Chương 364: On Our Side

"Wow." Colin stared at the far wall in awe, toiling with the photo frame Dumbledore gave him. "I did not see that coming."

The next evening Chris was examining the things Dumbledore had left her friends while telling Ginny, Luna, and Colin what had happened with the Queen last night.

"I don't know, Colin. I always thought these vampires are sketchy," Ginny shrugged.

"You didn't even meet the Queen, Ginny," Colin said raising eyebrows at Ginny. "How did you know if she was sketchy?"

Luna chuckled looking at them and turned to Chris.

"I am glad at least Prince Oziyat and his big sister are on your side. He is very nice, I like him."

"You like everybody," Ginny and Colin said together.

"It's part of Luna's charm," Chris said smiling, her eyes scanning the pages of the Quidditch book Dumbledore left for Ginny. "Anyway, I agree with you, Luna. I am glad too that Oziyat and Rosaline are on my side. In fact, Oziyat will meet me tonight after he completed his duties. He wanted to help me in every way possible."

"So will he come with us when we go to the Southeast fort?" Ginny asked.

Chris looked up from the book surprised. They hadn't discussed if or when they will go back to the Southeast fort. Even though she agreed to include her friends with everything but Zil's death was still fresh in her memory. She didn't want to bring anyone else to that fort again. But she couldn't tell that her friends, so she tried to look casual as she replied, "I don't know. I didn't ask him. And honestly, I am wondering if there is a use in going there anymore."

"Why?"

Colin, Luna, and Ginny stared at her, shocked.

"Wasn't this the reason you came here?" Colin asked.

"Yeah, what are you saying, Chris?" Luna asked looking slightly confused.

"Look, I wanted to go there to find out what's there, right? But now, we already know what was there. The Crimson Crystal. And now it's gone. So what do you think we would find there?" Chris tried to explain what she was thinking since yesterday.

"What?" Ginny eyed Chris suspiciously. "So you now just want to leave without going there after coming all this way?"

"Chris, it's not like you to leave things on chance," said Luna looking worried. "It's something else. You know you can talk to us."

"I . . ." Chris hesitated. Just say it, she chastised herself, just say you are worried. But she couldn't. Looking at the watch she got up. "I will have to meet Oziyat. I will see you guys later," she lied, it was almost an hour before Oziyat asked her to meet. She gave the book back to Ginny and left the room.

⁂

The usual lively corridors of Hogwarts were ominously dark and quiet. In a corner of the fifth floor, a beaten-up-looking Neville Longbottom, the seventh-year Gryffindor; Padma Patil, the seventh-year Ravenclaw; and Irene, the sixth-year Hufflepuff, peeked at the corridor ahead to see if there was anyone. Alecto Carrows, one rather nauseous Death eater, was patrolling this particular corridor very closely but finally, she got bored and left for a while. Neville signed Irene and Padma to follow him. Leaving the corner they hurried and reached the last door of the corridor.

"Alohomora," Neville whispered pointing his wand out and the door opened.

They shuffled inside and Padma gasped. Inside the room, two second-year Gryffindor boys were shackled together, half-asleep. They had big and deep gashes all over their face and arms. Padma felt sick thinking how could someone be so cruel to two little kids. The Death Eater Carrows punished the kids for just mistakenly uttering Harry Potter's name.

"Quickly," Neville said watching the door and Irene jumped into action. She undid the shackles with a few quick motions. The movement woke the boys up.

"Shhhh!" Padma hushed the kids down before they could panic. After they calmed down she whispered. "Follow us. Come on."

The boys got up silently with the help of Irene and Padma and Neville led them out. They quietly ran out of that corridor while supporting the boys. Neville anxiously watched their surroundings. They just need to go to the other side from where they can get a door to the Room of Requirements. But just before they could cross the third corridor Neville saw Alecto coming back with Bernard, one of the most disturbing Malgino's minions. Neville froze and held out his hands. Padma, Irene, and the boys stopped looking at Neville in alarm. Neville looked around to see if there was any place to hide and found the only stone witch statue standing a little far from them. He motioned them towards the statue while looking at Alecto and Bernard who were approaching. Neville, Padma, and Irene with the two boys hastily hid behind the statue, which was not holding all five of them but they crouched down as Alecto's poisonous voice drew closer.

"I am saying, Bernard, a man like you teaching care of magical creatures is not right," Alecto literally purred at Bernard. "What was Snape thinking? You know, if you want I can talk to him. For you."

"I can talk for myself, Alecto," Bernard answered in his usual growl while looking down on his admirer.

Padma and Irene made disgusted faces. Bernard was a tall muscular caveman who got to teach Care of Magical Creatures after they demoted Hagrid to his games keeper position. And by the way, Alecto acted with Bernard, it was clear she liked him.

"Oh, I know," said Alecto smiling, which she only did while talking to Bernard or torturing young students with Cruciatus Curse. "I know you are capable but I just like to look out for my favorite colleague."

