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HARRY WOULD HAVE screamed, but he couldn't make a sound. Crystal couldn't believe her eyes. Where there should have been a back to Quirrell's head, there was a face, the most terrible face Harry and Crystal had ever seen. It was chalk white with glaring red eyes and slits for nostrils, like a snake.
"Harry Potter..." it whispered. "and Crystal Calisto..."
Harry tried to take a step backward but his legs wouldn't move.
"See what I have become?" the face said. "Mere shadow and vapor... I have form only when I can share another's body... but there have always been those willing to let me into their hearts and minds.... Unicorn blood has strengthened me, these past weeks... you saw faithful Quirrell drinking it for me in the forest... and once I have the Elixir of Life, I will be able to create a body of my own.... Now... why don't you give me that Stone in your pocket?"
So he knew. The feeling suddenly surged back into Harry's legs. He stumbled backward where Crystal stood.
"Don't be a fool," snarled the face. "Better save your own life and the girl's and join me... or you'll meet the same end as her foolish mother who denied me.... She died begging me for mercy..."
"LIAR!" Crystal shouted suddenly.
Quirrell was walking backward at them, so that Voldemort could still see them. The evil face was now smiling.
"How touching..." it hissed. "I always value bravery... Yes, girl, your mother was brave... and powerful witch... but then... in the end I still killed her; the boy's father put up a courageous fight... they should all have died that night too... your mothers were trying to protect you both... Now give me the Stone, unless you want her mother to have died in vain."
"You've lost your mind or rather you're stupid if you think you'll have whatever you want," Crystal jeered, "Think of the state you're in. You should beg for the stone at my feet but look at you... A bodiless shadow, just need some light to make it vanish."
Harry didn't know from where Crystal always got all the courage to speak her mind but it was not the place to use it. He was scared out of his wits what would they do to her.
Crystal freed herself from the ropes, took Harry's wrist and they sprang toward the flame door, but Voldemort screamed "SEIZE THEM!" and the next second, Harry felt Quirrell's hand close on his other arm.
At once, a needle-sharp pain seared across Harry's scar; his head felt as though it was about to split in two; he yelled, struggling with all his might, and to his surprise, Quirrell let go of him.
The pain in his head lessened -- he looked around wildly to see where Quirrell had gone, and saw him hunched in pain, looking at his fingers -- they were blistering before his eyes.
"Quick, Harry, run!" Crystal pulled him with her as he suffered with the pain in his head.
"Seize them! SEIZE THEM!" shrieked Voldemort again, and Quirrell lunged, knocking Harry clean off his feet' landing on top of him, both hands around Harry's neck -- Harry's scar was almost blinding him with pain, yet he could see Quirrell howling in agony. Crystal kicked him hard enough to throw him off of Harry.
"Master, I cannot hold him -- my hands -- my hands!"
"Harry! Just a try a little! Get out I'll hold him back until then!" Crystal shouted at Harry as she grabbed her wand from the floor and fired a spell on Quirrell throwing him back. She ran to him as he layed limp on the ground and grabbed his collar.
"No! I can't leave you here alone! We'll go together!"
"Harry! We've to protect the stone you have! Go! Run! I'll try to stall some time! Run!"
Harry denied and ran to her side. Quirrell took advantage of their distraction because of the disagreement between them and mustering all his strength, suddenly attacked.
Crystal managed to land a punch on him as her reflex but he was too strong for her, he being a grown man. He pushed her off with force, she slid through the floor only stopping when her head collided with the edge of the stairs and started bleeding profusely.
Quirrell took the chance and pinned Harry to the ground with his knees and grabbed his neck but instantly let go as if burned and stared, bewildered, at his own palms and touched his burning jaw were Crystal had punched-- Harry could see they looked burned, raw, red, and shiny.
"Then kill them, fool, and be done!" screeched Voldemort.
Quirrell raised his hand to perform a deadly curse, but Harry, by instinct, reached up and grabbed Quirrell's face --
"AAAARGH!"
Crystal didn't how it was happening through her hazy vision as she lay on the ground. She saw Quirrell writhing when Harry pressed his hands on his face. He was crumbling into ashes. This was the last of what she saw before her vision slipped into the darkness.
𖤍𖤓⌁☍❾¾➵♆△⍎⚔︎
Something gold was glinting just above him. The Snitch! He tried to catch it, but his arms were too heavy.
He blinked. It wasn't the Snitch at all. It was a pair of glasses. How strange.
He blinked again. The smiling face of Albus Dumbledore swam into view above him.
"Good afternoon, Harry," said Dumbledore.
