𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊
Over the next few weeks, Crystal and Harry spent a lot of time dodging out of sight whenever they saw Gilderoy Lockhart coming down a corridor.
Harder to avoid was Colin Creevey, who seemed to have memorized their schedules.
He once caught up with Harry and requested for a picture again as last time Harry ran away as soon as he saw Lockhart. Harry gave in to Colin when Crystal told him to comply to the boy's sincere request.
Hedwig was still angry with Harry about the disastrous car journey. On the contrary, Cash was all buddy with Crystal again since the day when she coincidentally passed by him when he was flying past them. And this was how it went in flashback:
"Cash!" Crystal shouted and Cash halted in midair, flapping it's wing, "Catch!"
She tossed a sickle up in the air. Cash immediately zoomed forward, the sickle landed in his pouch. The tiny owl did a swirl in the air and swooped down to nuzzled his head on Crystal's shoulder that made her chuckle.
"We're good now," Crystal raised her fist which Cash bumped with his claws in return, "See you!"
"You just had to give a coin to woo him?" Harry said unbelievably when she told them.
"An increment with Sickle though," said Crystal.
"The owl mean money otherwise no deal." said Ron and chortled. "Why would that bird need money though?"
So that's how Cash and Crystal made up which made Harry burn with envy. He thought what if he gave Hedwig a Galleon too, or some nice food.
✰✰✰✰✰✰
Harry was quite glad to reach the weekend. He, Crystal, Ron, and Hermione were planning to visit Hagrid on Saturday morning.
Harry, however, was shaken awake several hours earlier than he would have liked by none other than, Oliver Wood, Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team.
"Whassamatter?" said Harry groggily.
"Quidditch practice!" said Wood. "Come on!"
Harry squinted at the window. There was a thin mist hanging across the pink-and-gold sky.
"Oliver," Harry croaked. "It's the crack of dawn."
"Exactly," said Wood. He was a tall and burly sixth year and, at the moment, his eyes were gleaming with a crazed enthusiasm.
"It's part of our new training program. Come on, grab your broom, and let's go," said Wood heartily. "None of the other teams have started training yet; we're going to be first off the mark this year -"
Yawning and shivering slightly, Harry climbed out of bed and tried to find his Quidditch robes.
"Good man," said Wood. "Meet you on the field in fifteen minutes."
When he'd found his scarlet team robes and pulled on his cloak for warmth, Harry scribbled a note to Ron explaining where he'd gone and went down the spiral staircase to the common room, his Nimbus Two Thousand on his shoulder.
He had just reached the portrait hole when there was a clatter behind him and Colin Creevey came dashing down the spiral staircase, his camera swinging madly around his neck and something clutched in his hand.
"I heard someone saying your name on the stairs, Harry! Look what I've got here! I've had it developed, I wanted to show you - and Crystal but boys can't go in the girls dorm -"
Thank Merlin. Harry thought as he snatched the photos from his hand.
"Hmm . . . It's good," said Harry, as he looked at the two photos. He was a little moody, being woken up so early.
"Isn't it? Do you know when Crystal wakes up?" said Colin shaking with excitement.
"Look, mate, even if knew I'd never tell you -"
"Harry? What're you doing here this early?" asked Crystal as she entered the portrait hole, surprised to see him up so early.
"Going for Quidditch practice - where're you coming from this early in the morning?" asked Harry as noticed her in white and blue track suit.
"As usual, morning walk around the castle, watching the sunrise. . . "
"YOU ALWAYS WAKE UP THIS EARLY?" Harry shouted in surprised, Crystal shushed him, "Who in the world wake up at sleeping time?"
"It's waking time not sleeping. I always wake up around six o'clock something and I've extra classes in fifteen minutes -" said Crystal and noticed little Colin, shyly looking up at her, "Oh? Good Morning, Colin."
"'Morning, Crystal! I was showing Harry the pictures I developed-"
"Oh really? Let me see -" she took the photos from Harry's hand.
Crystal was so enthralled by the photographs that she thought to checkout the development process such moving photos, it had always piqued her interest.
