—✧—
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ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ-𝟽
ᴛʜᴇ ɢᴏʙʟᴇᴛ ᴏғ ғɪʀᴇ
—✧—
"You know who I am, right? That's why you came here looking for me."
"Yes. Are you willing to talk now? In private, Miss C.A—"
"Let's talk." Crystal cut him off before he could say her alias identity of a Tech Entrepreneur in Muggle World in front of her friends.
This is going to be a pain...
"How did you fi— wait, wait, first—" Crystal let out a breath as she pushed her hair back. Something was going on in her mind which made her frustrated. "Harry, Hermione, Ron, go ahead, I'll be im common room in few mins,"
"Do you know him, Crys?" Harry questioned.
"I don't but—"
"Then why—"
"—but we have met before on the day of Quidditch World Cup. We had a good time during the game and I thought we became friends after that, don't you think so, Miss Crystal?" Prince Liam interrupted, he wanted to talk to her and would go to any extent to make it possible.
Crystal didn't understand his game. She admitted that she had fun talking to him throughout the game. She wasn't the type to talk much or let alone talk to a stranger but there was something about him that pulled her in. Maybe the fact that they were both understood each other situations unspokenly made her more comfortable. Crystal didn't reply to him, rather she turned to her friends.
"Go, please." She implored.
"We don't know him well, what if he tries to hurt you—" Harry reasoned.
"I don't harrass girls, Mr. Potter, if you are worried about that," Prince Liam said. "I assure you that Miss Crystal will be safest with me,"
"I wasn't talking to you—"
"Don't worry, I promise I'll be back in common room in twenty minutes—" The hall was deserted but she saw someone standing alone in distance near the door.
"I know, I'm just unnecessarily worried but still—" Harry followed her sight and spotted Zach, "Then allow Zach to stay with you." he suggested then called, "Oi, Zach, get your arse back to work over here!"
Crystal sighed, Harry sometimes overreacted to smallest of things.
Zachary had astonishment written all over his face as he ran towards them.
"Fine, I was about to call him... just go, please." Crystal was eager to talk with Prince as well. She wanted to confirm if her speculation as to how he could've found her was correct or not. She just hoped it was not Samantha.
Harry sighed, he didn't know why but his heart was not allowing him to leave her. His mind was at rest knowing Zachary was with her but still—he wanted to her to spend some time with them, and with him when they met after many days without any contacts.
"Fine," Harry said quietly, the disappointment in his voice didn't go unnoticed by Crystal. She glumly watched his back as he left the Great Hall with others in tow.
"Your boyfriend is quite clingy I must say," Ijekeil commented.
"He is one of my best friends, not boyfriend," She said calmly, "I would suggest you to refrain wasting time by making such personal remarks." She checked the time in her wristwatch, "A minute has already passed from fifteen,"
"You said twenty," Ijekeil corrected.
"Twenty to be present in the common room, fifteen to talk, five minutes to reach there," Crystal stated, "oh, you just lost two minutes now,"
"That's unfair—"
"Ijekeil and Mr. Craig," Prince Liam interrupted urgently, "Please give us some space,"
Zachary looked at Crystal and she nodded. He and Ijekeil went to stand by the door. Zachary kept a close watch on them, stuffing his hands into his pants pocket, one of which had his wand. His fingers were tightly holding it just in case.
"Did you run a background check on me?" Crystal questioned.
"Yes, kind of, it was quite challenging and difficult to find C.A.C with all fake information you have spread to hide yourself. We almost gave up but you know miracles happen."
"How did you know who I was?"
"Your identity substitute was good but I had a suspicion, that the person's visions differed significantly from the real CAC I have read about everywhere, so I tried to find the real you." He explained, "And then as though the destiny had orchestrated a plan for us to meet. I met you in the Quidditch World Cup. The more I talked to you, the more you didn't seem like an ordinary teenage girl. Your views, your ideas, felt familiar to your interviews I've read and then rest is as you say. I got your information from the ticket booking, that was also fake, but I was able to trace back to the one who faked it."
"I'm impressed. I have never met someone like you before," Crystal complimented, though bitterly but she was truly blown way by the man in front of her. "And why did you want to find the real me?" She asked, "You know what Black Diamond means, right?"
"Yes, the code for special task intelligence services and that's why I am here. The situation I'm in currently, only you can help me."
"So you being here under the pretense of going for a tournament is a ruse to avoid suspicion that you wanted to meet me?"
"Right. Just what I had expected from you." Prince Liam chuckled in amusement.
"Well, I don't know if I can help a prince of a country... I am but an ordinary girl. I don't even have my resources available here in Hogwarts... So, if you are looking for help, I'd suggest you have to go back to my agency in the Muggle world and ask help from the who gave you the code---"
"Pardon me for saying this again, Miss Crystal, if you were ordinary, I wouldn't be here today and I can't just waltz into your agency normally — they will know my location and your agency would be discovered soon."
"Who are they?" She asked intently.
"I don't know... That's what we have to find out and that's why I'm here..." His expression looked genuine, "They always know where I'm and what I'm doing... So, I came here to seek a shelter to hide in Hogwarts... to find you..."
Crystal stared at him, seeing a royal like him being so desperate and talking so seriously alerted the sirens to go off in her brain. He was upto something dangerous, she had that feeling... but she still wanted to at least hear him.