Harry stared at him.
Then he remembered: "Sir! The Stone! It was Quirrell! He's got the Stone! Sir, quick --"
"Calm yourself, dear boy, you are a little behind the times," said Dumbledore. "Quirrell does not have the Stone."
"Then who does? Sir -- Where's Crystal -- she had a very bad head injury --"
"Harry, please relax, or Madam Pomfrey will have me thrown out. Crystal is fine, yet to wake up."
Harry swallowed and looked around. Crystal was lying in the bed next to him, her head, neck, wrist and ankles were all wrapped in bandages. He realized they must be in the hospital wing. He was lying in a bed with white linen sheets, and next to him was a table piled high with what looked like half the candy shop.
"Tokens from your friends and admirers," said Dumbledore, beaming. "What happened down in the dungeons between you, Crystal and Professor Quirrell is a complete secret, so, naturally, the whole school knows. I believe your friends Misters Fred and George Weasley were responsible for trying to send you a toilet seat. No doubt they thought it would amuse you. Madam Pomfrey, however, felt it might not be very hygienic, and confiscated it."
"How long have we've been in here?"
"Three days. Mr. Ronald Weasley, Miss Granger and your parents will be most relieved you have come round, they have been extremely worried." said Dumbledore, "Yes, I've been visited by your parents, Mr and Mrs. Potter are still around, just went away moments ago,"
"I knew they'd be here once they hear about us but, sir, the Stone -- "
"I see you are not to be distracted. Very well, the Stone. Professor Quirrell did not manage to take it from you. I arrived when he was unable to do anything, you were doing very well on your own, I must say."
"You got there? You got Hermione's owl?"
"We must have crossed in midair. No sooner had I reached London than it became clear to me that the place I should be was the one I had just left. When I arrived Quirrell had been taken care of."
"You were very late." said Crystal, looking at him. She had woken up and listening to them talk for a few minutes.
"Yes, child, I feared I might be too late." said Dumbledore, "How are you?"
"Better,"
"Crystal!"
"Harry, are you okay?" she asked. Harry nodded with a smile.
"You were a very late, sir, I just didn't know what to do, we couldn't have kept him off the Stone much longer --"
"Not the Stone, child, you -- the effort involved nearly killed Harry and you. For one terrible moment there, I was afraid it had. As for the Stone, it has been destroyed."
"Destroyed?" said Harry blankly. "But your friend -- Nicolas Flamel --"
"Oh, you know about Nicolas?" said Dumbledore, sounding quite delighted. "You did do the thing properly, didn't you? Well, Nicolas and I have had a little chat, and agreed it's all for the best."
"But that means he and his wife will die, won't they?"
"They have enough Elixir stored to set their affairs in order and then, yes, they will die."
Dumbledore smiled at the look of amazement on Harry's face. Crystal just stared at him blankly, Dumbledore couldn't understand her mind sometimes. He looked back at Harry again.
"To one as young as you both, I'm sure it seems incredible, but to Nicolas and Perenelle, it really is like going to bed after a very, very long day. After all, to the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure. You know, the Stone was really not such a wonderful thing. As much money and life as you could want! The two things most human beings would choose above all -- the trouble is, humans do have a knack of choosing precisely those things that are worst for them."
Harry lay there, lost for words. Dumbledore hummed a little and smiled at the ceiling.
"Professor?" said Crystal. "I've been thinking... even if the Stone's gone, Vol -- I mean --"
"Call him Voldemort, Crystal. Always use the proper name for things. Fear of a name increases fear of the thing itself."
"I'm not afraid of the name, sir. Well, Voldemort's going to try other ways of coming back, isn't he? I mean, he hasn't gone, has he?" said Crystal.
"No, Crystal, Harry, he has not. He is still out there somewhere, perhaps looking for another body to share... not being truly alive, he cannot be killed. He left Quirrell to die; he shows just as little mercy to his followers as his enemies. Nevertheless, while you both may only have delayed his return to power, it will merely take someone else who is prepared to fight what seems a losing battle next time -- and if he is delayed again, and again, why, he may never return to power."
Harry nodded, but stopped quickly, because it made his head hurt. Crystal had many questions swirling in her mind.
"Professor, I've this question ever since I first came to know about my mother. I want to know the truth now, why did Voldemort wanted to kill me and Harry?" said Crystal.
"Yes, I have this question too. What did we ever do to him?" said Harry.
"The truth." Dumbledore sighed. "It is a beautiful and terrible thing, and should therefore be treated with great caution. However,"
Dumbledore sighed very deeply this time.
