Chapter 119: Future (1/2)

”What's wrong?” Ginny asked to Hermione.

”No one told you about the new article?” Hermione said.

”Article? What article?” Luna asked.

”You shouldn't have mess with Rita Skeeter, Chris.” Ron said.

”Oh shut up Ron. That woman is just horrible.” Hermione snapped.

”Are you going to tell me what's the article?” Chris asked looking annoyed.

”Here.” Harry handed a magazine to Chris, finally looking at her.

Chris looked at the magazine, it was Witch Weekly. The moving picture on the front showed a curly-haired witch who was smiling toothily and pointing at a large sponge cake with her wand. Chris opened it. After flipping many pages at last, in the center pages, Chris found what they were looking for. Luna leaned in closer. A color photograph of Harry headed a short piece entitled:

The Dangers around Harry Potter

A boy like no other, perhaps — yet a boy suffering all the usual pangs of adolescence, writes Rita Skeeter. Deprived of love since the tragic demise of his parents, fourteen-year-old Harry Potter thought he had found solace in his steady girlfriend at Hogwarts, a Muggle-born girl, Christina Norton. Little did he know that he would shortly be suffering yet another emotional blow in a life already littered with personal loss.

Though at first look people might consider Miss Norton a charming and innocent girl, in reality she's very ambitious and power-hungry witch. Since she stepped into Hogwarts, she is trying to make powerful connections, whenever she can. Her first target was obviously The boy who Lived, and unaware about her motives, our poor Harry Potter helplessly fell in love with her. According to the sources, nowdays she is working with a third year boy, who is none other than the son of Jonathan Fawley. Everyone knows how was the Fawley family's reputation was after the Ministry found out Jonathan Fawley was a spy for He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. So we don't think, Miss Norton's wandering around with this Fawley boy, in hand in hand, is just a coincidence.

To confirm this, some of students admitted that they saw Miss Norton using some illegal curses on people and also brewing illegal potions in out of order places in Hogwarts.

”I've seen her using dangerous curses on senior students,” said Draco Malfoy, a fourth year student.

”She beat people up mercilessly if they don't agree with her,” said Pansy Parkinson, another fourth year student.

”She once forcefully fed a poisonous potion to a first year boy, for experiment,” said a third year student.

This kind of behavior shouldn't be encouraged in Hogwarts as we don't want another dark wizard or witch within us. No doubt Albus Dumbledore will want to investigate these claims. In the meantime, Harry Potter's well-wishers must hope that, next time, he bestows his heart on a worthier candidate and learn about them before trusting them blindly.

”That woman is really evil, isn't she?” Luna said angrily.

Chris finished reading and gave the magazine to Ginny who was looking anxious.

”Well... It's nice” Chris said cooly.

”Nice?” Ron, Hermione and Luna said together.

”Yeah, I was thinking that I should change my potions brewing place.” Chris said smiling. ”But the interesting part is how did she found out about these?”

Everyone was looking at Chris like she was a crazy person.

”So these are true?” Ron said looking shocked. ”You really aren't practicing dark arts, are you?”

”Of course she isn't Ron.” Ginny snapped as she finished reading the article. ”I'll kill this Rita Skeeter. How dare she....?”

”Relax. As I said, I don't care what she writes about me.” Chris chuckled and started eating again. ”I'm thinking how did she found out about my hideout?”

”What? You seriously have a hideout?” Ron said.

”It's Myrtle's bathroom. Nothing special.” Ginny replied. ”Also we just work on some advance potions and spells there, nothing illegal.”

”But we always put a silencing charm on the bathroom door.” Luna said thinking.

”Really?” Hermione looked rather impressed.

”Yeah.” Chris replied then giggled suddenly. ”That's why people were giving me weird looks this morning. They really believed I'm a dark witch or something.”

”It's really not funny Chris.” Ginny said, looking frustrated. ”You can't let that Skeeter woman walk away with this.”

”Who said I'll?” Chris smirked. ”I'll see what I can do about her. Meanwhile, you all relax.”

”I think someone told her about you and Ginny beating Goyle when he was making fun of Luna last month.” Colin said grinning.

”Maybe.” Chris said thinking. ”Though I know Jason doesn't bother this kind of things, I'll still check on him before our next class.”

”So it's true about you going out with... the Slytherin boy?” Harry asked suddenly, he was looking at his food.

”Yeah. His name is Jason Fawley.” Chris replied casually.

”But...” Harry looked up, shocked. ”His father...”

”His father wasn't a death-eater Harry.” Chris said firmly. ”And if he really was, so what? I don't judge people like that.”

”But what if.... what if... he is like his father?” Harry said, looking at Chris in disbelief.

Chris felt Harry has gone mad as she realized what Harry might be indicating by this.