Chapter 221: Expecto Patronum (1/2)

”How did you die?” Chris asked after some time as the story processed in her brain.

Helena looked at Chris very sharply but Chris didn't look away. Somehow, Chris wasn't afraid of Helena nor angry or disappointed by her actions. To Chris, Helena simply looked vulnerable. The way she talked and the wounded look in her almost transparent eyes was enough to tell Chris that she loved Malgino, maybe more than she loved her mother.

”The Baron tracked me to the forest where I was hiding. When I refused to return with him, he became violent. The Baron was always a hot-tempered man. Furious at my refusal, jealous of my freedom, he stabbed me,” Helena said looking away and she lifted aside the cloak she wore to reveal a single dark wound in her white chest. ”When he saw what he had done, he was overcome with remorse. He took the weapon that had claimed my life and used it to kill himself. All these centuries later, he wears his chains as an act of penitence . . . as he should,” she added bitterly.

”The Baron killed you?” Chris' voice was barely more than a whisper.

”Ill-tempered Slytherins,” Helena said darkly.

”So then you just came back as a ghost?” Chris said ignoring Helena's comment.

”Not immediately,” Helena sighed. ”After my mother and Sir Godric died. I didn't want to face them but Madam Helga was always good to me, so when I returned and asked if I could stay here, she gave me permission.”

There was a heavy silence. Chris didn't know what to say. Helena looked like she had nothing to add. Many questions swirled around Chris' brain: What was the curse? How did Malgino survive the curse? How he became immortal? How the keys were made and what was the purpose of them?

But unfortunately, Helena didn't have those answers. Chris thought, maybe Helena knew more than that but didn't trust her enough to share those or maybe she really didn't know more than that.

”Thanks, Helena,” Chris sighed. ”Thanks a lot for telling me.”

Helena slowly nodded.

”If my mother and the other founders had chosen you then you must be special,” she said gliding towards the door. ”Because you should know that, they were not easy to impress.”

And she left.

Chris sat there for some time thinking about how strong Malgino was.

Maybe stronger than Voldemort.

But then again if he was so strong then why he helped Voldemort? What was the need for him?

After sometime when Chris realized it was almost dinner time, she got up and went towards the great hall.

Chris was crossing the entrance hall when she saw Jason walking towards the great hall.

”Hey! Jason!”

She ran after him, catching him halfway to the great hall.

”You are back?” Jason looked surprised.

”Yeah, we got here this morning, in the Knight Bus,” Chris hugged him. ”Look, I'm sorry — ”

”Yes, I got your sorry letter over Christmas,” Jason said hugging her back. ”So I know you're sorry.”

”So? Are we cool?” Chris asked pulling back.

”That depends. . .”

The rest of the conversation was mostly awkward but Chris was sure they will work it out soon, after all, they really liked each other.

Next day their new term started and Cedric called a D.A. meeting that same evening. Chris, Colin, Luna and Ginny went to the room of requirement one hour ago.

”I can't believe, no one knows about these things?” Colin exclaimed, after Chris finished Helena's story.

”Yeah actually, I mean there are lots of stories about the founders but not a story about Malgino or the war between them,” Ginny said.