"What are you up to?" She finally worded the question, half hoping to not get an answer.
"Treason."
Crystal took a bit time to process his words but when she did and let it sink in her brain, she was left speechless. Treason.
"It is dangerous, I'll not lie about that. I will be executed at the square if I don't succeed in becoming the crown prince... Not to mention, those who helped me will have the same fate. But I don't want you to help me with treason..." He explained. "I want you to eliminate the one who wants to eliminate me. There's someone out there, they are after my life... They already got the Marquis daughter who I was planning to get engaged and elevate my power... But I couldn't protect her... I want your help in catching my assassin."
Crystal gulped, she felt a chill run down her spine and felt her body getting cold and goosebumps. The way he honestly laid out the consequences before her was an indication that he was immune to this. He had seen and suffered much and had no choice but to resort to treason.
"Just to be clear," Crystal finally found her voice. "I'm not in assassin business. I've intel support just find out the secret behind the people not eliminate them. Plus, I don't want to use my resources and people for a civil war in another country... I really can't accept your offer, I'm sorry..."
What in the world is this ridiculousness... She thought.
"Please, Miss Calisto. I need you, I need an external support. I can't trust and rely on what I have... My kingdom is going to suffer in the future if the crown prince becomes the King..." He paused looking at her face. "I can pay you handsomely. Any price you ask for,"
"I'm not really bothered about price. I just really don't know how to help you. Catch your assassin? I'm not able to catch Voldemort who is after me and Harry! What do you expect from me?" Crystal said the name but the Prince didn't react like others.
"Well, I'm sure catching a dark wizard is lot difficult than handling a few cunning Muggles, right?" He reasoned, "I just need some intelligence on who that is, some evidence to bring them down. Rest I can handle on my own."
Crystal didn't look convinced, and the Prince was watching her expressions closely.
"By the way, it came to my notice that there are a couple of mines in my kingdom that you are having a hard time to acquire back. I can help you with that." He tried to entice her.
"It's a very small price for what you are asking for, don't you think?" Crystal said, "If I put more work into it, I'll be able to acquire them on my own."
"I agree, then I can promise you two wishes. You can ask me anything you want as long as I can afford it." He offered.
"I still don't think I am capable enough, I mean, even if you need an external support, I don't think I can do much, I don't know anything about your kingdom or the Nobles or who are your enemies. I don't want to be involved... I'm very sorry," Crystal checked her wristwatch, "I believe we are on time, I'll take my leave." She was about to pass by him but—
"Crystal! Wait!" He held her wrist desperately, "Can you please try to atleast consider, take some time to think, I'll fill you in on everything later. Just please give some time,"
"Please, I gave my decision—"
Prince Liam sighed. He rummaged his hand through one of the pockets inside his coat and pulled out an old piece of parchment.
"I didn't want to stoop this low but I can do anything for my people and you leave me no other choice." He said solemnly, taking her hand and placing a parchment on it. "Crystal, I was told that I've always had a good eye to recognize people with talent. If I'm telling you that you're the one, then believe me, you are. I'm sure you can do anything if you were able to launch those successful tech organizations at this age."
He let go of her wrist and gestured to read the parchment.
Crystal though confused, unfolded it. The parchment looked very old, the edges had turned a bit yellowish.
Her eyes glide across the sheet and the more she read, the more she got confused. The only question that went through her mind was why?
Why would mother do that?
"Is this a joke?" Crystal let out a dry chuckle, her mind in denial inside. "If this is, you really stooped low to fake it, Your Royal Highness."
"It's not fake, you do recognize your mother's signature here, right?" Prince pointed at the bottom of the parchment, "Your mother signed a pact to secure your future in our kingdom, with me, and signed off one of the mines that you are eager to get back as dowry. She did everything so that you have best in the world when she is not with you."
"But it also says that the Calisto will be under the Royal Family after the marriage! So all my inheritance will go to your kingdom?" Crystal looked at him incredulously.
"It doesn't matter right? A woman's home is where her husband lives so the former head might have thought to combine the Calisto assets with Royals as that it can be well taken care of that way instead of left alone."
That woman... That's why I couldn't find the papers of one of the mines. Ever since Crystal took over the position of Head, her respect for mother had been on the constant decline... Every thing she did in her lifetime was creating more trouble for her own daughter's life, her future.
Every political decision made her mother was foolish. Crystal spent a lot of cleaning up the years old files as soon as she joined, the land conflicts she had, supporting stupid campaigns in ministry in desperate need of support to Calisto when they didn't need, hiding her father, how she handled her illegitimacy scandal... and now this. And why did she hand over the rights of the mine before the marriage? Why should she handover all the Calisto assets after marriage? But Crystal knew very well that this thought would have not crossed her mother's mind at all.
Her mother was not cut for politics even though her mind was expectionaly sharp in other field of science but still...
Why... who gave her the right to mess up my life?
If she is dead, why can't she be dead?
Why is coming back in my life again and again?
Why is she making me more miserable than I already am?
Just why?
Crystal stared at the words of the parchment crumbling in her fist.
"I do not acknowledge this." Crystal stated rather calmly than the rage she managed to contain inside herself.
"Then, you have to work if you don't acknowledge it."
"It's my life. I've my own path to follow now."
