Chapter 366 - Believe (1/2)

To the Silver Stag,

Hey, I got your message and all I can say is thanks. Thank you so much for believing in me and my decisions. To be honest, even I had doubted myself but you believed in me. I don't know what to say about that. You really are something else, huh? Also, if you are wondering I am safe and my group has found me. They are safe too. I hope you are doing well too. I miss you and others.

~See you soon,

Eagle.

Chris finished with a flourish and she reread the letter several times, trying to see it from the point of view of an outsider. She could not see how they would know who she was talking to - just from reading this letter. With a sigh, she closed the letter and looked at the fiery bird sitting on her table staring at her with curiosity. Chris knew Fawkes was smart and she would carefully deliver the message to Harry but just in case she had to be extra careful.

”It's not written but you know, it's for Harry, right?” Chris asked holding out the letter.

Fawkes gave a musical cry.

”Good, deliver it when he is alone, okay?”

With another musical cry, Fawkes burst into flames taking the letter with her.

Chris took a deep breath and wrapped her arms around herself. She looked out the window and could see the sun was about to rise.

”I promise, we will see each other as soon as possible, Potter.”

For the next few days, things started to get better. Ginny was still grumbling but she wasn't sulking in her room anymore, which was a good start. Chris was sharing her experience, learning the news about what happened after she left, from Luna and Colin. Soon the sore topics were thinning out and they were talking about good memories. However, as time passed Chris felt restless again. Her mind and emotions were all over the place and she couldn't concentrate on the mysteries as to why the Snallygaster attacked her, why she didn't forget, and most importantly, what was in there, what was the Snallygaster guarding? No matter what, Chris knew she needed to be more prepared before she faced the Snallygaster again. Yet, Leyla and Oziyat strictly forbid her from doing anything exhausting until she recovered completely, which drove her crazy. She just couldn't sit still. That's when Luna advised Chris to make a board and write all the things she had learned till now.

”Like an evidence board?” Chris had asked surprised.

”Do it. It will be easier for you to understand the questions and answers,” Colin had said agreeing with Luna.

”Also it will keep you occupied,” Luna had added.

And that was what Chris did for the next two days. She conjured a whiteboard and wrote down everything she had learned. She thought it helped. She wrote down every little thing she could remember and soon everything was getting clearer.

”Here . . .” Sol entered the room with arms full of books. He dropped them on Chris's bed, then looked at the board where Chris was still staring.

”Found . . . anything?” he asked.

Chris shook her head but smiled when she saw the stack of books.

”But I think these will help. Thanks, Sol.”

”You . . .” Sol looked down looking red. ”. . . wanted to . . . read the . . . books about . . . Snallygasters? So I . . . brought . . . these . . . from the. . . library.”

”Wait, you guys have a library?” Chris asked surprised.

Sol looked at Chris as if she was stupid.

”We . . . have . . . everything.”

”Hey! Don't judge. I barely saw anything apart from the guest wing,” Chris said sitting down beside the books.

”What . . . about . . . when you . . . sneaked out?” Sol asked.

”Wait, what? How do you know about that?” Chris stopped midway through flipping the pages of the first book.

”I . . . know,” Sol mumbled and to Chris's surprise, he giggled.

”ookkkaaayyyy . . . just don't tell anyone.”

Chris looked at Sol pointedly who just smiled.

After hesitating a bit Oziyat finally knocked on the Queen's ornate door.

”Come in.” Queen Vasilisa's voice came from inside the room and the guardians opened the door for Oziyat.