The Sunrise

"Looks like he is in deep sleep," Chris said as she approached Oziyat tucking in Sol on the couch of Bill and Fleur's living room.

"Yes, he fell asleep here and Lady Fleur was kind enough to offer a blanket for him," Oziyat smiled at Chris and straightened up.

"Of course she did. You two are just as much as guests of hers - if not more than - me," Chris assured but Oziyat shook her head.

"As much as I have seen, you are almost family to these people," Oziyat gestured around the room where the Weasleys, Luna, Colin, Cedric, Remus, Sirius, and Hermione were asleep all over the room (After one drink turned eight, nobody could stay awake). "However, I'm not upset. They have done more than enough just by trusting a vampire and inviting him inside their home to celebrate Christmas drinks with. And they didn't even ask why I was here, which shows how much they trust you."

"I . . . Well, I practically grew up around them," Chris said after a moment of hesitation and looked around the room. Sirius and Remus were passed out on the chairs near the kitchen table after drinking almost the entire bottle. They looked like they were back to their teenage shelves. Chris couldn't help but smile looking at them. "But I am glad after what I pulled last summer, they still trust me this much."

"And I am glad you have these kinds of people in your life," Oziyat said staring at Chris's smiling face.

Chris looked away from sleeping Sirius and Remus and caught Oziyat staring and half frozen smile on his face.

"You ok, Oziyat?" Chris asked quietly. At first, she thought maybe Oziyat was remembering his family and sister, but when Oziyat didn't look away from her for a long time, she cleared her throat and looked down. "Oziyat, I . . ."

"When you first arrived at Titian, you were so guarded, Christina, I could have never guessed you lived with these people," Oziyat interrupted Chris. "With them, you feel so open. In fact, you feel a bit too open since you came back from the cave. You came back to the people you left behind for their safety, you are saying sorry and genuinely trying to reconcile with these people, for everyone it must be a good sign. Then why do I feel something is amiss? I was worried about Titian until now and didn't really noticed but now that I think about it, your aura has changed, Christina. You look more genuine now but why is your aura darker?"

Chris stared at Oziyat in surprise. His tone wasn't accusatory but worried. He looked really worried about her as he said those things. And Chris almost forgot Vampires could notice auras. And hers was getting darker? Was this because of Fergus or because of the things he told her about her power or something completely different? She needed to talk to Fergus quickly.

"I don't know what . . ." Chris looked around in a panic to see if anyone heard them talking. She was worried because she knew if her friends found out she was keeping something from them again, they wouldn't be able to take it. Luckily, all of them were asleep, Ginny and Luna were on the makeshift bed on the floor and Colin was asleep on the armchair near the fireplace. Nonetheless, Chris lowered her voice, "Oziyat, I don't know what are you saying, but please don't mention this stuff in front of any of them or they would think -"

"That you are hiding something?" Oziyat gave an amused smile at Chris but for some reason, Chris felt it wasn't Oziyat's usual amused smile, the smile looked a bit bitter. "Don't worry, your secrets are always safe with me, Christina."

Chris couldn't look at Oziyat's smile anymore, she knew he knew she was hiding something but didn't force her to answer her. He never did, he always let her keep her secrets. This made Chris feel guilty. For a moment Chris felt as if she has been taking advantage of people all around her. 

However, before she could dissect that feeling, something in her pocket stirred and a transparent and shimmery Fergus appeared beside Oziyat.

"You thought of me?" Fergus smiled at Chris and then looked around the room. "Oh, it's Christmas! Merry Christmas, Christina."

Chris blinked at Fergus a few times and quickly looked away from him. Oziyat couldn't see Fergus but it would be weird if Chris keep staring at the space above Oziyat's shoulder.

"I just remember something I need to do. I will be back, Oziyat," Chris said hurriedly and left the room. 

"Isn't it ironic that in my memories you were following me and now I'm following you in the real world," Fergus said while following Chris out of the cottage. "Wow, the sea. It's gorgeous."

Ignoring Fergus's exclamations, Chris looked back to see if Oziyat had followed her. He did not. Chris walked along the beach and didn't stop until she was far enough from the house. 

"Why is my aura darker after I returned from your cave?" Chris whirled around at Fergus.

