𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊
Crystal sat on her usual seat in Dumbledore's office. She was looking at the feeble Fawkes, distressed for both him and the situation they were in.
It was the first time Harry was inside Dumbledore's office so he was looking around, scary thoughts going through his mind. His eyes stopped at the Sorting Hat.
Harry hesitated. He cast a wary eye around the sleeping witches and wizards on the walls and then to Crystal who looked deep in thought.
Surely it couldn't hurt if he took the hat down and tried it on again? Just to see . . . just to make sure it had put him in the right House ---
He walked quietly around the desk, lifted the hat from its shelf, and lowered it slowly onto his head.
A few moments later. He grabbed the point of the hat and pulled it off. It hung limply in his hand, grubby and faded. Harry pushed it back onto its shelf, feeling sick. Crystal was watching him silently ever since he started muttering.
"You're wrong," he said aloud to the still and silent hat. It didn't move. Harry backed away, watching it.
"What're you doing?" said Crystal, leaning an elbow on the arm of the chair with her chin in her palm.
"It's saying that I'd have done well in Slytherin,"
"So?"
"The Slytherin House, Crys! You know what kind of evil --- "
"Just because a few people chose dark, it doesn't mean the whole house should be tagged as the evildoers. You can find bad people in other houses too,"
"But I'm not a Slytherin---"
"Yes, you're not, you're a Gryffindor,"
Then a strange, gagging noise behind Harry made him wheel around.
"He's Fawkes . . . looks so pitiful . . ." said Crystal looking at the decrepit-looking bird.
Its eyes were dull and, even as Crystal and Harry watched, a couple more feathers fell out of its tail. Crystal walked to it and for the first time dared to pat its wings with trembling hands.
"The end is the new beginning," she said softly, Fawkes lower his head as though appreciating the comfort.
Harry was just thinking that all he needed was for Dumbledore's pet bird to die while he and Crystal were alone in the office with it and right at that moment, the bird burst into flames.
Crystal stepped away from it, marvelling at the sight in awe as though watching a history being created in front of her.
Harry yelled in shock and backed away into the desk. He looked feverishly around in case there was a glass of water somewhere but couldn't see one.
"Crys! Help him!"
Crystal smiled weakly.
"You --- Why are you smiling?" Harry looked at her scared.
"It's the beginning of new life," said Crystal, "It's sad yet fascinating to witness this with my own eyes. Just watch it begin again."
"What begins?"
"New life,"
Harry was sure Crystal had finally gone crazy.
Fawkes, meanwhile, had become a fireball; it gave one loud shriek and the next second there was nothing but a smouldering pile of ash on the floor.
The office door opened. Dumbledore came in, looking very sombre.
"Professor," Harry gasped. "Your bird --- I couldn't do anything --- he just caught fire --- and she just --- "
To Harry's astonishment, Dumbledore smiled like Crystal too.
"About time, too," he said. "He's been looking dreadful for days; I've been telling him to get a move on. Maybe, he was waiting for you both to come together?"
He chuckled at the stunned look on Harry's face.
"Fawkes is a phoenix, Harry. Phoenixes burst into flame when it is time for them to die and are reborn from the ashes. Watch him . . ."
Harry looked down in time to see a tiny, wrinkled, newborn bird poke its head out of the ashes. It was quite as ugly as the old one.
"You didn't know?" Crystal asked watching the bird amazed.
"No . . . " Harry said breathlessly.
"You should read more," Crystal replied.
"It's a shame you had to see him on a Burning Day," said Dumbledore, seating himself behind his desk. "He's really very handsome most of the time, wonderful red and gold plumage. Fascinating creatures, phoenixes. They can carry immensely heavy loads, their tears have healing powers, and they make highly faithful pets."
Before Dumbledore could speak another word, however, the door of the office flew open with an almighty bang and Hagrid burst in, a wild look in his eyes, his balaclava perched on top of his shaggy black head and the dead rooster still swinging from his hand.
"It wasn' Crys'al and Harry, Professor Dumbledore!" said Hagrid urgently. "I was talkin' ter them seconds before that kid was found, they never had time, sir ---"
Dumbledore tried to say something, but Hagrid went ranting on, waving the rooster around in his agitation, sending feathers everywhere.