"The photo is nice, not this man though," she pointed at Lockhart. "It's a secret between the three of us, okay?" She brought her finger to her lip.
Colin as red as tomato nodded his head frantically.
"Hey, you've got extra lessons remember? Harry interrupted. "Go get ready and come to see practice after it's over,"
"Do I really have to?"
"Yes, Miss Calisto, you have to come at practice today."
"Fine. . . Sure, I'll be there. Bye Colin," said Crystal walking towards stairs, "Good luck with your practice, Harry!"
"Bye Crystal, see you at the breakfast!" said Colin, frantically waving behind her she went upstairs.
"Yeah, see you, Crys. . ." Harry muttered bitterly looking at a overzealous Colin but Crystal was already gone.
He didn't know why his mood was sour early in the morning but he blamed it to Oliver who ruined his precious morning sleep. He really wanted to sleep more. Harry huffed as he made his way to the Quidditch ground.
"Oh no, I forgot ask her - Will you sign it, Harry?" said Colin eagerly.
"No," said Harry flatly, glancing around to check that the hallway was deserted. "Sorry, Colin, I'm in a hurry - Quidditch practice -"
Colin followed and bombarded Harry with questions, he just wanted to run away and take a U-turn and fall on his soft mattress again but he also knew that Wood would be out for his blood if he did that.
✰✰✰✰✰✰
Two hours later, Crystal was done with the daily practice of the spells in her special training.
As the Leading figure of many under her, Crystal thought she should be strong enough to atleast protect herself and people around her. So along with all the business and theory, Crystal insisted on adding this considering the event last year with Voldemort. She hated the feeling of helplessness.
Crystal entered the Great Hall and sat down beside Hermione for the breakfast.
"Working hard since morning?" said Hermione.
"Don't ask. . ." said Crystal, spreading some jam on the bread, "It'll only be more hectic next month, I've to start on the new subject, maybe Calistos History and legacy or something, Dumbledore said."
"Eat more. You need extra energy to jam in all that crap," said Ron tearing a chicken leg, "What's the use of learning history anyway,"
"Well, to learn from the past," said Crystal and looked around, "Anyway, Harry's still not back from practice?"
"Yow kvow 'e wento prawtice?" said Ron, with stuffed mouth.
"Yeah, he told me come and see practice,"
"He's still there." said Hermione, eyeing Ron stuffing more chicken in his mouth and about to speak. "Seriously, Ronald! Don't talk with your mouth full!"
"Let's bring him breakfast. He must be starving," said Crystal as she put some sandwiches, toast and marmalade on a plate then covered it with tissues putting some extra with her.
"What about your breakfast, Crysie?" said Hermione, standing up with her, "You just had a single toast,"
"Harry doesn't like to eat alone so we can all keep him company and it'll be like a picnic," Crystal said as she raised the plate.
"You really care about him, huh?" said Hermione, with a chuckle as she arranged a plate for herself and put some extra knowing a certain foodie would try to get her food.
"Of course, because he cares about me too," said Crystal with a nod.
Hermione decided not to probe it too much.
They reached the stands and sat down. Crystal saw Colin in opposite stand busy adjusting his camera around his neck.
A few minutes later as the trio were talking mainly Ron and Hermione arguing about Lockhart and Crystal sat quietly watching the field thinking about something, the Quidditch team came out of the changing room with sleepy looking Harry yawning and walking as though drunk.
"You made it!" Harry said beaming at Crystal.
"Unfortunately," Crystal shrugged.
"Aren't you finished yet?" called Ron incredulously.
"Haven't even started," said Harry, looking jealously at the toast and marmalade Ron and Hermione had brought out of the Great Hall. "Wood's been teaching us new moves."
"Don't eye on my toast," said Ron, he gobbled his toast and pointed at Crystal, "Crysie, bwot yo bweakfas'."
"I told you not to talk -"
"Really, Crys?" Harry looked at her touched. "Give me fast, I'm starving,"
Crystal uncovered the plate and gave him a sandwich wrapped in tissue but Harry didn't take it.