"I am guessing my descendent Oziyat told you that?" Fergus's smile dropped and he grimaced. "You have too many people who give you too much unnecessary information, I think."

"What does it mean, Fergus?" Chris gave a dead stare.

"For your information, your aura was always dark. My powers in you made your aura dark since it was not from you, but it was living in you," Fergus sighed. "However, now you are in much more in possession of my powers than you ever were. Me making you aware of the power opened a door for you to access its full potential and as you know my powers never were - exactly very bright."

"Also these powers are unnatural," Chris finished Fergus's thoughts. 

"Yeah that too," Fergus gave a sad smile. "I know it's not ideal, but there is also a good side to it."

"Which is?" Chris raised her eyebrows.

"The more you are aware of the power, the less they control your feelings."

"Really?"

"Yes. You are in more control of the power right now. You are not only accessing its full potential but also you can bend it on your will."

"That's good to know, I guess," Chris sighed and looked out at the sea. "It's just . . ."

"You are worried about the future?" Fergus asked and Chris didn't answer, so he continued. "Everyone is afraid or worried about the future, Christine. Nobody really knows what is going to happen. Even the most enlightened seers will tell you that they are no one future, there are infinite possibilities. And rather than getting scared by them, we should learn to live alongside them while doing our best, giving our best, and you have done so. So, why are you afraid?"

"It's not me, Fergus," Chris glanced back at Fergus. "It's the people around me. I know running away without telling any of them for their safety was wrong. And right now I'm trying to be open and stuff. But how do I keep them safe when I am the danger?"

"Remember your test, Christina, what did I tell you?" 

Chris looked at him with a bitter smile and spoke, "that no one can save others if they don't want to be saved?"

"Also that these people are strengths, not weaknesses, so stop treating them like that and have some faith. Because right now all you can do is live with them," Fergus gestured something with his eyes behind Chris. She turned around and saw Harry sitting alone on the beach. "Go live with them Christina, experience life with them, and stop worrying about the future."

"I don't know . . . " Chris turned to look back at Fergus but he wasn't there anymore. Chris looked around the beach but Fergus was gone. Chris sighed and shook her head, then smiled. Maybe he was right. She came back here for these people and she couldn't let her fears ruin it again.

Chris slowly walked towards Harry and sat on the sand beside him. Harry looked up and was surprised to see her.

"What?" Chris asked seeing his surprised face.

"Just wondering how you always find me," Harry smiled softly.

"This was unintentional," Chris replied rolling her eyes. "What are you doing here all alone?" 

"Since me, Ron and Hermione have been on the run, I grew a habit of watching the stars and night sky melt with the sunrise," Harry said staring at the sky. After a moment, when Chris didn't reply, he looked back at her and saw her smiling. "What? It's very calming, you know."

"I know," Chris chuckled.

Harry shook his head smiling and asked,

"How did you find me in Godric's hollow, by the way? Or that was a coincidence too?"

"That was intentional. How? Don't ask, maybe I just really wanted to find you?" Chris smirked and Harry chuckled. "What were you doing there anyway?"

"We went to meet Bathilda Bagshot," Harry replied.

"The historian?" Chris asked and Harry nodded. "Why?"

"Looking for the Griffindor's sword. Hermione thought, maybe Dumbledore left that to Bathilda Bagshot to give me." Harry sighed. "But of course, that would have been too easy. Bathilda Bagshot wasn't even at Godric's Hollow, she recently has been admitted to St. Mungo's hospital. Now, I don't know where the sword is and we have nothing to go on. I just . . ."

Harry frustratedly ran his fingers through his hair and Chris slowly began, "Harry . . . I have the Gryffindor's sword."

"What?" Harry shouted in shock and Chris started laughing seeing his shocked face.

The sky turned purple and orange as the sun barely peaked above the ocean. Chris looked over the ocean and the sun.

"You were right, it is calming," Chris said still giggling and Harry started laughing with her. 

Chris rested her head on Harry's shoulder as the sun slowly started coming out from the ocean. Their laughing subdued and a comfortable silence fell over them. Chris let out a quiet sigh as her body relaxed completely. Harry let out a tiny breath as he leaned his head onto Chris's.

"I missed you," he mumbled.

"I missed you too," she closed her eyes smiling.

[To be continued . . .]