"Alas, the first thing you ask me, I cannot tell you. Not today. Not now. You will know, one day... put it from your mind for now, Crystal, Harry. When you are older... I know you hate to hear this... when you are ready, you will know."
"I'm ready to hear it." said Crystal firmly as she sat up, wincing a little. "And I've right to know. I hate it when I'm treated as child."
"Dear child, I've been telling you to take this old man's heart in little consideration but you really don't hold back from asking questions which are very difficult for me to answer as of now," said Dumbledore and chuckled, "Let the time flow, Crystal and let yourself be free in that current. Haste sometimes prove to be fatal."
"Then, professor, please atleast answer this question," said Crystal.
"I'm afraid what you might ask this time." said Dumbledore but he had a amused smile. "What is it?"
"Quirrell couldn't touch Harry," said Crystal, "When I punched him -- I saw a pattern on shine on the back of my hand for a moment that I almost missed -- it might be hallucination too. But Quirrell couldn't touch me too. Why?"
"What you're saying is very interesting but I've no idea what the pattern on your hand might mean. But one thing, I know is that, your mother died to save you and Harry. If there is one thing Voldemort cannot understand, it is love. The love of a mother is incomparable to anything. Your mother loved Harry as much as she loved you. Voldemort didn't realize that love as powerful as your mother's for you both leaves its own mark. Not a scar, no visible sign... to have been loved so deeply, even though the person who loved us is gone, will give us some protection forever. It is in your very skin. Quirrell, full of hatred, greed, and ambition, sharing his soul with Voldemort, could not touch you for this reason. It was agony to touch a person marked by something so good."
"The day we met you said something related to blood and protection, that's why you sent me to live with the Hudsons' but what about Harry? He isn't related to me or my mother by blood."
"Harry also has a similar situation though a little different, he has his parents blood in him and their love for him is his protection,"
"What similar situation, sir? I don't understand," said Harry frowning.
"It's not my place to answer that question. You'll eventually be knowing as you grow older, Harry." said Dumbledore.
"And there's something else..."
"Fire away."
"Quirrell said Snape --"
"Professor Snape, Harry."
"Yes, him -- Quirrell said he hates me and Crystal because he hated my father and her mother. Is that true?"
"Well, I'm not sure about Crystal's mother but your father and Snape do rather detest each other. Not unlike yourself and Mr. Malfoy. And then, your father did something Snape could never forgive."
"What?"
"He saved his life."
"What?"
"Yes..." said Dumbledore dreamily. "Funny, the way people's minds work, isn't it? Professor Snape couldn't bear being in your father's debt... I do believe he worked so hard to protect you this year because he felt that would make him and your father even. You can ask your father more about it later...."
Harry tried to understand this but it made his head pound, so he stopped.
"And sir, there's one more thing..."
"Just the one?"
"How did I get the Stone out of the mirror?"
This was the question that Crystal also want to hear an answer to.
"Ah, now, I'm glad you asked me that. It was one of my more brilliant ideas, and between you, Crystal and me, that's saying something. You see, only one who wanted to find the Stone -- find it, but not use it -- would be able to get it, otherwise they'd just see themselves making gold or drinking Elixir of Life. My brain surprises even me sometimes.... Now, enough questions. I suggest you make a start on these sweets. Ah! Bettie Bott's Every Flavor Beans! I was unfortunate enough in my youth to come across a vomit flavored one, and since then I'm afraid I've rather lost my liking for them -- but I think I'll be safe with a nice toffee, don't you?"
He smiled and popped the golden-brown bean into his mouth. Then he choked and said, "Alas! Ear wax!"
Just as Dumbledore went outside the door opened again. Madam Pomfrey stood up alarmed but nodded at the couple standing in doorway and went back.
The tall man looked just like Harry but older. His raven hair were messy but a little tamed than Harry's, he had hazel eyes behind his round glasses. Next him was a beautiful reddish brown haired woman with green eyes the same as Harry's. Crystal knew at once they were his parents, she saw them at Diagon Alley.
"Harry!" said Mr. and Mrs. Potter rushed to Harry's bed and his mother embraced him in her arms, sighing in relief as the tears ran down her cheeks. His father ruffled Harry's hair kissing on top of it and engulfed his family in his big arms.
For Crystal, it was a perfect picture of a happy family. She wondered if her mum and dad were alive, would they look like this together? Like a happy family? She watched Harry's mother, wiping her tears and scolding him at the same time.
Crystal didn't know what feeling was setting in her heart but it wasn't pleasant. She couldn't name the feeling it was new, she hasn't experienced it before even when she had seen many families like that then why? She couldn't understand.
