Shell Cottage

A cottage stood alone on a cliff overlooking the sea, its walls embedded with shells and whitewashed. It was a lonely and beautiful place. But since Ron, Ginny, Luna, Colin, Hermione, Harry, Chris, Oziyat, and Sol apparated on the cliff in the dead of night, everything was wrapped in the darkness around them, saved only by the lights coming from the small windows of the cottage. There were also quiet chatting voices coming from the house.

"I think some of the Order members are here for Christmas," Ron murmured answering the unasked question.

But even after knowing Ron was right and they didn't need to be afraid of whoever was inside the cottage, nobody moved. Chris glanced at Ron and saw him looking at the cottage and then giving a side eye to Oziyat. Not to mention it was the first time Ron spoke after Oziyat appeared out of nowhere in front of them in the Godric's Hollow. Harry and Hermione were too shocked to speak as well. However, Chris, who got used to all vampire speed and the red eyes of Oziyat, was completely oblivious to Harry, Ron, and Hermione's situation. After the ministry jerks left, Chris's first concern was Sol.

"Oziyat, where is Sol?" She asked looking around.

"He is here, Chris," Luna responded before Oziyat, and from behind her, Sol shuffled out. Luna held Sol's hand. "He was here, the moment Oziyat's voice came. But I didn't make any noise for Sol's safety in front of those ministry people."

"That was smart, Luna," Chris said before turning to Sol. "You okay, Sol?"

Sol nodded and Chris sighed with relief.

"Then we should get going," Ginny smiled at Sol but as she turned to her brother, her smile strained. "We should, right, Ron?"

When Ron didn't reply, Chris finally turned and noticed Ron, Harry, and Hermione's perplexed state. Ron was blankly staring at Oziyat, and only after hearing Ginny calling his name again did he glance at her. The siblings exchanged strange looks. Ron's face was a mix of surprise and hesitancy, but Ginny remained unmoved.

"Ron, we need to get out of here, now," Ginny warned.

"But, Ginny —" Hermione's eyes flickered towards Oziyat. She tensed as Oziyat looked back at her.

"What's going on?" Chris asked looking back and forth between Ginny, Ron, and Hermione.

"Nothing," Ginny told Chris but she was still looking at Ron. "They are with us. Now, let's go."

Hermione was about to protest again but Harry stopped her and glanced around.

"Hermione, we really should — before they come back."

"But Harry —" Hermione nervously looked back at Oziyat again and Harry followed her eyes as well, looking worried. He looked at Chris next and she gave a firm nod to him.

"I will tell you everything after we get out of here," Chris announced.

"Then let's get out of here," Harry held out his arms and they quickly formed a circle holding each other.

"Where are we going?" Oziyat asked Ginny.

"My oldest brother and his wife's home," Ginny replied grimacing a little at the 'wife' word.

Then with a crack, all of them were standing near the seashore of Bill and Fleur's shell cottage.

After realizing nobody was going to take the first step, Ron led the group toward the cottage. Hermione, Luna, and Colin followed him and after a moment of hesitation so did Ginny.

Oziyat nudged Sol to go with Luna, and understanding Sol quickly followed them. Oziyat looked like he wanted to talk to Chris alone but when Chris didn't move, Harry stopped looking at her. Noticing Harry, Oziyat didn't say anything and followed Ginny and Sol.

But Chris didn't pay attention to anyone. She was still staring at the cottage wondering who was there, and who will she had to face after running away alone. As if reading her mind, Harry stepped beside her and whispered,

"It will be alright."

Chris turned to look at him and Harry's familiar green eyes smiled back at her. His Polyjuice potion had worn off and he was looking like himself. Harry slipped his hand into Chris's and the familiar gesture reminded her of the time at Hogwarts when they would just, talk, laugh, and explore around together. Chris smiled back at him, and slowly and quietly they made their way to the cottage.

By the time Ron knocked on the cottage door, except for Ginny's still black hair and Colin's mustache, almost everyone was looking like their real selves. Hearing the knock on the door everything quiet down inside and after a moment of silence, which Chris knew was for them to ready their wands, Bill's voice came,

"Who is it?"

"Umm. . . I'm . . ." Ron hesitated to look at Ginny, who angrily pushed him forward. "It's us, Bill. Ron, Harry, Hermione, and we are with someone I think you would all want to meet."

