Chapter 363 - The Dreams and Realities (1/2)

Chris was staring at her reflection without seeing it. Her hands were still in the air, frozen halfway through tying her hair.

”Does you often stare at yourself like that?”

Hearing the question Chris's eyes focused on the mirror and saw Oziyat standing behind her.

”I didn't hear you come in,” Chris said trying to finish tying her hair quickly but her bandages strained and she winced.

”Wait,” Oziyat gently pulled Chris's hands away from her hair, and before she could protest he started tying it up into a knot.

”Oziyat, I can . . . you don't have to. . .” Chris muttered trying to turn around but Oziyat had already finished.

”Better?” Oziyat asked. The usual amus.e.m.e.nt back in his eyes.

Chris checked herself in the mirror. He did quite a good job.

”. . . thanks.”

”You are most welcome. How are you feeling now?”

”Better, actually.” Chris turned to face him. He was too close.

”That's good. Even though you ran out like that, specifically after I told you to stay put,” Oziyat raised one eyebrow at Chris.

”I . . . tried?” Chris said innocently.

”I thought so,” Oziyat gave an amused smile then became serious. ”I was furious when you collapsed. But then you . . .”

”Then I what?”

”Then you gave that relieved smile as if a thousand times heavyweight had lifted from your shoulders.” Oziyat sighed. ”I am glad you are okay and your friends are fine too. You love them, I can see that. Having your friends here really helped. You look a lot different.”

”Different? How?” Chris asked confused.

”You look relieved, more open and . . . happy.”

”I . . .” Chris was a loss of words. Was she really looking different just after meeting her friends? Yes, she was happy but she was always guarded with her emotions. Now, she was not?

”I like this side of you,” Oziyat gave a bright smile as he gazed at Chris's face. ”I always knew you were loyal to the core but to see you like this . . . your face lit up when you realize they were actually your friends, and this beautiful energy settled around you. Christina, I think --”

”So formal introductions are in order,” Oziyat said casually, as he saw Ginny staring at him.

”Oh yes,” Chris announced. ”These are my friends, Ginny, Luna, and Colin. Guys, this is Prince Oziyat and Sol.”

Sol, who had settled himself in a corner, looked startled as everyone turned to him after Chris's introduction. He stared at Ginny, Luna, and Colin for a long time and did nothing, so Luna smiled and waved at him.

”Hello.”

”. . . hi,” Sol mumbled and looked surprised by his own reply. He looked down and went red.

Oziyat looked surprised as well but then smiled and whispered to Chris, ”I don't know how you did that but you have changed our Sol a lot. And I can't thank you enough for that.”

Before Chris could reply Ginny cleared her throat loudly.

”Did you come here to return my wand?”

”That depends on how are planning to behave. Even if you are Christina's friend, I can not allow you to hurt her,” Oziyat replied looking equally serious as Ginny.

”Oziyat, it's --” Chris tried to speak on Ginny's behalf but Ginny interrupted her.

”. . . fine, fine. I won't threaten her. Give me back my wand,” Ginny said to Oziyat, then added, ”Even though she deserves it.”

Oziyat stared at her for a moment and Ginny didn't look away.

”I don't think she does,” Oziyat said quietly to Ginny. ”I think I will hold onto your wand a little longer.”

”You don't --” Ginny began angrily but at that moment Sarah entered the room with their dinner and looked apologetic when she saw Oziyat.

”Your highness, I did not know you were dining with Lady Christina and our guests, or I would have prepared --”

”It's okay, Sarah. I am not here for dinner,” Oziyat told Sarah then turned to Chris with a smile. ”I will let you enjoy your dinner with your friends. We can talk tomorrow. Come, Sol.”

”Wait!” Chris suddenly realized even Oziyat doesn't know exactly what happened that night and she thought that Oziyat should know about the past she saw in her dreams. ”I think you should join us. There is a lot to tell.”

Chris had had many breakfasts, lunches, and dinners in the Great Hall of Hogwarts while talking about many difficult topics, but maybe this reuniting dinner with her friends was not the best place to tell them this much. However, Chris was so determined to tell everything that she didn't stop or notice the reaction of everyone around her. She went on and on, to avoid questions or interruptions because she had this feeling that if she stops she wouldn't able to finish. Talking about that night was already difficult though Chris cut out the parts of her crying and the things she felt after Zil died and the effect Harry's message had on her. She tried to state the facts as much as she could without getting emotional.

Chris finished with her recent dream about Malgino coming here with Gryffindor and Wilma's son. The room went silent. Chris looked around to see half of the food was forgotten and everyone in the room was staring at her. Oziyat was the first to recover.

”So you have dreams or a kind of visions about vampires?” He looked very confused.

”Actually, it's more of visions about the founders of Hogwarts but I unlocked visions of Wilma after I went to that broken fort in Southeast,” Chris explained thinking back. ”I think they are connected. This fort, Wilma, her son, and Malgino.”

”That's the other thing, why there are no records or anything about this son of our most famous Queen? I don't understand. Godric Gryffindor's legend is one of the biggest stories of our people, yet nobody knows about his and our Queen Wilma's son?”

”I think it was intentional,” said Ginny. ”According to Chris's dream, Gryffindor took his son back to Hogwarts so nobody can know about him, right? Though, what I don't understand is that why every founder's kids were friends with that ridiculous Malgino? Was there no one else in Hogwarts at that time? For God's sake, get good friends. That self-centered moron is going to sacrifice you all in the end. Idiots.”

”I think he made friends with the founders' kids for that very same reason,” Oziyat replied.

”I know that,” Ginny glared at Oziyat.