She turned her back to them and closed her eyes giving the family some privacy. She felt so tired even after waking up after three days that she fell asleep.
Not long time had passed when Crystal felt someone approaching her. She didn't know if she was dreaming but she felt a hand patting her head and moving towards her neck.
Alarmed, as it came closer, she realized it was not a dream and on reflex she pulled up her pillow ready to attack the attacker. She winced at the sudden movement of her body but froze when she saw Mr. and Mrs. Potter standing with their eyes wide.
"Crystal?" said Mrs. Potter.
Crystal immediately put the pillow back and clutched her side which throbbed. She was relieved it was not an attack.
"Er -- I apologize for my behaviour just now," said Crystal awkwardly but in a polite manner, "I must have been dreaming."
"It must have been so traumatic that you are having nightmares, dear," said Mrs. Potter softly, "Of course we understand. No need to apologize for that."
Crystal was so taken aback by how sweetly the woman in front of her was talking, it was not the first time she had met her but first time actually talking. Crystal glanced at Harry who nodded with a smile.
"Oh, right -- we didn't introduce ourselves -- I'm James Potter and my wife Lily Potter. We're Harry's parents and -- " said James pausing a little, "and we are -- your mother's best friends."
"I know, I'm Crystal Calisto, it's a pleasure to meet you both, Mr. and Mrs. Potter," She greeted them politely. Harry was amused to see her change in behavior around adults, she was always nice and polite child.
James and Lily sat on the chairs near her bed. Harry got up from his bed to sit on Crystal's bed.
"Call us by our names, Crystal, and I hope Harry didn't complain you on how nagging his mum is if you know us?" said Lily pinching Harry's nose playfully.
"No, all good things, I assure you," said Crystal with a small smile.
"You really grew up so nicely, Crystal. It's been ten years. I can't believe I'm seeing these beautiful eyes again," said Lily, her eyes tearing up, "it feels like I got reunited with my lost daughter back after ten whole years,"
Crystal didn't know what to say or do after she heard that, the lady in front of her was speaking from her heart.
"We're so proud of you both.... " Lily continued after a short pause and James nodded. "But you almost died, we were so worried.... Don't do anything like that again. How could we live if something happened to you both?"
James rubbed her back as Lily quickly wiped her eyes.
"It's okay, love, don't cry," James comforted her, "They're fine. They're promising not to do anything like that again, right, kids?"
Harry nodded his head multiple times. James looked at Crystal, so she nodded awkwardly going with the flow.
"I've always felt that we are in debt to Aviana for saving us, we couldn't ever pay back with anything." said James, "Crystal, will you come with us now? Now even Dumbledore would not prevent us from meeting you. He only told us to stay away from you until you come to Hogwarts."
"Yes, we will adopt you and become your legal guardians. Let's go back to where your family is." said Lily taking Crystal's hand in between her both.
"Yeah, Crys! We'll have a lot of fun!" Harry beamed, "And my mum is the best cook!"
Crystal wouldn't denied that even she was tempted for a moment. She wasn't the kind to be swayed easily but she almost gave in.
But it was late now, she had to remain in the path which she had decided. She had already planned her future to achieve a goal more than anything and there was no room to adjust with a family in that plan.
On top of that, to give a shape to that future and to finish what her mother started, she had to go back to the Muggle world no matter what. She couldn't let her resolve be weak. She had to finish what she had already started, now even more after what happened with Voldemort.
"I'm sorry but I want to go back to the Hudsons'." said Crystal, slipping her hand back from Lily's.
She felt really bad when their faces dropped sadly.
"Of course, that was so insensitive of us. You lived with them all those years and we suddenly poped up -- asking you to come with us," said James with wry smile. "If you're happy to live with them then we won't force you."
"Atleast spend a few days of your vacation with us?" said Lily.
"You can come for a few days, right?" said Harry, "I won't hear 'no'. "
"Sure, I'll tell you when I'm ready. " said Crystal with a smile.
"I'm glad they are treating you so well that you want to go back." said James. "I expected that of Jasmine atleast."
"Yes... very well..." said Crystal, her teeth gritting behind her smile. She changed the topic remembering what they said earlier.
"Um, Mr. Potter. You said that you felt indebted to my mother."
"Yeah, if that day Avi didn't died to save us, we wouldn't have been alive here today --- "
"Sorry to interrupt, but I don't see any reason for you feel like that. Fighting with Voldemort was my mother's own decision. She must have known what she was doing and what was the risk of it, it was never on you. You were also a victim of that night and there was no way to change what was bound to happen." said Crystal taking a paused. "It's better to move on. Living in debt is always a burden,"
There was a silence for a while which was really awkward for Crystal.
