Chapter 371 - Uncertainty (2/2)

Ginny waited for a minute before answering,

”But that never stopped you before, did it?”

”What?” Chris looked at her, confused.

”Look, Chris, I know you are worried. We all know. It was written on your face since the day we started planning to go back. And honestly, I think it's offensive. I can take care of myself, and so does Luna and Colin. For god's sake, we literally came here without you. We are capable, okay? Secondly, remember our first year, since we stepped into Hogwarts, things have gone wrong. One after another then another. Danger had always found its way to us. But we have made it out. Every time.” Ginny looked Chris in the eyes. ”And it wasn't your fault. If anything it was me. If you hadn't gone to save me in the Chamber of Secrets, if you hadn't killed the basilisk and . . . that diary, then Malgino couldn't have known about you.”

”Gin—”

”Let me finish first. I am not blaming myself, Chris. Trust me. I know if you had not done those things then I wouldn't be alive,” Ginny didn't look vulnerable but she looked determined and powerful. ”I didn't ask you to help me. In fact, it was specifically you, whom I avoided the whole year. Yet, you came. You decided to save me despite the unknown danger.”

Chris didn't say anything as she processed what Ginny was trying to say.

”You were not worried about the unknown at that time, Chris, even when you were not trained enough, prepared enough, and were almost alone,” Ginny continued. ”Then why are you now? Are you worried about us? Chris, nobody dragged us here. We came by choice. And we will stay with you as long as we want to.”

Ginny was right. Chris knew she was right. They had gone through the plan multiple times with Luna, Colin, Oziyat, and Rosaline. She knew she should be ready.

Chris opened her mouth to reply to Ginny, but another knock on the door stopped her. Chris hoped to see Colin and Luna as she opened the door.

”Good evening, Lady Christina,” Rosaline stood outside the door.

”Princess Rosaline? Please come in,” Surprised, Chris moved aside and Rosaline swept inside the room.

Rosaline looked at Ginny and she immediately got up.

”I will see if Luna and Colin are ready,” Ginny said walking towards the door, hurriedly.

”Gin,” Chris called before Ginny was out. Ginny looked back at her and Chris smiled, ”Thanks.”

”So you are all prepared?” Rosaline asked looking amused by the board.

”I guess so,” Chris looked embarrassed, as she waved her wand and the writing on the board disappeared.

”Be confident, Lady Christina. There is no room for uncertainty today,” Rosaline said and looked at Chris's wand. ”So you have decided which wand you are going to use?”

Chris nodded. At their last meeting, it was quite a debate about which wand Chris was going to use today. Whereas Ginny and Colin suggested Dumbledore's wand as it was more powerful, Luna and Oziyat thought Chris's wand would be perfect because she had a better connection with it. At last, Rosaline recommended that they leave the decision to Chris.

”I would use mine,” Chris answered Rosaline. ”I have a feeling I should use this.”

”Good, always follow your intuition,” Rosaline said seriously then maybe for the first time she looked hesitant. ”Lady Christina, I hope you don't misunderstand me for not accompanying you all. I know it is very important and maybe being there would help you and my brother but —”

”Princess Rosaline, please, you don't have to explain. First of all, it is your choice to come or not, I will definitely not take it personally. And I know why you are not coming with us. Oziyat told me about the Queen and Volker suspecting you working against them. And if they are plotting something, you should not leave the palace under their order. I completely agree with you.”

At Chris's words, Rosaline looked surprised but then her face softened and she smiled.

”I can see why my brother likes you. You possess many qualities of a Queen.”

Chris's eyes widened and she started coughing, hearing Rosaline.

Did she just say that?

”I . . . don't know what you are. . .” Chris composed herself. ”I don't think it's like what you're thinking.”

”Of course,” Rosaline nodded. ”I am getting ahead of myself. This is not the time to discuss this.”

Chris still couldn't believe that Rosaline said that. Unlike in school, this time, Chris had guessed that maybe Oziyat liked her but she didn't think about him like that with everything else going on.

”Anyway, the reason I came to see you,” Rosaline pulled out a dagger scabbard from her cloak. ”I won't be there but I will not let you go without something special. Here, my personal dagger. It is fused with my magic. It will help you in a moment of need.”

⟦To be continued⟧