"But how is this possible?"
Ginny, Luna, Colin and Harry said at the sa ti.
"No idea," Chris replied to all of them then spoke into her talisman. "But there is no ti. Inform the Professor. Please no one go in front of them alone. Please."
"On it," said Colin.
"What about the sword?" asked Ginny.
"We need to return to the castle at once," said Dumbledore at the sa ti. Chris turned around and saw him getting up holding Harry's shoulder.
"We will manage the sword, Gin," said Chris. "Don't go around the castle alone."
"I know that," Ginny snapped.
"We can get brooms from Madam Rosrta," said Chris turning to Dumbledore.
"I will get them," said Harry.
"Also tell her to inform the ministry," said Dumbledore.
As soon as Harry left, Dumbledore turned to Chris.
"Christina, as soon as we enter the Hogwarts grounds," he said faintly but clearly. "You will go to Severus and inform him about this. Am I clear?"
Chris opened her mouth to say yes but stopped midway, instead, she asked, "Why do you trust him so much, Professor?"
Dumbledore eyes grew wearier and Chris instantly regretted asking him that.
"Christina, sotis sothings are done for the greater good no matter how bad it seems at present," he said.
Chris stared at him for a long mont as if trying to understand the depth of his words.
"I am an Animagus," she said without thinking. "Snake."
At this, she thought Dumbledore smiled just a little.
"I expected no less from you."
Harry ca with the brooms. He was already on one, he handed the other two to Dumbledore and Chris. As they sped toward the castle, Chris glanced sideways at Dumbledore, but the sight of the Dark Mark seed to have acted upon Dumbledore like a stimulant: He was bent low over his broom, his eyes fixed upon the Mark, his long silver hair and beard flying behind him on the night air. And Chris too looked ahead at the skull, and fear swelled inside her like a venomous bubble, compressing her lungs, driving all other discomforts from her mind, she forgot that her shoulder was still bleeding painfully. . .
How long had they been away? Is there too many Death Eaters in the castle? What if they get hold of any of the teachers or students alone? Did they have killed soone already?
As they flew over the dark, twisting lane down, Chris heard, over the whistling of the night air in her ears, Dumbledore muttering in so strange language again. She understood why as she felt her broom shudder when they flew over the boundary wall into the grounds: Dumbledore was undoing the enchantnts he himself had set around the castle so they could enter at speed. The Dark Mark was glittering directly above the Astronomy Tower, the highest of the castle.
Dumbledore had already crossed the crenellated ramparts and was dismounting; Chris landed next to him and looked around.
The ramparts were deserted. The door to the spiral staircase that led back into the castle was closed. There was no sign of a struggle, of a fight to the death, of a body.
Harry landed next to her and without waiting Chris took off. She rembered Dumbledore's instructions clear. She leapt the last ten steps of the spiral staircase and as she landed a sharp pain shot through her arm to her shoulder. She swayed and rembered she was badly injured but there was no way to stop. She ran, slowing her pace a little. But just as she reached the next corridor she ca to an abrupt halt. A battle was raging before her. Sirius, Remus, Aurelia, Professor McGonagall, Bill all were fighting Death Eaters and Malgino's minions. Chris dodged a killing curse and ducked behind a pillar. She was preparing to transform when sothing attacked Bill. Dust filled the place as Bill fell down, unconscious. Chris leapt out and tried to stun the attacker, but to horror, she realised why Bill's spells didn't work on his attacker. It was Fenrir Greyback, a big, rangy man with matted grey hair and whiskers, whose black Death Eater's robes looked uncomfortably tight. He didn't saw Chris and went to help the other Death Eaters. In the dust, Chris crouched down beside Bill's unconscious body. She felt her heart in her throat as she saw his face.
"Bill," Chris gasped. His face was badly slashed and ripped, unrecognisable. She didn't want to leave him there but her instinct kicked in. She dragged Bill to a side, out of the way from the roaring battle then — saw soone running towards the Astronomy Tower she had not quite expected.
Jason disappeared up on the stairs with — one of the Malgino's minions.
What do they want from him?
For a second, Chris just looked back and forth between the corridor leading downstairs to the staff room then at the corridor leading back to the Astronomy Tower. Go call Snape or make sure Jason was ok. Chris groaned in frustration. Then she rembered her friends must be out by now. She didn't know where they were either.
"Gin, Luna, Colin? Did you all get out? Where are you?"
"We are. . . fighting. . ." ca Colin's voice. "They are. . . too many."
"Where are you?" said Ginny.
"I'm in the castle," said Chris. "Listen, have any of inford Snape anything?"
"Yeah, Professor Flitwick had gone to call him," said Luna.
With a sigh, Chris dashed towards the Astronomy Tower.
"Good, be careful. I am at the Astronomy Tower with Harry and Dumbledore. Tell Snape that if you see him."
"Okay," Ginny, Luna and Colin said together.
They must have held Jason for sothing. What was he doing so late in the corridors?
Probably his secret training in the Room of Requirent. But then why isn't he using it on that minion?
Chris reached the open door of the Tower and saw Dumbledore facing Jason and the minion unard; Harry was nowhere to be seen. Chris raised her wand to dismiss the stupid minion though she knew Dumbledore could do it without a wand, still, he was weak. But then she stopped —
". . . you found a way to let them in, didn't you?" Dumbledore asked Jason.
"Yes, he did," said the minion. "Isn't he a talented boy?"
Chris stared at them frozen outside the door.
He had found a way to let who in? Surely not Death Eaters and Malgino's minions.
"I had a good reason," said Jason not looking at Dumbledore.
"I have my doubts about the reason you are doing this, Jason," said Dumbledore calmly. "I don't think for whom you are doing this, will agree with you."
The words hit Chris physically, she flinched. Her mind had worked out what were they talking about but she didn't believe it. She didn't want to believe it.
"She has to understand. This is the only way," said Jason forcefully.
"That's enough Ja—" the minion fell on the ground.
Chris stepped in and Jason turned to her, ready to stun her or disarm her but as soon as he saw her, he stopped.
"What is the only way?" she spoke, her voice barely more than a whisper.
"Christina, where is Professor Snape?" Dumbledore asked sharply.
"He is on the way," Chris said, still staring at Jason. She was trying to perform Legilincy on him. But he blocked. He had learned Occluncy.
"Stop, Chris, you can't —" Jason said angrily. "Expeli—"
"Expelliarmus!" Chris finished first and Jason's wand went flying. "Jason, please tell , you didn't really help the Death Eaters and Malgino's minions to get in?"
"I — Chris?"
Chris swayed badly. She didn't know, it was the shock of the news or the blood loss but she was feeling very dizzy. She clutched the sidewall to hold herself upright. Jason moved towards her but she held up her other hand.
"Just answer ."
That's when everything went downhill. . .
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To be continued. . .
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