"Sorry, if I spoke too much -- "
"No, Crysie, dear, thank you for saying that." said Lily patting her head, "It was really like -- as if our life was still after that traumatic night but after hearing this from you feels very light in the heart."
"I never expected this whenever I thought of you, Crysie, but you're really mature for your age." said James taking her small hands in his larger ones, "you're really not at all like your mother except that confidence that I see in your eyes."
"I've heard that many times that I'm not like my mother, How was she like?"
"She was really a very kind, nice. She was like a free bird ever since she was little. She always used to run away grumbling when your grandpa called her to teach about work." said Lily, chuckling as she reminisced, "She didn't ever wanted to succeed as a Head but when your grandpa died, she took up all the responsibility upon her, stood up strong and alone to be everyone's support. She managed everything on her own even when she had you, a small baby to take care of and she didn't fail any of those."
"You're really opposite of your mother, very calm and mature at young age." said James, "The way you talk feels like I'm talking to an adult."
"Dad, don't be fooled. Crystal is restraining herself to be on her best behavior because of your age, she's really blunt and straightforward in reality, mind you," said Harry, Crystal raised an eyebrow and he added, "Sometimes say cute things too," He put on a small voice, " 'What if I can't see my hand the next day?' "
She looked at him as though he was a weird creature as he laughed.
"You still remember that? Anyway, in which eye of yours am I restraining myself to speak my mind. This is what I am." said Crystal huffed.
Harry pinched her cheeks stretching it, chuckling and said, "See? Now she's pouting."
"That hurts," Crystal hissed and pinched his arm, Harry immediately let go wincing. "You started it. Don't cry now."
"I'm not crying, okay? Show me your nails!" Harry grabbed her fingers pulling it towards him, "Merlin! What're these knives! Are you planning to murder someone tonight?"
"Excuse me? They're short just a teeny tiny bit out of the finger and it's normal!" said Crystal, very calmly with a forced smile, "Why don't you get your eyes checked. I believe magic can do that too?"
James and Lily looked at each other at the turn of events. Crystal was really talking very formally with them but now she was fighting with Harry like any other kid.
"They didn't change, James.... "
"It's like looking at them ten years back when they didn't even talked properly.... Look out if they start pulling each other's hairs."
James and Lily chuckled.
Madam Pomfrey came for the check up and James's and Lily's time with Harry and Crystal came to end. The couple hugged their son and then Crystal, who awkwardly returned. They quickly kissed on both the kids heads and they went outside the room saying their goodbyes as they went back to their home.
𖤍𖤓⌁☍❾¾➵♆△⍎⚔︎
During their stay at the hospital bed, Hermione and Ron came to visit Harry and Crystal. Although it was not easy to get past Madam Pomfrey, but all four of them pleaded wanting to meet each other. Madam Pomfrey, the nurse, was a nice woman, but very strict.
"Just five minutes," Harry pleaded.
"Absolutely not."
"Please, Madam Pomfrey, You let Professor Dumbledore and Harry's parents in..." Crystal added quietly.
"Well, of course, that was the Headmaster and a student's parents are quite different. You need rest."
"I am resting, look, lying down and everything. Oh, go on, Madam Pomfrey..." said Harry. "Crys, lay down!"
"Oh, very well," she said. "But five minutes only."
And she let Ron and Hermione in.
"Crystal! Harry!"
Hermione looked ready to fling her arms around her again, but Crystal was glad she held herself in as her body was still very sore, but Ron had thumped Harry's back proudly which made him groan in pain, the girls chuckled.
"You had to do that, huh?" Harry grumbled.
"Had to give my appreciation," Ron laughed and girls joined in.
"Well, thanks, mate." said Harry, rolling his eyes.
"Oh, Harry, Crystal, we were sure you were going to -- Dumbledore was so worried --"
"The whole school's talking about it," said Ron. "What really happened?"
Harry and Crystal took turns, told them everything: Quirrell; the mirror; the Stone; and Voldemort. Ron and Hermione were a very good audience; they gasped in all the right places, and when Harry told them what was under Quirrell's turban, Hermione screamed out loud.
"So the Stone's gone?" said Ron finally. "Flamel's just going to die?"
"That's what I said, but Dumbledore thinks that -- what was it? -- 'to the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure."
"I always said he was off his rocker," said Ron, looking quite impressed at how crazy his hero was.
