Ginny, Luna and Colin were sitting on an armchair and talking about something when Chris walked in.
Colin saw Chris and called, "Hey Chris, come here, Luna is telling us a great story."
Few other Colin's roommates were also listening to Luna's story with great interest. Chris was about to go towards them when Harry called, "Chris!"
Chris turned around and saw him standing outside the portrait hole. The fat lady was very annoyed by him and was muttering furiously.
"Yes, Harry?"
"Will you mind joining me for a walk?" Harry said sadly.
"Er. . ."
"It's ok if you're busy," Harry said and walked away. The fat lady screamed in rage.
Chris looked towards her friends and found Ginny looking at her.
"Go," Ginny said smiling.
Chris smiled back and followed him.
"Harry! Wait," Chris said.
Seeing Chris, Harry's face which was looking very depressed, looked a little bit relieved.
"So where do you want to go?" Chris asked.
She knew Ron and Hermione had gone to Hogsmeade, that's why Harry was alone.
"I don't know," He said walking.
"Want to go towards the lake?" Chris said walking with him.
The lake was Chris's favourite spot in Hogwarts. She always felt calm and relaxed near it.
"Yeah. Let's go," Harry answered.
They were walking towards the Lake and suddenly turned a corner and came face to face with Filch, the caretaker in Hogwarts.
"What are you doing?" Filch snarled suspiciously.
"Nothing," said Harry truthfully.
"Nothing!" spat Filch, his jowls quivering unpleasantly. "A likely story! Sneaking around on your own, why aren't you in Hogsmeade buying Stink Pellets and Belch Powder and Whizzing Worms like the rest of your nasty little friends?"
Harry shrugged.
"We're just walking around, Mr Filch," Chris answered simply.
"Well, get back to your common room where you belong!" snapped Filch, and he stood glaring at them.
Chris opened her mouth to argue but Harry stopped her.
"Let's go."
They turned around and walked back.
"What's the point of coming out if we're going back to the Gryffindor tower," Chris asked with a dramatic sigh.
"We're not going back," Harry said.
"Then where?"
"Let's see."
They climbed stairs after stairs, then they were walking along another corridor when a voice from inside one of the rooms said, "Harry?"
They doubled back to see who had spoken and met Professor Lupin, looking around his office door.
"What are you doing?" said Lupin, in a very different voice from Filch. "Where are Ron and Hermione?"
"Hogsmeade," said Harry, in a would-be casual voice.
"Ah!" He noticed Chris, "Didn't see you've company. Thinking of show you the Grindylow, I've just taken delivery for our next lesson. It's ok, go on."
"A what?" said Harry.
"It's alright, Professor. We really didn't know where were we going." Chris said casually. "But will it be alright if I stay? I mean I'll leave if you need Harry alone."
"No. No. Come in both of you," said Lupin smiling.
They followed Lupin into his office. In the corner stood a very large tank of water. A sickly-green creature with sharp little horns had its face pressed against the glass, pulling faces and flexing its long, spindly fingers.
"Water demon," said Lupin, surveying the Grindylow thoughtfully. "We shouldn't have much difficulty with him, not after the Kappas. The trick is to break his grip. You notice the abnormally long fingers? Strong, but very brittle."
The Grindylow bared its green teeth and then buried itself in a tangle of weed in a corner.
"What's Kappas?" Chris asked getting interested.
"Kappas are water-dwellers that looked like scaly monkeys, with webbed hands itching to strangle unwitting waders in their ponds," Lupin explained.
"Creepy," Chris said imagining it.
Lupin chuckled.
"Cup of tea?" he said, looking around for his kettle. "I was just thinking of making one."
"No thanks, Professor," Chris answered.
"So how are your studies going on in other subjects?" Lupin said and tapped the kettle with his wand and a blast of steam issued suddenly from the spout.
"Er. . . it's going fine. Between the frequent Quidditch practices, it's getting a little difficult but I'm working." Harry said.
"Hmm. . . and what about you Christina? You're very good at my class I've noticed." Lupin said as he poured a cup of tea for himself.
"Well, I'm also in Quidditch team now. So I'm also balancing both as much as I can." She said.
"Oh! So you both are Quidditch players? Very nice." Lupin smiled with a nostalgic look on his face. "I remember, when I was in Hogwarts, my best friend was also a great Quidditch player. I went to support him almost in every match."
"My father was also a Quidditch player in his days," Harry said smiling.
Lupin sightly frowned and was about to say something when he was interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Come in," called Lupin.
The door opened, and Snape came in. He was carrying a goblet, which was smoking faintly, and stopped at the sight of Harry and Chris, his black eyes narrowing.
"Ah, Severus," said Lupin, smiling. "Thank you very much. Could you leave it here on the desk for me?"
Snape set the smoking goblet down, his eyes wandering between Chris, Harry and Lupin.
"I was just showing them my Grindylow," said Lupin pleasantly, pointing at the tank.
"Fascinating," said Snape, without looking at it. "You should drink that directly, Lupin."
"Yes, yes, I will," said Lupin.
"I made an entire cauldronful," Snape continued. "If you need more."
"I should probably take some again tomorrow. Thanks very much, Severus."
"Not at all," said Snape, but there was a look in his eye.
He backed out of the room, unsmiling and watchful. Chris's gaze followed him while Harry looked curiously at the goblet. Lupin smiled.
"Professor Snape has very kindly concocted a potion for me," he said. "I have never been much of a potion-brewer and this one is particularly complex." He picked up the goblet and sniffed it. "Pity sugar makes it useless," he added, taking a sip and shuddering.
"Why –?" Harry began.
Lupin looked at him and answered the unfinished question.
"I've been feeling a bit off-colour," he said. "This potion is the only thing that helps. I am very lucky to be working alongside Professor Snape; there aren't many wizards who are up to making it."
"Professor Snape doesn't like you very much, does he, Professor?" Chris asked looking at the goblet.
"Well I'll not put it like that — it's just we've our differences — You can say that. We were in school together —" He laughed a little. "I was Gryffindor — he was Slytherin, you can imagine the rest."
"Like Malfoy and Harry," Chris said smiling. "Kind of," He said and took another sip. "Professor Snape's very interested in the Dark Arts," Harry blurted out.
Chris looked at him surprised.
"Really?" said Lupin, looking only mildly interested as he drained the goblet and pulled a face.
"Disgusting," he said. "Well, Harry, Christina, I'd better get back to work. I'll see you two at the feast later."
Chris and Harry nodded and left his office.