Chapter 168: Hogwarts Express (1/2)

”It's time to go, Chris dear.” Mrs. Weasley spoke softly from the kitchen door.

Chris, who was sitting on the kitchen floor with a lazy Crookshanks on her lap, looked up to Mrs. Weasley and nodded.

Mrs. Weasley smiled and left. Chris sighed then took some deep breaths and picked up Crookshanks in her arms. Then she got up and left the kitchen.

Last night, Mrs. Weasley had sobbed hysterically on a frozen Chris's shoulder. Lupin was able to calm Mrs. Weasley down, but before he could turn to Chris to comfort her, Chris had left the room with a blink.

She didn't talk to anyone after that and was lying on her bed with opened eyes. Even next morning she was up and dressed before anyone else.

The memory of her father's dead body was too much for her. But she realized she couldn't let her emotions control her actions. So she've to prepare herself before going to school.

And now was the right time.

”Hey Chris!” Fred said coming downstairs.

”Hey Fred.” Chris smiled.

Fred crossed her grinning as Harry stopped beside her.

”You okay?” he asked quietly.

”I'm fine Harry. Don't worry.” Chris gave him a smile before walking towards Mrs. Weasley.

”She's lying.” Ginny said bluntly to Harry.

”But maybe she's trying to be fine.” Hermione added.

”I just hope she feels fine.” Harry replied. ”It's hard to lose... family... even imagining it... I know the feeling.”

_____________________________

”How are we going to King's Cross?” Ron shouted over Mrs. Black's loud screeching sound.

”We're riding Black's car. He bewitched it to fit almost all of us.” Aurelia said to Ron and Chris. ”Let me tell you a secret, it was my life long dream to ride Black's motorcycle. But he loved it too much.”

Ron and Chris laughed as Aurelia made a face towards Sirius.

”Now c'mon, we're going to be late.” Sirius said rolling his eyes.

Lupin and Mr. Weasley followed Sirius out.

”Yes, yes. You lot... Follow me, Tonks is waiting.” Mrs. Weasley said hurriedly.

She wrenched open the front door and stepped out into the weak September sunlight. Chris and the rest followed her. The door slammed behind them and Mrs. Black's screeches were cut off instantly.

They turned the corner where Sirius's car was waiting. The piled inside it very fast as Sirius started the car. Only Moody refused to go in the car.

It took them hardly seven or eight minutes to reach King's Cross. On the way Aurelia and Tonks talked about loads of things to keep the mood light. Chris felt greatful as no one paid any particular attention to her.

Once inside the station they lingered casually beside the barrier between platforms nine and ten until the coast was clear, then each of them leaned against it in turn and fell easily through onto platform nine and three quarters, where the Hogwarts Express stood belching sooty steam over a platform packed with departing students and their families.

After sometime Moody appeared with two other Order members.

”No trouble?” growled Moody.

”Nothing,” said Lupin.

”Well, look after yourselves,” said Lupin, shaking hands all round. He also gave a bright smile to Chris, while shaking her hand.

Chris smiled back.

”Yeah, keep your head down and your eyes peeled,” said Moody, ”And don't forget, all of you — careful what you put in writing. If in doubt, don't put it in a letter at all.”

”They'll be careful, Mad-Eye.” Sirius said shaking hands with each one of them. ”They're smart kids.” Sirius said the last thing, as he hugged Harry and winked at Chris.