"So what happened to you two?" said Crystal.
"Well, I got back all right," said Hermione. "I brought Ron round -- that took a while -- and we were dashing up to the owlery to contact Dumbledore when we met him in the entrance hall -- he already knew -- he just said, 'Harry and Crystal are gone after him, haven't they?' and hurtled off to the third floor."
"D'you think he meant you guys to do it?" said Ron. "Allowing Harry to keep his father's cloak and everything? He saw the cloak when you went to see the mirror, right?"
"Well, " Hermione exploded, "if he did -- I mean to say that's terrible -- you both could have been killed."
Crystal had her doubts too.
"No, it isn't," said Harry thoughtfully. "He's a funny man, Dumbledore. I think he sort of wanted to give us a chance. I think he knows more or less everything that goes on here, you know."
"I reckon he had a pretty good idea we were going to try, and instead of stopping us, he just hinted us enough to help. I don't think it was an accident he let me and Harry find out how the mirror worked. It's almost like he thought we had the right to face Voldemort if we could..." Crystal added. "But before all that the basic step is to teach us how to fight. I felt really helpless, I wasn't able to think anything at that time."
"Yeah, Dumbledore's off his rocker, all right," said Ron proudly. "Listen, you've both got to be up for the end-of-year feast tomorrow. The points are all in and Slytherin won, of course -- you missed the last Quidditch match, we were steamrollered by Ravenclaw without you, Harry -- but the food'll be good."
At that moment, Madam Pomfrey bustled over.
"You've had nearly fifteen minutes, now OUT!" she said firmly.
𖤍𖤓⌁☍❾¾➵♆△⍎⚔︎
After a good night's sleep, Harry felt nearly back to normal. Crystal still had a bandage around her neck which irritated her like a collar on the cat but other than that she was absolutely fit.
"We want to go to the feast," Harry told Madam Pomfrey as she straightened Crystal's many candy boxes. "We can, can't we?"
"Professor Dumbledore says you both are to be allowed to go," she said stiffily, as though in her opinion Professor Dumbledore didn't realize how risky feasts could be. "And you have another visitor."
"Oh, good," said Harry. "Who is it?"
Hagrid sidled through the door as he spoke. As usual when he was indoors, Hagrid looked too big to be allowed. He sat down in between Harry's and Crystal's bed, took one look at them, and burst into tears.
"It's -- all -- my -- ruddy -- fault!" he sobbed, his face in his hands. "I told the evil git how ter get past Fluffy! I told him! It was the only thing he didn't know, an' I told him! Yeh could've died! All fer a dragon egg! I'll never drink again! I should be chucked out an' made ter live as a Muggle!"
"Hagrid!" said Harry, shocked to see Hagrid shaking with grief and remorse, great tears leaking down into his beard. "Hagrid, he'd have found out somehow,"
"Yeah, Hagrid, this is Voldemort we're talking about, he'd have found out even if you hadn't told him." said Crystal.
"An' don' say the name!" sobbed Hagrid. "Yeh both could've died!"
"VOLDEMORT!" Harry bellowed, and Hagrid was so shocked, he stopped crying. "We've met him and we're calling him by his name. Please cheer up, Hagrid, we saved the Stone, it's gone, he can't use it. Have a Chocolate Frog, I've got loads...."
Hagrid wiped his nose on the back of his hand and said, "That reminds me. I've got yeh a present, Crystal."
It seemed to be a handsome, leather-covered book. Harry sat beside Crystal as she opened it curiously. It was full of wizard photographs. Smiling and waving at them from every page were of her mother and with Harry's mother and father.
"Sent owls off ter all yer mother's old school friends, askin' fer photos... knew yeh didn' have any... d'yeh like it?"
"Mr. and Mrs. Potter sent me one but this is.... " Crystal couldn't speak more, but Hagrid understood.
𖤍𖤓⌁☍❾¾➵♆△⍎⚔︎
Harry and Crystal made their way down to the end-of-year feast together as usual that night. They had been held up by Madam Pomfrey's fussing about, insisting on giving them one last checkup, so the Great Hall was already full.
It was decked out in the Slytherin colors of green and silver to celebrate Slytherin's winning the house cup for the seventh year in a row. A huge banner showing the Slytherin serpent covered the wall behind the High Table.
When Crystal and Harry walked in, there was a sudden hush, and then everybody started talking loudly at once. They slipped into the space between Ron and Hermione at the Gryffindor table and tried to ignore the fact that people were standing up to look at them.
Fortunately, Dumbledore arrived moments later. The babble died away.
