Chapter 392 - Loved Ones

"You weren't the first one. I tried to harbor my powers on many wizards and witches for years. Pureblood, half-blood, Muggle-born. But no one could take such unnatural outside power. The powers consumed many, some went insane, some misused their powers, and ended up dead. I was distressed," Fergus sighed. "Time was passing like a phoenix burning and being born from its ashes, and Malgino was getting more and more followers, yet, I was stuck. No one could handle my powers and I almost started to lose hope. Until I finally solved the mystery. I needed an empty powerful vessel to carry my power. Someone who had the capability to hold power but didn't have any powers. For that, you were perfect, Christina."

"An empty vessel who had the capacity to hold power but didn't have any?" Chris narrowed her eyes as Fergus paused.

"Yes, and your parents made that unique vessel. Your mother was a squib from a pureblood family, which meant her magic was too little to come out and your father had more magical blood than an average Muggle. Both of their unique conditions created you. A girl with great magical potential yet magic-less."

"How did you know I was born and was this unique?" Chris asked stunned.

"As I said my powers were on the lookout for a great harbor, not to mention your mother's parents were the only remaining descendant of Helga Hufflepuff. I could recognize the founders' energy anywhere. Though I was skeptical at first," Fergus frowned. "After I gave you my powers, you didn't cope well. You lost control a lot. Every time you lost control over your emotions, you lost control over your magic. But I was relieved to see that your losing control wasn't any different than a normal magical kid losing control. My power didn't overpower you or you never let it."

"I —" Chris interrupted Fergus but hesitated to continue. "I did lose control and the power overtook me many times. I, once . . . screamed so loud that one of my classmates in school almost died. I was eight at that time. I was upset and angry at her. Weirdly, nobody else heard the scream, just her. I didn't know at that time what exactly happened but I was scared."

Chris avoided looking at Fergus as she felt his eyes on her.

"I understand, Christina. I think no one more than me knows about the fear of losing control. I lived my entire life with this fear and whenever your power exploded I saw myself in you. However, I also knew that it meant you could handle the power like me. In fact, you handled it better than me. After you went to Hogwarts, you studied and trained, and I was so glad to see that, unlike mine, your headmaster let you use your magic while also keeping an eye on you. I think your magic bloomed and you got it under control because of his guidance." 

Chris looked up at Fergus surprised. "Dumbledore?"

"Yes, of course. He was truly an extraordinary wizard. He sensed your magic the moment you stepped into Hogwarts and he knew he needed to keep a close eye on you. Thus, you were put in Gryffindor, despite having all of the founders' qualities like me and being a descendant of Helga Hufflepuff."

Chris remembered her Sorting ceremony. How at the last moment the Sorting Hat had put her in Gryffindor. It was Dumbledore?

"But the next thing, you decided to kill Salazar Slytherin's Basilisk and Malgino got curious about you," Fergus looked at Chris disapprovingly. "You were eleven. It was too early to alert Malgino about your existence."

"I didn't do it on purpose," Chris snapped. "I had no choice. What was I supposed to do? Die when the sword of Gryffindor appeared in my hands? And honestly, it could have been any Gryffindor. Why would Malgino care about every Gryffindor student?"

"He wouldn't have if he hadn't found out about your connection to Helga Hufflepuff. Malgino kept track of the founders' legacy for centuries. At first, he dismissed Hufflepuff's bloodline when your mother turned out to be a squib but he got very curious when he found out that her daughter killed the thousand years old Basilisk. It was no small feat even with the sword of Gryffindor, not to mention you were eleven," Fergus calmly explained. "As I said Malgino was very good at calculating things and solving mysteries. He quickly analyzed the situation. He ȧssumed that because Helga Hufflepuff put the curse on him, it will be obvious the successor would be her descendant. And the more you started to show your exceptional powers, his suspicion got confirmed. In the ritual at the graveyard, after the rebirth of Voldemort, Malgino tried to take your life force to finally get answers. He knew if you are the successor and you truly possess the power to stop him, then the founders wouldn't let you die. And that's what happened. You activated the keys to get yourself and your friends back safely."

"Wait, so if the power I have is yours then how did the founders save me?" Chris straightened up. "There is this thing bothering me for years. The founders. I have seen them in my dreams, felt their power in the keys, saw their memories but what I don't understand is that how are they doing it? They are dead, right?"

"Yes, they are dead but I think they also sort of found a way to link their powers to the living world but I can never tell you for sure. I never died. At least not like people usually die," Fergus smiled. "Christina, can I see the keys?"