"--- it can't've bin them, I'll swear it in front o' the Ministry o' Magic if I have to ---"
"Hagrid, I ---"
"--- yeh've got the wrong people, sir, I know Crys'al and Harry never --- "
"Hagrid!" said Dumbledore loudly. "I do not think that Crystal and Harry attacked those people."
"Oh," said Hagrid, the rooster falling limply at his side. "Right. I'll wait outside then, Headmaster."
And he stomped out looking embarrassed.
"You don't think it was us, Professor?" Harry repeated hopefully as Dumbledore brushed rooster feathers off his desk.
"No, Harry, I don't," said Dumbledore, though his face was sombre again. "But I still want to talk to you."
Harry waited nervously while Dumbledore considered him, the tips of his long fingers together.
"I must ask you, Harry, whether there is anything you'd like to tell me," he said gently. "Anything at all."
Harry thought about it for a moment and glanced at Crystal from the corner of his eyes, hoping she could tell him what to do but he was stunned to see Crystal wasn't looking at him at all.
Instead, she looked quite relaxed (it looked like that at least to Harry) with her eyes closed (she was actually thinking about the attacks) and calmly sipping her tea (she was actually trying to calm down) ---
TEA? Where did she get the tea from? Was this the time to be having tea? Harry thought.
Harry blinked a few times and felt as if his brain got petrified and started to crumble away. He finally realised that he was on his own to answer that question.
He didn't know what made him do it but decided that he should not tell anything at the moment or they'll have to explain the Polyjuice Potion simmering away in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. Too risky.
"No," said Harry. "There isn't anything, Professor,"
At last, the term ended and a silence deep as the snow on the grounds descended on the castle.
Harry found it peaceful, rather than gloomy, and enjoyed the fact that he, Crystal, Hermione, and the Weasleys had the run of Gryffindor Tower, which meant they could play Exploding Snap loudly without bothering anyone.
Much to his dismay, Crystal became busier than ever during the holidays. Since there was no school to attend and considering even less time for summer, Dumbledore and Crystal decided not to waste a single minute and use the holidays fruitfully.
Crystal had business, management, administration, finance, economics, accounts, law and leadership lessons and at last, to add an extra skill, she had to practice musical instruments learnt last year from Professor Flitwick.
Crystal learnt to play the piano and violin. She found some interest in playing music, it released the stress of all day but she didn't understand why it was needed as a part of the succession training.
The time she spent with her friends was almost negligible. They only ever met either in the morning or night only if they stayed awake.
Harry couldn't wake up early in the morning but he always waited for Crystal to come back at night before going to bed.
He'd always wait for her to come to talk with her even a little and Crystal was more than grateful to have someone to talk to before turning in for the day.
✰✰✰✰✰✰
Christmas morning dawned, and Crystal woke up at her usual time before six o'clock. She sat up half awake, her body felt really tired and was debating her mind to leave the bed but the body didn't want to.
She glanced around the room, Hermione was still sleeping and suddenly remembered that it was Christmas so she didn't have any lessons.
Feeling relieved and happy she fell back on her bed, sinking into her fluffy pillow, pulling the soft and warm comforter over her head, only for it to be pulled down by Hermione after a few minutes.
"I've never seen you sleeping in after seven, Crysie --- " Hermione gasped and placed a hand on Crystal's forehead, "--- you seem to have a little fever? How're you feeling?" she asked worriedly grazing the back of her hand on her cheek.
"I'm fine, 'Mione. It's probably because of the warmth from the comforter," Crystal said and pulled it back, "So. . . Okay then, good morning and let me sleep."
Hermione didn't give up, this time pulled the whole comforter out of her bed.
"Wha --- Hey! That's a crime --- " Crystal was now wide awake, feeling the cool air on her skin.
"Happy Christmas, Crysie!" said Hermione, in a sing-song voice and hugged her tightly rocking her sideways, "It's Christmas, you can't sleep all day!"
"Happy Christmas, 'Mione but give it back --- um, like right now," said Crystal, a little irked by the way she was woken up. She raked a hand through her hair to sweep it back, "It hasn't been stated in the law that I can't sleep in on Christmas day,"
"Aren't you studying law too much?"
"Oh, c'mon! I've got only one day to rest so I'm not doing anything today." Crystal pleaded, "Give it back like a good girl,"
"I'm a good girl! You don't spend time with me these days at all!" said Hermione, forcefully pulling Crystal onto her feet and pushing her into the bathroom.