"Is your path now... Harry Potter?" The Prince hesitantly dared, "Are you currently in... relationship with him?"
"No. And I will not allow you to drag his name into this." Crystal warned and tore the parchment into pieces. "I won't acknowledge what's written here."
Prince Liam smiled softly as she threw the pieces flying above him.
"Miss Crystal, I shared the same sentiments as you until—" He stared into her oceanic deep eyes swirling with silent rage, "—I first saw you. At first I questioned my mother's decision as well. I thought a random ordinary girl would be no good with the kind of unscrupulous, corrupt politics going on in my kingdom... I thought you would be a burden to me, that I had nothing to gain from you... But she, my mother believed on something, she always had good eye for people... Now, after meeting you in person, I do acknowledge this agreement that we are to be engaged as soon as you become of age..."
"Why? Is there a shortage of Noble ladies in your kingdom?"
"No, but I don't think they deserve the throne anymore. The mother of the kingdom should be someone like you. I'm turning seventeen in february next year so I'll wait until you turn seventeen,"
What in the world this crazy man... Crystal was getting a headache just hearing him. Her vision swirled from dark to light.
"You see, I can't leave the Queen's throne empty for long now after I become the king, can I?"
"Prince Liam!" Crystal raised her voice to stop him, her breathing was getting heavier as he continued talking.
"And this—" He showed her a piece of parchment that he caught from the air, "—was just a copy. Now what will you do?"
Crystal sat on one of the benches in the Great Hall. She tried to calm down by taking some deep breaths, but it was not getting under control. She was sweating and her hands were trembling, she was having a hard time breathing...
"Crystal, are you okay?" The Prince, a bit surprised, crouched down on a knee in front of her. Crystal fetched a bottle from robes pocket and poured a pill in her trembling hands before putting it in her mouth. Liam poured some water from the jug in glass and handed it to her. "Here, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to stress you or hurt you, please forgive me,"
"Crystal!" Zachary ran inside as soon as he noticed something wrong with her. He stopped beside her and rubbed her back gently.
"Did she call you?" Prince Liam looked at Zachary coldly.
Crystal gulped down the water before putting the glass aside.
"Go out." She whispered, "Did I tell you to come inside?" she looked up at Zachary.
"But you—"
"Don't you dare disobey me next time, Zachary Craig." She said coldly.
Zachary's face hung as he nodded and walked back to his position by the door. The Prince handed her a handkerchief but Crystal chose to wipe the sweat with the sleeves of her robes.
"Pardon me for saying this, Prince, but you are so shrewd. You were trapping me all along knowing that I'd want to annul this engagement no matter what and accept your request to use the intelligence services," Crystal said bitterly.
"Looks like I went too far, I'm sorry to give you a shock but—" He said with guilt and continued silent for a moment, "I had to... I can't leave empty handed or it will be literally end for me, my kingdom... I was just—I got desperate to survive and to save my people, my kingdom... we are all suffering..."
"Well, let's hear tomorrow. I'm not feeling well today," Crystal said getting up from the seat.
"Thank you for taking time to consider my req—"
"Well, you tried hard, good job, your hard work literally touched my heart..." She taunted with a scoffing smile before walking towards the door, the sound of her steps echoed through the empty Hall.
As she walked towards the Gryffindor tower mindlessly, she contemplated her life. She couldn't differentiate sometimes whether living with Hudsons was better or living in the magic world. Her life was a big mess because of Aviana Calisto, her own mother.
On the other hand, she was also thoroughly mad at Samantha for being desperate enough for profitable clients that she gave out the secret code without any investigation of sorts.
Was it so difficult to figure out who he was, what he wanted before sending him to her?
Zachary who was silently following her, finally spoke out of concern, "What did he say? Are you okay?"
"No, I'm not." Crystal muttered before looking at her watch. It was almost an hour... she promised twenty minutes to her friends. "Your suspension is over, Zachary."
"Crystal, I just don't know why you are so angry with me." Zachary finally asked, "What have I done so bad to deserve this attitude?"
"Then figure out what I came to know and why I think you deserve it," Crystal said coldly.
Zachary didn't press any further. Crystal had changed, not to others but only him. He didn't know what happened with the Prince as well but Crystal looked very listless as she entered the portrait hole.
By the time she reached the common room, Hermione and Harry were doing their homework. Ron had fallen asleep on the sofa, waiting for her.
"Finally! What took you so long!" Hermione hugged her as she approached them. Crystal returned the hug then pulled away to see Harry placing a plate and uncovering the lid on top of it.
"I got you something to eat from the kitchen as you didn't have dinner." Harry said. She smiled gratefully and sat in the chair nearby.
"Thank you." Crystal said looking down at the crispy fried chicken pieces and sauce, "But, I don't have an appetite now."
"You do that when you're stressed." Ron said groggily rubbing his eyes. "Are you stressed about something?"
Crystal just remained silent and grabbed the fork, and to forced herself to eat.
"She has been out of it ever since she talked to the Prince." Zachary answered.
"Who gave you the permission to speak?" Crystal glared at him, "Leave now, you're dismissed for today."
Zachary looked so scared of her that he just went up the boys dormitory without any argument.
"Why are you treating him like that, Crystal? I think he reflected enough for the one time he messed up," Hermione criticized her.
