Expecto Patronum

"How did you die?" Chris asked after some time as the story processed in her brain.

Helena looked at Chris very sharply but Chris didn't look away. Somehow, Chris wasn't afraid of Helena nor angry or disappointed by her actions. To Chris, Helena simply looked vulnerable. The way she talked and the wounded look in her almost transparent eyes was enough to tell Chris that she loved Malgino, maybe more than she loved her mother.

"The Baron tracked me to the forest where I was hiding. When I refused to return with him, he became violent. The Baron was always a hot-tempered man. Furious at my refusal, jealous of my freedom, he stabbed me," Helena said looking away and she lifted aside the cloak she wore to reveal a single dark wound in her white chest. "When he saw what he had done, he was overcome with remorse. He took the weapon that had claimed my life and used it to kill himself. All these centuries later, he wears his chains as an act of penitence . . . as he should," she added bitterly.

"The Baron killed you?" Chris' voice was barely more than a whisper. 

"Ill-tempered Slytherins," Helena said darkly.

"So then you just came back as a ghost?" Chris said ignoring Helena's comment.

"Not immediately," Helena sighed. "After my mother and Sir Godric died. I didn't want to face them but Madam Helga was always good to me, so when I returned and asked if I could stay here, she gave me permission."

There was a heavy silence. Chris didn't know what to say. Helena looked like she had nothing to add. Many questions swirled around Chris' brain: What was the curse? How did Malgino survive the curse? How he became immortal? How the keys were made and what was the purpose of them? 

But unfortunately, Helena didn't have those answers. Chris thought, maybe Helena knew more than that but didn't trust her enough to share those or maybe she really didn't know more than that.

"Thanks, Helena," Chris sighed. "Thanks a lot for telling me."

Helena slowly nodded. 

"If my mother and the other founders had chosen you then you must be special," she said gliding towards the door. "Because you should know that, they were not easy to impress."

And she left.

Chris sat there for some time thinking about how strong Malgino was.

Maybe stronger than Voldemort.

But then again if he was so strong then why he helped Voldemort? What was the need for him?  

After sometime when Chris realized it was almost dinner time, she got up and went towards the great hall.

Chris was crossing the entrance hall when she saw Jason walking towards the great hall.

"Hey! Jason!"

She ran after him, catching him halfway to the great hall.

"You are back?" Jason looked surprised. 

"Yeah, we got here this morning, in the Knight Bus," Chris hugged him. "Look, I'm sorry — "

"Yes, I got your sorry letter over Christmas," Jason said hugging her back. "So I know you're sorry."

"So? Are we cool?" Chris asked pulling back.

"That depends. . ."

The rest of the conversation was mostly awkward but Chris was sure they will work it out soon, after all, they really liked each other.

Next day their new term started and Cedric called a D.A. meeting that same evening. Chris, Colin, Luna and Ginny went to the room of requirement one hour ago.

"I can't believe, no one knows about these things?" Colin exclaimed, after Chris finished Helena's story.

"Yeah actually, I mean there are lots of stories about the founders but not a story about Malgino or the war between them," Ginny said.

"I think there are some stories, you know," Chris said thoughtfully. "I've seen some stuff in my Ancient Runes class."

"Then we need to find the stories. It will be useful," Luna said, while painting something on a wall.

"Luna, what are you doing?" Colin asked sitting beside her.

"Oh, I really wanted to do something with my old colours, so I thought I'll paint something nice," Luna replied smiling.

"What happened to our talisman creating project?" Ginny asked. "We are still making them, right?"

"Yes, we are," Chris replied. "I've almost finished reading. I think we can start making it from tomorrow."

There was a knock on the door and Cedric entered.

"Hey! I thought I'll be the first here," Cedric said smiling.

"Sorry to beat you," Chris smiled back. "Had a good Christmas?"

"Yeah, it was nice," Cedric turned to Ginny. "How is Mr. Weasley now?"

"He is good," Ginny replied with a small smile. "He looked fine after getting discharged."

"That's good," Cedric sat down. "My parents and I visited Mr. Weasley in St. Mungo's after Christmas. Dad covered for him in front of the Minister, it was Dumbledore's idea, of course. Though I thought it was unnecessary, the Minister barely pay attention to anything nowadays."

"Why?" Chris asked curiously.

"No idea," Cedric shrugged. "I thought he is busy scheming against Dumbledore and us with that Umbridge, what else?"

"Possible," Colin agreed.

But Chris was thinking about something else. Fudge was against them from the end of the last year, so why he was distracted nowadays?

Soon all D.A. members arrived and they exchanged some Christmas greetings then started the Patronus charm.

"Think about a happiest memory in your life," Harry said. "It needs to be strong. Look carefully, Expecto Patronum."

A big silvery stag burst out from the tip of Harry's wand.

"It can get difficult to cast it in the presence of Dementors, but if your happy memory is strong enough then it's possible," Cedric said. "Expecto Patronum."

A silvery horse came out from Cedric's wand.

"And last is the incantation. The spell can be also exhausting but the more you practice the more it'll become easy," Chris said. "Expecto Patronum."

A big silvery eagle flew out from the tip of Chris' wand.

The crowd wowed and clapped then get to work. 

At the end of the class Ginny, Luna, Hermione and Colin were the only ones who had produced non-corporal Patronus.

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To be continued. . .