"Oh, please," Crystal rolled her eyes while being pushed as she gave up the struggle. "like I even have time for myself,"
Hermione started the shower on her head and closed the door behind her, leaving her shocked. She chose Crystal's outfit for the day.
Once awake, Crystal decided to take a nice, long shower on her day off, so much so that she scrubbed herself all red from head to toe.
And once she was ready, they opened the presents. Crystal got the signature Weasley sweater from Mrs. Weasley and a card; Ron gave her a box of chocolate frogs; Hermione gave her a book titled 'Everyday spells to be known'; the Potters sent her a telescope self-maintenance kit with a user manual, which lit up Crystal's eyes. Fred and George gave her a pack of Coloured and sparkles Fireworks. Sam and Darcy gave her a silver coin with her name beautifully engraved on it, the back side had her initials as C.A.C.
Crystal had ordered Samantha's famous Blueberry Chocolate bonbons boxes that were superhit last year. The carton contained about twenty boxes of those chocolates for everyone including the Professors. It was delivered on Christmas Eve via Wizard delivery services.
Crystal gave Hermione a silver bracelet, the letters 'H' and 'G' made of many tiny red sparkling stones dangled delicately.
"Don't tell me it's Ruby! This is so beautiful . . ." said Hermione breathlessly admiring the bracelet as she clasped it on her hand. "But you didn't have to, Crysie! It must be expensive! The box of chocolate was enough!"
"Don't mention it, I was out with Sam one day and my eyes fell on this and a thought came to my mind, 'Ah, this would look good on Hermione' so I had them customize your initials." said Crystal, "Actually, this was your birthday gift but I forgot I had brought this for you . . . So . . ."
"Thank you! I love it," Hermione squealed throwing herself at her. Crystal smiled returning the hug.
"Now, we'll check up on the potion," she said pulling away and Crystal groaned.
Hermione grabbed her hand to keep her from running away as she was capable of ditching people midway.
"It's ready," said Hermione adding more lacewings --- Crystal grimaced --- and steering the bubbling potion, "Let's go and wake up the boys,"
They went to the common room when they remembered to take the presents for Ron and Harry.
Crystal raised her free hand to knock but ---
"Knock before you go in, 'Mione!" Crystal whispered nervously when she saw Hermione barge in. Harry and Ron were still sleeping.
"What're you whispering for?" said Hermione loudly. "We're here to wake them up. Shout in their ears!"
Crystal placed the presents on the other unoccupied bed and looked around, it was her first time inside the boys' dormitory. Although it was a bit strange, the structure and design looked mostly similar to the girls' dormitory.
"Wake up!" Hermione said loudly and Crystal pulled back the curtains of the window, the sunlight flooded the room.
"Hermione --- you're not supposed to be in here ---" said Ron, shielding his eyes against the light. "Oh, you're here too, Crysie, don't follow her --- "
Harry instantly sat up fully awake hearing the name.
"Happy Christmas to you too," said Hermione, throwing Ron his present.
"Happy Christmas you both," said Crystal placing three boxes of chocolates on Ron's bed, "Hope you rot your teeth, Ronald," she said cheekily when Ron's eyes lit up seeing his present.
She gave Harry a box too along with a present neatly wrapped in a blue wrapper.
"Happy Christmas, Crys," said Harry, smiling as he opened his present. It was a black hoodie with a cool image of vibrant golden and red shades of the lion on the back. Harry instantly wore it hugging it to himself with a smile.
"Is the fitting, okay?" Crystal asked feeling uncertainly nervous.
"A little bit big, but no worries I'm growing up fast and it's nice and warm! Thank you! Wait a second" --- Harry fumbled through his bedside table drawers and took out a small box placing it in Crystal's hands --- "Open it,"
Crystal opened the box to find a pair of studs with green stones on the golden metal, it was emerald.
"Wow, It's beautiful, thank you, Harry," said Crystal in awe.
"I asked mum to send one since you had done the piercing," said Harry, nervously, scratching the back of his neck, "Er, well, try it on,"
Crystal took out the studs she was wearing easily but struggled to put on the new ones as she was still new to this and couldn't find the piercing.
