Chapter 286 - Gleaming Heart (2/2)

”Yeah, thanks,” Harry quickly took it, freeing his arms from Romilda Vane, who looked really pissed off and glared at Chris.

Seeing Romilda's face Chris gave a fake smile and turned to Harry.

”I will grab some more, want to join us?” she asked casually.

”Sure, I also need something to eat. I am starving,” said Harry hurrying away.

Chris and Hermione followed him grinning.

”So what's going on with you?” Hermione asked as they started eating some cake (specially made by Dobby for their victory).

”Well — er — Padma and I —” Harry looked at Ron, who was still eating Lavender's face. ”We broke up.”

”Oh! That's bad. I'm sorry, Harry,” said Hermione sadly.

”O!” Chris' mouth just formed an 'O' and that's all came out of her mouth. For reasons unknown her, she wasn't feeling very sad about it, in fact, her heartfelt light as feather and all fluttery. But a reasonable part of her brain reminded her that she was supposed to be sad just like Hermione because she was also a good friend like Hermione. Friend. So she gulped the last bit of her Butterbeer and said, ”That's terrible, Harry. Sorry to hear that.”

Harry shrugged eating some more fried potatoes and Hermione suddenly looked at Chris with a speculative look. Chris quickly looked away and saw Heavenleigh sitting near her foot. She picked her up and started scuffing her fur.

”So what happened? Suddenly breakup?” Chris asked casually and pointedly looking at Heavenleigh.

”Nothing new,” Harry shrugged again. ”She said she was tired of being with the 'Chosen One'. She said I have changed.”

”Oh, that's rough,” replied Chris, eyes still at Heavenleigh, who was now purring happily.

”Yes, it is,” said Hermione finally turning away from Chris. ”But she is not completely wrong, is she? Anyway, it's tough at her house. Parvati was telling me the other day, how mad her parents were when they found out Padma was dating you, Harry. Maybe she finally gave in. I just hope their parents don't call them back home again.”

Chris nodded, this was really sad.

Late at night, Chris was working in the Room of Requirement, which Chris had noticed, was unoccupied after half-past nine every night.

After stirring the cauldron three times and adding some fluxweed, Chris had to wait for a while for the green vapour, so she lay back on her hands, watching the high ceiling, thinking who was coming to the Room of Requirement so frequently like her. After a moment, she pulled out the box, in which she put the Golden Keys and opened it. There were four golden keys now, from the four founders. The last one, the one with a Badger was very recent — well — she noticed that one recently, a few weeks ago. But Chris was sure it wasn't there when she started her Hogwarts this year.

Chris put the four Golden Keys down.

What you all are supposed to do? What are your powers?

Chris thought as she stared at the keys. It may be the millionth time she had thought about it. She then pulled out the broken locket of Slytherin —

Suddenly, the green vapour was fogging Chris' view. She dropped the locket and scrambled to put some shredded skin of a boomslang, which she had got from Slughorn's personal potion ingredients' collection. Chris then put off the fire and sighed. A distraction for a few seconds could have ruined her hours' effort.

But when Chris turned to put the keys and locket back into her extended locket, she gasped. The keys were tangled with the chain of Slytherin's locket and the locket was glowing.

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To be continued. . .