"I think . . . yes," Chris said and pulled out the keys from her pocket. She left her bag outside but after the incident last year, she never parted herself from the keys.

Chris held out the four keys to Fergus but he didn't take them or touch them. He just examined them in Chris's hands.

"Beautiful."

"So what do the keys unlock?" Chris asked seriously and before Fergus could answer, she clarified, "And please don't give answers like 'it unlocks the ultimate powers of founders' and stuff. Please don't. The Keys are physical things which means they unlock something very physical and less vague."

"You have quite a temper. Have anyone told you that, Christina?" Fergus chuckled. "But it is a good thing. I see the girl who fuels her determination with all the grief, confusion, and pain she feels. You are brave, fearless, yet kind and calculated. I can see why my powers chose you. You are truly one of a kind."

Chris didn't react much to the praise but her inside swell with pride at Fergus's words.

"And to answer your question, yes. You are correct," Fergus continued. "The Keys do unlock something very real. It's something in Hogwarts. Though I don't know what or where it is exactly. Neither do Malgino. We all just know it unlocks something that will give you power, enough power to destroy him."

"In Hogwarts? I mean it's not a surprise but then I could have just found it and finished him off. And here I am wandering in Vampire forest and Castles," Chris muttered and Fergus laughed out loud then suddenly turned serious.

"Oh, I wish it was that easy, Christina. You are forgetting the main thing you learned. Your powers. We still don't know how they will react to the power of Founders and what will happen to Hogwarts after you use all of it or if you can use all of it. Yes, you are the Protector and Successor but there are still many rules in magic. I know that the power will be enough for Malgino but so much power can also consume you and destroy you."

A heavy silence filled Fergus's Paradise. Even the animals didn't make a sound as if they understood the gravity of Fergus's words and Chris's silence.

Chris clutched the keys and started to put them back when she noticed Fergus.

"What connection do the Keys have with you? There has to be something, right? What will it do to you? Will it hurt you too? Is this why you didn't touch them?" Chris asked out of curiosity.

"No, Christina. The Keys won't hurt me," Fergus gave a bitter smile. "But there is a chance they will recognize me, accept me, and make me whole again."

"And you don't want that?" Chris frowned.

"No, because it will change the balance and if my magic comes back to me," Fergus looked Chris in the eye. "It will probably kill you."

"What?"

"There can be only one Successor at a time, Christina. Even if I take your place, there is no way I can defeat Malgino on my own. But you, you have people behind and with you. I know you would succeed. And I have stayed too long, now I just need peace and freedom from this place," Fergus looked around and closed his eyes.

"This is all so confusing," Chris sighed as she rubbed her eyes and face. "I have to finish Malgino. There is just no other way . . . but — what happens after I unlock the power? What about the Crystal?"

"I honestly don't know that either. I have a few guesses but I can't tell you those. Sorry for putting you in this position," Fergus hung his head. "I wish there was another way, I wish I could help you more than this."

"You have done a lot, Fergus," Chris gave a small smile. "You told me a lot of stuff but I need time to process all of this."

"Unfortunately, I can't give you more time. Your friends are done with their tests and all of them passed and —" Fergus raised his head and looking at the sky frowned. "And my family needs your help."

"Your family? What do you mean?" Chris quickly stood up.

"The Dragozeras. Something is going on," Fergus stood up as well. "I could feel the alarm and danger in the temple. The Prince, who came with you, Oziyat . . . he is hesitating. Something happened."

"I need to go . . . but Fergus, I would need your help. I —"

"Christina, you and I are connected. Now that you know about your powers, you can talk to me anytime," Fergus smiled and pulled something out from his coat. "But still if you don't know how to, this will help."

He handed Chris a small red and black bronze. Chris took it. In the bronze, a red rose was wrapped in black vines, the design was simply beautiful, and as soon as Chris ran a finger over it, she felt her magic respond, and at the same time, Fergus's paradise flickered.

"Now you should go," Fergus said opening a small door in the tree beside them. Chris smiled at Fergus's magic trick and pocketing the bronze she stepped forward. Fergus suddenly spoke before Chris could step inside the door. "If I could give you one piece of advice, Christina. Spend as much time with your loved ones as possible. Don't have any regrets. You don't know what is waiting for you at the end of the tunnel but one thing I know for sure. These people, your loved ones are the only power that could stop your power from consuming you."

"Thanks, Fergus," Chris nodded at him taking in his words, and stepped inside the tree door.

⟦To be continued⟧