Chapter 17 (2/2)

She was welling up but calmed herself by taking a few deep breaths.

”After Colin was petrified, everyone was so scared. It escalated when I talked to that snake which was summoned by Malfoy. I was really trying to stop it from hurting anyone! But, I was accused by the whole school for being the Heir of Slytherin. How could I possibly be? Then everyone started bullying me. Why didn't the teachers stop them? Why did they turn a blind eye to whatever I went through? I was cursed regularly behind my back. Even Ron and Hermione kept their distance. But then, you helped me understand. It's because of you that I could continue to face them.”

Her eyes were sparkling, enhanced by the small amount of tears. Edmund could feel his face heat up. Her smile was so enchanting, he could just sit there and look at her smile all day long. Merlin how much he loved her. Gulping down whatever urges he had, he flashed her a smile and said, ”I, uhm, couldn't just sit around and do nothing. I always knew you were innocent.”

”Because you've been following me since first year. Aren't you bit of a stalker?” She asked, again narrowing her eyes at him.

Edmund laughed nervously and quickly replied, ”I'll explain, please continue.”

Iris pouted. 'Damn. You're killing me Iris! Please, for the love of Merlin, don't pout like that!' Edmund looked away, not trusting his control over his urges to show his love for her.

Her pout intensified but she relented, ”Alright, you promised! Well, when I was in Dumbledore's office after I returned from the chamber, I couldn't help but think how it was possible for him not to know about the chamber or the basilisk. Even in first year, he left for the ministry on the very day Voldemort tried to steal the philosopher's stone, that too on a broom when he has a floo network in his office.”

Edmund agreed, ”Yeah, I had the same suspicion. And, I want to apologize for not helping more down in the chamber. If I got more involved in the fight, you wouldn't have got bitten by the snake.”

”Hey, it's alright. Because of that I am now immune to every poison in this world.”

Edmund smiled and shook his head when she instantly forgave him. He then asked her to continue.

”Third year, Sirius Black escaped from Azkaban. I was really scared when they told me that he wanted to kill me. The dementors were the worse. I was really angry when I learnt that Srius was my godfather and everyone hid the fact from me. When I confronted him in the Shrieking Shack, I just wanted to hit him with every offensive spell I knew. But, turned out he was innocent and Ron's pet rat, who was an animagus, was the real culprit. I was happy when we caught Pettigrew. I thought that I finally had the chance to have a real family. But, Professor Remus transformed into a wolf and Pettigrew escaped. I was scared when he was about to lunge at me. But I was saved by a nine-tailed fox. You saw it too right? It was so massive!”

Edmund was fidgeting in his chair. Should he tell her that he was the fox itself?

”Um, about that....”

Iris narrowed her eyes again.

Shite! ”You see, I happen to... have an animagus form....”

Iris' eyes went wide like saucers. She jabbed her finger at him and said, ”That was you?! How?! That was a magical creature! Wait, usually their eyes are red. But that fox's eyes were blue. I always thought it's eyes looked familiar. They were so beautiful...”

Iris blushed heavily and looked down. Gaining some confidence back, Edmund smirked, ”So you think my eyes are beautiful huh?”

Iris pouted again, ”Oh shut up.”

”Anyway,” she continued, trying to ignore her blushing face and the teasing smirk on Edmund's face which kept on widening. ”I tried to explain to the minister that Sirius was innocent but he didn't listen. We even told Dumbledore but he said he couldn't do anything. In the end, I and Hermione had to save him using a time turner.”

Taking a deep breath, she continued, ”Finally, this year it was the death eater attack at the world cup. Even after that the officials decided to hold the Tri-Wizard Tournament, after so many years. I don't know what I was expecting as I got involved into a dangerous situation this year too. Someone put my name into the cup and confounded it to select me as the fourth champion. It's second year again. Everyone has expressed their loathing for me. Why can't I just have one peaceful year. Why didn't Dumbledore put more security around the cup? He has known that I face danger every year but all he did was put an age line around it. He even asked me if I put my name in the cup!”

”Alright,” Edmund took a deep breath and began. ”Yes, you are right about suspecting him. Let me tell you what you don't know. Perhaps it will answer the questions you have in mind.”