(Book Four) Brave {CLP SERIES}

{Chapter 41}

C R Y S T A L ' S P O V

"And now," he said, "it is time for two of our number to recognize each other for what they are. Sirius . . . if you could resume your usual form."

The great black dog looked up at Dumbledore, then, in an instant, turned back into a man.

Mrs. Weasley screamed and leapt back from the bed.

"Sirius Black!" she shrieked, pointing at him.

"Mum, shut up!" Ron yelled. "It's okay!"

Snape had not yelled or jumped backward, but the look on his face was one of mingled fury and horror.

"Him!" he snarled, staring at Sirius, whose face showed equal dislike. "What is he doing here?"

"He is here at my invitation," said Dumbledore, looking be-
tween them, "as are you, Severus. I trust you both. It is time for you to lay aside your old differences and trust each other."

Harry thought Dumbledore was asking for a near miracle. Sirius and Snape were eyeing each other with the utmost loathing.

"I will settle, in the short term," said Dumbledore, with a bite of impatience in his voice, "for a lack of open hostility. You will shake hands. You are on the same side now. Time is short, and unless the few of us who know the truth do not stand united, there is no hope for any of us."

Very slowly - but still glaring at each other as though each wished the other nothing but ill - Sirius and Snape moved toward each other and shook hands. They let go extremely quickly.

"That will do to be going on with," said Dumbledore, stepping between them once more.

"Now I have work for each of you. Fudge's attitude, though not unexpected, changes everything. Tonks, I need you to set off at once. You are to alert Remus Lupin, Arabella Figg, Mundungus Fletcher - the old crowd. Lie low at Lupins for a while; I will contact you there."

"But -" I said.
He wanted Tonks to stay. I didn't want to have to say goodbye again so quickly.

"You'll see me very soon, Chrissy," said Tonks, turning to me. "I promise you. But I must do what I can, you understand, don't you?"

"Yeah," I said. "Yeah . . . of course I do."

Tonks grasped my hand briefly, and nodded to Dumbledore. Then she was gone.

"Severus," said Dumbledore, turning to Snape, "you know what I must ask you to do. If you are ready . . . if you are prepared . . ."

"I am," said Snape.

He looked slightly paler than usual, and his cold, black eyes glittered strangely.

"Then good luck," said Dumbledore, and he watched, with a trace of apprehension on his face, as Snape swept wordlessly after Tonks.

It was several minutes before Dumbledore spoke again.

"I must go downstairs," he said finally. "I must see the Diggorys. I will see all of you later."

I slumped back against his pillows as Dumbledore disappeared. Hermione, Ron, and Mrs. Weasley were all looking at Harry.

I looked down into my lap and fiddled with my fingers, breathing deeply. My throat felt dry and scratchy, and almost sore-like. The silence of the room allowed me to think about everything that had happened to Harry and I the past 24 hours, and it was terrifying. Absolutely terrifying.

Drowning in my thoughts, I was unaware of my surroundings and only snapped out of it when I felt large, strong arms wrap around me. It was Fred.

"Where's your other half?" Ginny asked him.

"He's in detention, he's coming straight here once it's over." Fred replied.

"Detention! Whatever did you two do this time!?" Mrs Weasley hollered.

I flinched at the loud sound and sunk further into Fred's chest as he tightened his grip upon me.

Mrs Weasley flushed all different shades of red. "Sorry dearie." She said guiltily, making her way over to me.

I could feel a burning, prickling feeling in the inner corners of my eyes. I blinked and stared up at the ceiling.
"It wasn't your fault, Crystal," Mrs. Weasley whispered.

"I told him to take the cup with Harry and I," I said.

Now the burning feeling was in my throat too.

Mrs. Weasley bent down, and put her arms around me. I had no memory of ever being hugged like this, as though by a mother. The full weight of everything I had seen that night seemed to fall in upon me as Mrs. Weasley held me to her. My mother's face, my father's voice, the sight of Cedric, dead on the ground all started spinning in my head until I could hardly bear it, until I was screwing up my face against the howl of misery fighting to get out of me.

I allowed myself to cry, there was no fighting against it now.

"You've got to take the rest of your potion, Crystal. You need to sleep more," Mrs. Weasley said at last. Her hand nudged the my half of the winnings on the bedside cabinet in between Harry and I's beds, as she reached for the bottle and the goblet.

"You have a good long sleep. Try and think about something else for a while . . . think about what you're going to buy with your winnings!"

"I don't want that gold," I said in an expressionless voice. "You have it. Anyone can have it. I shouldn't have won it. It should've been Cedric's."

The thing against which I had been fighting on and off ever since I had come out of the maze was threatening to overpower me.

There was a loud slamming noise, and Mrs. Weasley and I broke apart. Hermione was standing by the window. She was holding something tight in her hand.

"Sorry," she whispered.

"Your potion, Crystal," said Mrs. Weasley quickly, wiping her eyes on the back of her hand.

I drank it in one gulp. The effect was instantaneous. Heavy, irresistible waves of dreamless sleep broke over me once again; I fell back onto my pillows and thought no more.

Hello!

How are you all?

I was wondering if any of you could make some Harry and Christella fan art (the pair of them hugging or something of the like) for a future project I'm working on. Please make sure there is no uniform or anything, I ask just to make them wear muggle clothes. The winner will get a follow from me, credits, and a spam on your books.

Thanks,

Izzy <3