"Where's your mirror --- "
Before she could walk away to the mirror, Harry took the earrings from her hand, "Wait --- let me do it or you'll poke yourself,"
Gently holding her earlobes, he carefully slipped the gold post of the stud through, affixing it from the back. Harry rubbed his thumb over the earring once before turning Crystal around by her arms and pushing her towards the mirror.
"It looks pretty on me!" Crystal said eagerly as she touched her ear.
"Really . . . " Harry breathed the word out looking at her in a daze.
Crystal's hair was down today styled to the side with a cute hairclip. She was wearing a white sweater with a checkered red pleated skirt which ended just above her knees along with black coloured stockings with black ankle boots. Crystal rarely wore any skirts she owned apart from her school uniform but she looked cute in the outfit.
Hermione raised an eyebrow watching the scenario unfold while Harry was blankly staring at Crystal adjusting her studs.
She glanced at Ron to check if he was thinking the same but he was too busy stuffing his mouth with the chocolate bonbons. Hermione rolled her eyes and sighed.
"Anyways, we've been up for nearly an hour, adding more lacewings to the potion. It's ready," said Hermione.
"Are you sure?" said Harry, taking his eyes off Crystal as soon as she turned to them.
"Positive," said Hermione, shifting Scabbers the rat so that she could sit down on the end of Ron's four-poster. "If we're going to do it, I say it should be tonight."
At that moment, Cash swooped into the room, carrying a very small package in his beak. By looks of it seemed like Hedwig was chasing him because they were circling and squeaking above their heads.
"Hedwig! No!" cried Harry gaining the owl's attention. "Come here,"
"Hello," said Harry happily as she landed on his arm. "Are you speaking to me again?"
She nibbled his ear affectionately.
Cash, the little owl swooped down on Harry's bed, spitting the package and a second later fell backwards as though dead.
Crystal checked if he was alive, making the owl squeak and swat her hand away with his wing. She gave him a weird look and picked up the package only to find it from the Hudsons.
They had sent Crystal a tiny LED bulb and a note telling her to find out whether she'd be able to stay at Hogwarts for the summer vacation, too.
"I'm not surprised they went through the electronics in my drawer," she said looking at the tiny bulb.
"Stay with me this summer," said Harry crumbling the note and throwing it in the dustbin.
"I'm sorry, Harry, I'm busy around that time," said Crystal guilty.
She tossed a sickle on Harry's bed and Cash caught it flying out of the room. Hedwig followed him and flew away too.
"What's with them?" said Ron, eyeing the birds out of the window.
"Don't know, mate," Harry shrugged. "It feels like Hedwig keeps nagging Cash,"
"Did Cash make Hedwig angry or something?" said Hermione.
"God knows, Cash doesn't lift a claw until you wave money in front of him," said Crystal, shrugging. "And he only takes money from no one else but me. He's born to rob me off."
"Well, the owl knows its rights as an employee," said Hermione and the three of them looked at her with strange expressions.
"Or you could say, he has his priorities sorted," Ron pointed.
"He's my pet, guys. I don't see that loyalty."
✰✰✰✰✰✰
Harry and Ron had barely finished their third helping of Christmas pudding while talking to Crystal when Hermione ushered them out of the hall to finalize their plans for the evening.
"We still need a bit of the people you're changing into," said Hermione matter-of-factly, as though she were sending them to the supermarket for laundry detergent.
"And obviously, it'll be best if you can get something of Crabbe's and Goyle's; they're Malfoy's best friends, and he'll tell them anything. And we also need to make sure the real Crabbe and Goyle can't burst in on us while we're interrogating him.
"I've got it all worked out," she went on smoothly, ignoring Harry's and Ron's stupefied faces. She held up two plump chocolate cakes.
"I've filled these with a simple Sleeping Draught. All you have to do is make sure Crabbe and Goyle find them. You know how greedy they are, they're bound to eat them. Once they're asleep, pull out a few of their hairs and hide them in a broom closet."
Harry and Ron looked at Hermione incredulously and then at Crystal. She just turned her face away, sending the message don't-look-at-me.
"Hermione, I don't think ---"
"That could go seriously wrong ---"
But Hermione had a steely glint in her eye,e not unlike the one Professor McGonagall sometimes had.
"The potion will be useless without Crabbe's and Goyle's hair," she said sternly. "You do want to investigate Malfoy, don't you?"
"Oh, all right, all right," said Harry. "But what about you? Whose hair are you ripping out?"
