THE NEXT DAY everyone was standing in lupin's classroom, eagerly waiting for what was to come. half of the students excited to see what their boggart would be, and the other half waited to see what the other's would be.
willow stood with hermione while they chatted quietly about what was to come. they were both a little nervous thinking about what there's could be, but they didn't think too much of it. after harry's turn, they didn't think it could get much worse.
almost as if he could read minds, the chosen one himself walked up behind the two girls.
"and what are two talking about?" he asked sitting on a ledge next to willow. "wondering what your boggarts are gonna be i reckon."
"pretty much," hermione said nervously looking at her feet.
"aww 'mione," harry said noticing this. "it'll be okay. you just gotta picture something funny!"
"well, obviously," she said looking up at him. "but i'm not exactly known for my humor. what if i can't do it?"
"hermione, that crazy," willow reassured her. "your hilarious. plus, you're easily the best witch in our year. you'll be fine."
"she's right 'mione," harry said smiling at both the girls. "you'll both do great."
"thanks guys," hermione said said smiling at the pair. their conversation was then stopped by lupin starting class.
"hello, class!" he started, smiling at everyone. "today we will be continuing what we were doing yesterday. seeing, and repelling, our boggarts. now, if you could all form a line, same order as yesterday please! and i believe josephine was starting us of."
josephine made her to the front of line as the rest of the class continued it behind her. lupin walked up next her.
"ready?" he asked bringing his wand up. she too, brought her wand up while nodding her head. lupin then opened up the wardrobe and the boggart stepped out.
hers took the shape of fred, just as she had joked about before. her friends laughed at this, as they had no idea she had been serious. and neither did she. once it had stepped fully out of the wardrobe, it became apparent that this wasn't just fred. of course, it was him, but he seemed angry. he then started yelling things at the girl in front of him. saying how much he hated her, and how he wished they had never met.
willow had a clear look of worry on her face as she saw tears creep into her friends eyes. josephine slowly raised her wand and said the incantation, "riddikulus" through a shaky voice.
suddenly, fred's clothes were replaced with a dress. the entire class, including josephine, erupted with laughter.
"very good!" lupin said as he laughed along with the class. he then motioned for the next person to go.
"well that's not what i was expecting," willow said as josephine stood next to her, as she was only a few people back in line.
"yeah, me neither," she said in disbelief. "hey, can you maybe, not, mention this to fred? i just think it'd be a little embarrassing."
willows gave her friend a kind smile before replying. "of course i won't. i'll let the others know too."
"thanks willow," josephine said returning the smile. suddenly, the room started laughing again as seamus turned his boggart, which appeared as a banshee, into a voiceless banshee. a couple more students went, and soon enough it was willow's turn.
she slowly stepped up to the boggart and watched as it changed shape. at first she didn't understand what it had turned into, but she quickly understood once she heard lupin let out a small gasp. it was harry himself, yet he was lying on the floor. it appeared that he was dead. willow could feel tears creeping into her eyes, but tried to fight them.
"it's not real," she reminded herself over and over again. she slowly raised her wand and swallowed before saying the spell. "riddikulus." her voice shaky as tears started to stream down her face. but it didn't work. she couldn't seem to find anything funny to think about.
"riddikulus!" she said louder, trying her best to think of something that could cause laughter. but still, nothing. she could hear draco malfoy and his friends snickering behind her, but she tried to ignore it.
"riddikulus!" she tried once again, but nothing happened. harry started to walk towards her, but ron held him back for a moment. at this point, she was full on sobbing. she had no idea why she couldn't think of anything even the slightest bit funny, but she just couldn't.
lupin looked at her, face full of worry, before running in front of her as he had done the day before with harry.
"are you okay?" he asked her quietly as he turned around. she nodded her head while slowly putting her wand down, her hand shaking. ron had let go of harry and he ran towards the girl.
"willow," he started coming front of her, lupin moving out his way. "are you okay?" she just nodded again, not moving anything other then her head. harry looked at lupin worriedly before taking her out of the classroom and into the hall.
he sat her down on the bench and took the seat next to her. "cmon, talk to me knight," he said putting his arm around her shoulder.
"i just, wasn't expecting that," she said, still staring at nothing.
"yeah, neither was i," harry half laughed. the sound of more students completing their boggarts faintly came from the classroom behind them. "but hey, i'm here. i'm fine. don't worry. okay?"
she nodded before he pulled her into a hug. he wrapped his arms around her upper back as she put her head on his chest, letting out a few more tears. she returned the hug, putting her arms around his back. they stayed in their embrace for a moment until she had calmed down. after a minute or two, willow pulled away while wiping her tears.
"i just hope i never have to see that for real," she said putting her hands at her side.
"hey," harry said interlacing his hands with hers. "i'm not going anywhere. besides, if i am dead, it's probably over something stupid we both did. meaning, we'd both be dead." willow let out a slight laugh while harry grinned.
their classmates started to come out the classroom, laughing and chatting about various topics.
"cmon, i'll walk you to your next class." harry and willow stood up together and started the path to mcgonagall's class. willow, happy that her best friend was there.