"You see, my hands are a bit dirty, field inspection and all," He raised his dirt covered hands, "Feed me, Aaaa - " Harry opened his mouth wide.
"Just washed your hand- "
"This will take some time to wash off, Wood's going to call me back soon, hurry up!"
"Oh, God . . . Atleast sit down and eat," Crystal quickly unwrapped the tissue and raised the sandwich towards his mouth, Harry took a seat beside her, leaned in and took a huge bite out of it, stuffing his mouth.
"Harry!" Wood shouted from the ground, "What're you doing? Come back!"
Harry chewed quickly and swallowed before shouting back, "Be back in a minute, Oliver!"
He hurriedly grabbed Crystal's wrist taking her by surprise and brought the sandwich back to his mouth taking huge bites at a time, finishing it whole in no time and coughing at the last swallow.
Crystal gave him her water bottle when he started to choke.
"Geez . . . I'm so done with you- " Crystal muttered as she patted his back, "Couldn't you have just practiced first and eat later in peace?"
"I - I needed some energy to f-fly too," Harry coughed and gulped down more water. "I was dying of hunger."
"Are you okay now?" said Crystal, concerned as Harry wiped his mouth in the handkerchief Crystal gave him.
"Better. Thanks so much," said Harry and with a big smile of mischief, he ruffled her hair and ran down the stands.
"Ugh, Harry Potter, you jerk! Why did you touch my hair when your hands were dirty!" Crystal shouted at his back, patting down her messed up hair.
She caught Hermione's eyes who was just looking back her with her mouth open.
"What?" Crystal said to her.
"Is . . . there something going on between you guys?" said Hermione smiling, looking back and forth between Crystal and Harry who had now mounted his broom flying.
"Something going on? What?" Crystal said confused.
"That's what I'm asking you, Crysie."
"Didn't you see what was going on? I, so nicely helped him and he touched my hair with his dirty hands on purpose to irritate me! It hasn't even been four hours since I washed it!" Crystal scowled, "Just wait and see, I'll get back at him,"
Hermione was so confused, did she misinterpret? They must be very close to casually behave like that around each other as though it was normal for friends.
But then again, Crystal was like a family to Harry. Had Crystal not been living with the Muggles, Harry's parents would've adopted her and she and Harry would be living together like siblings. Maybe she got closer to Harry and his family over the summer vacations.
Ron was cheering for Harry with a happy stomach as the girls talked about random things. Crystal had her breakfast in the meantime, not being able to resist the food in front of her anymore.
Just as she finished and having water, Ron pointed out Slytherin team on the field. The Gryffindor team flew down to them.
"Let's check out what's the matter." said Ron and they made their way towards the crowd.
"Oh, look," said Flint. "A field invasion."
Crystal, Ron and Hermione were crossing the grass to see what was going on.
"What's happening?" Ron asked Harry. "Why aren't you playing? And what's he doing here?"
He was looking at Malfoy, taking in his Slytherin Quidditch robes.
"I'm the new Slytherin Seeker, Weasley," said Malfoy, smugly, glancing at Crystal. "Everyone's just been admiring the brooms my father's bought our team."
Ron gaped, open-mouthed, at the seven superb broomsticks in front of him.
"Good, aren't they?" said Malfoy smoothly. "But perhaps the Gryffindor team will be able to raise some gold and get new brooms, too. You could raffle off those Cleansweep Fives; I expect a museum would bid for them."
The Slytherin team howled with laughter.
"At least no one on the Gryffindor team had to buy their way in," said Hermione sharply. "They got in on pure talent."
The smug look on Malfoy's face flickered.
"No one asked your opinion, you filthy little Mudblood," he spat.
Harry lunged forward and grabbed Malfoy's collar about to punch him but was stopped by Flint trying to pull him away, "HOW DARE YOU SAY THAT WORD!" Harry yelled furiously.
Crystal had no idea what was happening. She had never seen Harry this angry before to even throw hands first. She knew at once that Malfoy had said something really bad because there was an instant uproar at his words.
