Assumptions

No matter how twisted Umbridge's speech was her motive was pretty clear to Chris. One, she was going to watch Dumbledore, Harry and Chris behalf of the Ministry, and two, her personal motive, was to try to expel Harry and Chris at any cost, as killing them in Hogwarts was going to be a difficult job. Also, she was going to control everything in Hogwarts.

As Dumbledore dismissed them, Ron and Hermione hurried to lead the first years. Chris, Harry, Ginny and Colin got up and Chris heard a familiar voice calling her name.

"Harry! Chris!"

A boy was making his way in the crowd from Hufflepuff table.

"Hi Cedric," Chris said.

Cedric Diggory smiled and hugged Chris and Harry one by one.

"How are you?" Cedric asked.

"Fine," Harry said.

"Good," Chris said. "You?"

"Fine." Cedric sighed. "I heard what happened over the summer, Harry. And to be clear Harry, I believe there were Dementors."

Harry gave a weak smile.

"Are you getting those weird looks?" Harry asked looking around the Hall.

Chris noticed the whispering had grown louder suddenly. Almost everyone was looking at them, even Umbridge.

"What do you think?" Cedric gave a bitter smile. "It's just strange, you know. But don't worry it'll get over soon. They can't hide forever."

"True." Chris smiled. 

"Alright then, See you around Harry, Chris." Cedric nodded then left.

Harry sighed.

"Relax," Ginny said to Harry.

"Yeah put up with those stares, then I'll see how could you relax?" Harry snapped.

"No need to use that tone with her, Potter," Chris said calmly. "If you haven't noticed then let me remind you Cedric and I are going through the same."

Harry opened his mouth to reply but Chris was already walking towards the double door. As she crossed the marble stairs Colin and Ginny caught up with her.

"Chris, didn't you tell Dumbledore clearly about the Dementors stuff? How could he hire her after that?" Ginny asked angrily.

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

Ginny hastily filled Colin about Rita's letter. 

"I don't know what Dumbledore is planning," Chris replied as Ginny finished with a glare. "And yes I've told him everything I know. Leave them alone for now, I've other things in mind."

"Like what?" Ginny snapped.

Chris sighed as they took a shortcut. The corridor was empty.

"Like.. are you sure you're ready to be an unregistered Animagus?" Chris said quietly.

Ginny abruptly stopped.

"Are sure the potion is ready?" She said after a few seconds.

"Yes. Positive." Chris said, stopping beside her. "Look, I understand if you three wants to back out. Because this is serious. Very serious. We're already breaking hundreds of rules but after we do this we'll be breaking laws. Honestly, I didn't think like this before because... things were different... I mean we were still breaking rules but now with the Ministry and Minister going against Dumbledore and then Umbridge coming here... now it's going to be terrible if we get caught... especially for you Ginny and your parents..."

"I know. But don't forget they're in Order because this entire thing with the Ministry and Fudge is wrong." Ginny said cutting Chris out. "And now when I know that the source of the trouble is dancing in front of us, honestly, I don't care how many stupid rules I break. If Umbridge is here, we need to prepare ourselves as much as possible."

"Yes Chris, we're not taking this Animagus thing lightly, we're never had," Colin confessed. "And Ginny is right. After what happened last year and the things going on right now, I also think we should prepare ourselves. We don't know what's coming for us next. And to do the right thing if I need to break some rules and laws... I'm okay with it."

Chris looked at Colin and Ginny's determined faces then smiled.

"Still I'm asking Luna about this tomorrow," Chris said. "And if Luna is also okay with it then we're doing it. Tomorrow. After Dinner."

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After reaching Gryffindor tower Chris and Ginny said bye to Colin and headed straight for the door to the girls' dormitories. Danielle Jones and Lauren Villin, Chris's other two roommates had reached the dormitory first and were in the process of covering the walls beside their beds with photographs. They had been talking as Chris pushed open the door but stopped abruptly the moment they saw her. Chris knew those two girls always loved good gossip so no wonder they were talking about her or Harry or Cedric.

Chris didn't bother much with and started rummaging through her trunk.

"Hi," Danielle said suddenly.

"Hi," Chris replied looking up at her casually.

Danielle and Lauren suddenly looked very encouraged by Chris's casual behaviour.

"Hi," Lauren piped up. "How was your summer, Chris?"

"Good, Yours?"

"Nice," Lauren said. "But you know, we thought you would be upset after what Daily Prophet wrote about you this summer."

Ginny sharply looked at Lauren but didn't say anything. Chris just looked at them curiously.

"Yeah, I mean we didn't believe them, of course," Danielle added. "We know you're not crazy or stupid. I mean there were rumours about you last year... you know, with Harry Potter and that Dark stuff but that wasn't true, was it?"

"Yes, we were just curious that how did you manage to enter the maze?" Lauren said. "We weren't with Harry Potter or Cedric Diggory when they entered the maze. Where you there before the championship started or after it started?"

Chris and Ginny exchanged looks.

"Oh, we understood why you lied to Dumbledore," Danielle said giggling. "We guessed it. But don't worry we're not going to tell anyone."

"What do you guessed exactly?" Ginny asked, looking confused.

"It's simple, isn't it?" Lauren said impatiently. "She went to help Potter and Diggory in the maze but then got caught."

"But because it was a so big tournament, she needed a big reason to save herself, so she made up the story of You-Know-Who," Danielle said, looking like she had discovered the secret of life. "Though it was a little extreme Dumbledore being Dumbledore believed it. And she was saved from the punishment."

"Er..." Chris was speechless for a few moments. "Umm... I wish this was that simple Danielle. But it's not. I was really kidnapped and trapped in the maze."

Danielle and Lauren made a face which clearly showed they didn't believe her.

"And they're not making any stories of You-Know-Who," Ginny said. "Everything is real."

"You're lying," Danielle mumbled.

"I wish." Chris sighed and left the room.

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To be continued..