"I've already got mine!" said Hermione brightly, pulling a tiny bottle out of her pocket and showing them the single hair inside it.
"Remember Millicent Bulstrode wrestling with me at the Dueling Club? She left this on my robes when she was trying to strangle me! And she's gone home for Christmas --- so I'll just have to tell the Slytherins I've decided to come back."
"I think two people are enough for interrogating Malfoy." said Crystal, "You should stay back, Hermione."
"No, we're in this together. I still suggest you get some courage to have the potion, get Pansy's hair and come with us,"
"Thanks, I'm good."
When Hermione had bustled off to check on the Polyjuice Potion again, Ron turned to Harry and Crystal with a doom-laden expression.
"Have you ever heard of a plan where so many things could go wrong?"
"Didn't you hear it just now?" said Crystal.
"You don't even have to drink it that's why you're so relaxed!" Ron glowered at her.
"I said I could get the information from Malfoy, but you guys insisted on doing this and as it is now, I'm also relying on you guys." said Crystal mockingly, "Why? having second thoughts, my friend?"
"No . . . Never . . . " Ron mumbled miserably.
"We're doomed . . ." Harry muttered clutching his hair. Crystal smiled at them and went out after Hermione.
✰✰✰✰✰✰
When Harry and Ron came back from the first part of the mission, they could hardly see anything for the thick black smoke issuing from the stall in which Hermione was stirring the cauldron.
They saw Crystal outside the stall covering her nose with her sleeves. They went pulling their robes up over their faces.
"Did you get them?" Crystal asked, her voice a bit muffled.
Harry showed her Goyle's hair. She knocked on the door sending a signal to Hermione.
They heard the scrape of the lock and Hermione emerged, shiny-faced and looking anxious. Behind her, they heard the gloop-gloop of the bubbling, glutinous potion. Three glass tumblers stood ready on the toilet seat.
"Good. Crystal sneaked these spare robes out of the laundry," Hermione said, holding up a small sack. "You'll need bigger sizes once you're Crabbe and Goyle."
Crystal thought how contrasting it was, being an heiress in front of the whole Wizarding World but stealing the potion ingredients and students' clothes behind the scenes in her school. The irony of the situation hit her hard in her conscience, hearing the word from someone else's mouth.
Harry, Hermione and Ron stared into the cauldron. Close up, the potion looked like thick, dark mud, bubbling sluggishly.
"I'm sure I've done everything right," said Hermione, nervously rereading the splotched page of Moste Potente Potions. "It looks like the book says it should . . . once we've drunk it, we'll have exactly an hour before we change back into ourselves."
"Now what?" Ron whispered.
"We separate it into three glasses and add the hairs."
Hermione ladled large dollops of the potion into each of the glasses. Then, her hand trembling, she shook Millicent Bulstrode's hair out of its bottle into the first glass.
The potion hissed loudly like a boiling kettle and frothed madly. A second later, it had turned a sick sort of yellow.
"Urgh --- essence of Millicent Bulstrode," said Ron, eyeing it with loathing. "Bet it tastes disgusting."
Crystal felt she would throw up just watching it. "Well, that's my cue to be out. Good luck,"
Harry and Ron went into different stalls too when Harry pointed out they won't fit in the same stall once they change.
"Ready?" Harry called from the middle stall.
"Ready," came Ron's and Hermione's voices.
"One --- two --- three ---"
After a few moments of silence, Crystal knocked on the door from where a thud came.
"Are you guys okay?"
"Yeah," came the deep grunt of Crabbe from her right stall.
Harry unlocked his door and stepped in front of the cracked mirror. Goyle stared back at him out of dull, deep-set eyes. Harry scratched his ear. So did Goyle.
"Woah. . ." Crystal could only say that as she looked at him. "Are you Ron?"
"I'm here," Ron's door opened behind her. Harry and Ron stared at each other. Except that he looked pale and shocked, Ron was indistinguishable from Crabbe, from the pudding-bowl haircut to the long, gorilla arms. Crystal looked back and forth between the two of them, amazed.
"This is unbelievable," said Ron, approaching the mirror and prodding Crabbe's flat nose. "Unbelievable."
Crystal silently agreed.
"We'd better get going," said Harry, loosening the watch that was cutting into Goyle's thick wrist, "We've still got to find out where the Slytherin common room is. I only hope we can find someone to follow . . ."
