Together

For a long time, Chris, Dumbledore, Harry no one spoke. Somewhere far beyond the office walls, Chris could hear the sound of voices, students heading down to the Great Hall for breakfast.

"Professor I —" Chris began quietly. "I — well — I have the keys but that doesn't mean it's me, isn't it? This Protector — the Hogwarts Protector have to match all of the things said in the legend. . . right? Like the 'exception' thing and the thing with unheard possessions — I mean I don't possess anything unheard of, right?"

"Don't you, Christina?" said Dumbledore meeting her eyes. His face was sombre.

Chris' heart sank. She does possess things unheard of, she can make creatures obey her just looking at them, she can give orders to the Dementors. But then —

"Okay but what about the born part?" said Chris triumphantly. Anything to get out of this Protector business. She loved Hogwarts, of course. She was even ready to fight Voldemort and Malgino but saving Hogwarts? It was too much responsibility for fourteen years old. 

Dumbledore sighed.

"When you first stepped into Hogwarts, Christina, I felt your magic," he began. "It was strong but something wasn't quite right. Your magical signature was powerful, too powerful but it was unnatural. I was curious, I admit. I started to watch you closely and then I saw you solving the mystery of the Chamber of Secrets. I realized back then that you do not only possess an unbound, unnatural magic potential but also very different but great qualities. You went to save Miss Weasley, even when she refused your help. You help Harry to get out from his self-doubt. You refused the memory of Tom Riddle when he promised you great power. You even didn't avoid the attention you get. All signs of bravery, perception, loyalty and ambition. Needless to say, the sorting hat informed me about you after your sorting. Finally, at the end of the year, you showed me your first key, with the sign of Salazar Slytherin. I was beyond a sense of wonder. I decided to look into the legend and soon it became clear what it meant."

Dumbledore paused and took a deep breath. Neither Chris nor Harry made any sound.

"In your second year, you discovered your power to control the darkest creatures of this magical world, I realized the legend is coming true but I didn't say anything to you. An old man's mistake. I thought, as a headmaster, it is my responsibility to protect Hogwarts and its students, including you, though at that time I was sure the enemy outside Hogwarts was Voldemort, not Malgino. Then last year, you faced Malgino, without having any knowledge of his existence and we talked about him and the keys but I did not tell you about the legend. I knew you are strong, you will be able to take this information but I hesitated. It was easy to share Harry's secrets with you, but I failed to share yours. I did not want to burden you with this when you were just accepting Malgino's arrival. I thought I will be able to work against them if I planned it correctly. . ." Dumbledore looked in between Chris and Harry. "This is a lesson for you, never think you can do everything alone. Maybe you have to reach the end alone but on the journey, you are not alone. Do not repeat my mistakes." Dumbledore's eyes filled with tears, he looked out the window before composing himself. "Last year, I discovered the last significant part of the legend, Christina. 'The protector of Hogwarts will be born from where no one can imagine.' I wondered, like you, that being a muggle-born wasn't uncommon even back then, so what so special?" Dumbledore looked at Chris. "A wizard or witch can be born from many different parents, but there are a few equations who can not give birth to a magical child. . . Like a Squib and a Muggle. Your mother was a Squib, Christina."

"Wait, what? How? I mean —" choked Chris, feeling numb and cold. "My mother?"

"Yes, your mother's mother was a pure-blood witch, Christina, and her father was a half-blood wizard. It was a surprise for them when your mother was born with no magical abilities," said Dumbledore. "And not just any other pure-blood family — your grandmother was from the old but a forgotten family, the Bagleys, direct descendants of Helga Hufflepuff."

"But that's make me a descendent of Helga Hufflepuff!" said Chris looking shocked. "I mean sort of."

"Yes, you are the last descendent of Helga Hufflepuff," replied Dumbledore.

Again an absolute silence took over, Dumbledore looked at Chris and Chris stared at down the pensive without seeing it. Harry was sitting wide-eyed, mouth hanging open.

"So —?" Chris cleared her throat. "It matches? I am the Protector of Hogwarts?"

"Yes," said Dumbledore.

"And I have to protect Hogwarts from Malgino?"

"Yes," said Dumbledore hesitantly. "But not alone."

Chris gave a bitter smile.

"But you didn't tell me why my anger was so out of control that I — I killed people."

"My theory is the magic inside you is so much and so unnatural that when you use it very often, it creates a side effect," said Dumbledore. "And the side effect rises the darkness inside you, which come out as anger and sometimes it burst out like it did last night."

Chris nodded and didn't say anything.

"I wish I could be more help, but unfortunately, I was being selfish. I did not care if numbers of nameless and faceless people and creatures were slaughtered in the vague future, if in the here and now you and Harry were alive, and well, and happy. I never dreamed that I would have such people on my hands, again."

Chris looked up at him and saw a tear trickling down Dumbledore's face into his long silver beard.

"Chris, are you okay? I mean how are you feeling?" Harry said hesitantly as he and Chris walked towards the hospital wing.

"How am I feeling?" Chris laughed loudly and then winced as the laugh increased the pain in her chest. "I am feeling like my whole life was a lie. I knew that I never really knew my mother but this?" Chris smiled bitterly as a knot formed inside her stomach. "It's like I am living someone else's life and maybe it sounds stupid but honestly, I want out. I just want out."

"I know what you mean," said Harry after a moment.

Chris looked at Harry and saw the same haunted look in his eyes. Chris realized if anyone could understand her now, it was Harry. Maybe that was why Dumbledore told them those things together.

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To be continued. . .