"Yeah, he's genuinely worried for you," Harry supported.
Crystal let out a cold laugh, rubbing her temple tiredly, "You both... should stay out of my business. I hate it when someone tries to tell me how I should do things."
Hermione and Harry didn't understand her but they did understood that something big had happened. Crystal always had limit to how much anyone could approach her, and no one was allow to cross that.
"Anyways, what did that Liam say? I'll go and beat up his arse for you," Harry said folding up his sleeves.
"No! God, don't, Harry! Don't dare to touch the Royals, they're scary." Crystal grabbed his arm just as he stood up. "There's something more important than this that you guys should know. Sit."
Harry slowly sat back in his chair. Ron took a chair near them as well. The four of them were now sitting closely around the table.
"Judging by your face, it seems like a bad news." Hermione predicted.
"Yes, it is," Crystal replied "Pettigrew escaped the night before you all boarded the train... that's why I had to stay behind and—" and after taking a long breath she told them everything that had happened in past one month.
◆◇◆◇◆
Crystal couldn't get a wink of sleep the entire night thinking of her conversation with the Prince. She eagerly waited for the sun to rise so that she could go and talk to him. She was thankful that it was Saturday... She could catch up on sleep anytime.
Last night, she wrote a letter to her intelligence team in the Muggle world to investigate about the Prince. She didn't expect much information as the Prince was very secretive about himself much like her but looking at the report of the situation of his kingdom, she kind of came to understand his desperation a bit.
The King was suffering from a terminal disease but still able to manage the throne. The Queen consort did not care much other than expending for the luxuries and the Crown Prince... He seemed like a scumbag.
As she read the report further, she realized that their politics was an absolute mess. Prince Liam was the second born but by right, the legal heir to the throne as he was born to the late Queen.
The first Prince was born to consort taken in by the king when Queen's health concerned the lineage of their blood. Liam was a miracle to be born but by then the king brought in the consort and the first prince. Then after a few years Liam's mother passed away due to degrading health after pregnancy.
"So the Duke wants to gain more power by marrying off his daughter to the first prince... And the council has been broken into factions... Hmm, the Duke, Marquis and two Earls are supporting the crown prince... the second prince has been left with just a Baron and Viscount... The Marquis family whose daughter he was about to get engaged to has withdrawn their support... And there are three noble families that are neutral..."
She was contemplating the report ever since it was delivered to her an hour before the sunrise.
"So he wants the throne and couldn't influence his noblemen to support him?" Crystal scoffed, "What a waste of time... It's better that he doesn't fight at this point and lay low to save his own life..."
Crystal pulled back the curtains of her bed, and got off. The sun had already taken it's place above the horizon, she searched through her trunk for the tracksuit she used for walks and rushed into the bathroom.
◆◇◆◇◆
"It's quite rare for me to have such a beautiful wake up call..." Prince Liam said climbing off the Beauxbatons Carriage. He was wearing a long silk black robe over his blue cotton pyjamas, his hair pushed back in a hurry. She was sure that he just woke up to her knock and hurried out hearing her voice.
Crystal's image of the Royals sleeping in the expensive robes with some jewel accessory didn't fit him well.
"My apologies for seeking you so early in the morning, Your Highness." Crystal replied. He was trying to reach out to her in his half asleep daze but Crystal was quick to step back.
"Wish I could see you everyday..."
"Please, quit it before I go back without saying what I came for," Crystal threatened him, politely.
"Of course, my apologies." He blinked a couple of times to drift his drowsiness away. "Would you like to come in?"
"Um, no, thank you... Would you like to walk with me... now?" She asked a bit hesitantly.
"Certainly, I hope you don't mind my attire. I expected us to meet but not so early in the morning." He climbed down the carriage.
"It's not that early..." Crystal said turning away and started to walk along the edge of the forest. She checked her watch just in case, it was seven in the morning.
I should have waited more... She thought.
"Well, you are right. It's almost the time I wake up." He said catching up and stepping beside her.
"Mhmm," Crystal hummed as she nodded. "So, I... uh," she didn't know where to start.
"I know you might have done some research on me last night," Prince Liam smiled softly.
Crystal looked up at him stunned as he continued to smile amused.
"That beautiful color. . . Your eyes are slightly red. Did you get any sleep at all or did you spent all night just thinking about me?"
"Wha— Of course not! I have better things to do!" Crystal denied in an instant but horror on her face when she realized that she did exactly the same confirmed everything.
Prince Liam stared at her face then couldn't control his laugh. "Oh my, you're so cute,"
"Ahem—" She cleared her throat awkwardly hiding her embarrassment, "I came to know a few things..."
"And?"
"I wanted to hear from you now..." She looked up to find his eyes already on her, "Your story."
Prince Liam took a short breath of relief closing his eyes. When he opened them, his blue eyes twinkled.
"Does that mean—"
"—It doesn't mean that I have accepted your request, Your Highness," She said calmly.
"Liam. Call me that."
"I'm sure you have something else to say..."
"Yes, you have all the right to call my name and talk casually as my to-be-fiancée—"
"I have not accepted that! You are not my anyone until I say so!" Crystal stated.
"That won't be long then, I have confidence in my courtship." He said smugly.