"I know where it is, I'll take you guys there," said Crystal.
"How do you know?" Harry asked.
"Somehow," she said.
"But wouldn't it look odd? You with Crabbe, Goyle and Bulstrode," Ron pointed.
"Hmm. . . You're right." said Crystal, "Oh, yes!" She took out a handkerchief from her pocket, "I'll just say I'm there to return this to its owner and followed you two. I know that he's gone home but I'll pretend I didn't know."
"Who is this he?" Harry took the hanky. There was the name 'Theo' beautifully embroidered in the golden thread at a corner.
"Theodore Nott dropped it on the club day," said Crystal taking it back, "I picked it up while you and Malfoy were dueling and was about to return it but you know what happened that day, after that, I didn't get the time."
"Right," said Harry curtly, handing the handkerchief back.
Ron, who had been gazing at Harry, said, "Okay but you don't know how bizarre it is to see Goyle thinking." He banged on Hermione's door. "C'mon, Hermione, we need to go --- "
A high-pitched voice answered him.
"I - I don't think I'm going to come after all. You go on without me."
"Hermione, we know Millicent Bulstrode's ugly, no one's going to know it's you ---"
"No --- really --- I don't think I'll come. You two hurry up, you're wasting time ---"
Harry looked at Ron and Crystal, bewildered.
"That looks more like Goyle," said Ron. "That's how he looks every time a teacher asks him a question."
"'Mione, are you okay?" said Crystal, concerned.
"Fine --- I'm fine --- go on ---"
Harry checked his wristwatch. Five minutes of their precious sixty minutes had already passed.
"We'll meet you back here, all right?" he said to Hermione. "Let's go,"
Harry, Crystal and Ron opened the door of the bathroom carefully, checked that the coast was clear, and set off.
"Don't swing your arms like that," Harry muttered to Ron.
"Eh?"
"Crabbe holds them sort of stiff . . . "
"How's this?"
"Yeah, that's better . . . "
"You guys better do the acting well or we'll be done for," Crystal muttered.
"Yes, ma'am," Ron scoffed.
They went down the marble staircase and turned several passages walking deeper and deeper under the school, constantly checking their watches to see how much time they had left.
"Almost there, now just turn around that passa---" Crystal stopped when they heard a sudden movement ahead.
Two figures emerged from a side room, one of them went to the other side. As they hurried nearer, however, their hearts sank. It wasn't a Slytherin, it was Percy.
"What're you doing down here?" said Ron in surprise.
Percy looked affronted.
"That," he said stiffly, "is none of your business. It's Crabbe, isn't it?"
"Wh --- oh, yeah," said Ron.
"Well, get off to your dormitories," said Percy sternly. "It's not safe to go wandering around dark corridors these days."
"You are," Ron pointed out.
"I," said Percy, drawing himself up, "am a prefect. Nothing's about to attack me."
Percy's eyes fell on the small figure of Crystal behind them.
"Crystal? Why're you here and with them?" asked Percy. "Come over here."
Before Crystal could answer, a voice suddenly echoed behind them. Draco Malfoy was strolling toward them.
"There you are," he drawled, looking at them. "Have you two been pigging out in the Great Hall all this time? I've been looking for you; I want to show you something really funny --- Oh?"
Malfoy's eyes fell on Crystal.
"Crystal Calisto? To what do I owe the pleasure --- "
"I'm looking for Theodore Nott," said Crystal dismissively.
"You are? okay ---" Malfoy cleared his throat, "Why're you looking for him?"
"I have some business with him," said Crystal.
"Fine. He has gone home for holidays." said Malfoy then glanced witheringly at Percy.
"And what're you doing down here, Weasley?" he sneered.
Percy looked outraged.
"You want to show a bit more respect to a school prefect!" he said. "I don't like your attitude!"
Malfoy sneered and motioned for Harry and Ron to follow him. Crystal gave them a slight unnoticeable nod.
"Come on, Crystal, I'll take you back to the common room," said Percy motioning her to follow.
"Thanks, Percy."
"You know it's dangerous to roam in the school yet you followed them here. Next time ask me if you ever need something, I'm the prefect, okay?"
"Yes, Percy but what were you doing there? I saw a pretty black-haired girl leave that room too." Crystal wondered out loud.
"Y-You saw her?" Percy blushed, "Don't tell anyone, okay?"
