Chris didn't have a clue how soone should feel when they finally t the people who had been waiting to et them for hundreds of years, the people who died hoping and thinking soone like her would co along and finally finish what they could not. So Chris just stared at Dumbledore dumbfounded when he said so people had been waiting to et her for almost a millennia.
But soone else was more shocked than her.
"The founders are here?" Fergus almost shouted in shock.
"This way," Dumbledore gave a solemn nod toward the direction he ca from and started walking.
Fergus turned to Chris looking bewildered.
"You didn't know," Chris stated as she realized Fergus looked a lot like his frightened and clueless young self, the young boy Chris had seen in his mories.
"I'm not ready," Fergus breathed out so quietly Chris thought he didn't an to say it out loud.
Chris gripped Fergus's hands tightly and looked him in the eyes very calmly.
"It's alright, Fergus. Just rember you are not alone. You don't have to face them alone. And I would gladly defend you if that's what you want."
Fergus looked surprised at Chris's words before letting out a small chuckle.
"It's silly, it should have been encouraging you and not the other way around but here we are. But don't worry about . C'mon, let's get you back ho."
Chris opened to say sothing more but Fergus gestured at Dumbledore, who was waiting a little ahead. Without a word, Fergus again gave Chris his arm and supported her as they slowly followed Dumbledore.
Even though Chris had cald down a lot, she neither looked at nor spoke to Dumbledore. However, it was surreal to quietly walk through this unreal valley, following Dumbledore to et the four founders of Hogwarts. The people who started all of this. The people who almost wrote Chris's destiny. So thoughts of the founders occupied her head more than what more she should say to Dumbledore, now that she knew Harry was alive and she had to et the founders. Chris wondered what they would say, how they would react, what would she say to them.
All three of them walked through the ups and downs of the green hills in complete silence. Chris had a feeling Fergus was also wondering what he would say to the founders and Dumbledore knew Chris didn't want to talk to him. Chris was still lost in her own thoughts when they reached the top of a large hill and the other side of the hill ca into view.
And there standing just at the bottom of the hill were four tall, strong, and poised figures.
Both Chris and Fergus halted in their steps as their eyes t the founders. A few seconds passed and neither of them moved. Finally, Chris patted Fergus's arm and he looked at her before nodding.
"It will be fine," Fergus muttered more to himself than to Chris and stepped forward.
They slowly descended the hill, the founders' eyes following them and Chris felt Fergus slightly trembling, so kept lightly rubbing his arm to remind him that she was there. After what felt like forever but was probably a few minutes, they finally reached the bottom, and Chris got a good look at the founders and with a start, she realized it was completely different from looking at them through her dreams and their mories.
Godric Gryffindor was the tallest among them, easily 6 foot 6 or 6 foot 7, with a broad chest and long red hair and beard. He wore a red cloak, sowhat similar to his portrait at Hogwarts but up close his clothes looked a lot more royal and regal. He also had the ruby-encrusted sword (almost like his original sword) on his waist. His face looked stoic and unwavering but as Chris watched she saw his eyes lingering on Fergus as Fergus avoided looking at any of them.
On the right of Godric Gryffindor stood Rowena Ravenclaw, with her head held high. She was also very tall, almost 6'1 or 6'2, and she looked a lot like Helena. They had the sa dark hair, pale white skin, curious eyes, and sharp nose. The only difference was Rowena Ravenclaw had a knowing smile on her face whereas Helena had a fixed frown. Rowena Ravenclaw wore a long sweeping midnight blue gown and her signature silver tiara and there was a thick binding book in her hands.
Beside Rowena Ravenclaw was Salazar Slytherin with his hands clasped behind his back and a proud look on his face. He wasn't as tall as Godric Gryffindor or Rowena Ravenclaw but he was still taller than Chris and Helga Hufflepuff. He had silver hair and beard and a small balding spot at the top of his head. He wore a long sliver cloak and looked like the perfect example of old wizards in muggle fairy tale books.
At last, Chris turned to the other side of Godric Gryffindor, where Helga Hufflepuff stood in her beautiful yellow gown and long brown braid. A black cape was strapped into her shoulders while gorgeous golden jewelry adorned her neck and ears. She was almost as sa height as Chris and Chris was surprised at how similar they looked. They had the sa dark brown hair, and the sa facial structure, Helga Hufflepuff's face was just a bit puffier than Chris and only their eyes were a different color. Chris had dark blue eyes and Helga Hufflepuff had soft warm brown eyes, just like Chris's maternal grandmother. Chris didn't know why she hadn't noticed the resemblance before because right that mont it was so obvious that she, her mother, and her grandmother were all descendants of this very woman.
Chris was still staring at Helga Hufflepuff when Fergus broke the silence, he bowed slightly at each of the founders as he addressed them,
"Madam Helga. Sir Godric. Madam Rowena. Sir Salazar."
Chris quickly followed Fergus's lead and bowed as well. Salazar Slytherin, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Godric Gryffindor nodded but Helga Hufflepuff stayed still staring at them.
"I . . ." Fergus let out a shaky breath and looked nervous under the founders' gaze but began speaking, "I beg for your forgiveness for the things that happened. I was wrong. Though I never ant for things to turn out the way they did, I take full responsibility and I would understand if you despise and don't want to hear my reasoning –"
"Before you all say anything to Fergus," Chris spoke up when she saw Godric Gryffindor opening his mouth to interrupt Fergus. Gryffindor looked upset and disappointed and Chris imdiately knew she couldn't let him or any other founder hurt Fergus despite what had happened. However, as soon as she started talking, all four founders turned to her surprised and it was very intimidating. Yet Chris went on because when did authoritative and powerful figures stop her from speaking her mind? "With all due respect, it wasn't just Fergus's fault. Yes, he trusted the wrong person and gave Maligno the all-powerful weapon to almost live forever. You all did the sa. You also trusted Maligno and gave him the knowledge that he used to do evil and wreak havoc on the world. So you really can't bla Fergus for everything. Maligno tricked Fergus just as he tricked you four and to be perfectly honest, your actions also had a butterfly effect on what happened. You almost gave him Hogwarts on a silver platter when you all started fighting among yourself. Thus, you cannot bla Fergus for being manipulated by Maligno when you were manipulated in the sa way. In fact, you all are just as responsible for this as Fergus if not more, as I know for a fact, that things started to go south after Sir Salazar Slytherin left Hogwarts, and for what? I know you hate muggles and their children – magical or not, and I understand why but why would you abandon Hogwarts for that? Also, why would you put a basilisk in the basent of your school is beyond . Anyhow, what I ant to say is that you were stronger together, yet you got picked apart by Malgino, so you shouldn't condemn Fergus for trying to do his best. You should be proud of Fergus for the amount of magic he did and the length he went to stop Maligno. Without him, there would have been no and I couldn't have defeated Maligno without his help. And you wouldn't have got your successor."
With Chris's every word, the frown got deeper and deeper on the founders' faces but Chris only stopped when Fergus started tapping her arm repeatedly to stop her talking.
"You have got quite a sharp mouth for soone so little," Salazar Slytherin said and his voice sent a chill down Chris's spine.
[To be continued]
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