Mischievous Glint | George Weasley

Chapter 6

We were in Defence Against the Dark Arts class. Professor Lupin was our new teacher.

"Intriguing, isn't it? Would anyone like to venture a guess as to what is inside?" Lupin asked.

"That's a boggart." I answered.

"Very good, Miss Knight. Now, can anybody tell me what a boggart looks like?"

"No one knows." Hermione said. "Boggarts are shape shifters. They take the shape of whatever a particular person fears the most. That's what makes them so..."

"So terrifying, yes, yes, yes. Luckily, a very simple charm exists to repel a boggart. Let's practice it now. Without wands, please. After me. Riddikulus!" We all repeated after him.

"Riddikulus!"

"Very good."

"This class is ridiculous." Draco commented, earning a harsh glare from me.

"Very good. So much for the easy part. You see, the incantation alone is not enough. What really finishes a boggart is laughter. You need to force it to assume a shape you find truly amusing. Let me explain. Uh... Neville, would you join me, please? Come on, don't be shy. Come on." He called Neville to be up front. "Hello. Neville, what frightens you most of all?"

"Professor Snape." Neville reluctantly admitted.

"Professor Snape. Yes, frightens all." He agreed. "And I believe you live with your grandmother."

"Y-Yes, but I don't want that boggart to turn into her, either." Neville stuttered.

"No... it won't. I want you to picture her clothes. Only her clothes, very clearly, in your mind."

"She carries a red handbag..." Neville began to elaborate but was cut off by him.

"We don't need to hear. As long as you see it, we'll see it. Now, when I open that wardrobe, here's what I want you to do. Excuse me. Imagine Professor Snape in your grandmother's clothes. Can you do that?" He asked.

"Yes." Neville nodded.

Then the boggart came out and turned into Professor Snape. Neville held his wand at him.

"Riddikulus!"

The boggart of Professor Snape turned itself into wearing what Neville's grandma's attire was. The class roared in laughter as Lupin clapped.

"Wonderful, Neville, wonderful!"

Then one by one, everyone started to test the boggart. Ron's boggart was a spider, which he turned into having roller skates on each of its legs. It was Harry's turn now. After him, it was going to be my turn. The boggart started to transform into a Dementor, but before it could fully form, Professor Lupin stepped in front of Harry to protect him. Once he was in front of the boggart, it turned into a full moon.

Why would his fear be a full moon?

"Riddikulus!" He said, and the moon became a loose balloon.

"Right. Sorry about that. That's enough for today. Collect your books from the back. That's the end of the lesson. Thank you! Sorry!" He dismissed the class quickly.

Something was up. And I couldn't get to see my boggart. I didn't know if I feared anything. I couldn't think of anything clearly, but I would have seen mine if the class wasn't dismissed. I need to talk to Harry.

Hogsmeade Weekend,

"Now remember, these visits to Hogsmeade village are a privilege. Should your behavior reflect poorly on the school in any way, that privilege shall not be extended again. No permission form signed, no visiting villages." McGonagall said as students handed in their signed forms.

Mine was signed by my parents. I handed it to her, then Harry came up to her. He couldn't get his one signed, so he couldn't go with us. Ron, Hermione, and I looked sadly at him. He let out a sigh and started walking away.

"Where are you gonna go?" I asked.

"Professor Lupin. Want a word with him."

"Okay." I said before leaving for Hogsmeade.

"Forget about it, guys. See you later." He said, shrugging.

After we came back, I was walking back to my dorm but stopped when I saw the Gryffindor students gathered in front of their house portrait. I walked over to the crowd and saw Fred and George standing outside along with Harry and Ron.

"What's going on?" I asked George, putting my hand over his arm to get his attention. He turned to me, his face lighting up completely.

"Don't really know." He answered. He put his other hand over my hand, which was still resting on his arm, making my cheeks heat up instantly.

"The Fat Lady! She's gone!" Someone spoke up as Dumbledore walked toward the portrait.

"She's there." Filch said, pointing over to a safari portrait where the Fat Lady was hiding behind a different animal.

"Dear lady, who did this to you?" Dumbledore asked as she peeked out.

"Eyes like the devil, he's got, and a soul as dark as his name. It's him, headmaster. The one they all talk about. He's here, somewhere in the castle! Sirius Black!" She said frightfully.

"Secure the castle, Mr. Filch. The rest of you, to the Great Hall. Miss Knight, there's no time for you to get back to your house. Follow the prefect." Dumbledore ordered.

George grabbed my hand and pulled me close to him while walking down the stairs. Once everyone was inside the Great Hall, they took out their sleeping bags. I began to conjure mine as George broke the silence between us.

"Don't bother." He stated.

"Hm?" I turned to him.

"I have plenty of room in mine. Sleep next to me?" He asked, his eyes soft and almost pleading.

I looked into his beautiful eyes, trying to read him. When he noticed I wasn't saying anything right away, he quickly started to change his mind.

"Or not, if I'm overstepp—"

I cut him off. "No, it's fine."

I assured him and gave him a smile, which he happily reciprocated. I got inside the sleeping bag and snuggled beside him, my back facing him. He turned over and gently put his arms around me as we both fell asleep.