"Of course I won't," Crystal said the obvious. "But why?"
"You're young and innocent, Crystal. You won't understand." Percy cleared his throat again, "besides, be careful of your surroundings a little, I caught a stalker who was following you the other day."
A chill ran down Crystal's spine.
"What --- that's why --- you know, Percy I had this feeling like I was being watched for some time --- do you know who it was?"
"She is a Ravenclaw girl in Ginny's year, my ---" Percy stopped, his ears turned red then continued again, "friend from Ravenclaw found her suspiciously lingering around you so I kept an eye out and found that she was stalking you. So I gave her a warning as it was the first time and took her house points," He said proudly.
"Thank you for doing that for me, Percy." said Crystal gratefully and relieved, "Do you know her name?"
Percy thought for a moment trying to remember.
"I forgot her name. You don't know how much busy it is to be a Prefect."
However much Crystal was thankful to Percy for catching the stalker, she couldn't get over him repeatedly mentioning Prefect again and again. Crystal just awkwardly laughed along with him.
She had a hunch Percy wasn't going to leave her even after they reached the common room and that proved to be true.
✰✰✰✰✰✰
Meanwhile, Harry and Ron followed Malfoy to the Slytherin dungeon.
The Slytherin common room was a long, low underground room with rough stone walls and a ceiling from which round, greenish lamps were hanging on chains. A fire was crackling under an elaborately carved mantelpiece ahead of them, and several Slytherins were silhouetted around it in high-backed chairs.
"But gotta give it to that guy, Theodore," said Malfoy sitting on the couch, "Did he make a beauty like Crystal fall for him or something, that lone guy." He scoffed.
"She said Theodore Nott dropped something in dueling club, so she came to return it." said Harry.
"How d'you know?" said Malfoy.
"Er, she followed us all the way here --- I forgot Nott had gone back,"
"You're stupid, anyways, there's still a chance to make father happy," said Malfoy relieved but his mood changed suddenly, "No, that's not possible until that Potter is there! He has been wandering around her like a bee and not just him many of the boys and even girls. Did you see that first-year girl from Ravenclaw stalking her? And what a bunch Crystal hangs out with! A scarhead, those blood-traitor Weasleys and that Mudblood Granger. She should know better to socialize with people of her class."
Harry and Ron seething with anger controlled themselves.
"But who could blame Potter? Have you seen a veela? Yes, they're very beautiful but Crystal is a different kind of beauty. There's a different charm and aura around her. I went to Rome once and her looks are on par with those Roman Gods and Goddesses statues," said Malfoy as he leaned back on the couch and looked at the ceiling dazed, "A Goddess . . ."
"But you hate her, don't you?" said Harry clenching his fists on his knees.
"I'll admit she is a lot annoying talking in few words with her poker face and she always ignores me like I don't exist in her world! Like I don't deserve a second of her time!" said Malfoy, then got up on his feet. "That's why I always tried to provoke her but I think she knew what I was trying to do,"
Like you deserve or worth talking to anyone. Harry thought.
"Wait here," said Malfoy to Harry and Ron, motioning them to a pair of empty chairs set back from the fire. "I'll go and get it --- my father's just sent it to me ---
He handed them a newspaper cutting when he came back.
"Well?" said Malfoy impatiently as Harry handed the clipping back to him. "Don't you think it's funny?"
"Ha, ha," said Harry bleakly.
"Arthur Weasley loves Muggles so much he should snap his wand in half and go and join them," said Malfoy scornfully. "You'd never know the Weasleys were purebloods, the way they behave."
Ron's --- or rather, Crabbe's --- face was contorted with fury.
"What's up with you, Crabbe?" snapped Malfoy.
"Stomachache," Ron grunted.
"Well, go up to the hospital wing and give all those Mudbloods a kick from me," said Malfoy, snickering. "You know, I'm surprised the Daily Prophet hasn't reported all these attacks yet," he went on thoughtfully.
"I suppose Dumbledore's trying to hush it all up. He'll be sacked if it doesn't stop soon. Father's always said old Dumbledore's the worst thing that's ever happened to this place. He loves Muggle-borns. A decent headmaster would never've let slime like that Creevey in."
Malfoy started taking pictures with an imaginary camera and did a cruel but accurate impression of Colin:
"'Potter, Crystal, can I have your picture? Can I have your autograph? Can I lick your shoes, please, Potter, Crystal?'"