"Another year gone!" Dumbledore said cheerfully. "And I must trouble you with an old man's wheezing waffle before we sink our teeth into our delicious feast. What a year it has been! Hopefully your heads are all a little fuller than they were... you have the whole summer ahead to get them nice and empty before next year starts...
"Now, as I understand it, the house cup here needs awarding, and the points stand thus: In fourth place, Gryffindor, with three hundred and twelve points; in third, Hufflepuff, with three hundred and fifty-two; Ravenclaw has four hundred and twenty-six and Slytherin, five hundred and thirty-two."
A storm of cheering and stamping broke out from the Slytherin table. Harry could see Draco Malfoy banging his goblet on the table. It was a sickening sight. Crystal just wanted the feast to start, she didn't much cared for house cup.
"Yes, Yes, well done, Slytherin," said Dumbledore. "However, recent events must be taken into account."
The room went very still. The Slytherins' smiles faded a little.
"Ahem," said Dumbledore. "I have a few last-minute points to dish out. Let me see. Yes..."
"First -- to Mr. Ronald Weasley..."
Ron went purple in the face; he looked like a radish with a bad sunburn.
"...for the best-played game of chess Hogwarts has seen in many years, I award Gryffindor house fifty points."
Gryffindor cheers nearly raised the bewitched ceiling; the stars overhead seemed to quiver. Percy could be heard telling the other prefects, "My brother, you know! My youngest brother! Got past McGonagall's giant chess set!"
At last there was silence again.
"Second -- to Miss Hermione Granger... for the use of cool logic in the face of fire, I award Gryffindor house fifty points."
Hermione buried her face in her arms; Crystal strongly suspected she had burst into tears and patted her back.
"Third -- to Mr. Harry Potter..." said Dumbledore. The room went deadly quiet, "for pure nerve and outstanding courage, I award Gryffindor house sixty points."
"And lastly -- to Miss Crystal Calisto..." The room went silent again, "for great insight, courage and coolness in face of danger, I award Gryffindor house sixty points."
"Well, I didn't even do that... " Crystal muttered under her breath.
The din was deafening while they talked in hushed tone. Those who could add up while yelling themselves hoarse knew that Gryffindor now had five hundred and thirty-two points -- exactly the same as Slytherin. They had tied for the house cup -- if only Dumbledore had given just one more point.
Dumbledore raised his hand. The room gradually fell silent.
"There are all kinds of courage," said Dumbledore, smiling. "It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends. I therefore award ten points to Mr. Neville Longbottom."
Someone standing outside the Great Hall might well have thought some sort of explosion had taken place, so loud was the noise that erupted from the Gryffindor table.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione stood up to yell and cheer as Neville, white with shock, disappeared under a pile of people hugging him. Crystal quietly clapped, for an unexpected win. She wondered when the food would come.
Harry, still cheering, nudged Crystal on the arm and nodded towards Malfoy, who couldn't have looked more stunned and horrified as if he'd just had the Body-Bind Curse put on him.
"Which means," Dumbledore called over the storm of applause, for even Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff were celebrating the downfall of Slytherin, "We need a little change of decoration."
He clapped his hands. In an instant, the green hangings became scarlet and the silver became gold; the huge Slytherin serpent vanished and a towering Gryffindor lion took its place.
Snape was shaking Professor McGonagall's hand, with a horrible, forced smile.
𖤍𖤓⌁☍❾¾➵♆△⍎⚔︎
Finally, the exams results were out. Hermione, of course, had the best grades of the first years; Harry positioned in third and Crystal and Ron passed with good marks.
Hermione, Harry and Ron were surprised to see Crystal's grades lower even when she studied all time. They expected her to top all the subjects.
But Crystal had expected it and had already calculated her results based on the number of questions she attempted just enough to get a good looking score on the report. That's why she always left the classroom before time during exams, not wanting to waste time to answer all questions and studied business which she had to work in future.
And then suddenly, their wardrobes were empty, their trunks were packed, notes were handed out to all students, warning them not to use magic over the holidays.
Hagrid was there to take them down to the fleet of boats that sailed across the lake; they were boarding the Hogwarts Express; talking and laughing while the countryside became greener and tidier as they sped past Muggle towns; pulling off their wizard robes and putting on jackets and coats; pulling into platform nine and three-quarters at King's Cross Station.
It took quite a while for them all to get off the platform. A wizened old guard was up by the ticket barrier, letting them go through the gate in twos and threes so they didn't attract attention by all bursting out of a solid wall at once and alarming the Muggles.
