Chapter 7: Christine's Worst Memory

A younger Christine came walking down the street. There was a strange coldness in the air. Even though it was a warm summers day Christine felt an odd chill run down her spine. She suddenly felt the sudden need for a jacket. But she continued to walk home after going to the store for something. But as she neared her house she found a strange green thing lingering above her house. It was a bright green skull with a snake coming out of its mouth.

The neighbors looked on in wonder and curiosity but they could offer no explanations. But Christine had a feeling that something truly out of the ordinary had just happened at her home. She stared at the house for the longest time, too frightened to go in herself because she feared something might be waiting for her inside. She tried calling her parents but no one answered.

"Christine Granger, come with me." Said a voice from behind her. She was tempted to stay behind but she had no choice but to follow this strange man. He was wearing a black robe; much like the ones her cousin Hermione had shown her before she left for that boarding school. And then a lump came into Christine's throat when she realized who she was dealing with now.

They walked into a back alley where not even the gray cats lingered about. He took her by the hand but before she could try and free herself she felt her feet lift off the ground. She was spinning in a whirl of fear and daze. It was as if she was being stretched or squeezed through a tight tube. She was losing what air she had in her lungs but soon the taste of the cool evening air filled her mouth once more.

They were now in a strange lobby with marble floor and few people. There was a statute in the middle with two people holding sticks. A centaur, a strange small creature, and what Christine guessed to be a goblin of some sort. She was very confused but did not ask any questions of the man who was still holding her hand. Then another man who had the physic of a lion came rushing into the lobby.

"Rufus, another muggle killing, a man and wife by the name of Alice and Steve Granger. I brought their daughter."

"Hermione Granger will have some hand in this I know it." Said the other man in a strange voice that did not seem to suit him.

"Killing her aunt and uncle, what is this world coming too. I am going to send this girl to a friend in America, she will hopefully be safe there."

But Christine did not remember any more of the conversation. Christine looked at the man who was still holding her arm. She felt like she was going to pass out, her head was spinning around. The two men were going in and out of focus. Her eyes rolled back into her head as she lost the strength to stand.

Dead. Her parents were dead. She had heard the man say it. It was almost impossible for her to believe that her parents were dead. And had she heard him right, Hermione had some part in the killing of her aunt and uncle? Two weeks later after spending some time in the hospital Christine was moved to America, where she lived with another couple by the name of David and Julie Young. But Christine vowed that she would get revenge on Hermione for the terrible deed she had done.

Christine awoke with a start. Her face was covered in sweat and she felt even worse than before taking the nap. She remembered every detail of her dream for this was not the first time she had dreamt it. Christine looked at her clock to see she had only been asleep for an hour. She changed her clothes and then went down to the hotel restaurant for dinner.

Christine was sixteen years old when she learned her parents had been murdered. Well there had been murders going on for some time now but Christine never thought that those committing the crimes would ever land on her doorstep. This memory, or rather this nightmare, had visited her several nights before. It tormented her for so long and she desperately wished she could remove this memory from her mind. This memory was no real however. But it seemed all too real to Christine.

Throughout the meal, however, she could not help but think of her dream. Even though she had already been through the painful experience, she burned with anger every time the nightmare re-visited her. She never spoke to Hermione about what she had done for Christine considered her unworthy to speak to for a long time. But now she had her chance for revenge.

And revenge is sweet.

But what Christine does not know is that the memory is false. It was placed in her brain by the work of a dark wizard. For he had a plan. He knew that Harry Potter stood strong and tall as long as he had the support of his friends. And that the boy would be easier to destroy if one of his closest friends was gone. But it was not so easy for him to go around killing people just yet. He needed a plan.

And that is where Christine came in. Severus Snape, managed to escape from Dumbledore's ever watching eye, to follow his true master, Tom Riddle. But when Harry managed to defeat the darkest wizard of all, Snape decided that yes revenge is sweet. And so he worked on a scheme to get the boy who lived. He planed for months, arranging the murders of Alice and Steve Granger. Placing a false memory in Christine's head and then offering her the chance for revenge.

Hermione knows nothing of the memory. And so she easily trusts her cousin. But similar to what her master did, Christine is working two roles. She is an actor, with a very well thought out part. She is motivated by something false, which perhaps makes the deeds of Severus Snape so much crueler. Of course he does not care. And he never has.

After dinner Christine went back up to her hotel room. She was tired and had a growing headache. But she had work to do. Christine went over to the desk and got on her computer. She pulled up every article she found about Hearte's Hallow and the mystery that day upon the mountain. She printed out every one of them before hacking to the website and deleting the articles.

"Not that they would think to look here anyway but just to be sure." Her voice was quivering still. "This better be worth it. Severus is scary enough already without me having to make a mistake. The last mistake is still frightening me to this day." Christine said to herself. She shook her head as she shut down the computer and lay back down on the bed.

She lay there for hours it seemed. She laid there looking up at the ceiling as the tears fell down her cheeks. It had been so long since she cried herself to sleep. But the tears kept falling as she drifted off into another sleep of terrifying nightmares. She woke up with a start at 2:00 in the morning, dripping in sweat and eyes red from falling tears.

"Why did you do it Hermione? What did I ever do to you?" She whispered in the darkness. "Why?" The tears were falling down her face. "WHY?" Christine was now sitting up in bed shouting at the opposite wall. She probably had wakened up neighbors but she didn't care. "WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS ME?" Christine cried and cried until she finally fell back asleep.