Chapter 299 - Families

"I know, he trusts me a lot now," said Chris. "But does he trust me enough to talk about teenager Tom Riddle? I don't know."

She was sitting in Dumbledore's office next evening. Dumbledore was in his usual seat. His elbows perched on the desk, fingers interlocked and he was staring at them.

"I have tried cautiously to slip the dark arts in some conversation but every time he dodged it," Chris continued. "He smoothly changed the topic to some different direction before I could elaborate."

"Yes, Horace is particularly efficient at avoiding difficult conversation but Christina we need that information at any cost," Dumbledore said grimly.

"I know Professor and I won't stop trying," Chris sighed. "But sir, we're sure Riddle made a Horcruxe, aren't we? I mean the locket."

"And the diary," Dumbledore informed.

"Wait, what?" Chris looked surprised.

"The diary, Riddle's diary, the one giving instructions on how to reopen the Chamber of Secrets," Dumbledore said. "Which was destroyed by you."

"It was a Horcruxe? But how did you — I don't understand sir."

"Well, although I did not see the Riddle who came out of the diary, what Harry described to me was a phenomenon I had never witnessed. A mere memory starting to act and think for itself? A mere memory, sapping the life out of the girl into whose hands it had fallen? No, something much more sinister had lived inside that book . . . a fragment of soul, I was almost sure of it. The diary had been a Horcruxe. But this raised as many questions as it answered. What intrigued and alarmed me most was that that diary had been intended as a weapon as much as a safeguard."

"Yes, it was," Chris said staring at an object in Dumbledore's desk as she processed the information. "It wasn't like the locket which tried to protect the soul at any cost. It was trying to get Riddle back and it was trying to kill people by using Ginny."

There was a long pause. Dumbledore didn't speak but he stared at Chris.

"So he made more than one Horcruxe, he already destroyed two and we don't know how many more he created?" Chris finished sinking low into the chair. "God! That's horrible. He just tore his soul apart like cotton candy. Here and there."

Dumbledore sighed.

"Now, do you understand why we need that memory?" he said.

Chris nodded mutely.

"Christina, if you think you can include Harry," advised Dumbledore. "Because time is running out."

"No," Chris suddenly muttered and Dumbledore looked at her surprised. "I mean, I will see what I can do sir. I don't want to include Harry if it isn't necessary."

"Of course."

Chris was just thinking about excusing herself when someone knocked at the door. Without waiting, Dumbledore said, "enter." 

Harry entered and looked surprised to see Chris. Chris scolded herself mentally for not checking the time before coming to meet Dumbledore.

If you want to avoid someone, at least do it properly. Stupid.

"Harry, I hear that you met the Minister of Magic over Christmas?" asked Dumbledore.

"Yes," said Harry sitting on the next chair to Chris. "He's not very happy with me."

"No," sighed Dumbledore. "He is not very happy with me either. We must try not to sink beneath our anguish, Harry, but battle on."

Harry grinned and even Chris chuckled.

"He wanted me to tell the Wizarding community that the Ministry's doing a wonderful job," said Harry.

Dumbledore smiled.

"It was Fudge's idea originally, you know. During his last days in office, when he was trying desperately to cling to his post, he sought a meeting with you, hoping that you would give him your support —"

"After everything, Fudge did last year?" said Harry angrily. "After Umbridge?"

"I told Cornelius there was no chance of it, but the idea did not die when he left office. Within hours of Scrimgeour's appointment, we met and he demanded that I arrange a meeting with you —"

"So that's why you argued!" Chris blurted out. "It was in the Daily Prophet."

"The Prophet is bound to report the truth occasionally," said Dumbledore, "if only accidentally. Yes, that was why we argued. Well, it appears that Rufus found a way to corner you at last."

"He accused me of being 'Dumbledore's man through and through.'" said Harry.

"How very rude of him."

"I told him I was."

Dumbledore opened his mouth to speak and then closed it again. Behind them, Fawkes the phoenix let out a low, soft, musical cry. Chris smiled but to her surprise, she suddenly realized that Dumbledore's bright blue eyes looked rather watery. When Dumbledore spoke, however, his voice was quite steady.

