3rd Year Tragedies - Book 4 [COMPLETED]

Part 2

Ebony pov

We were just calmly eating when Seamus yelled, "He's been sighted!" Bella and I looked up to where a group of people were hunched over the Daily Prophet.  

"Who?" asked Ron, I immediately knew who they were talking about: Sirius Black.

"Achintee?" Hermoine muttered, "That's not far from here..." Bella bumped me and I nodded, telling her I was also listening,

"You don't think he'd come to Hogwarts, do you?" Neville said nervously, 

"With the Dementors at every entrance?" Lavender questioned, I smiled slightly, seeing an opportunity to scare everyone, 

"Dementors?" I scoffed, grabbing the groups attention, "He's already slipped by them once, hasn't he? Who's to say he can't do it again?" Neville went stark white and his eyes widened with fear. I felt satisfaction at my action and I heard Bella snigger slightly at Neville's reaction,

"That's right," agreed a boy nearby, "Black could be anywhere. It's like trying to catch smoke. Like trying to catch smoke with your bare hands," Neville went even whiter and walked off, probably to go throw up and I went back to eating. 

After lunch, we had Defense Against the Dark Arts. We walked down to the class and went inside. A rather messy man, with patched clothes and scars on his face, was standing at the front of the classroom. A large wardrobe sat beside him and it rattled loudly, 

"Intriguing, yes?" said the professor, "Would anyone like to venture a guess as to what's inside?"

"That's a Boggart, that is," Seamus said with a hushed tone. I felt Bella tense behind me, she grabbed my hand. I squeezed her hand reassuringly. 

"Very good, Mr Finnigan," Lupin congratulated, "Can anyone tell us what a Boggart looks like?"

"No one knows," Hermoine told the class, "Boggarts are shape-shifters. They take the shape of whatever a particular person fears most. That's what makes it so..."

"Terrifying, yes. Luckily, a very simple charm exists to repel a Boggart," Lupin sighed, "Let's practice it now, shall we? Without wands, please... Riddikulus!"

"Riddikulus," said the class,

"Riddikulus," Bella and I said under our breath, already knowing the charm. 

"This class is ridiculous," Draco, who suddenly appeared beside me rolled his eyes,

"Shut up, Draco," I hit him on the head. He cupped his head and rubbed it protectively,

"Behave," Bella hit me on the head,

"Ow," I sighed, rubbing the back of my head.

"Good," Lupin smiled, "So much for the easy part. You see, the incantation alone is not enough. What really finishes a Boggart off is...laughter. You need to force it to assume a shape you find truly amusing. Neville, come up here, will you?"

Neville shakily went up to the rattling wardrobe. "What would you say is the thing that frightens you most?" asked Lupin, Neville muttered something inaudible, "Didn't catch that, Neville, sorry," 

"Professor Snape," Neville stuttered, the class laughed.

"Hmmm... yes. Neville, I believe you live with your grandmother?" Lupin questioned,

"Yes, but I don't want the Boggart to turn into her either," Neville sighed, 

"It won't," reassure Lupin, "But I want you to picture her clothes, only her clothes, very clearly in your mind. Can you do that?" Neville started to describe the clothes, "That's fine. We don't need to hear it. If you see it, we will. Now, when I open this wardrobe, Neville, here's what I want you to do..." Lupin leaned down to Neville and whispered something. "You can do this, Neville!" Lupin encouraged, "Right then. Wand at the ready. One. Two. Three!" Sparks jetted from Lupin's wand, struck the doorknob, and the wardrobe burst open. Instantly, Snape appeared, his eyes flashed hideously as he stalked forward. Neville backed away in fright.