Ron plunged his hand into his robes, pulled out his wand, yelling, "You'll pay for that one, Malfoy!" and pointed it furiously under Flint's arm at Malfoy's face.
A loud bang echoed around the stadium and a jet of green light shot out of the wrong end of Ron's wand, hitting him in the stomach and sending him reeling backward onto the grass.
"Ron! Ron! Are you all right?" squealed Hermione.
"Oh my god. . ." Crystal rushed to Ron. "Are you okay, Ron?"
Ron opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. Instead he gave an almighty belch and several slugs dribbled out of his mouth onto his lap.
The Slytherin team were paralyzed with laughter. Flint was doubled up, hanging onto his new broomstick for support. Malfoy was on all fours, banging the ground with his fist.
The Gryffindors were gathered around Ron, who kept belching large, glistening slugs. Nobody seemed to want to touch him.
"You both better get him to Hagrid's, it's nearest --- I'll be right back," said Harry to Crystal and Hermione, who nodded, and the pair of them pulled Ron up by his arms.
"What happened, Crystal? What happened? Is he ill? But you can cure him, can't you?" Colin had run down from his seat and was now dancing alongside them as they left the field.
Ron gave a huge heave and more slugs dribbled down his front.
"Oooh," said Colin, fascinated and raising his camera. "Can you hold him still, Crystal?"
"Not now, Colin --- "
"Get out of their way, Colin!" said Harry, angrily. He beckoned Crystal and Hermione to go.
Once they left, Harry furiously marched towards Malfoy who was still laughing on the ground on all four and kicked him hard in stomach as though kicking a football.
The impact of the kick was so strong that Malfoy rolled a short distance on ground hitting his back on one of the poles of the loops. He landed flat on face and groaned in pain, clutching the side of his stomach.
Everyone present gasped even the Slytherins. Harry didn't seem like a guy to boldly hit someone like that and break into a fight. He grabbed Malfoy collar to pull him up.
"You better watch what you say or next time you'll find a shoe print on your face instead of the robes, you filthy little pureblood." Harry hissed to Malfoy, pushed him back on the ground.
He gave a cold stare to all the Slytherins who backed away a little.
The Gryffindors cheered for him as he ran towards Hagrid's house.
He was about to reach on Hagrid's door but he saw Gilderoy Lockhart, wearing robes of palest mauve today, came striding out of Hagrid's house.
At the same time, someone pulled on his hand and he fell back in the bushes.
"Don't shout, it's me." Crystal whispered before he could open his mouth. Harry let out of a sigh of relief.
"It's a simple matter if you know what you're doing!" Lockhart was saying loudly to Hagrid. "If you need help, you know where I am! I'll let you have a copy of my book. I'm surprised you haven't already got one - I'll sign one tonight and send it over. Well, good-bye!" And he strode away toward the castle.
Crystal, Hermione and Harry waited until Lockhart was out of sight, then pulled Ron out of the bush and up to Hagrid's front door. Crystal knocked urgently.
Hagrid appeared at once, looking very grumpy, but his expression brightened when he saw who it was.
"Bin wonderin' when you'd come ter see me - come in, come in - thought you mighta bin Professor Lockhart back again -"
Harry and Hermione supported Ron over the threshold into the one-roomed cabin, which had an enormous bed in one corner, a fire crackling merrily in the other.
Hagrid didn't seem perturbed by Ron's slug problem, which Crystal briefly explained as Harry lowered Ron into a chair.
"Better out than in," he said cheerfully, plunking a large copper basin in front of him. "Get 'em all up, Ron."
"I don't think there's anything to do except wait for it to stop," said Hermione anxiously, watching Ron bend over the basin. "That's a difficult curse to work at the best of times, but with a broken wand -"
Hagrid was bustling around making them tea. His boarhound, Fang, was slobbering over Harry who was scratching his ears. Crystal as far as she could watching Fang cautiously and silently thanked Harry as he kept the dog busy with him.
"What did Lockhart want with you, Hagrid?" asked Crystal.
