Chapter 298 - Suspicious Thoughts (2/2)

”Don't cry, Mum,” said Ginny, patting Mrs Weasley on the back as she sobbed into her shoulder. ”It's okay. . . .”

”Yeah, don't worry about us,” said Ron, permitting his mother to plant a very wet kiss on his cheek, ”or about Percy. He's such a prat, it's not really a loss, is it?”

Mrs Weasley sobbed harder than ever as she enfolded Harry in her arms.

”Promise me you'll look after yourself. . . . Stay out of trouble. . . .”

”I always do, Mrs Weasley,” said Harry. ”I like a quiet life, you know me.”

Chris chuckled and Harry sideways looked at her. But she hastily dropped the smile.

”Be good, then, all of you. . . .” said Mrs Weasley hugging Chris for the second time.

Chris stepped into the emerald fire first and shouted ”Hogwarts!” She had one last fleeting view of the Weasleys' kitchen and Mrs Weasley's tearful face before the flames engulfed her; spinning very fast, she caught blurred glimpses of other Wizarding rooms, which were whipped out of sight before she could get a proper look; then she was slowing down, finally stopping squarely in the fireplace in Professor McGonagall's office. She barely glanced up from her work as Chris clambered out over the grate.

”Good evening, Professor,” Chris said.

”Evening Christina,” she said. Then as Harry appeared she said, ”Try not to get too much ash on the carpet, Potter.”

”No, Professor,” Harry said straightening his glasses and flattening his hair.

When all of them trooped out of McGonagall's office and off toward Gryffindor Tower, Chris glanced out of the corridor windows as they passed; the sun was already sinking over grounds carpeted in deeper snow than had lain over the Burrow garden. In the distance, she could see Hagrid doing something in his garden.

”Baubles,” said Ron confidently, when they reached the Fat Lady, who was looking rather paler than usual and winced at his loud voice.

”No,” she said.

”What d'you mean, 'no'?”

”There is a new password,” she said. ”And please don't shout.”

”But we've been away, how're we supposed to — ?” said Hermione. ”We're Prefects we should —”

”Chris! Ginny!”

Dennis came running toward them, very pink-faced and wearing a cloak, hat, and gloves.

”Hey Dennis!” smiled Ginny.

”Hi, I saw you coming in so I thought I will give the password,” grinned Dennis breathlessly. ”Colin and I arrived this morning in that purple wizard bus. It was brilliant! How was your Christmas?”

”It was good, Dennis,” said Chris. ”Where's Colin?”

”He is inside. Oh, wait — the password. Abstinence.”

”Precisely,” said the Fat Lady in a feeble voice, and swung forward to reveal the portrait hole.

”What's up with her?” asked Harry walking in.

”Overindulged over Christmas, apparently,” said Colin laughing. ”I thought I heard your voice outside.”

Colin hugged Ginny and Chris then led them through the crowded common room.

”The fat lady and her friend Violet drank their way through all the wine in that picture of drunk monks down by the Charms corridor. Anyway Harry, I —” Colin started to rummage through his pockets for a moment, then noticed Dennis with them. ”Deni, I think your friends are looking for you.”

”You are not lying, are you?” Dennis asked suspiciously.

”No, 'course not,” said Colin defiantly.

”Okay,” Dennis ran away.

With a sigh, Colin pulled out a scroll of parchment with Dumbledore's writing on it.

”Here,” he handed it to Harry.

”Great, I was wondering when —” Harry began unfolding the parchment.

But at that moment there was a loud squeal of ”Won-Won!” and Lavender Brown came hurtling out of nowhere and flung herself into Ron's arms. Several onlookers sniggered; Ginny made a gagging noise and said, ”There's a table over there. . . Let's sit down.”

Leaving Ron and Lavender locked in a kind of vertical wrestling match, they made their way over to the spare table.

”So how was your Christmas?” Colin asked Chris. ”Luna told me your Dad was here.”

”It was good,” Chris shrugged, she could see Harry and Ginny exchanged a worried look. She focused on Colin. ”I think that means you also know about the Minister?”

”Yeah,” Colin nodded seriously.

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To be continued. . .