𝐸𝒸𝒸𝑒𝒹𝑒𝓃𝓉𝑒𝓈𝒾𝒶𝓈𝓉 (Harry Potter X Reader) [2]

Past and future

"Sit." Firmly barked Severus Snape as Arleigh entered his office.
The student nodded her head and took a seat on one of the chairs placed opposite her professor's desk.
"I presume you already know why you're here today, Miss Granger, yes?" Began Snape and paced around the room.
"I'm here to discuss my future career, correct?" She declared
"Indeed," Snape came to a full stop opposite his student, "now, I expect you to already have a clue at least as to what you intend to do after you graduate?"
"Yes, I would like to become an Auror or Healer" Leigh confessed, chewing on her bottom lip, "I haven't exactly decided yet"
"You are very skilled in Potions as well, Granger," affirmed the Head of slytherin, "I would also advice you to..well, at least consider becoming an Alchemist"
Arleigh nodded again and, to be honest, she had indeed thought about it. She really enjoyed brewing potions and she was indeed rather good at it, therefore it wouldn't harm her at least trying.
"I will happily do that, Professor" she announced with a shy grin, which was half returned from him.
"I also meant to ask you if you are still practicing your Legilimency, yes?" Continued Severus, arching his dark brows
"Yes, but I haven't tried breaking further inside yet" the witch sighed, "Whenever I try, it drains me out of all my energy."
"It's normal, at first. You'll get the hang of it, I'm sure"
Arleigh tucked a stray of light brown hair behind her ear and sighed in relief.
"You'll therefore have to concentrate mostly on Herbology, Defense against the dark arts, Potions, Charms and Transfiguration." Exclaimed Snape and seated on his chair opposite the girl's, "Though, that will be no problem for you, Miss Granger. You can come directly to me if anything would be needed"
"Thank you, professor"
"You may go" he reminded and Leigh nodded as she stood up from her chair.
Arleigh exchanged goodbyes with her teacher and exited his office with a sheepish grin playing on her thick lips, then she made her way towards her usual spot at the dark lake.
Once she got there, she pulled out her textbooks and began studying for the upcoming exams, which were more than important that year, they were named O.W.L.s and Leigh had been studying for them with her cousin for the whole year, for both her two best friends weren't that good in school like she was and Hermione as well.
"You surely are a bookworm" spoke a voice from behind her, "Isn't she, Freddie?"
The Weasley twins seated themselves at each of her sides, Fred taking her book from her grasp.
"That is really mean of you, George!" She exclaimed, trying to get her book back, "Honestly, shouldn't you two be studying as well? We've got O.W.L.s coming up!"
"Well, Lily, I expect you remember what we plan on doing after this year, correct?" Smirked Fred and handed her notebook back
"Of course I remember," affirmed Arleigh, shoving her belongings in her backpack, acknowledging she wouldn't get to study anymore with those two, "I simply thought Mrs Weasley had already scolded you two enough"
A sigh escaped her lips before she gave both of them a soft grin.
"However, I indeed believe in you and I honestly cannot wait to see your pranks shop" she assured, eyeing back and forth between them.
"Did you hear that, Georgie? We got the bookworm by our side in this one"

That night, Arleigh lay on her bed in her dorm, while her roommates were peacefully asleep. Her breathe was weirdly uneven and her heart was pounding in her chest loudly, she didn't even know why was she anxious. Yes, the O.W.L.s were getting closer and closer, though she had studied really hard and knew she would pass them nonetheless, then why did she have such a bad feeling? It was the same feeling she had before the last task the previous year, before she found out about Crouch Jr. and Moody...before she had witnessed Diggory's death and Voldemort's return. It felt as if her instinct was telling her to be extra careful and vigilant, why though? What was going to happen?
A sickening feeling made her stomach twist and a memory from her third year at Hogwarts crossed her brain.
"Alright, Arleigh," Remus Lupin gave her a warm grin, "think about your worst fear"
Leigh closed her eyes for a second, trying to think about something that really frightened her, then she nodded her head at her professor.
"Wand at the ready," he added and Arleigh drew her wand, "1...2...3"
The wardrobe yanked open and her sister walked out of it with a soft smile on her rosy lips, though it immediately curled downwards and her figure collapsed on the ground as green light blinded Leigh's view. Aislynn dropped dead on the ground and tear escaped Arleigh's cobalt blue eyes, Lupin stood before her just as she was about to say the charm and the Boggart shifted to a full moon.
"Riddikulus" he chanted and the moon became a broken balloon, flying around the classroom.

"Why didn't you let me face the Boggart, sir?" Questioned Arleigh as her and Lupin were walking near the dark lake.
Remus's stick ticked the hard ground and he sighed, limping beside his student.
"Your fear was your sister's death, am I correct?" He told her, looking at her sadly, and she nodded, "I'm afraid it was more than that, Arleigh"
"What do you mean?"
Lupin took a deep breath, processing what was it that he had to explain exactly. Arleigh was indeed very clever for her age, though it might be not that easy to understand his point of view.
"You see, your fear, Arleigh, wasn't simply her death..." he began, glancing at her for a split second, "There's more than that, you fear the death of your loved ones by hand of Voldemort."
"So, you stopped me because my Boggart might have turned into Voldemort himself?" Leigh murmured and her teacher nodded his head, "But, how can I fear something I've never even faced?"
"You didn't have to," Remus hurried, "all of those stories and rumors about him were enough for your subconscious to fear."
The young witch gazed at her feet and then drifted to her professor, there was something that highly bothered her mind for weeks. A theory, to be specific.
"Professor?" She replied
"Yes?"
"Your fear...full moon," she inhaled shakily, trying to find the correct words, while Remus turned to face her completely, having caught his full attention, "I-I've been doing research and I...ehm...it's called lycanthropy, isn't it?"
Lupin felt his heart skipping a beat as worry spread all around his mind and body, which was of course noticed by his student, who gave him a warm smile.
"It's alright, sir, I won't tell anyone" she assured him, causing him to sigh in relief.
"Thank you," grinned Lupin, "not everyone would very much like to know their professor is a werewolf"
"Well, I reckon it's quite brilliant"

Arleigh now understood why she feared Lord Voldemort even before she had actually met him, he was an heartless dark wizard, who would do everything to succeed in wiping the whole world out of all the Muggles and whomever had a so said dirty blood, like herself.

(A/N): hi everyone!!
I wanted to thank everyone who is actually reading this and I would really appreciate it if you also voted it, so that I can actually know somebody likes it and is reading it.
I also wanted to let all of you know that this book is almost finished as well, I reckon a few more chapters and it will be done!
And I will therefore start a new book for the sixth movie/book, which I reckon will be very thrilling and interesting!
So, thanks everyone again for your support!
Love,
Lu.ce