"Givin' me advice on gettin' kelpies out of a well," growled Hagrid, moving a half-plucked rooster off his scrubbed table and setting down the teapot. "Like I don' know. An' bangin' on about some banshee he banished. If one word of it was true, I'll eat my kettle."
It was most unlike Hagrid to criticize a Hogwarts teacher, and Harry looked at him in surprise; Crystal nodded her head a few times in agreement.
Hermione, however, said in a voice somewhat higher than usual, "I think you're being a bit unfair. Professor Dumbledore obviously thought he was the best man for the job -"
"He was the on'y man for the job," said Hagrid, offering them a plate of treacle toffee, while Ron coughed squelchily into his basin. "An' I mean the on'y one. Gettin' very difficult ter find anyone fer the Dark Arts job. People aren't too keen ter take it on, see. They're startin' ter think it's jinxed. No one's lasted long fer a while now. So tell me," said Hagrid, jerking his head at Ron. "Who was he tryin' ter curse?"
"Malfoy called Hermione something - it must've been really bad, because everyone went wild and Harry - " Crystal said and peeked at Harry with the corner of her eyes, "I've never seen Harry this angry before,"
"It was bad," said Ron hoarsely, emerging over the tabletop looking pale and sweaty before he dived out of sight again as a fresh wave of slugs made their appearance.
"Malfoy called her Mudblood, Hagrid -" said Harry, bitterly.
Hagrid looked outraged.
"He didn'!" he growled at Hermione.
"He did," she said. "But I don't know what it means. I could tell it was really rude, of course -"
"It's about the most insulting thing he could think of," said Harry. "Mudblood's a really foul name for someone who is Muggle-born - you know, non-magic parents."
"There are some wizards - like Malfoy's family - " gasped Ron, coming back up. " - who think they're better than everyone else because they're what people call pure-blood. The rest of us know it doesn't make any difference at all." He gave a small burp, and a single slug fell into his outstretched hand. He threw it into the basin and continued, "I mean, the rest of us know it doesn't make any difference at all. Look at Neville Longbottom - he's pure-blood and he can hardly stand a cauldron the right way up."
"An' they haven't invented a spell our Hermione can' do," said Hagrid proudly, making Hermione go a brilliant shade of magenta.
"It's a disgusting thing to call someone," said Ron, wiping his sweaty brow with a shaking hand. "Dirty blood, see. Common blood. It's ridiculous. Most wizards these days are half-blood anyway like Harry and - Crysie too. If we hadn't married Muggles we'd've died out."
He retched and ducked out of sight again.
"Well, I don' blame yeh fer tryin' ter curse him, Ron," said Hagrid loudly over the thuds of more slugs hitting the basin. "Bu' maybe it was a good thing yer wand backfired. 'Spect Lucius Malfoy would've come marchin' up ter school if yeh'd cursed his son. Least yer not in trouble."
From the conversation going on Crystal understood why Harry reacted like that. His mother is a Muggle-born too and he must have heard someone but seeing as how he furious he was, it wouldn't be a surprise if he had beat up Malfoy -
"Hang on - Harry, why did you stay back earlier? You didn't do anything to Malfoy, did you?" Crystal inquired.
"Of course I did. I kicked him so hard on ribs that he would'nt able to stand straight for days!" Harry exclaimed proudly. "Malfoy Sr. the git once called my mum that in a party, my dad dislocated his jaws."
"This guy . . . " Crystal fed up with him for the day. She pushed back her hair on the forehead frustrated as she averted her eyes with a scoff.
"What? You kicked him? What if Lucius Malfoy -" Hermione gasped.
"Harry, what your father did is one thing, let's put it aside. But well, this is just a theory but Draco Malfoy won't have guts tell anything to his father," said Crystal, her eyebrows furrowed a little when Fang looked at her but continued, "D'you remember, Harry, at Kockturn Alley? Lucius Malfoy was scolding him to be better than us when he was complaining, though he should not do this as a parent but if Malfoy told him that he got beaten up by you, he'd probably only get a scolding back from."
"See? That settles it -" said Harry with a grin which was interrupted by Crystal.
