Chapter 17
Crystal was finally getting into the groove of things. She spent her days attending classes and hanging out with Susan, Cedric, and the twins. Her nights were a mix of much-needed sleep, exploring, playing with Fluffy, and fighting crime in London.
Tonight was one of those nights dedicated to protecting the innocent. After saving her seventh person of the evening, she heard someone calling her name. Scanning the area, she spotted a woman flanked by two men, all wearing robes. She assumed they were from the magical world.
She hesitated before flying over, using the time to get a closer look at the trio.
The woman had light pale skin with a few frown lines. Her hair was the same color as Susan’s, but streaked with gray and cut short, ending at her chin. Despite her stern appearance, the haircut suited her well. Her steel-colored blue eyes held an unwavering determination for justice, with one eye hidden behind a monocle. From her appearance, Crystal guessed this woman was probably Amelia Bones, the Head of the DMLE and Susan’s aunt.
The two wizards accompanying her were likely Aurors. Crystal knew she needed to be cautious since she wasn’t sure what they wanted. Susan had mentioned that her aunt might want to talk to Sapphire Phantom about Muggle ghosts, but she hadn’t expected it to be so soon. She also had no idea what Madam Bones might discuss, as it could be anything.
“You called?” Crystal smiled, trying to hide her nerves as she approached the trio. She had to act like she didn’t recognize them.
“Yes, I have a few questions for you. Firstly, what do you know about magic?” Madam Bones asked, her voice as stern as her demeanor.
Crystal feigned confusion. “Well, I know that magic exists. I know a ghost princess who can turn into a dragon, and her brother can do the same but he's currently locked up.” Ignoring the Aurors' shocked looks, she continued, “I also know Pandora—yes, that Pandora—and I know her box is real. It was quite a problem when the Box Ghost stole it a few years ago. There was a huge mess that had to be cleaned up. But why does this matter?”
Madam Bones cleared her throat, clearly taken aback but hiding it better than her Aurors. “What do you know about magic from living people?”
Crystal put her hand to her chin, pretending to think. “Does this have anything to do with that strange alley in London? The one that looks like there’s always a renaissance fair going on? I think I heard someone refer to it as Diagon Alley?”
She had to work hard to suppress a giggle when Madam Bones’s monocle fell from her eye in shock.
“You know about Diagon Alley? How did you bypass the wards that should have kept you away?” one of the Aurors exclaimed.
Crystal shrugged. “I don’t know what you mean by wards, but maybe whatever is supposed to keep me away is targeted towards the living? If you didn’t notice, I’m kinda dead here.”
Madam Bones quickly composed herself and put her monocle back in place. “Yes, we have a few questions about ghosts. You see, our ghosts are not anything like you.”
Crystal tilted her head. “What do you mean? Also, may I have your names? I’m assuming you know mine since you called out to get my attention.”
The three of them blushed slightly. “Ah, yes. I am Madam Bones, the Director of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, or DMLE for short. The two behind me are Rufus Scrimgeour and Kingsley Shacklebolt. They are both Aurors, or what you might call police officers.”
Madam Bones then looked at Crystal sternly and began explaining what magical ghosts were like. Crystal acted as if she was hearing this for the first time.
“Tell me, Madam, have your ghosts ever mentioned something called the Ghost Zone?” Crystal asked, finally voicing something that had been on her mind since she first saw the Hogwarts ghosts.
“No, what is this Ghost Zone?” Madam Bones inquired.
“The Ghost Zone is an alternate dimension made of ectoplasm, containing all ghosts. It’s connected to Earth, so if something happens to one dimension, the other will respond accordingly,” Crystal explained. “The Zone is also known as the Ghost Realm, the Ghost World, and the Ghost Dimension. Ghosts are made up of ectoplasm, and if they don’t visit the Ghost Zone regularly, they start to get sick.”
“Sick?” Kingsley interrupted.
“Yes,” Crystal confirmed. “Normally, ghosts should form in the Ghost Zone when they die as humans, but since your ghosts were magical when they were alive, something might have gone wrong. If you wouldn’t mind, I could take one of your ghosts to the Ghost Zone and see if it helps.”
“Would it help them?” Madam Bones asked.
Crystal shrugged. “There’s been no known case of a ghost not forming in the Zone before now, and no one wanted to find out what would happen if a ghost stayed out for too long. I can’t guarantee anything, but I’ll do my best.”
The three Aurors exchanged looks before Madam Bones nodded. “Alright, I’ll go up to Hogwarts later today and ask if any of the ghosts there would be willing to try this experiment. I cannot force them, however.”
“I wouldn’t ask you to force them. The Ghost King might order them back if he believes it will help, but I can’t force them. Is that all?” Crystal asked, eager to return to her duties.
