Chris chuckled.

"I am a human too, Harry," she said. "I also feel things like jealousy, arrogance, anger. . . confusion. . . defeat. . . pain. . . vulnerable. . ."

The last words were barely more than a whisper. Chris felt her chest tightening at every word and she looked back at the pond.

Another silence fell.

"You are worried about Mr Norton," Harry stated.

Chris didn't reply.

"I know, you are worried about him. You haven't seen him for more than a year and in this wizarding world, he is quite defenceless. It is scary and painful," said Harry softly. "I would have given anything to see my parents again even though I never knew them, that much. I know that. . ."

His voice trailed off followed by another silence.

"Do you miss them?" asked Chris. Then mentally scolded herself for asking such a stupid question.

"Everyday," replied Harry. Chris could feel the pain in his voice.

Another pause.

"But Sirius, Remus and Aurelia, they are like your family, aren't they?" she said.

"Chris, I know Sirius is my godfather but —," Harry turned Chris, so they could be face to face. "But they are your family as much as they are mine. They love you."

"I — maybe, but —" Chris looked away.

"I know they are my parents' friends but you are mine, so I know they do love you, Chris," said Harry turning her again holding her elbow. "They really do and so does the Weasleys and me."

Chris stared at Harry for a long time, turning over the words he just said. Harry maybe didn't realise it or understood how his last words sounded but Chris did.

They do love you. . . and so does the Weasleys. . . and me.

Did he just say that? Or it was just a casual thing he said? He didn't realize he said that, did he? He probably didn't mean that — CRAP — WHAT THE HELL I AM THINKING!

Chris realised she and Harry were still staring at each other, sitting face to face. Harry was still holding her elbow and the golden Snitch was still struggling in Chris' fist.

"Chris! Chris!" Someone called her from the house. It was Mrs Weasley's voice.

Chris was startled but she hastily got up. Harry looked surprised and somehow — embarrassed?

"I better go Harry and. . . Merry Christmas," Chris said before running towards the house.

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To be continued. . .