Chapter 276 - Adrian Rivers (1/2)

”Professor, can I tell my friends about it?” asked Chris before leaving Dumbledore's office.

”Miss Weasley, Miss Lovegood and Mr Creevy?” inquired Dumbledore.

”Yeah, and Hermione, Ron and Harry too.”

Dumbledore considered her for a moment, then said, ”Do you think they can keep this in absolute secret, Christina? No matter what?”

Chris thought back about her, Ginny, Luna and Colin's Animagus secret then all the adventures Hermione and Ron went with Harry.

”I think yes,” said Chris.

”Then you can, but no one else should know, I repeat, no one.”

”Yes, sir,” Chris nodded and reached for the door.

”Ah, Christina?” Dumbledore called.

Chris turned around.

”Do you know Nicholas Flamel?” asked Dumbledore stroking Fawkes.

”Nicholas Flamel? The creator of the Philosopher's Stone?” said Chris surprised.

”Yes,” Dumbledore nodded then looked at Chris. ”Christina, if you have time, I would like you to know about my friend, Nicolas Flamel, before our next meeting. . . Well, good night.”

”Okay Professor,” said Chris confused. ”Good night.”

For the rest of the week, Chris continued to impress Slughorn in class. When the first weekend arrived Chris was sure Slughorn was very charmed by her. On the other hand, Harry had his first lesson with Dumbledore and he decided to tell them everything, in the Room of Requirement, where they were doing their secret talks, nowadays, as it was the safest place to avoid eavesdropping.

”So Riddle had a witch for a mother and a Muggle father, Merope and Tom Riddle senior,” recited Colin after Harry finished. ”And Merope was from the Gaunts family, descendant from Slytherin and she gave Riddle's father love potion, married him, then had Riddle and died.”

”More or less, yeah, that's that,” said Harry.

”And Merope had an abusive father and brother,” sighed Chris. ”A non-loving husband and a dark, bad wizard for a son. Poor Merope.”

”But she shouldn't have given Tom Riddle senior the love potion in the first place,” said Hermione.

”Her actions are debatable but her fate is really sad,” said Chris.

”Anyway, what confuses me the most is,” said Harry getting the attention back. ”How knowing Voldemort's past will help me survive?”

There were a few moments of silence.

”I think, knowing your helps you to understand him, his weaknesses and his strengths,” said Chris looking absently at the high ceiling of the room. ”I will give anything to know more about Mangino. So I guess that's a reason why you should know about Riddle's past and the other one is —”

Chris stopped and looked back at her friends. Everyone was staring at her.

”The other one is —?” Ginny narrowed her eyes.

”The other one is — the Horcruxes, I think they are connected to Riddle's past,” said Chris.

”Horcruxes, do we know what is it, now?” said Ron.

”Yep,” nodded Chris then looked at Hermione. ”Hermione?”

”Well, Horcruxes are a very very very dark part of the magic. It's horrible, really,” Hermione shivered. ”It's a way of dividing a part of your soul and trap it inside an object, so you can live forever.”

Ginny and Luna gasped. Colin, Ron and Harry looked sickened and disgusted.

”But we are still not sure Riddle did make Horcruxes, you know,” Hermione said quickly. ”Not till Chris collects the memory from Professor Slughorn.”

”Yeah,” sighed Chris.

”Can we talk about something else?” said Ron after a moment.

”Yes, we should,” Luna nodded.

”How about Quidditch?” said Ginny. ”When are the tryouts, Harry?”

”I am thinking next week,” said Harry. ”Honestly, I don't think I need to Chasers trial. I hardly think anyone will be as good as you, Chris and Katie.”