The Surrounding

"Dames!" Chris whispered as she reached the Astronomy tower. 

Within a few minutes, a black hooded figure floated in front of her. 

"My Queen." The Dementor bowed.

Chris was under the invisibility cloak but Dementors sense people.

"You're worried, my Queen," Dames informed.

Chris sighed and rubbed her eyes.

"There's no way to hid that from you, is there?" She said.

"I will not talk about it if you don't want me to, my Queen," Dames replied diplomatically. "But I guess I know a few reasons for your worry. I'm ashamed about...."

"I didn't call you here to blame you, Dames," Chris said. "I just want to know exactly what the hell happened?"

"As you ordered I had informed the others about the Dark Lord. But a few weeks ago, the Ministry gave an order and as I said before, the Ministry orders do not reach me. The young ones handle them and as ordered they went after the boy." Dames replied. "But this time I decided to know everything going around our fort so when the others informed me about the attack, I went on and confirmed who the boy was. I deeply regretted when I found it was the same boy from school. I'm ashamed, my Queen, I've failed you. I'm ready to take any retribution for my mistake."

"What about those two Dementors who actually went to perform the kiss? I would like to punish them." Chris said bitterly.

"Finished."

"What?" Chris asked, confused.

"They're finished, my Queen. I've destroyed them myself." Dames said.

"You mean.... they're dead? You killed them?" Chris muttered, looking surprised. "But Dementors can't be killed."

"Wizards can not destroy us, my Queen, but we can destroy each other. Elders can easily finish the young ones, as they're born from the elders. The younger ones had difficulty if they want to finish older ones." 

Chris processed this new information before speaking.

"So you killed those two young Dementors as you're the older one?" She said finally.

"Those two and the others who refused to obey you," Dames answered.

"Wow... How many exactly?"

"Almost twenty."

"Wow," said Chris amused. "So what about the others?"

"The others did not oppose your orders immediately but they all are not very much pleased either," Dames replied reluctantly.

"I understand, Dumbledore warned me about this." Chris mumbled, "but Dames, I don't understand if the Dementors are compelled to obey me then why only you obey me and not the others?"

"That's is the problem my Queen, the urge to obey you comes from how much we're attached to our source of creation. I for one is the most closely connected to our creation but the others who came from me, are a little less connected." Dames explained, "Likewise the others who came from them had lesser connection than them. Our source of creation is connected to your Aura."

"You weren't that much knowledgeable when we talked the first time." Chris chuckled. 

"I was discussing these things with a few other elders, my Queen. They're also pulled by your aura, not as much me but they're. They also want to help and meet you... only if you want to meet them."

"Well... an army of Dementors doesn't sound that bad." Chris smiled. "Do you trust them, Dames? Completely trust them?"

There was a pause before Dames spoke.

"They're a few I trust blindly."

Chris restraint herself from laughing aloud, but sensed it.

"Human metaphors, my Queen," he said instantly.

Chris laughed.

"I know. Sorry," she said after she stopped laughing. "So as I was saying, bring those Dementors to me, who you trust completely."

"As you wish my Queen."

"And keep an eye out for... er... I mean to observe the orders coming from the Ministry and the Dark Lord. Is that clear?"

"Yes, my Queen."

"Bye then," Chris said walking towards the spiral staircase. "I'm dead tired."

"I'll meet you soon, my Queen."

And like that Chris knew even without looking that Dames was gone.

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"Where were you last night?" Ginny asked as she and Chris walked downstairs to the common room.

"Astronomy tower," Chris responded. "Hey Colin, why are looking so grumpy?"

Colin was standing alone at the foot of the stairs. He was looking very angry and frustrated.

"Can you believe it?" He replied to Chris.

"Believe what?" Ginny inquired.

"Kevin, Simon and Ahan." Colin spat. "They think you and Harry are lying and Dumbledore is a fool."

"Chill out for a sec," Chris said resting a hand on Colin's shoulder. "You don't need to fight them, Colin. They'll realize the truth, eventually."

"At least the boys didn't discover a new gossip like Danielle and Lauren," Ginny said harshly.

Chris looked around the common room ignoring Ginny's angry muttering about Danielle and Lauren when she saw the notice.

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"Look at that!" Chris exclaimed shaking Colin and Ginny from their angry outbursts.

Ans instantly their expressions changed.

"What're they trying to do now?" Ginny said, smiling. "I thought they had enough experiments on us and themselves."

"Maybe they want publicity," Chris suggested. "Also you never know, maybe they've some new ideas."

"Can I join?" A voice piped up beside Colin.

"No," Colin answered without looking.

"Alright." replied the small voice.

It was Colin's little brother Dennis, who was in his second year. He planning to join Fred and George with his friends.

"Oh don't worry Colin. Fred and George will be careful." Ginny said giving a bright smile to Dennis. "They'll not harm anyone."

"If you say so." Colin shrugged as they walked out of the portrait hole.

On the way to Great Hall, Chris completely ignored the whispers and glances. They met Luna at the entrance hall and without waiting for Ginny and Colin launched into their roommate stories. At last Chris asked her about the Animagus thing and to her surprise, Luna agreed to do it in a heartbeat.

"I don't mind doing it tonight. We're ready, aren't we? Also, you know, people were talking about you, Harry, Cedric and Dumbledore in our common room." Luna said in her dreamy voice. "I just ignored them. I believe you, Harry, Cedric and Dumbledore. Now they need to see the truth."

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To be continued...