"The keyword here is theory, not reality. Even if it all goes like this, it still doesn't mean you should pick fights with him. You may get away first time but what about next time. I'm not just telling this to Harry but you too Ron."
Harry's face fell like no one remembered his birthday. Ron nodded his head looking bleak and pale.
Hagrid looked at them as if reminiscing something from the past and chuckled.
"She's not wrong," said Hagrid abruptly as though struck by a sudden thought. "Harry, Crystal, Gotta bone ter pick with yeh both. I've heard yeh both have bin givin' out signed photos. How come I haven't got one?"
Crystal shook her head, smiling and looked away, but Harry didn't seem to get the joke.
"We've not been giving out signed photos," he said hotly. "If Lockhart's still spreading that around -"
But then he saw that Hagrid was laughing.
"I'm on'y jokin'," he said, patting Harry genially on the back and sending him face first into the table. "I knew yeh hadn't really. I told Lockhart yeh both didn' need teh. Yeh both are more famous than him without tryin'."
"Bet he didn't like that," said Harry, sitting up and rubbing his chin.
"Don' think he did," said Hagrid, his eyes twinkling. "An' then I told him I'd never read one o' his books an' he decided ter go. Treacle toffee, Ron?" he added as Ron reappeared.
"No thanks," said Ron weakly. "Better not risk it."
"Come an' see what I've bin growin'," said Hagrid as Harry and Hermione finished the last of their tea. Crystal had already finished it some time ago.
In the small vegetable patch behind Hagrid's house were a dozen of the largest pumpkins Crystal had ever seen. Each was the size of a large boulder.
"Gettin' on well, aren't they?" said Hagrid happily. "Fer the Halloween feast . . . should be big enough by then."
"What've you been feeding them?" said Crystal. "Has new fertilizer with newly discovered compound of different chemical composition is launched in market?"
"I don' understand what yer saying mos' o' the times but yeh sure look excited, Crystal," Hagrid chuckled and looked over his shoulder to check that they were alone. "And well, I've bin givin' them - you know - a bit o' help -"
"Ahh. . . Got it." said Crystal, noticing Hagrid's flowery pink umbrella leaning against the back wall of the cabin.
"An Engorgement Charm, I suppose?" said Hermione, halfway between disapproval and amusement. "Well, you've done a good job on them.
"That's what yer little sister said," said Hagrid, nodding at Ron. "Met her jus' yesterday." Hagrid looked sideways at Harry and Crystal, his beard twitching.
"Said she was jus' lookin' round the grounds, but I reckon she was hopin' she might run inter someone else at my house." He winked at Harry. "If yeh ask me, she wouldn' say no ter a signed -"
"Oh, shut up," said Harry. Ron snorted with laughter and the ground was sprayed with slugs.
"Watch it!" Hagrid roared, pulling Ron away from his precious pumpkins.
✰✰✰✰✰✰
It was nearly lunchtime and as Harry had only had one bit of treacle toffee and a sandwich since dawn, he was keen to go back to school to eat.
They said good-bye to Hagrid and walked back up to the castle, Ron hiccoughing occasionally, but only bringing up two very small slugs.
They had barely set foot in the cool entrance hall when a voice rang out, "There you are, Calisto, Potter - Weasley." Professor McGonagall was walking toward them, looking stern. "You three will do your detentions this evening."
"What're we doing, Professor?" said Ron, nervously suppressing a burp.
"You will be polishing the silver in the trophy room with Mr. Filch," said Professor McGonagall. "And no magic, Weasley - elbow grease."
Ron gulped. Argus Filch, the caretaker, was loathed by every student in the school.
"And you both, Calisto and Potter, will be helping Professor Lockhart answer his fan mail," said Professor McGonagall.
"Oh no - Professor, can't I go and do something in the trophy room too please?" said Crystal desperately. "Or maybe wash dishes in the kitchen - "
"Nope, I won't let you escape again," said Harry then looked at Professor McGonagall, "Minnie - deny her, it's very unfair to me!"
Crystal glared at him and he grinned in return.