"You are wasting your time then. If you have so much experience in wooing girls we have so many—oh! It's better if you seduce the Duke's daughter, your position will take dramatic turn—" Crystal abruptly faltered when she noticed that he stopped walking. The look on his face told her that she said too much. She placed her hand on a tree trunk nearby for support.
He closed the distance between them, placing a hand beside hers on the trunk and towered over her with his height, looking down at her.
"Let me clear a misunderstanding, Miss Crystal. I have never tried to woo or seduce anyone unworthy in my life. And I'd certainly not try to seduce Lady Cheryl, that woman is as vile as her father..."
Crystal gulped nervously as she looked away from his striking blue eyes as clear as the sky above them but not as gentle. She couldn't stand the intensity of his aura of a royal which was enough to engulf hers.
Is that how people feel around me? Crystal thought as the realization dawned on her.
"I'm sorry..." She muttered, taking a step back from him. "for offending you..."
"Oh, you did not offend me..." The Prince said with a gentle smile. Crystal let out a breath of relief— "I was just s bit hurt."
Her breath hitched softly. What was the punishment to hurt a Royal again? Urgh, I hate Royals! Wait a minute—
"I'm sorry but what hurt you?" She questioned him, quite confused.
"I'm hurt that you don't feel jealous while trying to match me up with other young ladies..." He placed his palm on his chest and sighed softly in pain.
Crystal blinked looking from his face then to his hand then back to his face again.
"Seriously? Again? I see how it is now." Crystal scoffed, crossing her arms in front of her chest. "Alright, I don't think I can work with you, goodbye—" Crystal started to retract their path.
"Wait, Crystal! Look, I apologize, it was just a jest." He said holding the hem of her sleeve before she could leave.
"Royals should be banned from jesting then." Crystal snatched her arm and started walking again.
"I don't understand, why are you so scared of my title? You were not scared that night in Quidditch World Cup..." He asked following her.
"Trust me, your jokes doesn't look like joke when all you did this morning was flirt with me this morning instead of talking about the actual issues!"
"Okay, okay," He rushed in front of her, spreading his arms to block her path, "We can talk but not here in the open, I don't want anyone to hear, just in case."
"Can I trust you?" She raised a brow at him.
"Of course, for now, I'll just—did you just dare to roll your eyes at me?" He crossed his arms in front of his chest.
Crystal gulped, but keep her composure and met his eyes as equal.
"Yes, if I don't dare now, Your Highness, then you're dead." She said. A subtle smile formed on his lips thinking he was never wrong about her.
"Please get ready then we will talk," She said.
"Would you mind waiting for a bit while I freshen up quickly?" The Prince held open the door of the powder-blue carriage and extended his hand for her.
Crystal looked from his hand to him then climbed inside the carriage on her own with a huff.
Liam smiled taking his hand back and closed the door behind him.
◆◇◆◇◆
By the time Crystal's talk with the Prince was over and they decided to get some breakfast, the Beauxbaton students were already seated on the tables. They were late.
They stopped by for a few minutes by the entrance hall, to have a look at the Goblet of Fire. It had been placed in the center of the hall on the stool that normally bore the Sorting Hat. A thin golden line had been traced on the floor, forming a circle ten feet around it in every direction.
"I never asked, how did you got the opportunity to co-sponsor the tournament with the Ministry." The Prince asked to Crystal standing beside him as she was looking up at the fire.
"Well, Dumbledore wanted to me to expand my network, make new connections with potential students with good family background... I was not involved in the meeting of the event though, they just needed me in the budget plan which I had look over and approve."
"Connections with students like me?" He smirked.
"Well, let me tell you, I have no intentions to do as he says. I just threw in some money for self advertisement of Calistos business." She clarified.
"Oh, if I'm not wrong, you have a jewels business, right?"
"Yes, and I also have a small business in estate trading."
"Impressive..."
"Not quite, they were passed down to me, not my own... I'm just a maintainer."
"Yes, but you have started your own in the Muggle World while managing all these inherited assets here, that's remarkable..."
"I don't manage the Muggle tech business, I'm just there as a founder. I appointed someone else as the CEO."
"And what about the intelligence?"
"I work there from time to time, in summers holidays. I love working with machines and technologies, so I learn new things there."
"Crystal..." Prince Liam turned to her with a huge grin. Crystal, though taken aback, looked up at him.
"Yes?"
You would make a perfect Queen for me and my kingdom in future... She heard that in her mind.
"Again?! Wait—what..." She took a few steps back from him with a shock.
"Oh my, are you okay?" He asked amused. "Did you hear anything?"
Crystal gasped covering her mouth then realized something.
"You— oh my god! You did that on purpose! You tested me! Do you know Legilimency?" She said taking a couple steps back in shock.
"Mhm, and I know that you know Occlumency as well because I could never read your mind... So I just felt like testing you a bit," He said stepping towards her.
"That's bad! If know how to read minds you should not use it like this! I never read anyone's mind ever since I learned it..." Crystal said.
She remembered that awful period of time when she felt sick because of these lessons last year. She used to use all the power in her body to keep Snape out of her mind. She didn't want anyone to look into her past uninvited but he did. Snape was now someone that Crystal is most wary of. The only person in Hogwarts who knew about Crystal's nightmarish past.
"But you read my mind just now. Are you sure you haven't read anyone's mind before? How can I trust you?"