Now Neville was worried, even though they were hiding if Alecto and Bernard come any closer chances are they will be seen. Neville started to look for a way out. Unfortunately, there was none. If they try to summon a door to the Room of Requirements here, Bernard or Alecto will notice them or the door. Other than that distraction could have worked if Alecto was alone, but it was too hard to fool Bernard. Despite being a horrible person and teacher, he was skilled, nothing escaped his eyes. He already caught five students who tried to slip away by distracting him.

Neville looked at Padma, Irene, and the boys who looked scared, and he knew if they got caught they were going to get a lot more than a few cuts and bruises. And Neville couldn't let that happen to them. He straightened up ready to walk out so the others could leave safely. Padma realized what he was about to do and tried to pull him back but Neville was already out.

"Hey! What are you doing here?" Alecto yelled and Padma closed her eyes fearfully. She couldn't see Neville getting brutally tortured again.

But Irene elbowed her to see that Alecto was facing the other way and Neville was still half-hidden behind the statue. Alecto and Bernard had not seen them.

Instantly, Padma pulled Neville down and they peeked out to look who Alecto was yelling at.

"It is me, Professor Carrows," announced a vaguely familiar voice.

"Malfoy? What are you doing here? At this time?" Alecto shouted marching towards him. "You son of a disrespectful, coward traitor Malfoy! What are you up to now?"

"I was just heading back from the detention, Professor," Draco's voice strained as he replied. "You can ask your brother, Professor Carrows."

"How dare you talk back, you arrogant —" Alecto stabbed the tip of her wand at Draco's chest. "I have been meaning to teach you a lesson for a while."

"Alecto!" Bernard barked. "Step back. He is under Severus's protection."

Alecto stepped back but didn't lower her wand.

"It's just because of Snape, that you are alive, boy. Because after what your father and mother did; after they turned away from the dark lord," Alecto hissed. "You deserve death. All three of you."

Draco flinched but didn't lower his eyes. His face wore his usual scowl.

"Alecto, you can't harm him," Bernard warned. "We have found nothing suspicious about him. Till then we can't disobey our masters' orders. Now, you boy, leave."

Draco glared at Alecto and Bernard, then for a split second, his eyes meet Neville hiding behind the statue.

"Now!" Bernard growled.

Draco turned around swiftly and walked down the stairs.

"I will follow him," Alecto said after a moment and followed the path where Draco just disappeared. Bernard glared at Alecto then followed her as well.

Neville got out and checked the corridor making sure they were gone.

"Come on," he whispered urgently.

They didn't stop until they stepped inside the door with the spiraling hidden staircase leading to the Room of Requirements.

"Malfoy saved us," Padma whispered to Neville, confused.

"I know," Neville smiled. "And this is not the first time. I had my doubts before but now I am sure. He is on our side."

⁂

"You are early," Oziyat said as he wandered inside his secret stone balcony and found Chris sitting there, staring at the distance. He sat beside her and when she didn't speak, he asked worriedly, "You okay, Christina?"

"I don't know," Chris sighed and looked down at her hands. A few locks from her braid fell on her face. "I just . . ."

"It's okay," Oziyat smiled and tucked the locks behind her ear gently. Chris froze for a moment then looked up at him as he continued. "Let's start simple. You wanted to ask me something?"

"Ye–yes," Chris mumbled feeling weird by this sudden closeness with Oziyat. She got up from the bench and walked to the railing as she spoke, "I was thinking about the Snallygaster. We still don't know how to defeat it and what other obstacles we will face there, but my friends want to go back there."

"Which is a good thing, right? They are loyal to you and as Vasilisa said you would need help there. And I think between you, your friends, and me, we can easily defeat the Snallygaster," Oziyat said reassuringly.

"You will join us?" Chris turned to him surprised.

"Of course," Oziyat said without hesitation.

"Oziyat, please no. I am glad that you are trying to help me. I am really grateful but you are the future king. I can't endanger you for me."

"Christina, it's not just for you. I told you, it's also for my people. Malgino stole our lives from us. Stopping him should be the most important thing for us. Also, I know you will need my help. How else will you enter the temple?" Oziyat said then looking at Chris's confused face he added, "To enter the place where the Crystal was, you would need a bit of blood of any Dragozera. I thought I would be the safest option."

Chris stared at him baffled.

"Also, Rosaline told me that the Snallygaster couldn't be planted by the vampires. The Snallygaster was not part of the protection of the Crystal, which means —"

"Which means it is probably planted by someone else or — a lucky guess — by Malgino. Which will mean we have to go there to know whatever is left there." Chris rubbed her face looking frustrated.

"Why is this so fucking hard?" She said out loud without meaning to do it.

Oziyat got up and stood beside her.

"Christina, you can't make decisions for others. Just like I can't make your decision for you. I get why you worried but sometimes we just need to accept the fact that there are people in our lives who wants to help despite the dangers."

Chris looked at the distant garden fountain as Oziyat's words registered in her head. Even though it pained her she knew it was true.

"I think you are right."

⟦To be continued⟧