"I am very touched, Harry."

"Chris also gave him the same reaction," Harry said looking at his knees. "She also warned the Minister to not to bother you."

"I had no idea," Dumbledore looked at Chris with same watery eyes.

This time Chris looked embarrassed. She didn't tell Dumbledore or anyone else apart from her friends about this.

"I had to," she said defensively. "He was being nosy and accusing Harry of working with you. I have to remind him that we are on the same side, we all want the common people to be safe."

"Well, when you put it like that Christina, I guess you really didn't have a choice," Dumbledore said looking amused.

Harry chuckled.

For a moment Chris stared at Dumbledore and Harry. Seeing Harry grinning and Dumbledore smiling she laughed with them.

"I will be going, sir," Chris got up. "Good night."

"Good night, Christina," Dumbledore said.

As she walked out and heard Harry and Dumbledore talking again, she realized something.

Friends become family easily but sometimes teachers do too.

****

"So Tom Riddle killed his father and grandparents then planted that memory in Morfin," Harry said. "He then took the family ring and came back to Hogwarts while Morfin was sent to Azkaban."

Hermione shivered wrapping her arms around herself more tightly. She, Ron, Harry, Colin, Luna and Chris were outside on the snowy courtyard because the Room of Requirement was occupied. Harry was retelling them about the recent memory of Voldemort.

"He was fifteen or sixteen, and he already killed four people," Hermione murmured.

"Four?" Ron raised his eyebrows at her. "Three, his father, grandfather and grandmother."

"Moaning Myrtle," Hermione sighed.

"Right," Ron nodded grimly.

"But the age doesn't matter the evilness inside him does," said Luna sadly. "He was evil. He killed people for pleasure."

Colin looked at her sideways and then looked at Chris, she understood why. Luna didn't want Chris to get hurt over Hermione's words. She wanted to make it clear that there's a difference between killing in pleasure and killing in pain and defence.

Harry opened his mouth to say something but at that moment, Ginny came running.

"Sorry, I am a little late," she panted. "What did I miss?"

"The entire thing," said Harry. "Where were you?"

"Sorry," Ginny looked away embarrassed. "I was just — got distracted, I guess."

"You are distracted a lot, nowadays," said Colin looking concerned. "You were late too classes too."

"Ginny, is everything okay?" asked Luna.

"Yeah, yeah, totally," Ginny tried to smile.

"Ginny, what's going on?" Ron said and tried to sound stern.

"Oh, stop trying to be the big brother," Ginny said rolling her eyes.

"Is it about Dean?" asked Hermione but quickly regretted it.

"Is it about boys?" Ron looked at Ginny incredulously.

"Of course not," Ginny snapped. "And honestly, it is none of your business who I am dating or what I do with them, Ron —"

"Yeah, it is!" said Ron angrily. "D'you think I want people saying my sister's a —"

"Ron!" Chris hissed and Hermione gasped.

"A what?" shouted Ginny, drawing her wand. "A what, exactly?"

"He doesn't mean anything, Ginny —" said Harry. "Ron, calm down."

"Oh yes, he does!" Ginny said, flaring up at Harry. "Have I ever asked him why he snogs Lavender Brown? They suck each other faces all around the school. Have I said something about it? Who does he think himself, butting into my business?"

"Shut your mouth!" bellowed Ron.

"No, I will not!" yelled Ginny.

Ron pulled out his wand angrily.

"Ron, stop it," Chris tried to go to Ginny's side but Harry swiftly stepped between them. His back to Ginny as he faced Ron. Chris froze.

He is trying to protect Ginny from Ron because he fancies her too, a cruel voice inside Chris' head whispered.

While Chris was as still as stone Hermione and Colin also stepped in. Colin and Harry dragged Ron away as Ginny started to sob on Hermione's shoulder.

"He can be a bit unkind, I know," said Luna patting Ginny.

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To be continued. . .