"Because—that's because you—" have been keeping me on my toes ever since you appeared and triggering my anxiety! "That's because I don't trust you. I never use it on my friends, I never try to read their minds." She mended her words. "Besides, now that I know you have both skills, I'll keep my guard up around you... as you tried to read my mind..."
"Oh, but may I know why? Two Legilimens can communicate with each other—"
"I don't want to!" Crystal said, "Oh, now that I think of it, you probably know your brother's intentions thanks to this skill of yours? If you didn't have such skills, I would have probably told you to lay low and support the first prince quietly from shadows." She knew she was rude but she had enough of him.
"Crystal!"
She glanced in the direction of the voice calling her name. Zachary was making his way to her and stopped beside them. He greeted Liam first then turned to her.
"What are you doing here? Everyone has been looking for you at breakfast. Harry is waiting to eat with you and everyone is almost done now." He said. Crystal stared at him.
"Well, Miss Crystal, I wonder what you would do as your case is no better than mine." The Prince commented as his eyes rested on Zachary for a couple of seconds before meeting hers again. He smiled.
Crystal's face paled in an instant as she watched his back entering the Great Hall.
She felt goosebumps spreading all over body, and sick in her stomach. Her hands were shaking, she was scared, terrified of the Prince. She was terrified that she wasn't aware of how much of her life he knew. The way he looked at Zachary terrified her more than ever. It was enough to make anyone paranoid about being stalked.
"Hey, Crysie," Zachary enveloped her small trembling hand into his. Crystal tore her eyes from the Prince and looked up at him. "Are you still not fine yet? Just have something and take your meds—"
"I don't need your care and leave me alone. Also, don't ever appear in front of that Prince again!" She hissed coldly, taking back her hand and entered the Great Hall to find her friends.
Zachary shook his head with a sigh. He understood that it was not easy to get her forgiveness once she had been upset. She still didn't forgive him yet for a thing that happened months ago.
Or could she have found that...? She didn't, did she?
◆◇◆◇◆
By half past five it was growing dark, and Ron, Harry, and Hermione decided it was time to get back up from Hagrid's cabin to the castle for the Halloween feast — and, more important, the announcement of the school champions. Crystal would meet them at the Hall later, she stayed back in the dorm to catch some more sleep.
They waited for Hagrid, who acting suspicious, had a nice suit, hair combed and cologne on but he trudged off up the grounds with Madame Maxime, the Beauxbatons students following in their wake, jogging to keep up with their enormous strides.
Harry noticed that he could never see the Prince following the Madame, this time his aide was not present beside him as well.
Crystal almost missed the breakfast because she was him the whole morning. The food didn't taste good after hearing where she had been. Harry snapped out of his thoughts when Ron spoke.
“He fancies her!” said Ron incredulously. “Well, if they end up having children, they’ll be setting a world record — bet any baby of theirs would weigh about a ton.”
They let themselves out of the cabin and shut the door behind them. It was surprisingly dark outside. Drawing their cloaks more closely around themselves, they set off up the sloping lawns.
“Ooh it’s them, look!” Hermione whispered.
The Durmstrang party was walking up toward the castle from the lake. Viktor Krum was walking side by side with Karkaroff, and the other Durmstrang students were straggling along behind them.
Ron watched Krum excitedly, but Krum did not look around as he reached the front doors a little ahead of Hermione, Ron and Harry and proceeded past them.
When they entered the candlelit Great Hall, it was almost full. The Goblet of Fire had been moved; it was now standing in front of Dumbledore’s empty chair at the teachers’ table.
Harry noticed Crystal already seated but... he also noticed that Liam and Ijekeil were occupying the seats on Gryffindor table as well, a few seats away from her. Harry eyes travelled from Crystal to them then to the Ravenclaw table where rest of Beauxbaton students sat.
Crystal waved her hand as soon as she noticed them.
"Crysie, feeling better?" Ron asked taking a seat in front of her.
"Did you rest well?" Hermione asked sitting beside Ron and Harry took his seat beside Crystal silently. His mood was down suddenly.
"I feel good now," Crystal nodded her head and smiled then turned her face to Harry. "Hey, do you have any letter to send to your parents?"
"No, I already sent one, two days back." He said.
"Oh, then, is it alright if I borrow Hedwig? Cash is kind of busy but I wanted send a reply to your parents." Crystal asked, just as Harry was about to say something, he noticed Liam looking in their direction.
"Sure, you don't have to ask me," He said placing his hands over hers on the table.
"Thank you," She smiled but his eyes didn't look at her.
"Um, did something happen at Hagrid's?" She asked moving her eyes from him to Ron and Hermione.
"No, nothing happened," Ron said confused and the look on his face convinced Crystal but... she looked back at Harry.
"What?" he said.
"No, nothing," Crystal pressed her lips and looked down the table, spotting twins coming towards them, "Ah—George, Fred! Are you guys alright now?"
Crystal heard of their disaster while trying to put their names in the Goblet of fire. The age line didn't treat them well.
So Fred and George — clean-shaven again — seemed to have taken their disappointment fairly well.
"Ah, as you can see, Crysie," George laughed and filled up the seat beside Zachary.
"We are back! I'm glad you didn't see us—" Fred was about to complete but Crystal with a suppressing smile held up a picture of them between her fingers.