"You must come and stay this summer," said Ron, "all three of you -- I'll send you an owl."
"Sure," said Harry, "You come over too, I'll send you all an invite for my birthday party."
"Bye, Harry!"
"Goodbye, Calisto!"
"See you, Potter!"
"Bye, Crystal!"
"Still famous," said Ron, grinning at them.
"I won't deny. I've got my dad's genes to be this handsome," Harry said smugly only to be hit by Hermione on his arm and Ron sniggered.
He, Ron, and Hermione passed through the gateway together. Crystal stopped. She didn't want to go back, crossing that barrier would send her to hell. She sighed and dragged her feet slowly to delay a few more minutes but she could never escape forever.
Crystal passed the barrier and looked around. She saw her friends reunited with their families. Just as she was about to go greet them someone harshly pulled the back of her collar.
Knowing who might that be, she sighed and turned around to face Uncle Jared and his son Jeremy.
"Uncle Jared, we met after so long," Crystal said, "Could you wait a little? I'll be just back in a minute after saying goodbye to my friends."
"Your friends?" Jeremy jeered.
"We are not waiting for anything," said Uncle Jared gritting his teeth and grabbed her arm harshly pulling her with him. Jeremy wheeled her luggage to get out as fast as they could.
Crystal looked back to see Harry, Ron and Hermione one last time while being dragged. She was sad she could even say goodbye to them. She left quietly because she didn't want to show them her current state to them the most.
"You're hurting me!" said Crystal, yanking her sore arm back from his grip, "I can walk on my own!"
"Then take your garbage!" Jeremy yelled as he pushed her luggage trolley towards Crystal, she stopped it just in time before it crashed into her.
"You had a nerve to escape to that place!" Uncle Jared hissed.
"You need to accept the reality of who I am." Crystal said.
"Shut up! The audacity of you to talk back to me!" He bellowed.
They had reached the car and Uncle Jared threw her luggage in the trunk and Crystal carefully placed Cash's cage beside it. He went around and harshly grabbed front of her collars pulling her forward face-to-face and barked --
"You'll never return back there, hammer it in your stupid brain!"
He pushed her away. Before Crystal could balance herself, she fell on the ground with impact of the force. The palms of her hand stung, it was scratched as she fell on the road. She took a deep breath to calm herself down and got up, dusting her hands and blew on them to soothe the pain, it was bleeding a little.
This was all normal for her a year before, she neither flinched when thrown harshly nor was there any trace of tears in her eyes. Yes, Crystal, be prepared, endure it if you want freedom, she warned herself. But Crystal had changed over a year, it was all normal a year before but now, it hurt a lot.
Uncle Jared and Jeremy got in the car and started the engine.
"Get in, idiot, or else we'll leave you here!" Jeremy shouted from co-driver seat.
Crystal sighed and just as she was about to open the door, she heard the voice she didn't want to hear the most, atleast in that situation. It's was Harry's voice.
"Crystal!"
Crystal didn't know if he saw all that, she just didn't want to talk to him about anything. She quickly opened the door of the car ignoring him, sat inside and the car immediately took off.
She turned to look back from the back of the car window and it was indeed Harry shouting after her in distance as he became smaller and smaller and disappeared when they took a turn.
Now what turn her life would take in the summer holidays was no more a question to Crystal. She had all her twists and turns planned that's why she decided to return to the hell named Hudsons'.
But even though she was going back, she took back a precious treasure. A treasure of her memories with something precious she gained during her time at Hogwarts... Friends. She understood the importance of friends and friendship.
Still the future awaits her with a lot of quests. And the first quest she challenged herself --
'It's time to burn some money,' Crystal thought as she smirked looking at her reflection in the window.
-: ✧ :-
END OF YEAR 1....
[July 08, 2022]
⫷ Author's note: ⫸
Helloooo!!
So this is it for the first year!
Do tell me the moments you liked in this part of the story.
Also tell me how you find Crystal now, her strong points and weak points. There will be whole character development on this OC as the year goes by.
I'll be waiting for this to get some more views before I post Year 2. So, yes, a hiatus for a few weeks. I promise I'll be back! I made the commitment!
So what I'll be doing in the meantime:
1. Touch up on second year.
2. Edit the third year.
3. Draft the fourth year. (I've the plot ready need to script it all.)
I need to make the second year a little more exciting than this!!! Expect a lot of fluff!! 🦋🦋🦋🐘🐘🐘
And thank you for your time reading this. I know it's not perfect but I did my best and will try to do even better!
♞ Until next time! Goodbye!
Edit: added date of completion for year one
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