There was absolute silence on the side of the door.

"Great, Ron! Way to make us look super not suspicious at all," Ginny rolled her eyes at him and Ron glared.

"If you know everything, why didn't you try telling them who you are?"

"Do you want them to think my ghost came home for Christmas?" Ginny hissed in Ron's ears.

"Prove what you are saying is true." another very familiar voice said and Chris went still.

"Aurelia!" Chris gasped under her breath.

Shaking his head and smiling at Ron and Ginny bickering, Harry stepped forward.

"It's Harry, Aurelia. You gifted me a golden snitch for my sixteen birthday," Harry paused and looked at Chris. "And what Ron said is true, we do have company but nothing threatening. We found someone we were looking for."

Another pause, and then the door flew open, revealing Bill Weasley, Aurelia Cromwell, Sirius Black, and Remus Lupin holding out their wands at them at the doorway. However, as soon as their eyes scanned the group, all of them froze.

"Ginny!" Bill cried out in shock.

"Chris!" Aurelia's beautiful face framed with her golden blonde hair, changed between shock and disbelief.

"Hey, Bill," Ginny looked at his older brother apologetically.

"Hi everyone," Chris awkwardly waved at the gaping people in front of them. "Sorry, I —"

Aurelia pulled Chris and held her face in her hands, her eyes searched Chris's in a motherly way. She checked her from head to toe.

"You are alive and ok. Chris, I knew . . ." tears filled Aurelia's eyes and unable to continue she hugged Chris tightly.

Bill was in utter disbelief too as he approached Ginny. He glanced at Colin, Luna, and Chris and when saw Aurelia hugging Chris, he looked back at Ginny almost crying.

"It's really me, Bill. Sorry I made you guys think I was dead," Ginny said in one breath.

Bill hugged her and after a moment Ron joined the hug.

Hearing the commotion, all of the Christmas guests at Bill and Fleur's house came out with Fleur. There was a moment of confusion and surprise before they realize what was going on. One by one Chris saw familiar faces with mixed expressions, from complete shock to absolute joy.

Realizing their sister was still alive Fred and George half-crying and half-laughing joined Bill, Ginny, and Ron's group hug, and Cedric Diggory ran to Colin and Luna happily crushing them in a hug. Sirius hugged Harry, while Remus turned to Hermione.

As for Chris, Aurelia finally pulled back from her long hug and smoothed down Chris's hair softly. Chris had never seen Aurelia so affectionate before, so not knowing what to do, she clasped Aurelia's hand and smiled at her.

"You ok?" Aurelia whispered, with teary eyes.

"Yes, you?" Chris looked equally emotional.

Aurelia nodded with a smile but when she opened her mouth to say something, she stopped hearing Fred, George, and Bill shouting questions at Ginny. Chris turned to them to see Ginny looking panicked a little bit but Ron came to her rescue.

"Can we go inside and talk, it's freezing out here!" said Ron loudly.

Some laughed at this, some rolled their eyes smiling, and some were still sniffling with the last of their sobs, but everyone agreed with Ron. The ocean breeze was really chilling them to the bone.

As everybody moved to go in, Chris's eyes fell on Oziyat, who was standing a little far from the group. Excusing herself from Aurelia, Chris edged towards Oziyat, and Sol, who was hiding behind Oziyat's legs. But noticing her, Oziyat spoke before her.

"Christina, thank you for doing all of this for Sol's sake but I can understand the discomfort I would bring to Ginny's brother and family. It would be better if I don't impose on them. I can make my own arrangements, but I would request you to keep an eye on Sol, if possible."

"But Oziyat, I can talk to them. At least let me introduce —" Chris tried to protest but got interrupted by Fred's voice.

"Am I finally feeling the effect of Fleur's wine or there is a vampire here?"

At once, everyone's eyes snapped to Fred then to Oziyat and Chris. All the happy shouts and chaos died down instantly.

"You are not seeing things, Fred," Hermione stated looking somewhere between afraid, suspicious, and uneasy.

Oziyat gave Chris a knowing smile glancing at Hermione but Chris turned to the crowd with a resolved look,

"Right, I should do the introductions! Everyone, this is Oziyat, the —"

"The Vampire Preence Oziyat!" Fleur suddenly squealed in her thick French voice clapping her hands over her mouth. "That ees why you looked so familiar."

⟦To be continued⟧