"Are you sure about that?" She said with amusement.
Fred tried to snatch the photo from her fingers but Crystal's reflex was too quick for them.
"Who took that photo?" George groaned.
"Oh, Hi Crystal! Did you like the pictures I sent you today?" A chirpy voice came from behind her.
"Hello, Colin! I really did. I'm certainly impressed how captured this ladybug without scaring it away." Crystal fetched more pictures from the side pocket of woollen sweater. "Where did you take this picture?"
"Oh, this! Hmm, I think when you were walking into the Great Hall this morning, I saw it sitting on a nearby torch... " His voice was as cheery as ever.
"Good job, Colin, I think you have a great future as a photographer." Crystal said giving a glance at Fred and George with a small smirk.
"You think so?" He exclaimed with excitement.
"Of course, it's a given," Crystal nodded in assurance, "If you face any trouble come to me. And keep sending these pictures to me, okay?"
"Ohmygosh! Yes! Bye Crystal, I'm gonna tell my brother all about it!" Colin happily skipped away searching for his brother Dennis.
"What a cutie..." Crystal chuckled.
"Why is he sending you photos, little Crysiepie," Fred asked.
"Did you hire him for photos?" George added.
"No, I saw him mindlessly taking pictures one day and throwing them afterwards so I told him to send them to me because it was good." Crystal smiled placing an elbow on the table and cupping the side of her face.
Harry scoffed rolling his eyes, "If you think I'll simply believe you because the photos were good then it's your mistake." He muttered under his breath.
Harry by now had understood Crystal well enough to not believe that she'd do something simply because she liked it.
He could understand that she made Colin her eyes in the Hogwarts for the time she was absent in the school, same way as she had made Parvati and Lavender her ears so that she doesn't miss on anything that was going around.
"Did you say something?" Crystal raised a brow looking at him.
"No, nothing." Harry shrugged innocently. Crystal couldn't understand him at times, and this was one of them. At times she'd be tempted to read his mind but stopped herself from doing that. It'd be iniquitous to invade someone's mind.
"Anyways, who do you guys think have chance to be chosen from our school?" Hermione grabbed their attention sensing a weird atmosphere between Harry and Crystal.
“Hope it’s Angelina,” said Fred around at them.
“So do I!” said Hermione breathlessly.
“Well, we’ll soon know!” Zachary added.
The Halloween feast seemed to take much longer than usual, perhaps because it was their second feast in two days. The food again didn't suit Harry's taste as he just couldn't stand watching the Prince stealing glances at the ever so oblivious Crystal who was busy stealing from his plate then putting something back and proud that he wasn't noticing.
Cute but what an idiot... He shook his head looking at her trying to slowly sneak the carrots in his plate.
"What are you doing?" Harry finally asked having enough.
Crystal laughed awkwardly, "um, I think these are yours, Harry..."
"And it walked into your plate by mistake, hmm?"
"Of course not, you like carrots, right?"
"That doesn't mean all carrots are mine. Those carrots doesn't have my name, Crystal." Harry shook his head and placed the carrots back in her plate, "Finish that. You need nutrients. You look so delicate."
"I don't look delicate!" Crystal objected.
"Then eat that and show me." He challenged.
"I don't like it."
"You need to increase your stamina to fight your everyday battles!"
"I've got more stamina than you if you count the number of hours I work continuously!"
"You know what, keep talking, I'm half tempted to shove all these veggies that you have picked out down your throat... " Harry muttered.
" ‘Mione, did you see how he threatens me all the time?" Crystal complained. "He's so mean!"
"He's not wrong though. All you ever eat is either chocolates or icecream or snacks or fruits or a bit of meat. Veggies are necessary too. And not to mention that you have bad habit of skipping meals as we—"
"Okay, fine. I'll eat." Crystal knew that list wasn't ending soon.
Harry and Hermione exchanged smiles as they watched Crystal trying hard to put the spoonful of carrots in her mouth. Harry shook his head.
"Give that to me." He took the spoon from her hand, almost like snatching it away, "Oh no, look there, it's Voldemort!" He whispered.
Hermione froze, Ron coughed his food out and Crystal's mouth fell open as their heads turned into the direction Harry signalled. There was no Voldemort but Prince Liam who was looking at them. The expression he had didn't look good.
Harry took the advantage of her distraction. He held her chin towards him and shoved the spoonful of vegetables into her mouth. Crystal was surprised at first then smacked his head after finishing the food in her mouth.
"What kind of prank was that?!" She hissed at him then gulped down the whole goblet of pumpkin juice.
"Even a toddler eats better than you!" Harry said and got hit again for comparing her to toddlers.
"Not funny, mate. Don't ever say that again," Ron said disappointedly.
"Hit him one more time for me too," Hermione scoffed.
"Alright, I admit. I'm sorry but to surprise her, I had to use something big," Harry laughed.
“Laugh all you want now, the karma will soon get you,” Crystal huffed, turning her face away from him.
At long last, the golden plates returned to their original spotless state; there was a sharp upswing in the level of noise within the Hall, which died away almost instantly as Dumbledore got to his feet.
On either side of him, Professor Karkaroff and Madame Maxime looked as tense and expectant as anyone. Ludo Bagman was beaming and winking at various students. James Potter was acting his age for now in the public's eyes. Mr. Crouch, however, looked quite uninterested, almost bored.
