Chapter 367 - Realization Face (1/2)

”Chris,” Colin called looking over a huge book he had opened in front of him about mythical creatures.

”Yeah?” Chris replied without looking back at him. Her eyes focused on the book she was reading about the magical abilities of some beasts.

”How long have the Snallygaster been there?” Colin asked frowning.

”Rosaline said after Malgino left no one came back alive from there, so probably since then? Maybe a century?” Chris said while scanning the page about which beasts can teleport themselves. More than a dozen could do so.

”Chris . . .” Colin called again after a moment and this time Chris looked up. ”Snallygasters don't live that long. All the books I have read mentioned that a Snallygaster could live up to two hundred years and in exceptional cases two hundred and fifty years, nothing more than that.”

”So a century is a stretch?” Luna, who was making some potions in a corner, turned to them hearing the conversation.

”Yeah,” Colin got up and showed the book to Chris. ”This is the second book I checked to confirm. We can check more — Luna, where did you get those ingredients from?” Colin asked as Luna picked up a moonstone to grind.

”Oh, I had some of them with me, and Sol and Sarah got me the rest,” Luna said smiling.

Chris looked up after scanning the page Colin showed.

”You are right, Colin. And Luna, you got these from Sarah and Sol?” Chris was surprised but not really.

”Yes, we are friends now,” Luna replied brightly and went back to her potion-making.

”It took a couple of weeks to befriend Sol and I don't think Sarah is still my friend,” Chris whispered to Colin.

”Well, you know Luna,” Colin said fondly looking at Luna, who was now humming a Weird sister's song while working on the potion.

”I guess things are good between you to then,” Chris smiled.

”Er . . .” Colin quickly looked away from Luna and a little redness crept on his cheeks. ”We are getting off-topic. . . Snallygasters.”

Chris chuckled but then turned serious.

”I think we will have to check some other books to make sure if there is an exception of this age thing.”

”Yeah, because if we —” Colin stopped talking and reached for his wand as the door of Chris's room was slammed open. Chris jumped a little bit and Luna just looked at the door. They all relaxed when Ginny came storming into the room. ”What the Hell, Ginny? I almost jinxed you!”

”That would have been great!” Ginny snapped looking furious.

”What have I done now?” Chris muttered to Colin.

Ginny heard her.

”As much as surprising it is, this time it was not you. . . It's Leyla. She told Charlie about us!”

The revelation was followed by a moment of silence then Chris, Colin, and Luna spoke at the same time.

”You mean that Charlie knows we are here? In Titian?”

”Did Charlie say anything to your family?”

”Where is Leyla?”

”I don't know!” Ginny flopped down on Chris's bed with a huff. ”I stormed out as soon as she told me 'she had to tell Charlie.' I didn't ask anything else.”

”Ok then first, we need to talk to Leyla,” said Chris getting up. ”Gin, I understand why are you worried but I don't think Charlie will be reckless to expose your family to danger.”

”Of course, I know that. I am not worried about that,” Ginny said crossing her arms.

”Then what are you worried about?” Chris asked surprised.

”Leyla gave away your location to Charlie. She did the exact thing you tried to avoid by leaving all alone. We brought you problems, the ones you were trying to leave —”

Before Ginny could finish Chris threw her arms around her friend. Nobody spoke for a moment as Ginny's eyes filled with tears, she hugged her best friend back.

”I just want everyone to be safe.” Ginny's voice was barely more than a whisper.

”Love you, Gin,” Chris squeezed her.

”F*ck off. You are still not off the hook,” Ginny grumbled but didn't let go of Chris.

”Group hug!” Luna said getting up and smiling she hugged Chris and Ginny.

”You left me out again,” Colin pouted.

Laughing Chris broke the hug and made a place for Colin. He joined the hug.

”I am so happy,” Luna grinned.

”Me too, Luna,” Chris said grinning back and for a moment Chris felt they were back in school. Everything was right.

”Okay, okay, that's enough snappiness for a while,” Ginny said shrugging from the hug. ”We have more pressing matters.”

”Yes, like talking to Leyla,” Chris nodded.

”Like finishing the potions,” Luna said getting back to the boiling cauldron.

”And looking for details if Snallygasters lives more than two hundred fifty years,” Colin said.

”Snallygasters what?” Ginny asked.

Colin explained to Ginny about the things they were looking for and Chris keeping track of everything on her whiteboard, while Chris wrote down the Snallygaster thing on her board.

”Okay, so we divide and conquer like always,” Chris said after finishing writing. ”Colin, you and Luna find Sol and gather more information about Snallygasters. Ginny and I will talk to Leyla.”

”I have to finish the potions, first,” Luna said.

”We can go after you are done and I will help you, Luna,” Colin said walking to her.

”Ok then—”