"You don't need to tell me that, Potter! Call me Professor! And Calisto, certainly not," said Professor McGonagall, raising her eyebrows. "Professor Lockhart requested you both particularly. Eight o'clock sharp, all three of you."
As Professor McGonagall left, Crystal turned to Harry.
"Tell me, Harry, why am I still friends with you?" said Crystal.
"Because I'm so cool and handsome like Prince Charming," said Harry with a cheeky smile.
Hermione snorted a laugh, Ron choked so that a small slug fell out on table.
Crystal blinked a few times then cringed. She expected Harry to laugh and say 'kidding!' but he seemed serious. No one spoke for a few moments after that. Then Crystal had an idea.
"I guess. . . he's possessed by a nasty narcissist ghost today," said Crystal finally, "wait a second, let me slap it out of you."
She said swinging her hand, Harry leaned back on his seat to dodge it.
"Woah - Hey!" Harry yelled trying to dodge again and again. Ron and Hermione laughed and a few around joined in seeing them.
"Don't worry! Your illness has a cure to it. You'll be fine after this Crystal's-special-star-print-slap, exclusive just for you! It's newly researched technique of exorcism! Effects, you will feel better. Side effects, you will feel even more better."
"Okay, Fine fine! I got it, Miss Crispy." Harry said getting up from his seat in his attempts to get away.
"You better and I'm not Crispy," Crystal turned to eat her pudding again.
Harry raked a hand through his messy hair and sat down beside Crystal, rolling his sleeves up.
"You're really too much sometimes," Harry huffed as he ate his shepherd's pie.
"I don't think so, that was a payback for earlier- Oh! This is your favorite, have this," Crystal placed a slice of Treacle tart on his plate and smiled at him. "I won't really hit you, silly."
Harry looked at her smile and didn't know why a smile spread on his face too.
"I know, you silly,"
"Filch'll have me there all night," said Ron heavily. "No magic! There must be about a hundred cups in that room. I'm no good at Muggle cleaning."
Crystal was ready to swap with him anytime as she had lots of experience with Hudson but she won't tell anyone that.
Harry, Crystal and Ron slouched into the Great Hall in states of deepest gloom, Hermione wore a well-you-did-break-school-rules sort of expression.
✰✰✰✰✰✰
Saturday afternoon melted away, and in what seemed like no time, it was five minutes to eight, and Harry had to practically drag Crystal along the second-floor corridor.
"Let's just escape, Harry," Crystal whispered urgently, "I'll think of some feasible excuse, please!"
"Let's just get this over with!" said Harry steering Crystal by pushing her shoulders around the corner and stop in front of Lockhart's office. He held her wrist tightly to keep from running away. "It's punishment, just accept it. You said that to me."
"You can't just copy paste my words back to me!"
"Yes, I can. Now, be ready."
Harry clenched his jaw, gritting his teeth and knocked. Crystal tugged and twisted her hand to free, but it was no use.
"Harry, look, let's make a deal- let's just- "
The door flew open at once. Lockhart beamed down at him. Crystal lost all her hopes.
"Ah, here are the scalawags!" he said. "Crystal, Harry, come in -"
Shining brightly on the walls by the light of many candles were countless framed photographs of Lockhart. He had even signed a few of them. Another large pile lay on his desk.
"You can address the envelopes!" Lockhart told them, as though this was a huge treat. "This first one's to Gladys Gudgeon, bless her - huge fan of mine -"
The time seemed to be moving like a snail. Harry let Lockhart's voice wash over him, occasionally saying, "Mmm" and "Right" and "Yeah." Now and then he caught a phrase like, "Fame's a fickle friend, Harry, Crystal," or "Celebrity is as celebrity does, remember that."
Crystal didn't even bother to acknowledge what he was saying, she just ignored him. She was quietly and apathetically scribbling messages on the mail. Harry had to cover up for her time and time again saying, "She is not really feeling well today as well."
It felt like many hours had passed. Crystal was writing at tortoise's speed, just to pass time somehow. Harry, however moved his aching hand over what felt like the thousandth envelope.
