Chapter 290 - Fights (1/2)

Chris followed Jason through the seventh floor. Jason repeatedly looked around and Chris had to duck behind the statues and walls for avoiding getting caught. At last at the last corridor when Chris ducked behind an old wizard's statue, she saw Ginny quietly coming from the direction of the Owlery and by the looks of it, she didn't want to get caught either.

What's up with these sneaking today? Chris thought.

Unfortunately, Jason noticed Ginny too.

”Who's there?” Jason called but Ginny was already gone.

Crap Gin!

Realizing that Jason was almost in front of her, Chris came out.

”Chris? What the hell?” Jason looked shocked and angry. ”Were you following me?”

”No,” Chris replied defensively. ”I was looking for you.”

”Why?” Jason asked crossing his arms. ”I thought, it was your idea to stay away for some time.”

”Yeah, well — I wanted to ask you if you want to come with me at Slughorn's Christmas party,” Chris blurted out.

”Really?” Jason looked surprised then he turned serious. ”When is it?”

”The day before we leave for Christmas.”

”Oh!” Jason looked away. ”I can't, sorry. I'm busy.”

”Of course, you are,” Chris smiled sarcastically. ”You know, I really thought after this much time apart you would like to spend a little bit time with me but I get it. You are busy. Alright, do whatever you are doing but I don't think we are going to be like before. I don't think so.”

Angrily Chris whirled around and started walking.

”Wait, Chris!” Jason mumbled and Chris stopped. She expected at least a sorry but then Jason said something that made Chris angrier. ”Who are you going to ask for the party?”

Glaring at nothing, in particular, Chris sighed then with a poisonous smile she looked back at Jason and said, ”Harry Potter.”

Jason looked more shocked than before as he opened his mouth but Chris didn't wait for him, she marched away thinking why she mentioned Harry.

You could have been mentioned, Adrian! Stupid brain!

Well, Chris wasn't alone in fighting, that night, Ginny and Dean had a full-blown fight at the common room; even Ron, who was inseparable from Lavender, looked up at them in shock. After the fight, Ginny refused to sit in the common room and ran up to the girls' dormitory. Chris tried to follow her but she said she wanted to be alone. So in the end, Chris and Colin sat with Harry and Hermione for the rest of the evening.

Colin was working on his Astronomy homework, Hermione and Harry were making notes on Everlasting Elixirs, and Chris was reading the Prince's Advanced Potion making book and correcting Harry and Hermione's mistakes. Though Hermione was still a little suspicious about the book, Harry took the help gladly and tried to convince Hermione that the Prince was a good student just like her.

”Anyway, Harry,” Hermione rolled her eyes and changed the topic. ”You need to be careful.”

”For what?” Harry looked up from his notes.

”I'm talking about earlier. I went into the girls' bathroom just before I came in here and there were about a dozen girls in there, including that Romilda Vane, trying to decide how to slip you a love potion,” said Hermione darkly. ”Now that you don't have a girlfriend anymore, they're all hoping they're going to get you to take them to Slughorn's party, and they all seem to have bought Fred and George's love potions, which I'm sure will work —”

Chris stopped reading and carefully looked up to see Harry's reaction.

”Why didn't you confiscate them then?” demanded Harry looking angry.

”They didn't have the potions with them in the bathroom,” said Hermione scornfully. ”They were just discussing tactics. As I doubt whether even the Half-Blood Prince”— she gave the book a nasty look —”could dream up an antidote for a dozen different love potions at once, I'd just invite someone to go with you, that'll stop all the others thinking they've still got a chance. It's just two days later, they're getting desperate.”

”Leave the Prince out of it,” said Chris closing the book. ”And no need for antidote if Harry avoids eating anything from those girls.”

”Good point and there isn't anyone I want to invite,” mumbled Harry looking down.

Chris looked at him a little taken aback. The words hit had her hard, more than she expected them to.

”Well, just be careful what you drink, because Romilda Vane looked like she meant business,” said Hermione grimly.

”Er — Harry, she just entered and they are coming towards us,” whispered Colin.

Chris looked up and sure enough, Romilda Vane was walking to them with her giggling girlfriends.

”Hi, Harry!” said Romilda Vane. ”Fancy a gillywater?”

Hermione gave Harry a ”what-did-I-tell-you?” look over her notes.