426 Charming Boys

Helena Ravenclaw looked just as the day Chris last saw her, with her waist-length hair and floor-length cloak, but with her usual haughty and proud look, there was something else this time. As soon as she heard Chris calling her name, she floated towards her with a tiny smile before returning to her unbothered expression but Chris caught it. 

"Helena, where were you? We have been looking for you for a long time," Chris informed the ghost.

"I wasn't aware, so tell me what can I do for you?" Helena took her time to bask in all this attention.

"Helena, you know Harry, right?" Chris beckoned Harry as the others went to their assigned positions, only Ron and Hermione stayed with Harry. "Tell him where your mother's diadem is."

Helena's pale ghostly face froze upon hearing Chris.

"My mother's . . . diadem?" Helena pointedly looked at Chris, maybe to remind her of the story behind the diadem and how she couldn't disclose it.

"Helena, you know what's going on, Riddle and Maligno are here, we need the diadem," Chris tried to explain.

"While the diadem bestows wisdom," Helena said with an obvious effort to pull herself together, "I doubt that it would greatly increase your chances of defeating them."

"No, it's not about gaining wisdom or something," Harry spoke impatiently.

"Gosh, Helena, Harry isn't going to wear it," Chris said checking the clock as well. It was getting late, she needed to be on the front lines. "I'm asking if you know if Riddle could have gotten his evil hands on your mother's diadem."

This time Helena went paler if that was possible, the horror and shame on her face were apparent.

"You already know," Chris muttered and Helena's silence confirmed it. "Helena, how could you? After all the situation you had to go through because of that bloody diadem."

"I had... no idea... He was flattering. He seemed to... understand... to sympathize..." Helena mumbled the pride looks gone from her face.

"Well, you weren't the first person Riddle wormed things out of," Harry muttered. "He could be charming when he wanted..."

Helena looked at Harry surprised, but there was also an appreciative look in her eyes. Chris wanted to ask Helena what happened with Riddle when another voice spoke beside her.

"And Helena always had a habit of believing handsome, charming boys."

Chris turned to find Fergus standing there with a bitter smile on his face.

"Where were you? I thought -" Chris stopped abruptly realizing that she was talking to Fergus out loud in front of Harry, Ron, and Hermione.

Harry looked a bit surprised but guessed what was happening, however, Ron and Hermione looked at each other confused and worried. They even looked around to find who Chris was talking to.

Chris was about to explain what was going on but Fergus interrupted her.

"You don't have much time Christina, ask Helena to help Harry Potter. You need to come with me," Fergus said grimly.

Chris nodded and turned to Helena and Harry.

"Helena, tell Harry what you told Riddle. Help him find the diadem," Chris turned to Ron and Hermione. "Ron, Hermione go with him. You have the sword, right?" Hermione nodded. "Good, then start destroying the Horcruxes. Right now, we need Riddle to be as weak as possible." 

Harry, Ron, and Hermione nodded hurriedly.

"Now, go!" Chris shouted. "If anything happens send me your Patronus."

Harry, Ron, and Hermione took off along with Helena floating with them, Chris turned to Fergus. Only then Chris noticed Adrian waiting with Irena and Malvin near the entrance.

"Fergus, wait a moment," Chris whispered as she remembered what she ordered Adrian. She hurried towards him and Adrian, who was talking to Irena and Malvin noticed her.

"As you asked, here is your backup team," Adrian pointed at himself, Irene, and Malvin. "But don't worry a few order members will be there too, they just left quickly to help the fight. We were waiting for you."

"Good. Now, where are -" Chris began but stopped abruptly. 

"Chris!" Harry was running back.

"Harry, do you need something else?" Chris asked as Harry stopped in front of her.

"Yes," Harry said panting. 

Chris had just opened her mouth to ask what did he need when Harry pulled her close and kissed her. Chris was so shocked that it took her a moment to realize what was happening. But as soon as she did, she wrapped her arms around Harry and kissed him with equal strength. The kiss wasn't anything like Chris had imagined to be their first kiss, it wasn't slow and tender, but it was a desperate kiss, a kiss that was running against the ticking clock, a kiss that was a small escape from the situation they were in. A kiss to make sure that they were there with each other alive before they have to run off and throw their lives into danger. 

Chris breathed Harry in as much as she could, he still smelled like wood and sage, and Chris couldn't help but smile at the familiarity. Harry looked a bit dazed as he pulled back and looked at Chris.

"Be safe," he whispered and his breath ghosted on Chris's lips. "Please."

"I will," Chris promised kissing his forehead, close to his scar, maybe to ease the pain Harry was feeling all night. "You stay safe as well, please."

Harry gave a slight nod and reluctantly pulled away and took several steps backward keeping his eyes on her before finally turning around and running out of the Great Hall. With a sigh, Chris turned to Fergus, who to her surprise. was staring at her with teary eyes. But as soon as a drop of tear tried to escape Fergus's eyes, he hastily turned around.

"As I was saying," Adrian got Chris's attention back, and she saw him smiling sheepishly. Irene gave a shy smile and Malvin looked around. Adrian cleared his throat and continued, "Nora, Jane, and the Patil twins went with Luna, your fellow House and classmates Alex, Elijah, and Danielle went with Colin, and Neville Longbottom and Draco Malfoy went with Ginny. They asked me to inform you of this." 

"I thought all of the Slytherins left," Malvin spoke surprised.

"They did, except Malfoy," said Irene frowning. "He had helped us before but in the current situation I don't know what to expect."

"He isn't a threat to us if that's what you are wondering," Chris assured.

"Now, that's sorted, we should hurry to the grounds, the others must be --" Adrian began but Chris cut him off.

"I can't join you right now," Chris said glancing at Fergus, who was growing impatient by the minute. "How about this, you three go on and I join you in a bit? In fact --" Chris looked up and called, "Fawkes!" 

With a burst of flames accompanied by a few screams from passing students, Fawkes appeared and sat down on Chris's shoulder.

"Fawkes, help me out? Go with Adrian, Irene, and Malvin, help them out, and inform me if they have any message for me?" Chris looked at Fawkes and he nuzzled her face in agreement. "Good boy." Smiling Chris turned to Adrian, Irene, and Malvin, who were staring at her and Fawkes in complete awe.

"That's Dumbledore's Phoniex," said Malvin, his mouth hanging open.

Chris nodded with a smile. "Now go. I will meet you all at the south grounds, soon, ok?"

"Ok," Adrian and Irene said as Malvin nodded.

Chris looked at Fergus with a questioning look and he let out a sigh.

"C'mon, we need to hurry, this way." And he took off. Without waiting Chris followed him, though she didn't have much idea what was going on with him. 

[To be Continued]