“Well, the goblet is almost ready to make its decision,” said Dumbledore. “I estimate that it requires one more minute. Now, when the champions’ names are called, I would ask them please to come up to the top of the Hall, walk along the staff table, and go through into the next chamber” — he indicated the door behind the staff table — “where they will be receiving their first instructions.”
He took out his wand and gave a great sweeping wave with it; at once, all the candles except those inside the carved pumpkins were extinguished, plunging them into a state of semidarkness.
The Goblet of Fire now shone more brightly than anything in the whole Hall, the sparkling bright, bluey-whiteness of the flames almost painful on the eyes. Everyone watched, waiting. . . A few people kept checking their watches. . .
The flames inside the goblet turned suddenly red again. Sparks began to fly from it. Next moment, a tongue of flame shot into the air, a charred piece of parchment fluttered out of it — the whole room gasped.
Dumbledore caught the piece of parchment and held it at arm’s length, so that he could read it by the light of the flames, which had turned back to blue-white.
“The champion for Durmstrang,” he read, in a strong, clear voice, “will be Viktor Krum.”
“No surprises there!” yelled Ron as a storm of applause and cheering swept the Hall. Harry saw Viktor Krum rise from the Slytherin table and slouch up toward Dumbledore; he turned right, walked along the staff table, and disappeared through the door into the next chamber.
“Bravo, Viktor!” boomed Karkaroff, so loudly that everyone could hear him, even over all the applause. “Knew you had it in you!"
The clapping and chatting died down. Now everyone’s attention was focused again on the goblet, which, seconds later, turned red once more. A second piece of parchment shot out of it, propelled by the flames.
“The champion for Beauxbatons,” said Dumbledore, “is Fleur Delacour!”
“It’s her, Ron!” Zachary told him as the girl who so resembled a veela got gracefully to her feet, shook back her sheet of silvery blonde hair, and swept up between the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables.
“Oh look, they’re all disappointed,” Hermione said over the noise, nodding toward the remainder of the Beauxbatons party.
“Disappointed” was a bit of an understatement, Harry thought. Two of the girls who had not been selected had dissolved into tears and were sobbing with their heads on their arms.
When Fleur Delacour too had vanished into the side chamber, silence fell again, but this time it was a silence so stiff with excitement you could almost taste it. The Hogwarts champion next . . .
And the Goblet of Fire turned red once more; sparks showered out of it; the tongue of flame shot high into the air, and from its tip Dumbledore pulled the third piece of parchment.
“The Hogwarts champion,” he called, “is Cedric Diggory!”
“No!” said Ron loudly, but nobody heard him except Harry; the uproar from the next table was too great even next to him, Crystal clapped with everyone. Every single Hufflepuff had jumped to his or her feet, screaming and stamping, as Cedric made his way past them, grinning broadly, and headed off toward the chamber behind the teachers’ table.
Indeed, the applause for Cedric went on so long that it was some time before Dumbledore could make himself heard again.
“Excellent!” Dumbledore called happily as at last the tumult died down. “Well, we now have our three champions. I am sure I can count upon all of you, including the remaining students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang, to give your champions every ounce of support you can muster. By cheering your champion on, you will contribute in a very real —”
But Dumbledore suddenly stopped speaking, and it was apparent to everybody what had distracted him.
The fire in the goblet had just turned red again. Sparks were flying out of it. A long flame shot suddenly into the air, and borne upon it was another piece of parchment.
Automatically, it seemed, Dumbledore reached out a long hand and seized the parchment. He held it out and stared at the name written upon it. There was a long pause, during which Dumbledore stared at the slip in his hands, and everyone in the room stared at Dumbledore. And then Dumbledore cleared his throat and read out —
“Harry Potter.”
The Hall was silent. There was no applause. A buzzing, as though of angry bees, was starting to fill the Hall. Harry was stunned. He felt numb. He was surely dreaming. He had not heard correctly.
Up at the top table, Professor McGonagall had got to her feet and swept past Ludo Bagman, James (who stood up from his chair in shock) and Professor Karkaroff to whisper urgently to Professor Dumbledore, who bent his ear toward her, frowning slightly.
Ron, Hermione, Fred, George, Zachary even Prince Liam were all looking at him, their eyes held an expression of question.
"I don't believe this... Harry, don't worry, there must be some mistake. We'll go talk to them and sort this out," Crystal stood up from seat and by this time, every head in the Great Hall had turned to look at them.
They were not even overcomed by their current shock and confusion when the fire in the goblet turned red again and shot up shooting sparks, another piece of parchment appeared.
Before Crystal could even move, Harry held her hand tightly, if there was a second name then he had an idea whose it was.
Please don't, please don't...
Dumbledore reached out his hand again to get the hold of the parchment fluttering down and read it after a short pause.
"Crystal Calisto."
—✧—
A/N:
I know this new character
doesn't make any sense now
and the story looks ridiculous
but he is important for future.
Let me know your thoughts
whether you liked or which
part you didn't like from the
chapter or story so far.
And I went with the longer
story where Crystal becomes
a champion as well. I want to
show y'all a different side of
her through this tournament.
Thank you for reading
and leave a star if are liking
the story so far.
Love you all,
Cia :)
—✧—