It must be nearly time to leave, Harry thought miserably and glanced at Crystal who seemed to stifle a yawn as she wipped the corner of her eyes. . . please let it be nearly time. . .
And then he heard something - something quite apart from the spitting of the dying candles and Lockhart's prattle about his fans.
It was a voice, a voice to chill the bone marrow, a voice of breathtaking, ice-cold venom.
"Come . . . come to me. . . . Let me rip you. . . . Let me tear you. . . . Let me kill you. . . ."
Harry gave a huge jump and a large lilac blot appeared on Veronica Smethley's street.
"What?" he said loudly.
"I know!" said Lockhart. "Six solid months at the top of the best-seller list! Broke all records!"
"No," said Harry frantically. "That voice!"
"Sorry?" said Lockhart, looking puzzled. "What voice?"
"That - that voice that said - didn't you hear it? Crys, did you hear it?"
"No, I didn't. . . There was no voice other than. . ." Crystal signalled with her eyes towards Lockhart.
"That voice - scary -"
Lockhart was looking at Harry in high astonishment.
"What are you talking about, Harry? Perhaps you're getting a little drowsy? Great Scott - look at the time! We've been here nearly four hours! I'd never have believed it - the time's flown, hasn't it?"
"Can we leave now, Professor?" Crystal said as she saw an opening, "Harry's not feeling good, right Harry?"
Harry didn't answer. He was straining his ears to hear the voice again, but there was no sound now except for Lockhart telling them, they mustn't expect a treat like this every time they got detention.
Feeling dazed, Harry grabbed Crystal's hand and they left.
Crystal frowned looking at his back as he dragged her behind him hastily and cautiously looking around.
"Harry, slow down and tell me what happened? You sure you weren't imagining things because you're tired?"
"No! I heard it clearly, it said to kill someone." said Harry slowing down his pace.
Hearing the word 'kill' always reminded Crystal of Voldemort. Then Crystal gasped remembering something and stopped walking which made Harry stop with her.
"What? You don't believe me?"
"No Harry, I believe you," Crystal said, "I just remembered, Dobby, the house-elf said someone is plotting against us. The incident with barrier on station and the voice you heard said 'kill'. . . What if- Voldemort's trying to kill us again- but for all we know Dobby could also be lying about the unknown plots but we can't overlook these possibilities, we know what he was capable of doing last year even though he didn't have a body."
Harry nodded processing her words, Crystal continued.
"But why are you the only one who heard that voice is a bit - you know - are you still hearing it now?"
"No, not after that, I understand what you're saying. . . But maybe I was imagining things . . . Don't worry too much," said Harry, not sure himself.
"No - I'm saying to be vigilant and immediately tell me if you hear any voice again. We should confirm it whether you actually heard it or not."
"Do you really believe me?" Harry sometimes have a hard time believing himself that Crystal believed in him.
"Of course, well, if I overlook all your mischiefs and teasing, you're an honest and a loyal person, Harry."
Harry was surprised for a moment. He had observed that Crystal had trust issues with people but for her to say that meant that Crystal had truly accepted him as her best friend. He gave her a quick hug and pulled away with a smile.
It was so late that the Gryffindor common room was almost empty. They went straight up to the dormitory saying, "Good night," to each other.
Crystal wanted to tell Hermione what happened but she was already asleep, maybe waiting for her. She was holding a book that was open on her stomach and many more surrounding her on the bed.
Crystal closed all her books without making a sound and stacked them aside on the bedside cabinet, covered her with a blanket and closed the curtains around her bed.
All the time while she was preparing to sleep, even while changing clothes or applying the moisturizer, and lying on bed only one thought ran through Crystal's mind "was Dobby really lying?", "could Harry be hallucinating?" Or "But what if both of them were saying truth. . . then. . . is killing related to Voldemort again?"
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A/N:
Soooo Guys!
Regret to say, but I won't be able to update next two weeks cuz ---
I'M GOING ON A TRIP! 😌
Vote and comment if you liked this chapter! Let me know your thoughts! :)
♡u all~
Ciao~
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