“We still have things to discuss, but I know this meeting isn’t in the right place. You mentioned knowing where the alley is. If you could meet us there at noon on Wednesday—” Crystal quickly cut her off.
“I’m sorry, but is there any chance we could do this on a weekend? I have school during the weekdays.”
The Aurors looked baffled. Crystal snorted. “Yes, ghosts have schools too, you know. People of all ages die and reform as ghosts.”
Madam Bones cleared her throat. “I apologize for not realizing you might be in ghost school during this time. If you can appear in the Leaky Cauldron around noon on Saturday, that would be wonderful.”
Crystal nodded. “I should be able to make it then. I’ll see you on Saturday.”
With that, she quickly flew away, resuming her crime-fighting and life-saving duties.
It was now the Saturday after her first meeting with the magical trio. Crystal had told her friends she needed some alone time, claiming she wasn’t used to so many people and wanted to relax by herself. Fortunately, her understanding friends respected her need for space.
Though she felt a bit guilty about lying, she knew she didn’t know her friends well enough to trust them with her secret. She might share it with them in the future, but for now, she kept it to herself.
Crystal slipped into an empty room with no pictures or students around, transformed into Sapphire Phantom, and made her way to the magical alley.
Crystal ensured she was invisible as she flew through the air, savoring the rare chance to fly during the daytime. Normally, she only flew in her ghost form at night due to her chores and school commitments during the day.
Upon reaching the alley, she became visible again, ignoring the startled reactions of several witches and wizards who gasped at the sight of a glowing, flying girl appearing out of nowhere. She made her way into the Leaky Cauldron to wait for the Aurors.
The barman, Tom, served her a butterbeer while she waited. It wasn’t long before Madam Bones arrived via Floo with Aurors Scrimgeour and Shacklebolt.
The three approached Crystal, and Madam Bones spoke, “Miss Phantom, I am honored to welcome you to Diagon Alley and the Leaky Cauldron.”
Crystal raised an eyebrow. “What’s with the fancy talk, Ma’am?”
Auror Scrimgeour spoke up, “After speaking with the Unspeakables, we discovered that you are related to the Ghost King you mentioned.”
Crystal stared at them, baffled. She was certain she wasn’t related to Danny; her inheritance test would have revealed it. “I’m sorry, what?”
“Yes, we were surprised to learn we were speaking to royalty,” Madam Bones said. “While you may be royalty in another dimension, you still deserve proper respect—”
Crystal couldn’t contain herself. “Why in Clockwork’s name do you think I’m related to Danny?” She was bewildered. “As far as I know, we’re not related.”
“Our Unspeakables discovered that, while you’re not related by blood or ectoplasm, you are connected by a spiritual bond,” Madam Bones explained, realizing this was news to the young ghost.
Under the tavern’s light, Amelia noticed just how young Crystal appeared. She couldn’t be older than Amelia’s niece was now. The ghost’s skin was pale, devoid of blood, and her snowy white hair reflected the light. Her sapphire-blue eyes glowed with power.
Crystal wore a strange Muggle outfit, half black and half white, with matching boots and gloves. Her hair was tied back into a ponytail, presumably to keep it out of her way during fights.
Amelia felt a pang of sympathy as she realized how thin and short Crystal was. Had she been abused in life? Did that abuse contribute to her death?
“If I may ask, how old were you when you died?” Amelia questioned, unable to hold back. She struggled to maintain her composure as Sapphire Phantom’s expression turned blank.
“I’ll forgive you this time, but please remember in the future that asking a ghost about their death, including their age, is extremely rude,” Crystal said, her voice steady but with a hint of sadness. “It is considered one of the highest offenses in the Ghost Zone.”
Amelia nodded. “I apologize for offending you. I’ll ensure our people are informed about this.”
Crystal sighed softly. “I know you didn’t mean any harm, so I’ll answer your question. Just remember my words in the future.”
Amelia nodded, and Crystal continued, “I died when I was six. It was an accident.”
Scrimgeour’s disbelief was palpable. “You’re clearly eleven years old, though!”
Crystal nodded. “Yes, that’s thanks to the ghost known as Clockwork. When a child dies before reaching adulthood, they are offered a choice by the ghost to continue aging. Most accept, but some choose to remain the age they were when they died.”
The ghost’s revelation went unnoticed by many, but as more people in the tavern began to listen, the horror of the situation became evident. Crystal continued, oblivious to the growing distress.
“The Ghost King was actually my babysitter and died in the same accident as me. He tried to save me and perished in the process,” Crystal said, guilt evident in her voice. “I will never forgive myself for his death.”
The tavern’s patrons were visibly moved by the young ghost’s words. Amelia felt her heart break for the child who blamed herself for her babysitter’s death. She resolved to do everything in her power to help Crystal learn to live without such overwhelming guilt.