He dropped his hands and looked at Harry and Ron.
"What's the matter with you two?"
Far too late, Harry and Ron forced themselves to laugh, but Malfoy seemed satisfied; perhaps Crabbe and Goyle were always slow on the uptake.
Harry and Ron sat nervously. Harry tried to think of an excuse. Thankfully, Malfoy had other things important to be discussed.
"Anyways, people think Crystal is the mastermind making Potter do the attacks. Idiots!" Malfoy scoffed, "Father said to be in her good books. You know, Calisto House is far above the Sacred Twenty-Eight in social status and money. We don't understand why it is so, they're not even pureblood, some even married Muggles and Crystal's mother, a shame, no one knows which man she slept with. Crystal's totally illegitimate who just have the Calisto name which is going disappear by the end of next year."
Malfoy laughed. Harry and Ron's insides were bubbling with anger. They just wanted to get this over fast or they'll throw their hands on Malfoy.
"And we have that saint Potter, pretending to be good in front of the school. He is not a saint at all, you know how badly he kicked me in the guts." said Malfoy slowly. "People think he's Slytherin's heir! "
Harry and Ron waited with bated breath: Malfoy was surely seconds away from telling them it was him --- but then ---
"I wish I knew who it is," said Malfoy petulantly. "I could help them."
Ron's jaw dropped so that Crabbe looked even more clueless than usual.
Fortunately, Malfoy didn't notice, and Harry, thinking fast now, said, "You must have some idea who's behind it all . . ."
"You know I haven't, Goyle, how many times do I have to tell you?" snapped Malfoy. "And Father won't tell me anything about the last time the Chamber was opened either. Of course, it was fifty years ago, so it was before his time, but he knows all about it, and he says that it was all kept quiet and it'll look suspicious if I know too much about it. But I know one thing --- last time the Chamber of Secrets was opened, a Mudblood died. So I bet it's a matter of time before one of them's killed this time . . . I hope it's Granger," he said with relish.
Ron was clenching Crabbe's gigantic fists. Feeling that it would be a bit of a giveaway if Ron punched Malfoy, Harry shot him a warning look and said, "D'you know if the person who opened the Chamber last time was caught?"
"Oh, yeah . . . whoever it was was expelled," said Malfoy. "They're probably still in the prison, Azkaban."
He shifted restlessly in his chair and said, "Father says to keep my head down and let the Heir of Slytherin get on with it. He says the school needs ridding of all the Mudblood filth, but not to get mixed up in it. Of course, he's got a lot on his plate at the moment. You know the Ministry of Magic raided our manor last week?"
Harry tried to force Goyle's dull face into a look of concern.
"Yeah . . ." said Malfoy. "Luckily, they didn't find much. Father's got some very valuable Dark Arts stuff. But luckily, we've got our own secret chamber under the drawing-room floor ---"
"Ho!" said Ron.
Malfoy looked at him. So did Harry. Ron blushed. Even his hair was turning red. His nose was also slowly lengthening --- their hour was up, Ron was turning back into himself, and from the look of horror he was suddenly giving Harry, he must be, too.
They both jumped to their feet.
"Medicine for my stomach," Ron grunted, and without further ado they sprinted the length of the Slytherin common room, hurled themselves at the stone wall, and dashed up the passage, hoping against hope that Malfoy hadn't noticed anything.
Leaving their shoes outside the closet door where they'd locked Crabbe and Goyle, they sprinted in their socks up the marble staircase toward Moaning Myrtle's bathroom.
"Well, it wasn't a complete waste of time," Ron panted, closing the bathroom door behind them. "I know we still haven't found out who's doing the attacks, but I'm going to write to Dad tomorrow and tell him to check under the Malfoys' drawing room."
"Where are Hermione and Crystal?" Ron said finding the bathroom empty.
Harry checked his face in the cracked mirror. He was back to normal.
There was a thud and Crystal ran in closing the bathroom door behind her and clutched her knees panting.
"How did it go?" asked Crystal, "did you find something?"
"Not much, let's get Hermione," said Ron.
"Guys, Hermione's in the hospital wing," said Crystal miserably. "she had a disaster,"
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A/N:
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( I tried to make the GIF of that newspaper clipping but I lack skills and it was not working :p )
Never give up learning!
~ Cia🍸
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